I had the exact issue you explained. Previous owner traded his car into a dealership, car had an intake and downpipe. Cobb AP was unmarried. I bought the car with codes, but a retune fixed the problem.
My 2015 WRX is the first Subaru/boosted/awd car I’ve ever owned. Before I bought it, I had never been interested in changing my own oil. Two years later, the only stock parts under the hood are the longblock, turbo, tranny, and intake manifold. 15m worth of RUclips videos gave me the confidence to do all my work (thanks Grimmspeed :D ). The FA20 is extremely easy to work on! It’s just a big lego as far as I’m concerned hahaha
Love the guide. I bought my 2015 sti summer of 2020 for 20k. At the time everything else I was seeing was at least 22(usually closer to 24-26) and had way more miles (this one had 85k) Now I’m at 110k, engine is holding strong with some bolt ons and a proper tune. It did have a downpipe when I got it but still had an accessport tube loaded so I got lucky there (no AP tho) so I ended up buying one and getting retuned. I am building a spare shortblock as of now (2012 sti ej257 crank and rods, type RA pistons, stock rebuild heads) Right now I’m tuned low and on only 91 octane with about 290 wheel. I’m hoping to get up to around 330 wheel (bascually max out the stock turbo) and keep it like that for a while or a 20g for a little more power. With injectors etc, and I also want a ewg. Bought the car at 17 and mods are going slow because of college so I don’t have a steady full time job to support it but it’s coming, Thanks for all the inspiration
My 2014 Wrx hatch has been great. I definitely keep up on the maintenance and have it properly tuned by a very reputable shop. Car runs like a clock and has for 4 years. I hit 6k rpm every day.
New sti owner here just picked up my 2016 sti last month it was modified by previous at the dealership I got it from well taken care of only 55k miles It got the Cobb stage 2 set up catless downpipe and thankfully it’s been professionally done and pro-tuned the turbo was replaced under warranty about 1k miles ago, had spark plugs replaced and also was checked for ringland failure and passed I’m aware with these cars being temperamental I baby it and once in a while I’ll let it rip I’m extremely impressed with this car I used to have a ‘96 2GA eclipse GSX back in the day and a 03 neon srt4, I love your channel very informative!
Great channel just found it. I just bought a 2019 STI, previous owner had blown the engine. He paid out of pocket to essentially rebuild the entire engine and all components, so I got a 50,000 mile car with brand new short block, head gasket, water pump, all the belts cooler lines etc. No plans to modify it, just enjoying the ride.
I have a 2014 Satin White Pearl WRX with excellent mods and two pro tunes to make her run right!. . The car has 161,000K Klm on it and it runs like a champ at 18Lbs of boost max with a 3 port boost control solenoid. The car is a daily and I could not be more happy with it. I also swapped out the stock brakes with STI brakes and it is just wonderful. The body of the car is in mint condition top and bottom. Its all about proper maintenance!.. and spending that time to maintain her. Do your OIL CHANGES!.. lol and also other fluids. Thanks again brother for the great videos as always.
I made all these mistakes when I bought my bugeye--I had just turned 17 and was wide eyed and set on anything I could find without worrying about what had been done to it or the mileage on the chassis. My neighbor put his car for sale and I ended up buying that, had 185k miles at the time and had full bolt ons with a 16G turbo. I've had to fix so many issues with it over the years, it had a sketchy open source tune and an HKS bov to begin with so had to correct that, and eventually had to replace the engine last winter when a rusty head bolt cracked and the driver side head started lifting. I had to rebuild the transmission as well, ended up doing a torsen front LSD with an STi RA gearset and a rear AP Racing suretrac diff. Now I'm having to replace all the worn out bushings, axles, rusty suspension bolts, and fix the incorrectly aligned steering rack. It also has the classic rear quarter rust spot that I'll eventually have to fix. In hindsight would have been much better to wait and buy an unmodified low mile chassis, but now that I've had the car for almost 7 years and have dumped so much money into it, makes sense just to finish correcting everything and continue driving it.
Love the dedication brotha. Owned my 06 wrx for 5 years now and have somewhat of the same story. Respect to anyone that says I will finish the car I bought to build.
Doesn't matter what platform your looking to buy find someone who really knows the platform. If you don't know someone then reach out to a local subaru, evo, Honda, k series group Facebook ect.... there is always that one guy like me who is willing to donate there time so someone doesn't get screwed over.
If your buying a STI keep an eye out on the brakes I bought my 2006 STI and didnt realize it had the WRX brakes not the Brembos found that out when i bought new pads and rotors for it had to find used calipers and rebuild them
Sounds like its probably a WRX and not an STI. Those STI clone attempts are out there too and people sell them as sn STI when they are not...swapped seats and rear wing etc.
Previous owners is why I always stayed away from Subarus for yearssssss. I really wanted a 06-07 Hawkeye STI growing up, but since becoming a mechanic I’ve learned finding a Subaru sti/wrx that hasn’t been FBO or messed with is extremely rare. Luckily I found a 2014 WRX sedan with a full car fax history, no bolts ons ever put on, super clean, 68K miles, 1 owner, full maintenance history, spotless interior. All for around 19K in December 2020! I’ve put 8-9k miles on the car in a little over a year and I do not regret it!!
have my 06 wrx wrb and my 08 dgm sti both bone stock (mechanically) and never had a problem, treat them nice and keep oil in them and they will treat you nice back
One day I'm going to pick a WRX Type-R STI GC. It's so rare and unique and it will skyrocket in price in few years for sure even tho it's not cheap today!
If I was looking for an STI, I would want an undamaged, low miles, unmodified one. I’m not tuning mine because I think it will be worth worth more if I don’t. I’ve only changed wheels, suspension and added an AOS.
Found a 07 STI Limited out of state. I couldn't resist , so I bought it. Not exactly in the condition the seller stated, but it does have a new short block. I'm approaching 10 grand ,on top of what I paid for it, but I think it will be a fun car when its done. Thanks for you're expertise
I have an 08 sti as well and it’s currently on 155k miles and counting (had minor issues here and there with 02 sensors and leaks) but no major issues (knocks on wood lol) are there any particular issues I should be looking for because many people say the to stay away from the 08s to 10s and to get the 11 onwards etc. is it just suspension and bodywork that has changed or anything from a mechanical stand point ? I know 08s have a fuel stumble issue ( sorry if it sounds noob just trying to expand my knowledge) thanks
Dude, I just love working on my Subaru. They are so easy to work on, so simple and streamlined across their fleet. But only stick to the Tokyo Roki filters from Mazda.
@@brian3136 Yes, just go to Mazda parts at the dealer. Here in Toronto, they cost around 13 bucks plus tax, which is a steal. They fit a lot of hondas and toyotas as far as I can tell.
I bought the fully built 05 STI with race car problems. Hella worth it. lol I've already had to tap one of the water pump bolts and currently saving for new timing parts. Still worth it! Every penny! lol
Thanks for the video Tanner! I installed my oil pressure and oil temp gauges yesterday on my 2019 STI. I attached and molded into the A-Pillar a double 2 5/8" gauge pod from autometer and it looks and works sick! You always inspire me to keep going. By the way, if you hate brake dust like I do, spray Armor All brake dust repellant on clean wheels. Mine would get black after one day of driving, today they looked brand new after all day driving. A+ 100% recommended product.
Thanks to you said a new sti 2022 should not be trusted because a different engine to wait a few years before pull the trigger that make me go strait to the dealership cioca subaru and they told me there was only two left a white pearl & a rally blue I got the white one that's was last week October 2021 up to March 16 2022 just put 3312 miles on it I got a 2011 accord for 5 days and use my sti for 2 days love your channel Thanks so much I can't stop turning my head around when I close my car door & a stupid smile
If you're somewhat garage/driveway-mechanic savvy, and if the facility you're purchasing from has the equipment, insist that you be allowed to view the car while it is on a lift. Look at the exhaust bolts from downpipe to muffler and check the nuts and bolts. If you see tool marks, you can pretty much assume that it's been modified at some point. If you see marks on the downpipe-to-turbo fittings, it's been modified to at least stage 2 levels (see Cobb Tuning website for details), hopefully with a retune which is mandatory to reduce risk of overboost/boost creep, lean conditions, and potential engine damage. From here, I personally think it is safe to assume there were other modifications which means that you are looking at someone else's old toy. This comes with inherent risks and depending on mileage and how well the car has been cared for you could be paying for a headache. Never take the sellers word at face value, especially where modifications are concerned.
@@Smeedia I've had a couple refuse me, which I'm sure is not the norm. Needless to say I walked right out of there. Just felt like it needed to be said, brother, for whatever it's worth.
Got a 2016 WRX premium running As safe as possible on 🌽 with 72k miles and the FOMO on the STI getting the best of me 🥴🥴🥴… been thinking about just keeping it and finding a hatch 🤞🏼
I’m trying to pick up a STi before the market gets too expensive. Probably going to rock it stock. My FA WRX (which I’m keeping) is already plenty quick at 400hp 390tq
@@Smeedia 40-45k is pretty much the norm now here in TX for anything 2015+ in the 15k mile range. Seen a type RA at $75k and at one of my local dealers a S209 is $150k. Some dealers and even private sellers are starting to encroach the $50k mark here as well.
I’ve been looking into trading my car in for an sti and every sti I’ve found in the past has sold. Every day i look i find a bew one and then it sells either that day or the following day. Hoping that the right subie comes when I’m ready to trade it in
Avoid buying modified if at all possible. I just looked at the subaru dealer I bought my 2019 wrx and I looked at a used 2019 and it had a cold air intake on it in the pictures and no accessport with the car. This is something you avoid. Especially since the dealer notes never mentioned it.
One thing I’d also like to add is if it is an older model with mods make sure they spent money were it matters. Most of these with over 120k miles has probably had the head gasket go at some point so make sure to get some information about what they did as far as getting it rebuilt and where they had it built at so you can get some information about what all was replaced from the shop at the time. This will also tell you exactly how many miles is on the new engine build as shops will record how many miles were on the car when it was rebuilt. Personally if it has a closed deck block or sleeves I’d pay a premium on that because it’s a very expensive thing to do and allows you to increase the power without having to worry about ringlands or rod knock and most likely it’ll have a beefier mls head gasket as well. Getting the normal Subaru problems sorted out is a major plus so you won’t have to worry about getting them done in the future. Don’t be afraid of mods, be afraid of the back to stock cars that were traded in. My best friend bought a wrx one year old, didn’t realize it was modded and back to stock. Blew up after a couple hundred miles and the dealership wouldn’t give him anything for it- plus because it had tuning software on it the warranty was voided by the previous owner. Talk about sh*t out of luck.
Wish this video came out a while ago 😑. Bought a used WRX under the impression it was stock *I knew nothing about wrxs at the time* and just to find it it has STi heads and unsure but maybe a while EJ257. Definitely look at everything
I couldn't help but stop by the dealership today to find out for myself if what ever left of the new older generation WRX STI was going to cease to arrive at local dealership and the truth disappointed me. I was looking into replacing the STI that I lost from a Gaylafornia tailgater but it's not looking like it's going to happen. The new body style that they came out this year I would call a "Subada" because it almost resembles Subaru/Honda body all together, WTF. I can only hope that the makers will come up with a better body style in the future. Nothing too crazy. I really miss the enjoyment I got out of the car. RIP
Good info... would mention about potential Rust issues.. and where to look :)... Shock towers, Quarters and Rockers... A no-rust GD is worth way more that even a built GD.. IMO.. :)
The end of an era...what shame. I own 2 Saabaru's, 1 is a Linear the other is an Aero(WRX). They are great vehicles and I won't part with the Aero but I was looking to get an STI. Unfortunately you can't get a new one, so I've been searching for a hatchback. I would love to score an unmodified hatch with low mileage.
The 2015 STI I just bought has a single pipe invidia, grimmspeed 3 port boost control solenoid, Cobb sf intake/box, gfb respons adjustable bypass/bov(bov is closed)..still need to get into it more but the access port is the first thing I’m buying.
Should do a video like this about “ now you have bought a used STI an everything seemed great when doing a over look. Here is the first things I would do within the first 2 weeks or so of owning it” or something of a video like this .
@@Smeedia yeah first ideas that come to mind are like if it has coilovers wouldn’t hurt to take them out an clean them off or. Make sure they are correctly adjusted , Spark plugs , oil , filters , check bushings , check frayed lines things like that just some ideas I’m sure u could have came up with anyways .
@@Smeedia So the purchase process itself of finding one paying for it and getting things scheduled was good. Then it went south. The car took a month to get here because they kept trying to find a new 3P to transport it from Cali to Ohio and they kept canceling. Once I finally got it the tires had been swapped from the initial online photo and were bald, the shift knob and badging had been removed. 0 maint of any kind had been done since they got it from wholesale/trade. The upside was I ended up with almost 6500$ in concessions for missed work waiting for a truck that was due only to find it out was still in Cali. They bought me new tires over the phone at a local shop and ordered me a shift knob from subispeed. So the process is a mess however they went above and beyond to make it right. The last snag was title and tag which took 2 months but its finally all done.
Whenever I encounter a modded vehicle I throw a fit about it's going to be so much trouble returning it to stock. Especially with bikes when people think their 100$ slip on exhaust adds value of some kind
Yo @smedia, what radiator brand do you recommend most for reliability and power/heat capabilities? Im ready to pull the trigger and need aome brand insight. Thx bro, u are the reason I own a 20 sti!
Nice vid. Wish I saw it 2 years ago and just went with the damn sti. I have a 2019 wrx... and apparently I am one of the rare few who have had issues with the cam gears (not a STI issue, but still...) wondering if anyone else may have had this issue. RH cam got stuck, had to be replaced, 3000 miles later LH cam now threw a CEL and needs to be replaced along with the timing components and ecu. At least on the east coast, no help from Subaru. My tuner had to take over and do the work on my dime.
Great video. Little advice, harder to follow if you don’t know the chassis acronyms, so sticking to years when talking about them is easier for newer crowd to follow
@@Smeedia i know. Also another idea, when switching to another platform, put the image of it again. Not just at the beginning, so people can follow you. Not criticizing. Great article.
Tanner, here’s one for you there is a 2018 STI here locally for sale with 33k miles but has a branded title from moderate to severe damage that was repaired. Don’t see any mods. if avail for a good price below market....what do you think?
A branded title says the car was once declared a total loss or comes with some other major problem. Cars with branded titles have been repaired or rebuilt and sold. A branded title can mean the car was damaged in a flood, its odometer was rolled back, or it was involved in a major accident.
When I got my '13 Hatchback STI about 7 months ago I was too excited, had too much awkward anxiety, and knew too little about cars to make sure it was a good one. The more I learn about these cars, the more I realize how well cared for my car was by the previous owner. They loved it and now I love it and I'm very happy to get one of my dream cars. I just wish I had known this information first so I didn't have to take to RUclips in a panic after hearing "all the problems these cars have". Though I'm glad I did because I have learned sooo much and get to watch some pretty great videos now. The Subaru community is awesome. Other Subaru owners wave at me now, its wicked!
Found a 2009 WRX Base Hatch with 101k miles, and I talked the guy down to $10k. Clutch and timing done 10k miles ago. Says it’s always been stock, but I noticed a Mishimoto turbo inlet was in the photos. I know narrow-bodies aren’t the best, but this is the only good deal around me I can find. Thoughts?
i made a mistake and didnt bring a flashlight to inspect under the car. the previous owner parked it in a parking garage for me to look at. and i did my best to check everything, and it looked fine. but i couldnt see under the car..... well. rust, and lots of it. turns out the original owner lived in a snowy state. they let the salt rust the underside away. and now im in thousands of dollars of parts (not including my own repair time to remove rusted parts and install new parts).
I was told never modify my STI now. Even though I have cylinder 4 ringland failure, and have a out front closed deck block for it now. But was told not to throw it in cause of the value on it now
@@Smeedia I honestly don’t think I’ll ever sell my STI to be honest. It’s my first one and I’m in love with it. So modding it would just make sense too me. Now IF it was a hatchback I would sell it in a heart beat if I got a good enough offer
I've got sentimental value with mine, but I've always had a vision of where I want the car. And I'm still not there yet. So that alone continues to drive me
The subaru sti is definitely that car you gotta know about or else you going to shoot yourself in the foot I'm looking one for one as daily so my best bet is getting a newer one even tho the hatchback version looks really good
Just a thought looking to get into this year sti my dream car I've had my honda si for a while looking at a sti it is a 16' limited with 40k miles 32k 1 owner stage 2 with all the supporting mods. Clean carfax 1 owner Asking the dealer if it's protuned my guess it is but how would I know that exactly? Already asked for compression tests to be done and records of any kind.
If the car has an AP with it, it is more than likely tuned. If there is no accessport the prior owner probably sold it or a tech took it. No accessport means stock tune more than likely
Hi tanner, just wanted to know what are your thoughts on a gc8 platform, we’re planning to get one here in the Philippines. What we’re looking at right know has a bigger turbo, bigger piston, coils, safc neo, killer bee oil pickup and baffles. Currently making 235whp
Hey Tanner, orig owner of 17 year old 05 sti here. Love the car and still going strong at 120k and an IAG built block! I'm I the market for a hatchback but may have to hold off for another year or so due to finances. I'm rebuilding my orig ej257 (based on your specs ) so I will have an extra shortblock on hand. Do you think it's a good route for me to find a hatch with a blown motor at a discount and plan to swap in my extra built shortblock or should I try to find a hatch in better condition from the start? I can do some work on he car myself but would need my mechanic to do the engine swap for me.
Can you make a list of things to ask a dealer though? I'm looking to get one as my first "enthusiast" car and when I look at listings online I have no idea what to look for. So far the only thing I look for is the engine swaps because at glance if it says 2.0L I know to skip over for the 2015-2021 gen.
@@Smeedia I did the four cylinder cooling mod right away and now just waiting for the aos and I did all maintenance even do I bought from where I work lol
Subaru Tech here: head gasket leaking is still a thing even on new cars. Unmodified STI engines we are seeing leaking in Blowing in 20,000 miles or less. STI engines are made of glass. In my personal opinion from what I have seen in my work it's the bearings are too narrow to support the load. These are stock engines
I've built a good amount of STis and have yet to ever see one with a head gasket failure. Majority of failures I've seen are due to half assed work or owners not taking care if the cars. Best one was one that the owner drove 10 miles with no oil. Had a nice window in the block
@@Smeedia definitely a big part of it is maintenance and care! I would really love to compare the design characteristics of a Porsche performance boxer compared to Subaru. it seems like Porsche has it figured out but also with Porsche being so expensive I'm sure they're not driven like a Subaru is or at least I'm sure they're way better maintained. I'm about to tear apart an STI engine tomorrow maybe I should make a video on it
Lol I have an 02 bug eye that is fully sti swapped and it’s an ej207 for sale that should be worth more now that Subaru sacked the glorious transmitted infection model!
what’s your opinion on a 2005 STI clean tittle NEW STI RA shortblock, arp head studs, IAG oil pan, IAG pickup, IAG oil baffle, all new seals and gaskets, intake, full exhaust, 2013 STI intercooler. the dude who sells these only works on subies and ppl all over my area are saying he doesn’t sell messed up ones. dude wants $19.5k tho
@@Smeedia My stock TMIC cracked by the turbo, so I put a Mishimoto one on, and an IAG AOS V3 Street. Then my AP was reading 25.00 on my AF Learning 1, and my coolant temps climb upwards of 220. So, I took the intercooler off to inspect all of my connections and everything looked good, burped the cooling system, but its still running like garbage.
New Subaru owners beware of previous Subaru owners. 💀💀
Yep. That’s the number one thing to look out for. 5% of them treat them properly.
I had the exact issue you explained. Previous owner traded his car into a dealership, car had an intake and downpipe. Cobb AP was unmarried. I bought the car with codes, but a retune fixed the problem.
At least it was easily fixed, I've seen a handful grenade themselves because new owners did not know
Best part about this is that it applies to every sports car platform and even to just buying a car in general. Appreciate the advice. -11' hatch owner
Very true, can be applicable to most cars out there 🥳
My 2015 WRX is the first Subaru/boosted/awd car I’ve ever owned. Before I bought it, I had never been interested in changing my own oil. Two years later, the only stock parts under the hood are the longblock, turbo, tranny, and intake manifold. 15m worth of RUclips videos gave me the confidence to do all my work (thanks Grimmspeed :D ). The FA20 is extremely easy to work on! It’s just a big lego as far as I’m concerned hahaha
Subarus are the Legos of cars 🔥
Love the guide. I bought my 2015 sti summer of 2020 for 20k. At the time everything else I was seeing was at least 22(usually closer to 24-26) and had way more miles (this one had 85k)
Now I’m at 110k, engine is holding strong with some bolt ons and a proper tune. It did have a downpipe when I got it but still had an accessport tube loaded so I got lucky there (no AP tho) so I ended up buying one and getting retuned.
I am building a spare shortblock as of now
(2012 sti ej257 crank and rods, type RA pistons, stock rebuild heads)
Right now I’m tuned low and on only 91 octane with about 290 wheel. I’m hoping to get up to around 330 wheel (bascually max out the stock turbo) and keep it like that for a while or a 20g for a little more power. With injectors etc, and I also want a ewg.
Bought the car at 17 and mods are going slow because of college so I don’t have a steady full time job to support it but it’s coming,
Thanks for all the inspiration
You can definitely get to that 330 point 🔥 glad to hear it's been running strong and that your still enjoying it 😁
My 2014 Wrx hatch has been great. I definitely keep up on the maintenance and have it properly tuned by a very reputable shop. Car runs like a clock and has for 4 years. I hit 6k rpm every day.
Well said, previous owners are a big problem with Subaru's, on 'sale'.
Great video T, Im keeping mine.
Probably the biggest issue you'll face 😬
New sti owner here just picked up my 2016 sti last month it was modified by previous at the dealership I got it from well taken care of only 55k miles It got the Cobb stage 2 set up catless downpipe and thankfully it’s been professionally done and pro-tuned the turbo was replaced under warranty about 1k miles ago, had spark plugs replaced and also was checked for ringland failure and passed I’m aware with these cars being temperamental I baby it and once in a while I’ll let it rip I’m extremely impressed with this car I used to have a ‘96 2GA eclipse GSX back in the day and a 03 neon srt4, I love your channel very informative!
How much do you pay monthly for it?
Great channel just found it. I just bought a 2019 STI, previous owner had blown the engine. He paid out of pocket to essentially rebuild the entire engine and all components, so I got a 50,000 mile car with brand new short block, head gasket, water pump, all the belts cooler lines etc. No plans to modify it, just enjoying the ride.
I have a 2014 Satin White Pearl WRX with excellent mods and two pro tunes to make her run right!. . The car has 161,000K Klm on it and it runs like a champ at 18Lbs of boost max with a 3 port boost control solenoid. The car is a daily and I could not be more happy with it. I also swapped out the stock brakes with STI brakes and it is just wonderful. The body of the car is in mint condition top and bottom. Its all about proper maintenance!.. and spending that time to maintain her. Do your OIL CHANGES!.. lol and also other fluids. Thanks again brother for the great videos as always.
Glad to hear and sounds like a fun car! Maintenence is always the big thing that gets overlooked too often 😬
I made all these mistakes when I bought my bugeye--I had just turned 17 and was wide eyed and set on anything I could find without worrying about what had been done to it or the mileage on the chassis. My neighbor put his car for sale and I ended up buying that, had 185k miles at the time and had full bolt ons with a 16G turbo. I've had to fix so many issues with it over the years, it had a sketchy open source tune and an HKS bov to begin with so had to correct that, and eventually had to replace the engine last winter when a rusty head bolt cracked and the driver side head started lifting. I had to rebuild the transmission as well, ended up doing a torsen front LSD with an STi RA gearset and a rear AP Racing suretrac diff. Now I'm having to replace all the worn out bushings, axles, rusty suspension bolts, and fix the incorrectly aligned steering rack. It also has the classic rear quarter rust spot that I'll eventually have to fix. In hindsight would have been much better to wait and buy an unmodified low mile chassis, but now that I've had the car for almost 7 years and have dumped so much money into it, makes sense just to finish correcting everything and continue driving it.
Love the dedication brotha. Owned my 06 wrx for 5 years now and have somewhat of the same story. Respect to anyone that says I will finish the car I bought to build.
We've all been there, did the same thing with my old 05 STI
I was able to score a 15 STI that was bone stock with 40k miles on it. Just did intake/exhaust/tune/FA coils. Runs great, I'll never sell.
Good pick up and solid mods already 🔥😁
@@jeeneeus1278 Hooker Blackheart exhaust
Im also looking at a 2015 sti 87k miles tho 😔 for 20k
Doesn't matter what platform your looking to buy find someone who really knows the platform. If you don't know someone then reach out to a local subaru, evo, Honda, k series group Facebook ect.... there is always that one guy like me who is willing to donate there time so someone doesn't get screwed over.
Always someone out there who will help 🔥
If your buying a STI keep an eye out on the brakes I bought my 2006 STI and didnt realize it had the WRX brakes not the Brembos found that out when i bought new pads and rotors for it had to find used calipers and rebuild them
Someone actually swapped the calipers out?! 💀
Sounds like its probably a WRX and not an STI. Those STI clone attempts are out there too and people sell them as sn STI when they are not...swapped seats and rear wing etc.
Previous owners is why I always stayed away from Subarus for yearssssss. I really wanted a 06-07 Hawkeye STI growing up, but since becoming a mechanic I’ve learned finding a Subaru sti/wrx that hasn’t been FBO or messed with is extremely rare. Luckily I found a 2014 WRX sedan with a full car fax history, no bolts ons ever put on, super clean, 68K miles, 1 owner, full maintenance history, spotless interior. All for around 19K in December 2020! I’ve put 8-9k miles on the car in a little over a year and I do not regret it!!
You sir found yourself a unicorn 🔥
have my 06 wrx wrb and my 08 dgm sti both bone stock (mechanically) and never had a problem, treat them nice and keep oil in them and they will treat you nice back
Big facts 💪
One day I'm going to pick a WRX Type-R STI GC. It's so rare and unique and it will skyrocket in price in few years for sure even tho it's not cheap today!
Find em while you can 🔥😁
If I was looking for an STI, I would want an undamaged, low miles, unmodified one. I’m not tuning mine because I think it will be worth worth more if I don’t. I’ve only changed wheels, suspension and added an AOS.
Thise are becoming unicorns now
Meh, definitely a collectible but who doesn't wanna go faster... 🤤
@@RobertAnthonyCamacho The STI is more about driving feel and handling. It’s a quick and fun car but when I want to go faster I drive my Tesla.
Found a 07 STI Limited out of state. I couldn't resist , so I bought it. Not exactly in the condition the seller stated, but it does have a new short block. I'm approaching 10 grand ,on top of what I paid for it, but I think it will be a fun car when its done. Thanks for you're expertise
Well I can tell you my 08 STI is teaching me how to absolutely repair everything on the vehicle. But its so worth it learning new skills👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Looking at the positive side 🔥🥳
I have an 08 sti as well and it’s currently on 155k miles and counting (had minor issues here and there with 02 sensors and leaks) but no major issues (knocks on wood lol) are there any particular issues I should be looking for because many people say the to stay away from the 08s to 10s and to get the 11 onwards etc. is it just suspension and bodywork that has changed or anything from a mechanical stand point ? I know 08s have a fuel stumble issue ( sorry if it sounds noob just trying to expand my knowledge) thanks
I have my sti with just catback, coilovers, wheels and exterior planning to keep it like that as I drive 4K miles a year and it’s a 2021 😅
Low miles on that thing 🔥
@@Smeedia my crankshaft pully decided to break Monday night shout out warranty
Yeah so you made my 07 cry a little when you said they are old...Great video man completely spot on
They're gems though ❤
@Smeedia absolutely agree
2021 WRX Limited with 8300 miles coming in a couple weeks. Can't wait!
Eyyyy ,congrats!
As soon as you posted I’m here woohoo 🎉!
🥳🥳🥳
Such a fun car... I hope it's not the end of it. Subaru, please don't stop making it
🤞🤞🤞
This video makes me feel better about buying my 16 wrx with 7k miles one owner and completely stock besides axle back
Good pick up 🔥🥳
Bought my hyperblue back In august and could not love it more
😁😁😁😁
Dude, I just love working on my Subaru. They are so easy to work on, so simple and streamlined across their fleet. But only stick to the Tokyo Roki filters from Mazda.
Thr roki filters are a solid choice 🔥
where do you buy them from? the dealership?
@@brian3136 Yes, just go to Mazda parts at the dealer. Here in Toronto, they cost around 13 bucks plus tax, which is a steal. They fit a lot of hondas and toyotas as far as I can tell.
Got a one year old 2021 STI with 6k miles. Bone stock. I figured it's new enough and hopefully the previous owner didn't beat on it too much
Start off with basic maintance fir anything that would be needed, should only be oil though lol
Nice summation. I think I'll keep my 2014 (just built) STI for quite a few years. GR = best version IMO. Love the vids man!!
Gotta hodl onto them 🔥
I agree, I'll keep my 2011 STI Hatch
I bought the fully built 05 STI with race car problems. Hella worth it. lol
I've already had to tap one of the water pump bolts and currently saving for new timing parts.
Still worth it! Every penny! lol
Those water pump bolts pull thread way to often 😅
Thanks for the video Tanner! I installed my oil pressure and oil temp gauges yesterday on my 2019 STI. I attached and molded into the A-Pillar a double 2 5/8" gauge pod from autometer and it looks and works sick! You always inspire me to keep going. By the way, if you hate brake dust like I do, spray Armor All brake dust repellant on clean wheels. Mine would get black after one day of driving, today they looked brand new after all day driving. A+ 100% recommended product.
Ohhhh I'll look into it and have to give it a try 😁😁😁
Thanks to you said a new sti 2022 should not be trusted because a different engine to wait a few years before pull the trigger that make me go strait to the dealership cioca subaru and they told me there was only two left a white pearl & a rally blue I got the white one that's was last week October 2021 up to March 16 2022 just put 3312 miles on it I got a 2011 accord for 5 days and use my sti for 2 days love your channel Thanks so much I can't stop turning my head around when I close my car door & a stupid smile
Ohhhhh good pick with the white! 🔥😍
@@Smeedia thanks for reply
If you're somewhat garage/driveway-mechanic savvy, and if the facility you're purchasing from has the equipment, insist that you be allowed to view the car while it is on a lift. Look at the exhaust bolts from downpipe to muffler and check the nuts and bolts. If you see tool marks, you can pretty much assume that it's been modified at some point. If you see marks on the downpipe-to-turbo fittings, it's been modified to at least stage 2 levels (see Cobb Tuning website for details), hopefully with a retune which is mandatory to reduce risk of overboost/boost creep, lean conditions, and potential engine damage.
From here, I personally think it is safe to assume there were other modifications which means that you are looking at someone else's old toy. This comes with inherent risks and depending on mileage and how well the car has been cared for you could be paying for a headache. Never take the sellers word at face value, especially where modifications are concerned.
For the most part I think all dealers will get it onto a life for you to take a look under it. 🤔
@@Smeedia I've had a couple refuse me, which I'm sure is not the norm. Needless to say I walked right out of there. Just felt like it needed to be said, brother, for whatever it's worth.
Got a 2016 WRX premium running As safe as possible on 🌽 with 72k miles and the FOMO on the STI getting the best of me 🥴🥴🥴… been thinking about just keeping it and finding a hatch 🤞🏼
Find the hatches! They're getting harder and harder to find
I’m trying to pick up a STi before the market gets too expensive. Probably going to rock it stock. My FA WRX (which I’m keeping) is already plenty quick at 400hp 390tq
They're out there, see a few rhat aren't crazy $$$ yet
@@Smeedia 40-45k is pretty much the norm now here in TX for anything 2015+ in the 15k mile range. Seen a type RA at $75k and at one of my local dealers a S209 is $150k. Some dealers and even private sellers are starting to encroach the $50k mark here as well.
I bought a subaru WRX STI from 2012 last Friday with 55k miles on it. Everything original except for the brake discs. Best day so far
Congrats! 🥳🔥
I put mine back to stock beside the AOS, not worth the effort of removing. Then sold everything else to put toward new mods!
As long as it's done right, nit an issue 🥳
picking up a 2017 sti everything stock besides nameless axle back.
this video helped
I’ve been looking into trading my car in for an sti and every sti I’ve found in the past has sold. Every day i look i find a bew one and then it sells either that day or the following day. Hoping that the right subie comes when I’m ready to trade it in
Hopefully the timing lines up right for you 🤞🤞🤞
wish I saw this when I got mine Im just thankful the previous owner left the v1 accessport still installed with the ecu lol
V1?! Things are ancient now lol alqays reminded me of a Gameboy
You know what your doing with the timing of this video... Great vid man!
Figured it would be the best time for this one 🔥
Just traded in my 15 wrx for a 2020 Sti, in world rally blue. So stoked, got my dream car finally 😁✨
Eyyyy congrats dude!
Avoid buying modified if at all possible. I just looked at the subaru dealer I bought my 2019 wrx and I looked at a used 2019 and it had a cold air intake on it in the pictures and no accessport with the car. This is something you avoid. Especially since the dealer notes never mentioned it.
Big big facts, try to avoid thr modified ones
One thing I’d also like to add is if it is an older model with mods make sure they spent money were it matters. Most of these with over 120k miles has probably had the head gasket go at some point so make sure to get some information about what they did as far as getting it rebuilt and where they had it built at so you can get some information about what all was replaced from the shop at the time. This will also tell you exactly how many miles is on the new engine build as shops will record how many miles were on the car when it was rebuilt. Personally if it has a closed deck block or sleeves I’d pay a premium on that because it’s a very expensive thing to do and allows you to increase the power without having to worry about ringlands or rod knock and most likely it’ll have a beefier mls head gasket as well. Getting the normal Subaru problems sorted out is a major plus so you won’t have to worry about getting them done in the future. Don’t be afraid of mods, be afraid of the back to stock cars that were traded in. My best friend bought a wrx one year old, didn’t realize it was modded and back to stock. Blew up after a couple hundred miles and the dealership wouldn’t give him anything for it- plus because it had tuning software on it the warranty was voided by the previous owner. Talk about sh*t out of luck.
Also very good info added 🔥
Wish this video came out a while ago 😑. Bought a used WRX under the impression it was stock *I knew nothing about wrxs at the time* and just to find it it has STi heads and unsure but maybe a while EJ257. Definitely look at everything
Sounds like a fun mystery hybrid build 😳
If I was given the choice I would maybe take the Sti but the first gen brz would’ve the go 😁
🔥😁🔥😁🔥
I really appreciate this video! Smeedia you're the man bro!
I couldn't help but stop by the dealership today to find out for myself if what ever left of the new older generation WRX STI was going to cease to arrive at local dealership and the truth disappointed me. I was looking into replacing the STI that I lost from a Gaylafornia tailgater but it's not looking like it's going to happen. The new body style that they came out this year I would call a "Subada" because it almost resembles Subaru/Honda body all together, WTF. I can only hope that the makers will come up with a better body style in the future. Nothing too crazy. I really miss the enjoyment I got out of the car. RIP
Tbh looks like thr GR Corolla may be the replacment car for what subaru left on thr table. Subarus been a lazy vrand recently
Where was this video when I was in the market for my Subie? 😂 But educational as always Tanner, keep it up!
Lol I'm playing catch up 😅
Thank you for the information 🙏 I am looking for a sti but didn't know witch one to look into.
Glaf that it helped 🥳 good luck on your search!
Good info... would mention about potential Rust issues.. and where to look :)... Shock towers, Quarters and Rockers... A no-rust GD is worth way more that even a built GD.. IMO.. :)
Depends on where your located but a very good thing to look out for!
The end of an era...what shame. I own 2 Saabaru's, 1 is a Linear the other is an Aero(WRX). They are great vehicles and I won't part with the Aero but I was looking to get an STI. Unfortunately you can't get a new one, so I've been searching for a hatchback. I would love to score an unmodified hatch with low mileage.
Hatchbacks are becoming unicorns 🔥
The 2015 STI I just bought has a single pipe invidia, grimmspeed 3 port boost control solenoid, Cobb sf intake/box, gfb respons adjustable bypass/bov(bov is closed)..still need to get into it more but the access port is the first thing I’m buying.
Be careful driving it if you don't have a tune on it
Should do a video like this about “ now you have bought a used STI an everything seemed great when doing a over look. Here is the first things I would do within the first 2 weeks or so of owning it” or something of a video like this .
Not a bad idea 👀🔥
@@Smeedia yeah first ideas that come to mind are like
if it has coilovers wouldn’t hurt to take them out an clean them off or. Make sure they are correctly adjusted ,
Spark plugs , oil , filters , check bushings , check frayed lines things like that just some ideas I’m sure u could have came up with anyways .
GR is 👏🏾built boosted I had Multiple check ups
GR looks like a fun car 🔥
06 still regarded as the most sought after STI...the original HAWKEYE model.
got mine off vroom last july from cali and it still had stock everything. 2016 sti
How was buying from vroom?
@@Smeedia So the purchase process itself of finding one paying for it and getting things scheduled was good. Then it went south. The car took a month to get here because they kept trying to find a new 3P to transport it from Cali to Ohio and they kept canceling. Once I finally got it the tires had been swapped from the initial online photo and were bald, the shift knob and badging had been removed. 0 maint of any kind had been done since they got it from wholesale/trade. The upside was I ended up with almost 6500$ in concessions for missed work waiting for a truck that was due only to find it out was still in Cali. They bought me new tires over the phone at a local shop and ordered me a shift knob from subispeed. So the process is a mess however they went above and beyond to make it right. The last snag was title and tag which took 2 months but its finally all done.
Thanks for this vid. Im 17 rn and cant drive yet but i got a learners license. Going to Test Drive a ´16 STI in Saturday… im Super excited lol 😮💨
Might be picking it up or just test driving? 🔥
@@Smeedia Both 👍🏻
@@Smeedia Did you know that they don’t sell the regular WRX in Switzerland?
They don't?! Didn't they stop sales in the EU a couple years ago?
@@Smeedia Yes, sadly. But you could never order a VA WRX non-STI in Switzerland, which is kinda weird imo
Whenever I encounter a modded vehicle I throw a fit about it's going to be so much trouble returning it to stock. Especially with bikes when people think their 100$ slip on exhaust adds value of some kind
Yo @smedia, what radiator brand do you recommend most for reliability and power/heat capabilities? Im ready to pull the trigger and need aome brand insight. Thx bro, u are the reason I own a 20 sti!
Koyo all the way 🫡🫡
@Smeedia nice my brotha. Whats #2 option? Thx for all your hard work, your videos and insight are amazing! 👏
I needed this so bad!
I got you 💪
Nice vid. Wish I saw it 2 years ago and just went with the damn sti. I have a 2019 wrx... and apparently I am one of the rare few who have had issues with the cam gears (not a STI issue, but still...) wondering if anyone else may have had this issue. RH cam got stuck, had to be replaced, 3000 miles later LH cam now threw a CEL and needs to be replaced along with the timing components and ecu. At least on the east coast, no help from Subaru. My tuner had to take over and do the work on my dime.
I've seen a couple with those issues, not a fun time. 😪
Yea zero fun, hopefully this is the end of the problems otherwise she gets traded in. 22 wrx, or 22 golf r?
i still love my 04 Sti with an EJ207 had to swap it
🔥🔥🔥
Great video. Little advice, harder to follow if you don’t know the chassis acronyms, so sticking to years when talking about them is easier for newer crowd to follow
Covered the years in the beginning and what chassis they are but totally agree, 🔥😁 adding small text at the bottom is nor a bad idea for it
@@Smeedia i know. Also another idea, when switching to another platform, put the image of it again. Not just at the beginning, so people can follow you. Not criticizing. Great article.
No no no, it's good feedback! 😁🔥
Tanner, here’s one for you there is a 2018 STI here locally for sale with 33k miles but has a branded title from moderate to severe damage that was repaired. Don’t see any mods. if avail for a good price below market....what do you think?
Is it a rebuilt title or just branded?
If branded I won't do more than 80% value
If its rebuilt 60% value
Rebuilt. Shows salvage title issued.
What is a branded title. I just started seeing that.
A branded title says the car was once declared a total loss or comes with some other major problem. Cars with branded titles have been repaired or rebuilt and sold. A branded title can mean the car was damaged in a flood, its odometer was rolled back, or it was involved in a major accident.
When I got my '13 Hatchback STI about 7 months ago I was too excited, had too much awkward anxiety, and knew too little about cars to make sure it was a good one. The more I learn about these cars, the more I realize how well cared for my car was by the previous owner. They loved it and now I love it and I'm very happy to get one of my dream cars. I just wish I had known this information first so I didn't have to take to RUclips in a panic after hearing "all the problems these cars have". Though I'm glad I did because I have learned sooo much and get to watch some pretty great videos now. The Subaru community is awesome. Other Subaru owners wave at me now, its wicked!
Glad to hear that it has treated you well snd you got a good one! 😁
Found a 2009 WRX Base Hatch with 101k miles, and I talked the guy down to $10k.
Clutch and timing done 10k miles ago.
Says it’s always been stock, but I noticed a Mishimoto turbo inlet was in the photos.
I know narrow-bodies aren’t the best, but this is the only good deal around me I can find. Thoughts?
Not a bad pick up, definitely worth checking out 🔥
2016 wrx premium… looking to get into an STI before prices go crazy
Not a bad idea 🔥
Any chance you can do a video like this for the WRX? Non STI. I'm curious of your opinion on those cars as well. Love ya bro
Should be about same same but I can see if I can work something up
i made a mistake and didnt bring a flashlight to inspect under the car. the previous owner parked it in a parking garage for me to look at. and i did my best to check everything, and it looked fine. but i couldnt see under the car..... well. rust, and lots of it. turns out the original owner lived in a snowy state. they let the salt rust the underside away. and now im in thousands of dollars of parts (not including my own repair time to remove rusted parts and install new parts).
Ugh, rust completely demolishes everything. Hopefully rhe worst of it is past
Next video should be what are race car problems? For Subie
Lol those are the fun ones 😅
Trying to sell my 2020 wrx for a 2015+ sti but these prices man keep going up😂
I was told never modify my STI now. Even though I have cylinder 4 ringland failure, and have a out front closed deck block for it now. But was told not to throw it in cause of the value on it now
Ehhhh can be hit or miss when modding with value
@@Smeedia I honestly don’t think I’ll ever sell my STI to be honest. It’s my first one and I’m in love with it. So modding it would just make sense too me. Now IF it was a hatchback I would sell it in a heart beat if I got a good enough offer
Just put my type ra ultrasuede steering wheel on!
Ohhhh best steering wheel out there 🔥
Doing plugs this weekend along with some killer b stuff, punching bag is going to get some work on it as well.
Lol let out the anger!!!
How do you fall back in love with your Subaru? 3 years in losing the will to continue to modify it.
I've got sentimental value with mine, but I've always had a vision of where I want the car. And I'm still not there yet. So that alone continues to drive me
With my 16 wrx, full bolt on and running STi brembos, when I go built motor... I'll prolly just go EJ. No lie. Lol
Get the drivetrain obviously too.
Alot of harnesses to swap, best bet is to just get a donor car 🔥
Great info. I found a 2011 sti for $15k stage3 plus a lot of add-ons, tuned by a reputable shop and papers to back it up. What do you think?
If everything checks out and your comfortable eith it thats a good deal
You should find a nice sunny weekend soon and get a little Subaru rally together... we could all BS about our cars.
Suppose to be raining for the next two weeks but I'll try 🔥
All great tips Tanner well done .
Thanks Dale 🙏🙏🙏
The subaru sti is definitely that car you gotta know about or else you going to shoot yourself in the foot I'm looking one for one as daily so my best bet is getting a newer one even tho the hatchback version looks really good
I have a 2020 ecoboost, but I want to trade it in for an sti
Just a thought looking to get into this year sti my dream car I've had my honda si for a while looking at a sti it is a 16' limited with 40k miles 32k 1 owner stage 2 with all the supporting mods. Clean carfax 1 owner Asking the dealer if it's protuned my guess it is but how would I know that exactly? Already asked for compression tests to be done and records of any kind.
If the car has an AP with it, it is more than likely tuned. If there is no accessport the prior owner probably sold it or a tech took it. No accessport means stock tune more than likely
Hi tanner, just wanted to know what are your thoughts on a gc8 platform, we’re planning to get one here in the Philippines. What we’re looking at right know has a bigger turbo, bigger piston, coils, safc neo, killer bee oil pickup and baffles. Currently making 235whp
Fantastic cars if you can find them in clean condition 😁
Hey Tanner, orig owner of 17 year old 05 sti here. Love the car and still going strong at 120k and an IAG built block! I'm I the market for a hatchback but may have to hold off for another year or so due to finances. I'm rebuilding my orig ej257 (based on your specs ) so I will have an extra shortblock on hand. Do you think it's a good route for me to find a hatch with a blown motor at a discount and plan to swap in my extra built shortblock or should I try to find a hatch in better condition from the start? I can do some work on he car myself but would need my mechanic to do the engine swap for me.
100% find one with a blown engine if you have a spare on hand 🔥
Can you make a list of things to ask a dealer though? I'm looking to get one as my first "enthusiast" car and when I look at listings online I have no idea what to look for. So far the only thing I look for is the engine swaps because at glance if it says 2.0L I know to skip over for the 2015-2021 gen.
sweet I will poste mine in every video comments when tis time to sell.
Great info!!!
Thanks Paul 🥳
I got lucky and got my sti under 19k miles lol from my work but I did pay as much as a brand new one 37k
Steals 🔥
@@Smeedia I did the four cylinder cooling mod right away and now just waiting for the aos and I did all maintenance even do I bought from where I work lol
Subaru Tech here: head gasket leaking is still a thing even on new cars. Unmodified STI engines we are seeing leaking in Blowing in 20,000 miles or less. STI engines are made of glass. In my personal opinion from what I have seen in my work it's the bearings are too narrow to support the load. These are stock engines
I've built a good amount of STis and have yet to ever see one with a head gasket failure.
Majority of failures I've seen are due to half assed work or owners not taking care if the cars. Best one was one that the owner drove 10 miles with no oil. Had a nice window in the block
@@Smeedia definitely a big part of it is maintenance and care! I would really love to compare the design characteristics of a Porsche performance boxer compared to Subaru. it seems like Porsche has it figured out but also with Porsche being so expensive I'm sure they're not driven like a Subaru is or at least I'm sure they're way better maintained. I'm about to tear apart an STI engine tomorrow maybe I should make a video on it
Lol I have an 02 bug eye that is fully sti swapped and it’s an ej207 for sale that should be worth more now that Subaru sacked the glorious transmitted infection model!
How much you want for that bug👀
@@Smeedia Hmmmmm you know…. I would want to send you a few pics first! I needs a paint job as the trunk doesn’t match the rest of the car!
@@Smeedia I emailed you and sent an instagram in case you actually want to see it!
Buying an 07 WRX….maybe…hope it’s a good price.
Hopefully things go through 🥳
the dearler mark-ups are actually insane right now..... looking around in canada a 21 sti sport-tech is easily 50-70k right now. just bonkers.
😳😳😳
STi hatch gang ✌
Gang gang
what’s your opinion on a 2005 STI clean tittle NEW STI RA shortblock, arp head studs, IAG oil pan, IAG pickup, IAG oil baffle, all new seals and gaskets, intake, full exhaust, 2013 STI intercooler. the dude who sells these only works on subies and ppl all over my area are saying he doesn’t sell messed up ones. dude wants $19.5k tho
Great vid as always man! Love my '08 wrx, she's my little shitbox for now lol (currently broken)
What happened?!
@@Smeedia My stock TMIC cracked by the turbo, so I put a Mishimoto one on, and an IAG AOS V3 Street. Then my AP was reading 25.00 on my AF Learning 1, and my coolant temps climb upwards of 220. So, I took the intercooler off to inspect all of my connections and everything looked good, burped the cooling system, but its still running like garbage.
And for all those who have a WRX STI hold it hold it hold it!!!!!!!!!! 🙌
HOLD
Legit, thx bro. ✌️👌
Why is the 08 - 10 more unreliable? Still as unreliable if the motor is built with forged parts??