hondeducation

I've been presented a straight trade for my clean title 06 TL 6 speed (150k) with a clean title 08 WRX 6 speed sedan (13k rebuilt motor, 170k body). The TL is pretty much all stock, runs perfect, great interior and exterior. The WRX has an intake and cobb accessport, otherwise stock.

the guy told me about a small oil leak around the pressure gasket, which i have no idea about. he said it leaves like a 2 inch circle after driving, but does not leak when parked. so i'm already a bit concerned... but at the same time, i'm thinking 'its a rebuilt engine, it should live for another 100k miles easily...' he also claims that his friend is a certified subaru mechanic and tuner that builds subarus, whom rebuilt his motor for him.

i already have a TSX 6 spd and TL, so the kid inside of me is telling me to jump on the deal. i feel like i'd be winning on this trade, but i'm not sure because i've never had a subaru before and am unfamiliar with them. Anyone have experience with WRX or subarus?? What should I be concerned with?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

werent these engines liable to blow?!?
the stock engine blew up and he got it replaced. I dont know if Subie fixed what caused the engines to blow up in the first place.
I wouldnt do it, unless you knew exactly what had happened to it...and if you had the means to fix it, if it happens again

hondeducation

whoa what?? ok, i guess i should read up on that because if it's across the board, that's a big no-no for me. i understand user-error or mistreatment, but if it's factory wide.... that's scary! i will look at it tonight and report back... but will be checking this thread periodically for user feedback!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I remember it happening more to the STi's of that year period.2006-2008
don't they use the same engine for both STi and WRX?

truonghthe

WRX weakness are

1. MT gear box made out of glass if you decide to launch it.
2. Motor internal is already at near max capacity for boost since the factory boost came in around 14-17 psi. if you raise the boost more than 18psi get ready for a new motor.
3. Turbo shaft can goes loose and if it does it will break apart and send shrapnel toward your cylinder wall.
4. High boost nature over time will blow out connection in the joints causing boost leak, this will greatly diminish your power put down.


Its impossible to find unmolested WRX for right price, most of the owner goes for stage 2 where involve replace up pipe and down pipe and a tune since this the cheapest method of raising power without any serious work to the motor at the same time you are running at the max that your motor could hold. If you want to get in touch with Subbie Pro you can contact EFI Logic locate in the east coast (CT).

WDPanda

PASS unless you want to nurse this car back to life. 2 inch puddle????

teh CL

iTrader: (1)

Why do you think he wants the TL?

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

do you live in snowy climate?

truonghthe

lol most people fail to realize boost car cost more to squeeze power out of them, yeah sure it gain mad power but most importantly you putting extra stress on your internal component and drivetrain. Stage 2 will require a GREAT tune and we all know how pump gas isn't race gas.

Kids just bough the subbie and all they do is dial up the boost for more power until WOT then bam there goes a rod or piston...... FIY EFI logic charge $2700 for a Cobb access port along with up/down pipe installation and additional $450 tune plus tax (this was way back in 2011).

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

my co-worker put a canned tune on a 2011 ATS 2.0turbo and blew the motor
although, Most of those ATS' blew up because it was GM's first foray back into the turbo world

Shadow2056

Never trade a car with no issues for a car with a rebuilt motor and an oil leak. Especially since it has 20k more miles than yours. Keep your TL. He has a boosted car that's been more than factory tuned and has already had to have the motor replaced. Keep your TL.

hondeducation

Oh man these comments make me nervous haha. So if i stay stage 2 or under, it should be ok?? I dont ever plan on launching the car because i havent done that since my integra type r days haha. My intention is if i were to go up to big bear or back around oregon (plenty of rain and every other car is a subaru), i wouldnt worry as much over road conditions.

here's the tl up for trade

BROlando

You seem like you want this WRX even though you know its a bad idea.

He seems like he wants a normal, reliable car.

Good trade for both parties.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I also think the OP has made up his mind already, despite the warnings.

Jakes_tl

If he can prove the WRX has 13k on the motor and the rest of the car is in great shape including the tranny I would go with the trade but remember the subbi won't last long if you decide to mod it or push it to the limits.

BROlando

Also...if it was rebuilt by a subaru master tech...why does it leak oil every time its driven?

If he's downplaying it as "not a difficult fix", why hasn't he fixed it? If he's lazy...what else is broken or pending?

It leaks a 2" puddle of oil every time its driven. I'd be looking for someone to offload that on to as well.

Why did the original engine blow up? There's no good answer for this. Its either, "because I am reckless", or "because these cars are shitboxes". Or "both of the above".

etc.

I do understand wanting a car even though its a known bad idea. Sometimes, you just wanna have a fun car for a while. People buy brand new shitboxes every day, for example. They buy them to have fun for a while.

So if you are going into it with your eyes open, its all good.

I've been around these type of trades before.

In 6 months, you'll be getting rid of the Subaru OR becoming a "Subaru master mechanic" out of necessity.

In 6 months, he will be selling the TL to find another car that he can put neon green Rotas on that has compartments to hold his vape juice and monster energy drink more efficiently.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

I know for a fact the STi's of that time period were blowing up, because of ringland failure

Jakes_tl

Missed that it is leaking oil, I would tell him to fix that or walk away from that deal.

Shadow2056

I had a car before where the owner said it has a small oil leak and it was a "simple fix". 5 months later, I ended up having to add 3qrts of oil every time I drove the car for more than 10min. It turned into a massive problem.

OP. You have a massively clean TL. And you're wanting to trade it for a car with problems and has been raced. Do it if you want to. But you'll end up posting up here that you wished you listened. That you wish you never got rid of your WDP TL.

Jackass

Not sure what being a subaru has to do with anything about this area....or rain. Just put proper tires on your TL and you should be just fine.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

This discussion from a slightly different perspective...

Having driven and ridden in a number of WRXs, my bet is, if you make the trade, once the novelty has worn off of the Subie, you'll realize just how refined and wonderful the TL is (or in your case was), and you'll hate yourself for making the trade.

Ltfa182

Keep the TL! Unless you got money to put into the subie. I personally like being comfortable in my car and having heated seats

hondeducation

this made me laugh.


UPDATE - Okay, so I definitely was infatuated with the novel idea of a WRX (AWD, handle any climate, turbo, etc.). After rescheduling the meet up with the WRX owner, it gave me more time to mull things over and listen to your words of caution. I thank you all for that. I ended up canceling on meeting up entirely with the guy and will be keeping the TL. You guys are right though; the TL is a very reliable car, and it is quite a refined car even given it's age. It does not have a single problem with it and it's clearly quick in stock form. I think my problem is that I make rash decisions fairly quickly, and I get bored quickly. Then again, I may have gotten bored of the WRX quickly as well.

Perhaps I may do something to the TL soon. If anything, I'll post updates here and share. Thanks again guys!

WDPanda

Having owned unreliable BMWs.... Toyota & Honda & their premium brands are just unbeatable in terms of reliability. Life needs to be lived, not spent.

twokexlv6coupe

Maybe a little too late on this one, but I'm just here to reiterate what everyone else has said and to also tell @OP would NOT have been happy with this trade. '05 STi (racecar) and '07 Type-S 6speed (DD) here.
I've had my STi a little over 6 years now. Built short block (out of want, not necessity ) rotated 30R setup, yadda yadda yadda.
Pretty much what everyone said was spot-on;
-04/05 (STi's) are damn near bullet-proof. I beat the pissssss out of mine, and she just begs for more.
-But WRX trannies are indeed made out of tempered glass.
-06/07's were a bit less reliable with a slightly tweaked ECU that ran slightly leaner. Any detonation what--so-ever.... bu-bye cast ringlands.
-08-14...... if it wasn't a ringland that was blowing up your engine, it was spinning a rod bearing. OEM P2W and bearing clearances were on the ridiculously tight side = no room for error. I wanna say the engine failure rate for the GR's is like 50%, but it more realistically is probably around 20-33% (still an astronomical figure compared to Honda's). Then again, Honda probably sells more Fits per year than Subaru sells all together.....

Cliffnotes, and I'm right around OP's age
-WRX is a very, VERY fun car, regardless of weather- sunshine, rain, mud, 18" of fluffy powder.... Subaru gives no shits. But is also a cheap car. Lots of creaks, rattles, squeeks, moans....... RELIABILITY but that's because racecar. Not to mention the stereotype is very quickly becoming 100% true (myself excluded)
-3G TL, I can only think of pro's; refined, mature, comfy, luxurious, RELIABLE AF!!!!

But I can't blame OP for being a little curious to see if the grass is greener on the other side. On one hand I always say I'll "never" sell the subie, mostly due to how much I've poured into her.
On the other hand I'm constantly thinking "If I could consolidate the STi and Type-S into one car....... what's fast AF, luxurious, AND PRACTICAL (aka >4 doors)?"
-Audi R/S4 , but I wouldn't settle for anything less than a 6-speed Avant, which I'm told is rarer than my Type-S
-SRT8 Grand Cherokee
-Raptor

and what do all 3 of those have in common??....

BROlando

MASSIVE unreliability...except maybe the Raptor.

I don't know if I could DD a Raptor, however. I'd need to make raptor noises, and mimic raptor movements at passers by, every time I climbed in/out of it. And that would take a toll on one's vocal chords and social networking ability.

Whdrms

iTrader: (1)

I concur with everyone.. I had traded in my first 3g TL for, then newer, bmw e92 with all bells and whistles. Sure it was fun and awesome in snow (similar to your expectations with wrx), but once warranty was out, car broke down constantly despite having done all preventative maintenances.. the most memorable experiences were towing the car from baltimore to NYC because suspension broke off without any warning, and car wasn't going in reverse (due to tiny tranny switch that cost $ in parts and $$$ in labor... moral of the story is good ol reliables is better than fun cars that would wet your pants but empty your wallet..

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

I guess I was lucky enough to have had two extremely reliable BMWs, first an E46 328i, and then a sublimely wonderful E39 530i SP.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

the evil you know...

Whdrms

iTrader: (1)

ah... e46 and e39 best bmws to date .. ofcourse opinions subjective..

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Agreed. I'd also make the case for the E30 and E36 M3s as well.

hondeducation

thanks for your input, much appreciated. when you said the 04-05 STI are bulletproof, is this why the newer STIs use the older gen motors as opposed to the WRXs?? hmmm... so is your STI just the weekend racer or track only, while the Type S is the daily? also, does anyone else drive your cars (like a gf or wife)? just curious because i failed to think about my gf ever driving my car (she would be useful for our periodic road trips when I get tired of driving)

i've actually never driven a fully modded out TL, so maybe with the right upgrades, i'll get a little more of that fun factor i'm yearning for. anyone in LA want to take me for a test drive?? i'll buy dinner!

hondeducation

how many miles were on your e46? i had a 2004 330i m sport a few years ago, but that thing always had random gaskets go bad on me at only 100k miles. it was def a fun car and quite sporty, but the cooling system on it was very poor and i was tired of the constant repairs and $ spent

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Interesting. My 1999 328i was built in November of 1998 so it was one of the very first E46s, and other than the window tracks and front control arms (which my dealership pro-actively replaced for me when the car was in for a checkup), the only issue I had in the 100,000 miles I had the car was a single burned out taillight bulb. I was driving a lot back then and by 2002 I upgraded to the E39 530i with the "M" Sport Package (which I picked up via the European Delivery program). My wife and I moved to New Hampshire shortly after picking the 5er up in the States; my annual mileage dropped off to about 10,000 per year so I cannot comment on the gasket issues of the 3.0 liter engine. Either way, in 135,000 miles of driving in the seven years I had the cars I spent a total of something like $2.00 in unscheduled maintenance (the light bulb).

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

and that, my friends, is NOT the norm.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

Which ain't the norm?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

a BMW with $2.00 in maintenance over the course of ownership.

horseshoez

iTrader: (2)

I didn't say that, I said $2.00 in unscheduled maintenance. I still paid for oil, filters, tires, brakes, and any other scheduled or normal maintenance items.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

okay...well, either way.
That's not the norm for any manufacturer unless you lease or trade in before warranty wears off.

WDPanda

E36/E39 were the better BMWs. Downhill from there.
E46 had premature spring cracking, cooling system is a joke, window regulators were as often as oil changes, oil itself was impossible to find, random relays go bad, the CCV fails and is buried in the firewall, the reverse gear on the autos constantly failed and the transmission itself was crap, dashboard is like a christmas tree, the rear (crappy open) differential would leak, taking off the clutch fan required special tools, car smells like crayons, everything inside creaks, constantly on a flatbed (a regular tow truck isn't enough), mechanics will milk customers based on the brand and not the value of the car, many mechanics won't even touch it, anything other than a 330 was so slow that a civic would walk all over it, and the list could go on. But the E46/E92 M3s are sooo fun, when it's able to drive.