Head gaskets are not a common point of failure on the ej205, flush the radiator fluid every 3 years or so and you should have no cooling issues. Keep an eye on oil level, don’t drive it low on oil. Many people like using 5w40 synthetic oil on the ej205, that is what I’ve done with great results for almost two decades. Last two years started using 0w40 and always oem oil filters, my engine shows no sign of wear. Great compression, no oil consumption between 4500 mile oil change intervals, no smoking, happy turbo. Replace all the brittle hoses under the hood, including the turbo inlet, don’t wait for failure, preventive maintenance is the key to keep your wrx running 100% reliable for 200-300,000 miles. My wagon is at 230,000 and I wouldn’t be afraid to drive across the country. Thanks for the video.
Yeah Mobil 1 ow40 full synthetic is great for subies, my 99 wrx has been running that oil for 5 years on the original motor, I used to use oem filters but I have been discouraged by my mates, one of which claimed that a faulty oem filter killed his brand new short block, so now I use k&n oil filters and I haven’t had a issue
aww i miss my silver 02 wrx wagon! mine ran great up until i wrecked it. 75 mph straight into a center divide on the freeway and i walked away with only a small bruise on my left shin to show for it. very safe car, don't forget to check your tire tread kids.
i just bought a 02 wrx as well a month ago. only 96k miles on it, perfect interior.(doesnt even look like a 18 year old car) ive been loving it everyday. Named it "dad wagon"
The turbo model Subarus werent prone to the notorious headgasket issues that the non turbo models were, at least the earlier years anyways according to my tuner. Obviously the more abuse you put on the car the more likely youll have issues with the headgasket amongst other things. A good rule of thumb for reliability with these cars(again from tuner), is to avoid the higher rpm range, no reason to be above 6k in these cars. The other KEY rule is to avoid high boost at lower rpms, that is to say, save wot full boost for over 3k and under 3k dont exceed wastegate pressure(7-8 psi) or 50% throttle. I was told these are the 2 most common reasons people have compression and ringland issues, and that there is no reason to push the car like that unless you have a built motor, and/or regardless of how well tuned, maintained it is. Some of these issues are just more plausible due to the inherent design of horizontally opposed engines sadly. If youre nice to the car, it will be nice to you. Anyways nice review, hope you have the car for many years to come.
Thanks for the info! Thankfully I'm usually pretty nice to this car and I definitely stay away from redline. I hear that our 2.0 engines dont have ringland issue like the 2.5. Hope youre out there enjoying your bug too
Hey man great content! I just came back from testing the same car. Brilliant fun. Thing is, I live in germany and its quite hard to find a decent wrx over here. Todays one would cost me 5,500€... best one I found so far. You said its fast but not a bmw. You reckon I should rather get something like an e36 325i - 335i for my money? I've got a soft spot for anything japanese with a turbo on and literally everyones got bmws here so yea would love to hear what you'd do!
Thank you! I've had a lot of seat time in an early 2000's BMW 3 series wagon automatic. The WRX is way more fun to drive and is definitely faster. Even if the BMW was manual, I would still choose the WRX. I will say that the 3 series automatic wagon is a better cruiser, is more comfortable and much nicer in stop and go traffic. Just depends on what you're needs are. Maybe I should do a comparison...
Good question. I feel like Subarus get a bad wrap because they get abused. If you do the maintenance I imagine you can get a lot of miles out of one of these. On the other hand, Hondas have the best reputation for reliability. If I had to make a bet, I would put my money on a Honda Civic outlasting a WRX. Again, I dont think Subarus are unreliable. Just take care of it and do the maintenance.
@@DreamWrench Ok thank you for the answer I wasn't sure if I should make the switch or not I just dont want to be stranded with this car when I'm trying to get to work
Oh ya, its a drinker. I don't have exact numbers but it must be in the teens. Part of the problem is that this car really wants to be driven above 3k. Its a dog until the turbo starts spooling up.
Head gaskets are not a common point of failure on the ej205, flush the radiator fluid every 3 years or so and you should have no cooling issues. Keep an eye on oil level, don’t drive it low on oil. Many people like using 5w40 synthetic oil on the ej205, that is what I’ve done with great results for almost two decades. Last two years started using 0w40 and always oem oil filters, my engine shows no sign of wear. Great compression, no oil consumption between 4500 mile oil change intervals, no smoking, happy turbo. Replace all the brittle hoses under the hood, including the turbo inlet, don’t wait for failure, preventive maintenance is the key to keep your wrx running 100% reliable for 200-300,000 miles. My wagon is at 230,000 and I wouldn’t be afraid to drive across the country. Thanks for the video.
Ahhh I see. Thank you! I will correct the head gasket statement in the next WRX review. Glad to hear your ej205 has been running strong for so long!
Yeah Mobil 1 ow40 full synthetic is great for subies, my 99 wrx has been running that oil for 5 years on the original motor, I used to use oem filters but I have been discouraged by my mates, one of which claimed that a faulty oem filter killed his brand new short block, so now I use k&n oil filters and I haven’t had a issue
@@DreamWrench and also replace the knock sensor every 2 years and clean you maf and iacv yearly or earlier
aww i miss my silver 02 wrx wagon! mine ran great up until i wrecked it. 75 mph straight into a center divide on the freeway and i walked away with only a small bruise on my left shin to show for it. very safe car, don't forget to check your tire tread kids.
Ouch! Glad you are okay Chito! I actually do need new tires.
Appreciated seeing this! Just picked up a 2003 WRX wagon myself, silver also, and love it so far. Looking forward to following your build!
Awesome! I'll be working on/filming the soobie this weekend.
i just bought a 02 wrx as well a month ago. only 96k miles on it, perfect interior.(doesnt even look like a 18 year old car) ive been loving it everyday. Named it "dad wagon"
That is awesome! 96k miles is really hard to find on an 02. Soobie gang!
Got mine for $1200 with 280,000KMs/ 173,000 miles a couple months back. Loving it!!
Dang that is cheap! Glad you're enjoying it!
Nice car man! Wrx wagon owner here 🤟🏽😉
Thank you! Right on! Scooby wagon gang!
Love your energy! Should be picking up an 03 wrx wagon next week and I'm super stoked! 🙌🏾
Awesome! Hope youre having fun with your new bug!
Nice video....Just picked up a beat up 2002 Impreza wagon myself...and got the BRZ wheels last week for the subaru
Thanks, rad! That should look nice!
I'm waiting on my wheels right now. Hopefully I'll have them in a couple of weeks.
I've got a twin oem 02 wagon I'm building into a daily! Good video! 🤘🏻
Nice! Thanks Xyle
The turbo model Subarus werent prone to the notorious headgasket issues that the non turbo models were, at least the earlier years anyways according to my tuner. Obviously the more abuse you put on the car the more likely youll have issues with the headgasket amongst other things. A good rule of thumb for reliability with these cars(again from tuner), is to avoid the higher rpm range, no reason to be above 6k in these cars. The other KEY rule is to avoid high boost at lower rpms, that is to say, save wot full boost for over 3k and under 3k dont exceed wastegate pressure(7-8 psi) or 50% throttle. I was told these are the 2 most common reasons people have compression and ringland issues, and that there is no reason to push the car like that unless you have a built motor, and/or regardless of how well tuned, maintained it is. Some of these issues are just more plausible due to the inherent design of horizontally opposed engines sadly. If youre nice to the car, it will be nice to you. Anyways nice review, hope you have the car for many years to come.
Thanks for the info! Thankfully I'm usually pretty nice to this car and I definitely stay away from redline. I hear that our 2.0 engines dont have ringland issue like the 2.5. Hope youre out there enjoying your bug too
location giving very norcal vibes. Dare I saw Bodega/Rohnert Park? sweet wagooon!!
Thanks Blaine! Lol I can neither confirm nor deny!
Solid review 👌
Thank you!
I demand an update video about the squareback Or Else !!!
Hah, coming soon Flyte!
4:43 Hold up! That view looks like the current location where the windows XP backround was shot! Or just not?
Haha! This is no joke actually fairly close to that spot. Good catch
Thank you for this video!!
Absolutely! Thanks for watching.
Wagon Mafia.
awww yeaa
where is the rally cross track?!
One is Prairie City outside of Sacramento and the other is the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds.
Hey man great content! I just came back from testing the same car. Brilliant fun. Thing is, I live in germany and its quite hard to find a decent wrx over here. Todays one would cost me 5,500€... best one I found so far. You said its fast but not a bmw. You reckon I should rather get something like an e36 325i - 335i for my money? I've got a soft spot for anything japanese with a turbo on and literally everyones got bmws here so yea would love to hear what you'd do!
Thank you!
I've had a lot of seat time in an early 2000's BMW 3 series wagon automatic. The WRX is way more fun to drive and is definitely faster. Even if the BMW was manual, I would still choose the WRX.
I will say that the 3 series automatic wagon is a better cruiser, is more comfortable and much nicer in stop and go traffic.
Just depends on what you're needs are.
Maybe I should do a comparison...
Thanks for the advice man, got me the wrx and I'm happy as hell with it!
@@steffenbosse9467 Rad! Good choice
Bodega 🤙🏽rad i got a blue one
haha you know it
How is the reliability on these compared to a Honda or Toyota ?
Good question.
I feel like Subarus get a bad wrap because they get abused. If you do the maintenance I imagine you can get a lot of miles out of one of these.
On the other hand, Hondas have the best reputation for reliability. If I had to make a bet, I would put my money on a Honda Civic outlasting a WRX.
Again, I dont think Subarus are unreliable. Just take care of it and do the maintenance.
@@DreamWrench Ok thank you for the answer I wasn't sure if I should make the switch or not I just dont want to be stranded with this car when I'm trying to get to work
What about gas?it’s it a drinker
Oh ya, its a drinker. I don't have exact numbers but it must be in the teens.
Part of the problem is that this car really wants to be driven above 3k.
Its a dog until the turbo starts spooling up.