I’ve had roughly 8 turbo platform Subarus. They have all been modified correctly, tuned correctly, driven correctly and beat on. They have all been on stock internals with the exception of one. All of these cars were sold with well into the 100k + miles and I have never experienced catastrophic failure.
I have a 2002 Subaru WRX and it's a great car haven't had any issues and have the stock clutch and transmission. original engine it has 185,580miles never gave me a problem..🏎️🔧
I have two Subarus. A 2011 Subaru Legacy and a 2017 STI. More than 11 years later for the Legacy and more than 5 years for the STI, zero issues at all. They are extremely reliable as long as you religiously follow the maintenance schedule.
Same here, my 18 STI is the longest car I've ever owned. I've always traded/sold cars regularly. Modified them to this and that and then always wanted something new. Anyhow 5 years later I still have my 18 STI Red, and she's a bit of a garage queen but I love her. Zero issues
I've always sworn against a used STI just because you don't know who owned it. But then I found a 1 year old (technically 11 months from when it was put on the road) 2021 with less than 6,000 miles, and it was BONE STOCK. So I figured what the hell and picked it up.
Owner for 2.5 years and nothing wrong with my 2015 wrx. I will say just keep up with your maintenance and it will be good to you. Btw, it's my daylie car 24/7. Have 74k miles.
If you are going to buy a used Subaru, I’d try look around at dealerships for one! Specifically as a certified pre-owned since they have to repair anything that’s wrong with car car before they sell it. That’s what I did and I’ve had my 13’ sti for over 2 years now and been keeping up with regular maintenance on it and have recently gone full bolt ins and it’s amazing!
may be a power steering pump and an altenator ! at 270,000 klm = spun 2 rod bearings - chasing AUDI v8 jobs 8,500 rpm ej205 ! = swapped it for a new RA EJ207 STI short block virgin motor - full head rebuild all new brian crower parts - 5,500 klm now just running in - 280hp! so much fun did it myself = 67yo .
Maintenence is unbelievably important, like you said it's the things that people overlook that can cause issues. Improperly gapped spark plugs can lead to incorrect timing, the gap can open up over time, did the previous owner cheap out, so many variables over one 'simple' part which is integral to your motor. When I purchase my cars, I run through all service history (even if hardly any) and input it onto my PC, I check all MOT History (hopefully there's a similar 'road legal' test in your part of the world too) to correlate what it failed on (if at all) and any advisories that were noted but then not shown the next test, usually meaning they were rectified. Once everything is correlated I write a priority list of any maintenance and servicing that I think the car needs. People put it down to just a few cars that 'aren't reliable', but you just have to take care of them. RX Rotaries, EJ25s, Mazda 2.3 L3-VDT, Ford 2.0 and 2.3 EcoBoost are to name a few engines that simply need regular maintenance and to be driven and modded a certain, preventative way, but are extremely reliable when done so. And obviously are seen as unreliable when not.
i completely agree with the buy new philosophy for wrx/stis. these cars are typically the first enthusiast car that people buy, meaning their dad bought them the car for a high school graduation. and the kids that buy them, don't typically know how to take care of the car. i struggle at times while paying this car off because i'm in my early 20s and i'm working a regular job, and i definitely couldve gotten a used one (pre covid) for mid 20ks, but i realized that 20k miles on a wrx = to 70k on a camry. yeah you're paying more for a new car but the peace of mind for this car is definitely worth it
Ima buy a Subaru when I can but I’m not a kid who doesn’t look after it I will look after it bc cars are my fav thing so I will look after it and everyone says on TikTok they aren’t reliable
@@Coolstorys1234 tiktok is cancer. stay away from it. Im in the midst of buying a 2017+ wrx sti to replace my 01 jeep cherokee xD. I;ve got a cammed full bolt on g8 and need a 2nd car with awd and the subaru brand comes to mind. Will also be my first manual.
Next month will be a year of ownership with my stock 21' STI (only has catback, kartboy STS, and a few aesthetic mods) with 9900 miles. Literally have had 0 issues apart from some of the wheel studs needing replacement. Oil changed every 3500 with motul 5w40, let the car properly warmup and cooldown. Its really not that difficult to maintain this car.
@@LowestDifficulty i’ve had my sti for 2 years and have replaced i think 3 or 4 and a few still look sketch. a lot of people get those arp extended studs
I have an 06 legacy 2.5 (non GT) that I’ve owned for over a year and with over 180k miles. Not the fastest car by any stretch, it’s actually maddeningly slow, but my god has it been reliable. Outside of a slight oil burn, it has been completely without issue. Highly recommend Subaru, but you gotta take care of them
This is my dream car and right now I'm about to buy a 2018 sti with 43k miles for $35k it has mostly highway miles and service record is great. I know it's a risk but with the economy the way it is its the best option I have given a brand new one is over $50k and the fact Subaru has canceled the sti for the new Gen wrx, I don't expect prices to get any better
Love getting the notification of a new video I really want an STI the prices have gone way up and the reliability issue I hear scares me away a little then there is you who has a super clean build and reliable makes me think other wise.
You have a sick ride bro. Love the color! I don't have any Subie turbo toys but my '21 Crosstrek Outdoor (Sport in the US) has been nothing but fantastic and reliable so far. Heck I even take it on my hunting and fishing trips and it's amazing where I was able to go offroad. I second the importance of maintenance specially for Subarus. Take good care of it and it'll take good care of you.
Another great informative vid! Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance... overlooked and you have the risk of having issues. I don't wish it upon anyone, but it happens. And happens frequently. Keep up the great content my man.
This is the best automotive video on the internet! You nailed this video & It's laughable the garbage on the internet and realize 99.9% of the problems are the owners themselves.
Our old WRX was perfectly fine engine wise never had an issue with it even after being modified running 280hp. And my MG had a reputation for being unreliable but it’s been a great daily driver despite being 20yrs old nearly. Yet I bought a “reliable” Honda that blew up within a day 🥴. Every car has common issues but for some reason certain cars get an unfair reputation
Blew my first engine at 19k bone stock. Ringlands. All 4 cylinders. #4 being the worst one, of course. Lesson learned: Stock up on engine parts. We gonna be doing more of these!
I have a 2017 wrx and am one of those who had the battery issue. When my Subaru dealership swapped out the battery my passenger side door window started going back down halfway after I powered it up all the way. Tried the button reset which didn’t work and took it back to them on multiple occasions and they never did fix it. I finally just said F it once my car was past the warranty since I usually drive with my ac on anyways. Other than that, it’s stock and the Best car I’ve ever owned!!!
Just got a used 2016 STI with 150k miles. It was ridiculously clean for the miles and no mods other than an exhaust. A female driven car so the only damage was curbed wheels 😂. However, we bought my wife a 2020 Forester off the showroom floor with 7 miles on it. It just turned 106k and the only problem happened last week. CV axel went bad, $100 fix.
Thanks again for everything you do. When I got my dream car finally it seems like you and Smeedia are the only 2 that build nice and reliable cars. Love watching the big number builds but I want mine like yours not Bader Built to the moon lol.
Beautiful car I can tell its been taken care of very well! These cars reward you greatly if they are. would love to own an Outback XT in a manual one day!
Just to add to some more data, 96k miles original block in my 2012 sti, tuned to a very conservative 18psi 308/328 on a 95 degree day on a mustang dyno. with all the mods you had before you went to the Dom with the EWG.
It seems most people who have issues with turbo Subarus come from Hondas. They buy used, beaten up WRX s and STIs and expect to abuse it the same as NA Hondas.
Hey man I know you are skeptical about E85 and all that..Let me just say that E85 can get you a bunch more power and it is also much safer for your stock motor. Basically it has over 100 octane, and it also burns cooler which is much better for your pistons and all IC parts. You can make the same power with increased reliability, or make more power with the same reliability.
You hit everything on the head. I tell this to people all the time. Quick scenario: a friend w STI RA just upgraded turbo and fueling system and downpipe. But no am intercooler setup to support bigger turbo. (To me is a huge no no) He hit 350whp and that was adjusted. (Low to me for an sti) He then went to say that an fmic would cause turbo lag and a tmic just wasn't worth it for minimal power. And I highly disagree as you would as well. By going off your mantra of keeping your car happy with mods to help it work less and prolong its life. My thought is the intercooler should be upgraded even on oem turbo and that's what I did and my turbo has been happy and works great.
Excellent explanation of rev matching on these cars! It's the same as any ma nual, but these cars do take a bit of skill. But like you said, when you get it right, that sweet spot!
Spark plugs every 10-15k?! Seems a little excessive. Don't get me wrong, I am totally for being on top of maintenance. But if you have iridium spark plugs do you really need to change them out that frequently? Thinking about getting a new WRX (and keeping it stock) but these maintenance intervals are what's making me second guess getting one.
Subaru, much like Porsche honestly, is a specialist platform. The boxer layout has some serious advantages, but shrugging off improper maintenance and modification isn't one of them. I've seen original engines with well over 300k miles, I've also seen people go through them like pop-tarts. Honestly, if you're not ready to be an adult and take serious responsibility for your car, you really ought to go with Honda. Honda has this way of handling terrible maintenance behavior and just going and going and going. You can still kill one, but you really have to mean it. Subaru on the other hand, you love it and it'll love you back, but you decide not to and it'll strand you on the side of the road.
I have a 2016 STI and ive been repeatedly having problems with intake cam sensor issues. I have code P0346 atm but just replaced what i believe to be the same sensor. any ideas on what i can do, i really do not want to get rid of the car but it is tuned at a shop so dealership will not help. It has intake, catted downpipe, catback, IAG AOS, 1050cc injectors, fuel pump, fuel regulator etc. not too crazy and really am stuck as to what is causing problems. I love the videos and they are very helpful but I havent heard anyone talk about this.
I want one soooo bad but I can only afford the CVT version of this car which doesn’t really bother me..as long as it’s reliable that’s what matters to me..I’m looking at the years 2015-2018
Hey Chris, great vid as always! love ur take, esp bc u do not have any affiliations with any brand/company. my question is, what is a good range of RPM to keep the car at? I keep the car in intelligent mode (still learning how to drive stick smoothly, which is hard for the STI but driving it is easy), and I usually shift from 2.5k - 3k. bc i dont beat on the car, i usually keep the revs above 2k when cruising. i get mixed answers, but is this wrong? should i be cruising at 3k? ik the answer is it depends (going uphill, city/highway, etc.) but for me, my STI is a daily that i barely go into boost in. to me, the car feels like it lugs at 1k - 2k when i apply gas, esp at higher gears, which is y i feel that above 2k revs is okay for cruising. pls lmk what u think!
There’s really no set rpm to stay at. It’s just what the car feels like in the specific scenario. I tend to downshift anytime I need to speed up so I don’t lug the motor st all. I never get on the car unless it’s in boost. Which is around 3500 or so for me.
Up shifting at low rpms is ok, as long as you don’t lug the engine. Then if you have to accelerate hard and boost, you have to make sure that you downshift first (with rev matching). For instance, don’t floor the gas on 6th gear running on 60mph. Downshift to 3rd or 4th gear first with rev matching before you accelerate. Watch TH-cam about rev matching. Practice it, and you will enjoy your STI more.
I’m looking at a 2020 with 22k miles for 34k. Is the reliability issues with these cars primarily due to people not tuning them properly and beating the crap out of em constant redlining etc? I plan on just cruising and being my daily with an occasional pull merging onto highways. Would this be something that would possibly blow an sti also ? Lol
Hey man, I actually commented on one of your other videos which you were super helpful, but i genuinely have a question the forums and groups seem to rip on me for. I just bought my 2017 STI, thankfully it was stock when I bought it, it’s got 70k miles on it, the carfax doesn’t show a full service done since 32k miles, who’s to say the previous owner didn’t do things on he own but none the less I am about to perform a full service myself, spark plugs, trans and diff fluid, oil change, cyl 4 cooling mod, and fresh coolant. Everyone I see recommends the motul gear 300 for the diff’s and trans I was curious as to if I could use valvolines 75w90 gear oil? And if that would be a poor option in fluid or go with what everyone else recommends, hope you can get back to me, sorry for the paragraph and thank you!
I do current maintenance but I have a rattle issue coming from behind the intercooler I was told it’s the flex plate and was advised to get a clutch kit
I’ll always recommend an STI over the wrx as it’s a better driving experience overall. But that’s up to you. Everyone’s needs are different so there’s no right or wrong answer. Test drive both. See what speaks to you more.
i had both so i can give you a little word. my 18 wrx vs 18 sti.. i would reccomend test driving a wrx first.. once you try that you’ll see how much more of a beast and how raw the sti is over the wrx!
@@Autofreakgarage I paid 35k otd for my 22 WRX premium have you driven the Vb? I've driven both and stock for stock the VB is much more linear power. Love the STI, but this market is so high for used cars.
I drove the sti and I really liked it. Have yet to drive the VB. I do however prefer the VA interior. I would have bought the sti had the prices stayed reasonable.
@@getoutthematrix8347 100% sti is awesome power wise they're very comparable stock sti base line can range from 220-270whp the VB seems to be sitting between 240-255whp. Very similar, but for me warranty and new engine potential won me over
I’ve owned two FA20s I have driven one to the one side of the country and back in the desert the snow, off road you name it. Turbo fozzy I traded for because I was getting irratated for minor issues but other than that she never left me stranded. I have a VA WRX and it still is pretty solid minus the ac comp issue that got replaced for free and the head unit gets finicky besides the battery taking a dump it never left me stranded and this goes forever as long I take care of her.
I mean the wrx/sti are rated as the least reliable subaru vehicles. Personally I don't feel they are. The ej engine is completely outdated but the sti transmission is a gem well was a gem, RIP. The wrx fa20 has so many weak points to the engine. The fa24 is a more durable engine but subaru didn't push it at all so stock form on the 22 wrx is disappointing and they 22 wrx still uses the same transmission on the va wrx so that thing can't handle power at all.
I’m the same way with my car when it comes to maintenance. I’ve changed my coolant 4 times in 30k miles, change the oil every 2.5k miles mainly because I’m running an e blend, spark plugs every 10k miles etc. maintenance is KEY to keeping these running smoothly. Running an AOS is also a massive deal, I personally run a radium setup and it’s great. People may think I’m being a little ridiculous when it comes to my maintenance but it makes me feel better on the inside. I want my shit running like a top especially since it’s as full bolt on as you can get besides going closed deck block
I respect your dedication to maintenance but man your throwing money away. 3k miles on oil changes is already excessive unless your going by the extreme schedual, 2.5k is ludicrous. Coolant flushes are once every 30k. Plugs are like 60k.
@@Dr.Ticklebum69 I’m also making a lot more power than a stock car. Did you know maintenance becomes more crucial and more often when you run more than double what the car makes from the factory?
Was wondering if maybe you or someone else in the comments could give me some advice with an issue I’m having. I have a 2015 wrx with 152k miles, and recently noticed that the car won’t go over 9psi of boost at WOT in any gear. In 6th gear on the highway if I go over 50% throttle the afr goes to 10.14 and revs up but doesn’t accelerate. Checked for leaks in my exhaust manifold and all the vacuum lines and nothing. Thanks for any help.
Car seems to be running rich, which is a good thing comparing the alternative. I would do a smoke test on the entire intake system to make sure there are no leaks. It’s hard to spot them by doing a visual inspection unless an entire coupler came off.
Forgot to mention it’s the stock turbo, so I’m hoping it’s not dying on me. I’ll order a smoke tester and give that a shot, or find another subie brother and have him blow some vape smoke in my intake lol.
Hey I own a 17 STi I’m hearing some kind of rattling like every time I halfway hit the accelerator it’s a rattle but it sounds like it’s coming from inside the car somewhere in the dash on the driver side. It’s that the normal plastic rattling or is that something else? Only happens in like 5th to 6th gear
Very hard to diagnose things like this based off an explanation. My best advice is to drive around and recreate the sound. Hold down on parts of the interior that you think are making the rattling and sees if it goes away. Have a friend sit in the car with you to help.
Static all day, everyday. Been in many air setups and it just doesn’t handle or feel right. Great for a show car, but if you like to drive, I would stay with a proper static setup.
i had wrx 2015 sold it and got a cla 45s, totalled my cla 45s after 3 years of use.. and now im going back to subaru, but this time is a STI 2018. subaru is a better car. better in handling.. just that it is thirsty compared to the cla .
I’ve had roughly 8 turbo platform Subarus. They have all been modified correctly, tuned correctly, driven correctly and beat on. They have all been on stock internals with the exception of one. All of these cars were sold with well into the 100k + miles and I have never experienced catastrophic failure.
I have a 2002 Subaru WRX and it's a great car haven't had any issues and have the stock clutch and transmission. original engine it has 185,580miles never gave me a problem..🏎️🔧
Hell yeah! Love to hear stories like this.
brother, talk about long highway trips (1000 miles trips) anything to say? how it behave?
Original clutch?
I have two Subarus. A 2011 Subaru Legacy and a 2017 STI. More than 11 years later for the Legacy and more than 5 years for the STI, zero issues at all. They are extremely reliable as long as you religiously follow the maintenance schedule.
What’s the maintenance schedule for it? I might get a 2017. Please lmk
What’s the maintenance schedule for it? I might get a 2017. Please lmk
@@pi-xh5pb If you mod ur 17 sti and tune, probably change the oil every 3k with a new filter.
Same here, my 18 STI is the longest car I've ever owned. I've always traded/sold cars regularly. Modified them to this and that and then always wanted something new. Anyhow 5 years later I still have my 18 STI Red, and she's a bit of a garage queen but I love her. Zero issues
I've always sworn against a used STI just because you don't know who owned it. But then I found a 1 year old (technically 11 months from when it was put on the road) 2021 with less than 6,000 miles, and it was BONE STOCK. So I figured what the hell and picked it up.
Owner for 2.5 years and nothing wrong with my 2015 wrx. I will say just keep up with your maintenance and it will be good to you. Btw, it's my daylie car 24/7. Have 74k miles.
If you are going to buy a used Subaru, I’d try look around at dealerships for one! Specifically as a certified pre-owned since they have to repair anything that’s wrong with car car before they sell it. That’s what I did and I’ve had my 13’ sti for over 2 years now and been keeping up with regular maintenance on it and have recently gone full bolt ins and it’s amazing!
may be a power steering pump and an altenator ! at 270,000 klm = spun 2 rod bearings - chasing AUDI v8 jobs 8,500 rpm ej205 ! = swapped it for a new RA EJ207 STI short block virgin motor - full head rebuild all new brian crower parts - 5,500 klm now just running in - 280hp! so much fun did it myself = 67yo .
Maintenence is unbelievably important, like you said it's the things that people overlook that can cause issues.
Improperly gapped spark plugs can lead to incorrect timing, the gap can open up over time, did the previous owner cheap out, so many variables over one 'simple' part which is integral to your motor.
When I purchase my cars, I run through all service history (even if hardly any) and input it onto my PC, I check all MOT History (hopefully there's a similar 'road legal' test in your part of the world too) to correlate what it failed on (if at all) and any advisories that were noted but then not shown the next test, usually meaning they were rectified.
Once everything is correlated I write a priority list of any maintenance and servicing that I think the car needs.
People put it down to just a few cars that 'aren't reliable', but you just have to take care of them.
RX Rotaries, EJ25s, Mazda 2.3 L3-VDT, Ford 2.0 and 2.3 EcoBoost are to name a few engines that simply need regular maintenance and to be driven and modded a certain, preventative way, but are extremely reliable when done so.
And obviously are seen as unreliable when not.
i completely agree with the buy new philosophy for wrx/stis. these cars are typically the first enthusiast car that people buy, meaning their dad bought them the car for a high school graduation. and the kids that buy them, don't typically know how to take care of the car. i struggle at times while paying this car off because i'm in my early 20s and i'm working a regular job, and i definitely couldve gotten a used one (pre covid) for mid 20ks, but i realized that 20k miles on a wrx = to 70k on a camry. yeah you're paying more for a new car but the peace of mind for this car is definitely worth it
Ima buy a Subaru when I can but I’m not a kid who doesn’t look after it I will look after it bc cars are my fav thing so I will look after it and everyone says on TikTok they aren’t reliable
@@Coolstorys1234 tiktok is cancer. stay away from it. Im in the midst of buying a 2017+ wrx sti to replace my 01 jeep cherokee xD. I;ve got a cammed full bolt on g8 and need a 2nd car with awd and the subaru brand comes to mind. Will also be my first manual.
Next month will be a year of ownership with my stock 21' STI (only has catback, kartboy STS, and a few aesthetic mods) with 9900 miles. Literally have had 0 issues apart from some of the wheel studs needing replacement. Oil changed every 3500 with motul 5w40, let the car properly warmup and cooldown. Its really not that difficult to maintain this car.
dudeeee the factory wheel studs are trashhhhh like whatttt! lol
is the metal soft? whats wrong with them?@@BCyyGaming
@@LowestDifficulty they just cross thread easily
@@LowestDifficulty i’ve had my sti for 2 years and have replaced i think 3 or 4 and a few still look sketch. a lot of people get those arp extended studs
I have an 06 legacy 2.5 (non GT) that I’ve owned for over a year and with over 180k miles. Not the fastest car by any stretch, it’s actually maddeningly slow, but my god has it been reliable. Outside of a slight oil burn, it has been completely without issue. Highly recommend Subaru, but you gotta take care of them
This is my dream car and right now I'm about to buy a 2018 sti with 43k miles for $35k it has mostly highway miles and service record is great. I know it's a risk but with the economy the way it is its the best option I have given a brand new one is over $50k and the fact Subaru has canceled the sti for the new Gen wrx, I don't expect prices to get any better
a risk as far as to what?
Love getting the notification of a new video I really want an STI the prices have gone way up and the reliability issue I hear scares me away a little then there is you who has a super clean build and reliable makes me think other wise.
You have a sick ride bro. Love the color! I don't have any Subie turbo toys but my '21 Crosstrek Outdoor (Sport in the US) has been nothing but fantastic and reliable so far. Heck I even take it on my hunting and fishing trips and it's amazing where I was able to go offroad. I second the importance of maintenance specially for Subarus. Take good care of it and it'll take good care of you.
Another great informative vid! Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance... overlooked and you have the risk of having issues. I don't wish it upon anyone, but it happens. And happens frequently. Keep up the great content my man.
Well said man! 🙏🏿 take care of it and it will take care of you! Thanks for the great content as always.
This is the best automotive video on the internet! You nailed this video & It's laughable the garbage on the internet and realize 99.9% of the problems are the owners themselves.
Our old WRX was perfectly fine engine wise never had an issue with it even after being modified running 280hp. And my MG had a reputation for being unreliable but it’s been a great daily driver despite being 20yrs old nearly. Yet I bought a “reliable” Honda that blew up within a day 🥴. Every car has common issues but for some reason certain cars get an unfair reputation
That Honda was Definitely not maintained😂😂😂
Blew my first engine at 19k bone stock. Ringlands. All 4 cylinders. #4 being the worst one, of course. Lesson learned: Stock up on engine parts. We gonna be doing more of these!
What year was it?
@@masonanders7805 2020
You have the best looking, most tasteful Subaru i have ever seen. Not doing too much just perfect 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I just purchased a 2022 and I have been watching your channel since. Your ride is an inspiration man. Great job!
I have a 2017 wrx and am one of those who had the battery issue. When my Subaru dealership swapped out the battery my passenger side door window started going back down halfway after I powered it up all the way. Tried the button reset which didn’t work and took it back to them on multiple occasions and they never did fix it. I finally just said F it once my car was past the warranty since I usually drive with my ac on anyways. Other than that, it’s stock and the Best car I’ve ever owned!!!
Just got a used 2016 STI with 150k miles. It was ridiculously clean for the miles and no mods other than an exhaust. A female driven car so the only damage was curbed wheels 😂. However, we bought my wife a 2020 Forester off the showroom floor with 7 miles on it. It just turned 106k and the only problem happened last week. CV axel went bad, $100 fix.
Thanks again for everything you do. When I got my dream car finally it seems like you and Smeedia are the only 2 that build nice and reliable cars. Love watching the big number builds but I want mine like yours not Bader Built to the moon lol.
Beautiful car I can tell its been taken care of very well! These cars reward you greatly if they are. would love to own an Outback XT in a manual one day!
Picked up my 2016 Sti 3 years ago with 23k miles. Im now at 85k miles with a flex fuel kit, catless dp and intake, Tune. No issues at all
Hell yeah 🤘🏻
'20 STi 28k mi, 0 issues ~ but trading up when my '23 BRZ get here in OCT. Wife & I will have the twins!
Well said man! I just bought a 2019 wrx with 9,000 miles, stock!
I don’t own an STI but whenever I watch your videos, it makes me wanna get one 🖤
100% very well said. Thanks people need to keep hearing this keep up the good work brother
Verus Defuser still available?
Dude, you're killing me here! Your videos are so on point 👌. I'm simply inspired now. THIS is the way 👊👊
Just to add to some more data, 96k miles original block in my 2012 sti, tuned to a very conservative 18psi 308/328 on a 95 degree day on a mustang dyno. with all the mods you had before you went to the Dom with the EWG.
It seems most people who have issues with turbo Subarus come from Hondas. They buy used, beaten up WRX s and STIs and expect to abuse it the same as NA Hondas.
thank you for sharing..I have this car, Golf R and Focus RS in my final list..leaning Subaru WRX
Just recently bought a 2016 sti with 50k Planning on changing all the fluids and spark plugs
Hey man I know you are skeptical about E85 and all that..Let me just say that E85 can get you a bunch more power and it is also much safer for your stock motor. Basically it has over 100 octane, and it also burns cooler which is much better for your pistons and all IC parts. You can make the same power with increased reliability, or make more power with the same reliability.
My car makes 500+ on stock motor and I have 15k miles on the build so far without issue. I have a 17 STI limited with stock internals.
Not looking for anymore power On my current setup, but definitely will be going flex down the road when I build.
You hit everything on the head. I tell this to people all the time. Quick scenario: a friend w STI RA just upgraded turbo and fueling system and downpipe. But no am intercooler setup to support bigger turbo. (To me is a huge no no) He hit 350whp and that was adjusted. (Low to me for an sti) He then went to say that an fmic would cause turbo lag and a tmic just wasn't worth it for minimal power. And I highly disagree as you would as well. By going off your mantra of keeping your car happy with mods to help it work less and prolong its life. My thought is the intercooler should be upgraded even on oem turbo and that's what I did and my turbo has been happy and works great.
bought my sti bnew, its now 5+ years 22k mileage. power steering leak after a year and evaporator leak after 4 years. that's all the issues i had.
Omg the level of loud was insane my head phones crackled like crazy
Love your videos, I have a 2015 sti, galaxy blue! Couldn't love it more!
Excellent explanation of rev matching on these cars! It's the same as any ma
nual, but these cars do take a bit of skill. But like you said, when you get it right, that sweet spot!
I have a 2005 forester 2.5 L.L.Bean with almost 300,000 miles on it and it. It's my daily driver. It still runs great!
They are, but they tend to be priced higher than the Big Three in Japan: Toyota, Honda and Nissan.
Spark plugs every 10-15k?! Seems a little excessive. Don't get me wrong, I am totally for being on top of maintenance. But if you have iridium spark plugs do you really need to change them out that frequently? Thinking about getting a new WRX (and keeping it stock) but these maintenance intervals are what's making me second guess getting one.
Subaru recommends every 30. If you are modified and tuned, then yes. I’d recommend every 10-15.
Subaru, much like Porsche honestly, is a specialist platform. The boxer layout has some serious advantages, but shrugging off improper maintenance and modification isn't one of them. I've seen original engines with well over 300k miles, I've also seen people go through them like pop-tarts. Honestly, if you're not ready to be an adult and take serious responsibility for your car, you really ought to go with Honda. Honda has this way of handling terrible maintenance behavior and just going and going and going. You can still kill one, but you really have to mean it. Subaru on the other hand, you love it and it'll love you back, but you decide not to and it'll strand you on the side of the road.
I have a 2016 STI and ive been repeatedly having problems with intake cam sensor issues. I have code P0346 atm but just replaced what i believe to be the same sensor. any ideas on what i can do, i really do not want to get rid of the car but it is tuned at a shop so dealership will not help. It has intake, catted downpipe, catback, IAG AOS, 1050cc injectors, fuel pump, fuel regulator etc. not too crazy and really am stuck as to what is causing problems.
I love the videos and they are very helpful but I havent heard anyone talk about this.
Sometimes I feel like People throw on an fp black with e85 on the stock tune, and don't change the oil once then complain about reliability 😂
That's the ride I want but the ride I can afford is only Sniper 155 Race Blue😅 but hopefully soon I'll get my dream car❤
Hi Man
Great video! Which backbox have you installed?
Ets extreme
I want one soooo bad but I can only afford the CVT version of this car which doesn’t really bother me..as long as it’s reliable that’s what matters to me..I’m looking at the years 2015-2018
Hey mate I’m also in the same boat, how fares your rex hunt?
Amazing video!!🔥 What kind of oil and oil filter do you use when changing your oil?
Motul 5w40 and a roki filter
Chris good info as always !!!
Hey Chris, great vid as always! love ur take, esp bc u do not have any affiliations with any brand/company. my question is, what is a good range of RPM to keep the car at? I keep the car in intelligent mode (still learning how to drive stick smoothly, which is hard for the STI but driving it is easy), and I usually shift from 2.5k - 3k. bc i dont beat on the car, i usually keep the revs above 2k when cruising. i get mixed answers, but is this wrong? should i be cruising at 3k?
ik the answer is it depends (going uphill, city/highway, etc.) but for me, my STI is a daily that i barely go into boost in. to me, the car feels like it lugs at 1k - 2k when i apply gas, esp at higher gears, which is y i feel that above 2k revs is okay for cruising. pls lmk what u think!
There’s really no set rpm to stay at. It’s just what the car feels like in the specific scenario. I tend to downshift anytime I need to speed up so I don’t lug the motor st all. I never get on the car unless it’s in boost. Which is around 3500 or so for me.
@@Autofreakgarage thank u so much Chris! Keep up the great work!!
Up shifting at low rpms is ok, as long as you don’t lug the engine. Then if you have to accelerate hard and boost, you have to make sure that you downshift first (with rev matching). For instance, don’t floor the gas on 6th gear running on 60mph. Downshift to 3rd or 4th gear first with rev matching before you accelerate. Watch TH-cam about rev matching. Practice it, and you will enjoy your STI more.
I’m looking at a 2020 with 22k miles for 34k. Is the reliability issues with these cars primarily due to people not tuning them properly and beating the crap out of em constant redlining etc? I plan on just cruising and being my daily with an occasional pull merging onto highways. Would this be something that would possibly blow an sti also ? Lol
Paint looks great. What products do you use to clean and protect it?
th-cam.com/video/3reGeqiIkN0/w-d-xo.html
What were all the flushes you mentioned? I’ll have to rewatch but a little list would be awesome. Thank you!!
Brake. Diff. Trans. Coolant.
Hey man, I actually commented on one of your other videos which you were super helpful, but i genuinely have a question the forums and groups seem to rip on me for. I just bought my 2017 STI, thankfully it was stock when I bought it, it’s got 70k miles on it, the carfax doesn’t show a full service done since 32k miles, who’s to say the previous owner didn’t do things on he own but none the less I am about to perform a full service myself, spark plugs, trans and diff fluid, oil change, cyl 4 cooling mod, and fresh coolant. Everyone I see recommends the motul gear 300 for the diff’s and trans I was curious as to if I could use valvolines 75w90 gear oil? And if that would be a poor option in fluid or go with what everyone else recommends, hope you can get back to me, sorry for the paragraph and thank you!
Most prefer Motul. Valvoline isn’t bad, but I would spend the few extra bucks to do Motul.
@@Autofreakgaragethank you sir i appreciate the feedback!! Definitely willing to spend the extra money for a healthy car!
Αν ήταν μικτή χρήση θα ήταν τα ίδια άλογα?και τότε τη παίζει με το Αβανς
I do current maintenance but I have a rattle issue coming from behind the intercooler
I was told it’s the flex plate and was advised to get a clutch kit
Check the pitch mount
Thanks you for that really beafy information 🔥🙌🏼 Godbless ! 🔥
Should I get one now that they increased in price? Local dealer has a 2020 at $45k 10k miles. Or get a 22 wrx for $38k?
I’ll always recommend an STI over the wrx as it’s a better driving experience overall. But that’s up to you. Everyone’s needs are different so there’s no right or wrong answer.
Test drive both. See what speaks to you more.
i had both so i can give you a little word. my 18 wrx vs 18 sti.. i would reccomend test driving a wrx first.. once you try that you’ll see how much more of a beast and how raw the sti is over the wrx!
@@Autofreakgarage I paid 35k otd for my 22 WRX premium have you driven the Vb? I've driven both and stock for stock the VB is much more linear power. Love the STI, but this market is so high for used cars.
I drove the sti and I really liked it. Have yet to drive the VB. I do however prefer the VA interior. I would have bought the sti had the prices stayed reasonable.
@@getoutthematrix8347 100% sti is awesome power wise they're very comparable stock sti base line can range from 220-270whp the VB seems to be sitting between 240-255whp. Very similar, but for me warranty and new engine potential won me over
This talk is awesome 🤞
I’ve owned two FA20s I have driven one to the one side of the country and back in the desert the snow, off road you name it. Turbo fozzy I traded for because I was getting irratated for minor issues but other than that she never left me stranded. I have a VA WRX and it still is pretty solid minus the ac comp issue that got replaced for free and the head unit gets finicky besides the battery taking a dump it never left me stranded and this goes forever as long I take care of her.
I mean the wrx/sti are rated as the least reliable subaru vehicles. Personally I don't feel they are. The ej engine is completely outdated but the sti transmission is a gem well was a gem, RIP. The wrx fa20 has so many weak points to the engine. The fa24 is a more durable engine but subaru didn't push it at all so stock form on the 22 wrx is disappointing and they 22 wrx still uses the same transmission on the va wrx so that thing can't handle power at all.
You may not be a brand ambassador, but my fiancée says you’re an instigator 😂. After your videos she sees me searching up the parts you install hahaha
My deepest condolences 🫣
Nice video….what spark plugs you recommend for 2017 wrx
th-cam.com/video/bWOfw-0dW10/w-d-xo.html
The more I watch ur channel...the more I wish u had got that JCW lol...but u might not have gotten to a reliable pt2
Hey question would you say do the Cobb intake or exhaust first? Second would you say you new exhaust would be good for a 2020 WRK limited?
Do the exhaust if you don’t want to tune it yet. I don’t have experience with the ets on an fa.
One of the best sounding exhaust on the FA is probably the borla s. What exactly are you after in an exhaust?
I’m the same way with my car when it comes to maintenance. I’ve changed my coolant 4 times in 30k miles, change the oil every 2.5k miles mainly because I’m running an e blend, spark plugs every 10k miles etc. maintenance is KEY to keeping these running smoothly. Running an AOS is also a massive deal, I personally run a radium setup and it’s great. People may think I’m being a little ridiculous when it comes to my maintenance but it makes me feel better on the inside. I want my shit running like a top especially since it’s as full bolt on as you can get besides going closed deck block
Every 2k miles ?
@@luismaturano4774 2.5k miles
I respect your dedication to maintenance but man your throwing money away. 3k miles on oil changes is already excessive unless your going by the extreme schedual, 2.5k is ludicrous. Coolant flushes are once every 30k. Plugs are like 60k.
@@Dr.Ticklebum69 I’m also making a lot more power than a stock car. Did you know maintenance becomes more crucial and more often when you run more than double what the car makes from the factory?
Jesus Christ that cold start is loud af
9:41 my g you are right 😂
Where your shop
sell your junk = buy forester STI for the wife -ie ! don`t modify it she will love it !! -japan partner car sales !
Would you recommend buying a 2017 sti with flood damage? (Repaired)
Absolutely not. And that’s for any car.
@@Autofreakgarage i can understand, it's a good price though, but it's hard to say. The car was flooded with only 5k miles on it, now it has 26k miles
Wait, I just noticed this now but why did you swap back to a stock hood?
Shew… I sold the carbon hood about a year ago my guy haha.
th-cam.com/video/v_9GRJH9YYU/w-d-xo.html
Was wondering if maybe you or someone else in the comments could give me some advice with an issue I’m having. I have a 2015 wrx with 152k miles, and recently noticed that the car won’t go over 9psi of boost at WOT in any gear. In 6th gear on the highway if I go over 50% throttle the afr goes to 10.14 and revs up but doesn’t accelerate. Checked for leaks in my exhaust manifold and all the vacuum lines and nothing. Thanks for any help.
Checked intake pipe + turbo inlet while you were digging thru the engine bay?
Car seems to be running rich, which is a good thing comparing the alternative. I would do a smoke test on the entire intake system to make sure there are no leaks. It’s hard to spot them by doing a visual inspection unless an entire coupler came off.
Visually yes. Didn’t have time to take my under tray and skid plate completely off. Definitely checking those when I do.
Forgot to mention it’s the stock turbo, so I’m hoping it’s not dying on me. I’ll order a smoke tester and give that a shot, or find another subie brother and have him blow some vape smoke in my intake lol.
@@joshwrx357 id check for a boost leak, clean your MAF. Maybe your turbo waste gate has seized.
Hey I own a 17 STi I’m hearing some kind of rattling like every time I halfway hit the accelerator it’s a rattle but it sounds like it’s coming from inside the car somewhere in the dash on the driver side. It’s that the normal plastic rattling or is that something else? Only happens in like 5th to 6th gear
Very hard to diagnose things like this based off an explanation. My best advice is to drive around and recreate the sound. Hold down on parts of the interior that you think are making the rattling and sees if it goes away. Have a friend sit in the car with you to help.
@@Autofreakgarage Cool thx
Whats your opinion on air versus static?
Static all day, everyday. Been in many air setups and it just doesn’t handle or feel right. Great for a show car, but if you like to drive, I would stay with a proper static setup.
Subaru WRX 2015 VA is reliable if it is maintain well. It last for a long while. The Mazda RX7 engine would explode faster 🤣
Did you buy a 2018 front bumper ??
th-cam.com/video/NciVq1ksLHU/w-d-xo.html
Anyone in the market for an STI??
what exhaust you running here
th-cam.com/video/w5ifvAV4Kgw/w-d-xo.html
What type of maintenance do you carry out in between your services ?
th-cam.com/video/dASteA8TtQs/w-d-xo.html
any ringland issues????
Never had a ringland failure in any of my Subarus
i had wrx 2015 sold it and got a cla 45s, totalled my cla 45s after 3 years of use.. and now im going back to subaru, but this time is a STI 2018. subaru is a better car. better in handling.. just that it is thirsty compared to the cla .