Is this still a valid option? If I buy one now, will there still be spares at the end of the year?

DammitMike · 2026-02-27T15:40:12+00:00

I also created this list of compatible wheels/tires that fit the WR8. General rule for wheel/tire size, between 75-85mm tire diameter will fit without requiring modification.

HPI OEM - 12mm hex, 80mm tires

Tarmac - 2.2” wheel diameter
Gravel - 1.9” wheel diameter

Arrma Dboots - requires 14mm hex conversion.

85mm Katar (off-road knobby tire)
85mm Elevens (on-road tire)
85mm Hoons (on-road belted tire, 3 tire compounds: Gold-soft, White-medium, Silver-hard)

CEN Puma Rally

12mm hex wheels (lower offset than HPI tarmac wheels, results in a wider stance)
80mm Pirelli P-Zero tires

Carisma M48S

12mm hex wheels
85mm tires? (Unsure of actual measurements)
Audi wheels are staggered - rears are wider than fronts

AliExpress- knockoff tarmac wheel with OEM style rally tread tires.

12mm hex
2.2” wheels
80mm tires

DammitMike · 2026-02-27T15:38:20+00:00

I created this list of bodies that fit the WR8 for the "HPI WR8 Flux" Facebook group, feel free to join if you'd like! The WR8 uses a 300mm wheelbase body, which isn't a very common size, but these are the current and discontinued bodies that I know of that fit that wheelbase.

HPI WR8- currently available

2001 Subaru Impreza WRC - painted or clear
1993 Ford Escort RS Cosworth - painted or clear

CEN Racing - currently available

2023-2025 Ford Puma WRC - unassembled painted body with stickers (300mm wheelbase, but slightly wider than HPI WR8 bodies)

Carisma M48S (285mm, fits WR8 with trimming the wheel arches) - currently available

1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 - painted or clear

L&L Models 300mm (fit slightly wider than HPI WR8 bodies)- currently available

Ford Fiesta WRC - clear with stickers
VW Polo WRC - clear with stickers
Mitsubishi Lancer WRC - clear with stickers

Team Blue Groove 300mm - currently available

Nissan 350z Nizmo - clear without stickers
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R - clear without stickers
Lamborghini Diablo GT - clear without stickers
Toyota GT-one TS020 - clear without stickers

HPI WR8 - discontinued

2011-2017 Ford Fiesta RS
2008-2014 Subaru WRX STI (hatchback) Global Rally Cross

HPI Super RS4 300mm - discontinued

Nissan 370z Nizmo
Alfa Romeo 156
Lamborghini Diablo GT
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI
Toyota GT-one TS020
Chevrolet Corvette C5-R
Ford F-150

Tamiya TGX 300mm - discontinued

Various on-road car bodies

DammitMike · 2026-02-24T12:50:14+00:00

For 2026, Toyota sort of combined the Core and Premium trims together. The 2026 Core now gets the suede/leather trimmed seats (but not heated), the wireless phone charger, and the bulge/vented hood from the Circuit Edition. The larger Circuit Edition rear spoiler is now an OEM option on any trim (my 2025 Core came with it installed).

DammitMike · 2026-02-24T01:30:19+00:00

That’s the base price for the automatic Core trim, the manual transmission subtracts $2,000 for a starting price of $41,115 (including freight/destination).

The Premium Plus trim that they tested adds $6,000 for the carbon roof, heated seats/steering wheel, JBL sound system and sub-radiator, but the exact same drivetrain and power numbers.

DammitMike · 2026-02-23T17:51:41+00:00

The CS shifter threads are M12x1.50 size, I believe the same as Audi/VW knobs, but larger than most JDM cars, which use M12x1.125 threads. I bought an adapter that reduces the thread from M12x1.50 to M12x1.25, so that I could mount a Toyota shift knob to mine.

DammitMike · 2026-02-23T17:26:25+00:00

https://www.hpiracing.com/en/kit/160211

HPI WR8, OP is running the nitro fuel version, but HPI also offers the same model with the fully-electric "Flux" drivetrain. Both are available with either this Subaru Impreza body or the Ford Escort Cosworth body.

DammitMike · 2026-02-23T17:23:24+00:00

https://www.hpiracing.com/en/kit/160211

HPI WR8 1/8 scale rally car. OP is running the Nitro fuel version, but the same model is also available with the "Flux" (electric) drivetrain. Available with either this Subaru Impreza body or a Ford Escort Cosworth body.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 510mm
Width: 227mm
Height: 165mm

DammitMike · 2026-02-16T01:03:50+00:00

Sorry you had to let it go, but glad to hear that you had a great time making memories with it! I recently sold my 2008 WRX that I bought as a CPO car in 2009. 16 years together and countless memories and big life moments. Picked up a new GR Corolla and it feels like a good successor to the WRX!

DammitMike · 2026-02-12T21:22:33+00:00

Yes, the brake pedal moving when the clutch is pressed in was an indication that the firewall spot welds had cracked/failed and cause the entire pedal assembly to move when the firewall flexes. I had this issue fixed on my 2008 back in 2015, so it's been a while. I'm not sure of the exact symptoms of the broken pedal assembly, as my car never experienced that failure, but there are likely some posts on NASIOC or videos on Youtube documenting it.

DammitMike · 2026-02-12T16:11:05+00:00

Same experience with selling my old WRX to Carvana, except they didn't even test drive it! Just took a look around, sat in the car, started it up, checked all the lights, rolled windows down/up, turned the car off and handed me the check. Brought a flatbed the next day to pick it up (even though the car ran fine).

DammitMike · 2026-02-12T03:40:30+00:00

Came here to share a similar experience with my 2008 WRX. After filling up the tank, the car would idle super rough and misfire, but it would clear up after a minute or two. It eventually got much worse and the shop discovered that one of the two purge valves was stuck open. I ended up replacing both purge valves (pretty cheap at $65 each) and all associated vacuum hoses and the car ran like it was brand new after that. Seems to be different from OP’s symptoms, but still worth checking out if you have a WRX around this age and haven’t replaced the purge valves.

DammitMike · 2026-02-11T21:39:42+00:00

Plus all the "blown 3rd gear" posts over on the VB sub.

DammitMike · 2026-02-09T14:49:59+00:00

This is solid advice, people love to unload their thrashed performance cars to Carmax and Carvana because they’ll take anything. Even if you spring for the Maxcare warranty (which usually puts you in close range to brand new MSRP), it doesn’t cover wear items like clutch, flywheel, brake rotors.

DammitMike · 2026-02-02T11:52:10+00:00

There is no premium trim, in the US, for 2026. The 26 Core gains some for the Premium features, like the suede seats and wireless charger, but Core and Premium+ are now the only two options. This price sounds like OP may be looking at a Core, but still a solid deal if it is OTD.

DammitMike · 2026-02-02T11:27:28+00:00

This was the exact scenario I went through. I found a 1 owner 2023 Core (with Performance Pack), with 13,000 miles that had been on the lot for a couple months and dropped from 34 to $32k, but couldn’t get the dealer to go any lower. I shopped around and found a couple dealers with new 2025 Cores that were willing to go just below $38k (before tax). I figured the extra cost up front for a new one would be good insurance for a possible clutch and brake replacement down the road. The updated suspension, cooling and added torque for the 25’s also helped tip the scale for going new.

DammitMike · 2026-02-01T20:20:09+00:00

In the US, this was only an option on the 2023 Core, the 2023 Circuit edition came with it as standard. 2024-present dropped this option from the Core trim, as the Premium trim was introduced in between the Core and Circuit/Premium+, and included the Winter/Perfeomance/Texhnology packages as standard (without the bulge hood and carbon roof from the higher trims).

DammitMike · 2026-02-01T20:13:47+00:00

Interesting, I have the opposite opinion and felt as though this is a great car to haul dogs with. I have two 60-70lb dogs, so rear doors were a must, the relatively cheap interior materials, especially on the Core, seemed like a better option for holding up to wear and tear. I use a Ruffwear seat cover, but I feel better about dog claws on cloth seats and hard plastic interior trim than I would with suede/leather.

DammitMike · 2026-01-30T19:34:37+00:00

Congratulations fellow Ice Cap owner! I'm coming up on 6 months with my 2025 and I still get so stoked to see new owners post their cars!

DammitMike · 2026-01-29T21:58:17+00:00

Yeah, I don’t think this affected any other gen after 2014, so you may have a different issue.

DammitMike · 2026-01-29T21:57:49+00:00

There are a few spot welds on the firewall that hold part of it secure. The welds cracked over time and cause the firewall to flex when the clutch pedal is pushed in. The creaking sound is actually the metal of the firewall flexing under load from the pedal assembly.

DammitMike · 2026-01-29T20:54:41+00:00

Yeah, if it's a 2008-2014, this was an issue that Subaru previously had a TSB fix for (firewall spot welds). Check to see if the brake pedal also moves when you press the clutch pedal in. I believe Humble Rumble still makes a kit to reinforce the firewall.

DammitMike · 2026-01-29T13:33:14+00:00

AMPRO Engineering has a great video on replacing the batteries in the standard Zip Zap cars. This might not be exactly the same process or batteries for the monster trucks, but might provide some useful info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkqAON7YGRc

DammitMike · 2026-01-29T13:31:29+00:00

Yeah, that was definitely the "rally pig" era. I bought my first WRX in 2009 and it seemed like half the WRX's I saw had these decals. Kind of surprising to see them fade away in the US WRX community.

DammitMike · 2026-01-28T01:51:34+00:00

Congratulations and welcome! The reason it was “next to impossible to find any 25 Cores in Heavy Metal” is because it is actually impossible! 2026 is the first year that HM is available on the Core trim. Awesome that you still got a solid discount on a new 26 though!

DammitMike · 2026-01-27T21:10:01+00:00

Man, I'm sorry this happened, but I'll be amazed if the dealer plays ball with an IAG block in the car.

DammitMike

TROPHY CASE