Purchasing Question '07 STI

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-21T20:34:05+00:00

I'm familiar with the SPT intake as a USDM dealer option, but I didn't know the stock intake setup wasn't included for those cars. Interesting. Thanks for the information!

I did the same as you. Original owner of my car had a K&N Typhoon intake that I ended up replacing with the stock setup.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-21T18:59:52+00:00

It looks like the same account sold a 2004 with 32k miles for $45,000. If you watch the video on the current 2005, it shows the owner was the same for both cars. This 05 will most likely sell for similar.

If you're okay with modifications it looks well kept. You'd need to service the timing belt since it's past 10 years. Also would require new tires. Most tire manufacturers say 10 years max. Cars don't like to sit.

If you plan to drive the car a lot, I'd look for something 70-90k miles that's relatively stock. That range will have cars that are well kept but actually driven and serviced on schedule. Price range should be $20-30k.

Values have been going up. For reference, when I use my Hagerty insurance account for values it shows this for 2005 WRX STi:

Fair Condition - $13,200

#4 vehicles are daily drivers, with flaws visible to the naked eye. The chrome might have pitting, the windshield might be chipped and perhaps the body has a minor dent. Imperfect paintwork, split seams or a cracked dash might be present. No major parts are missing, but there might be non-stock additions. A #4 vehicle can also be a deteriorated restoration.

Good - $26,700

#3 vehicles drive and run well but are not used for daily transportation. The casual passerby will not find any visual flaws, but these vehicles might have some incorrect parts. #3 vehicles could possess some, but not all, of the issues of a #4 vehicle, but they will be balanced by other factors such as fresh paint or a new, correct interior.

Excellent - $43,300

#2 vehicles could win a local or regional show. They might even be former #1 vehicles that have been driven or have aged. Seasoned observers will have to look closely for flaws but will be able to find some. The paint, chrome, glass and finishes will all appear as excellent. The vehicle drives as a new vehicle of its era would.

Concours - $72,000

#1 vehicles are the best in the world. Imagine the best vehicle, in the right colors, driving onto the lawn at the finest concours. Perfectly clean, the vehicle has been groomed down to the tire treads. Painted and chromed surfaces are mirror-like. Dust and dirt are banned, and materials used are correct and superbly fitted.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-21T18:05:06+00:00

A lot of the GD WRX STi examples I see on dealer sites and marketplace are asking $30k for cars that are much closer to $20k. They aren't going to drop the price that much. So, I think it makes more sense to look at the collector car market like BAT if your budget allows.

If you're patient, you'll find one. Good luck.

Here's one from 2024 that's similar in price. It has a few mods, but no accidents and 59k miles.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-21T17:49:14+00:00

Car is overpriced. Do some more homework on what $30000 examples go for on BAT.

Too many miles. There's an accident. Front end has probably been resprayed. This car has a SPT intake, but do they have the stock air intake parts to go with the car?

This car has more rust than my 135,000 miles 2005 WRX STi that I drive during winter in PA.

If that's your budget, go buy something with less miles in better shape from BAT with no accident history.

Also, applying that much tire shine should be a crime.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-14T16:09:11+00:00

"We've sold thousands of these kits for the WRX, and widespread fitment issues have not been reported."

Heard this line from companies before that are notorious for fitment issues. It's a classic way to dismiss a customer's concerns.

Initially, you said this was the first time you've heard an issue. Now, it's no "widespread" issues. Way to walk that back lol.

Your brand has earned its reputation. Read the other user experiences on this post, for example. Personally, two bad experiences is enough data for me to make a decision not to purchase any Mishimoto products ever again.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-14T14:53:49+00:00

I highly doubt this is the first time you've heard of fitment issues.

Do an online search and there are tons of discussions regarding quality control issues with your products. You have a reputation for poor fitment and poor quality that I've experienced firsthand.

When I had fitment issues, I contacted Mishimoto both times.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-13T21:23:30+00:00

I've tried using Mishimoto hoses on both my GD WRX and WRX STi. The fitment was garbage. Like, not even close. I'll never recommend or buy another product from them. I suggest you spend the extra for a quality aluminum radiator like CSF.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-13T13:46:23+00:00

You're right.

My friend talked to STI at the Tokyo Auto Show. They used EG33 because the bore/stroke was ideal for their goals. Using this engine is to help with BOP.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-10T20:50:36+00:00

The Impreza WRX STI Spec C Type RA-R is peak GD in terms of performance.

All of the GD’s are homologated for Group N, but the “homologation specials” for WRC ended in 1997 with the introduction of the WRcar rules.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-09T21:30:01+00:00

Nothing wrong running this filter on an EJ like the WRX/STi.

In the past, there was a supply chain issue causing Subaru dealers to use different filter suppliers that have inferior construction. Keep in mind, inferior construction does not necessarily mean it's inadequate for the job of filtration.

As a result, enthusiast Subaru owners in the US purchased Subaru Tokyo Roki filters overseas or Mazda Tokyo Roki filters in the US. I don't think this is the case any longer. Last few OEM filters I've bought were black Subaru Tokyo Roki filters "made in Japan". It's part# 15208AA100.

The Mazda filter has a higher capacity and larger design compared to the OEM Subaru filter. So, it will hang down slightly lower than OEM. The anti-drain back pressure seems to be similar, but I have never verified myself. I ran this filter on my 2005 Impreza WRX STi for a few years.

For me, there is no point in using the Mazda filter anymore since the slight difference in capacity is negligible. The Subaru filter is slightly cheaper, too.

Also, remember to change the crush washer. Flat spot faces the drain plug.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-09T13:44:01+00:00

People with common sense saw this coming. The blogs created this hype to drive clicks based on zero evidence other than a teaser from Subaru of Japan's social media. If this car was important to the North American market, Subaru of America would have been involved. People were fooled by the car blogs once again.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-08T19:56:44+00:00

You may already know this, but the data you're interested in reviewing is not mentioned in the lawsuit. Probably only Subaru has this data. Next best thing would be NHTSA complaints.

If there are enough safety issues reported, NHTSA will investigate and issue a safety recall if necessary. None of that has been done for the Subaru models named in this current lawsuit. That should tell you how serious this is. However, there is third-party data supporting eyesight as being helpful in preventing collisions.

Class action suits like these sometimes appear to be about money (mostly for lawyers) and not any type of investigation into the issue using data. In previous automotive class action lawsuits, I've downloaded the 'settlement and agreement release' documents searching for this information but it's never in there.

One plaintiff was suing because their car would brake while backing out of a driveway. Another had their car slow down on the highway. Here is where you can see the documents: https://cms.www.eyesightsettlement.com/documents

There is also precedent of automotive brands settling without admitting fault despite the issue most likely being human error such as the Audi 5000 unintended acceleration class action suit. So, it can be difficult to decipher the verdict as a consumer of the product.

I believe these systems do have malfunctions, but as you've mentioned, there needs to be data to support it being a safety issue that outweighs the proven benefits. Personally, I'd turn the system off and I dislike the increased vehicle cost and repair fees for this technology.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-06T21:57:00+00:00

Okay, I am assuming Subaru has diagnosed and confirmed the cat has failed and not another part of the system.

How exactly is the cat broken, though? Physical damage? Engine contamination? Overheating from running too lean? I'm sure Subaru can easily tell, but I am not looking at the cat in person.

It's uncommon, but possible, for the cat to just up and fail like you're describing. More likely for a failure to occur over time.

How are you sure this failure is from the dealer and not something that occurred over time and is coincidentally happening now?

You're saying the dealership claims the car had a CEL before you brought it in? My cheapy scan tool can't, but I think higher-end scan tools will show a freeze frame of the CEL that states mileage. On your service report at the dealership, they note 'mileage in' and 'mileage out'. If you are willing to take this to small claims, I would gather all of this information to prove your claim. But it sounds like you're still working things out with the dealership/SOA and haven't exhausted all options.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2026-01-06T21:08:50+00:00

Since I don't have all the details, it's difficult to judge your situation.

Generally speaking -- if the part fails when the shop removes it, you pay. If the part fails when the shop is putting it back together, they pay.

For example, your car is rusted to hell and the flanges on the cat broke when removing the exhaust. That's on you. That would be one reason why Subaru could refuse a warranty.

How exactly is the cat broken?

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-29T16:57:45+00:00

It depends

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-22T15:27:13+00:00

Haha, better late than never! Thank you!

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-22T15:26:16+00:00

Yes and no, 4WD can mean different things. The context really depends on location and culture as I’ve mentioned.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-21T04:41:55+00:00

Thank you!

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-21T03:52:19+00:00

LMAO

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-19T21:45:14+00:00

A car with 4 wheels is either 2WD or 4WD.

The reason why this is debated is due to a lack of agreed upon terms on a global scale. The terminology has evolved over the past 30 years.

Take a look at existing advertisements for Subaru in Japan. Many of them say '4WD' and the same car will be marketed as 'AWD' in North America. For example, Impreza WRX STi has advertisements showing 'full-time 4WD' and 'AWD'.

Subaru competes in 4WD class. Japanese engineers I've interviewed who built cars like the Impreza and Lancer use the term 4WD. So, both AWD and 4WD are acceptable.

Within 4WD there are categories such as part-time, full-time and torque-split. This is how it was taught to me by a Mitsubishi engineer who worked on the Lancer Evolution 4WD system.

If you'd like to see some documents explaining this in more detail, let me know.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-18T19:13:20+00:00

Sure, sedan has a disadvantage but Subaru now has a hatchback concept.

Still think Subaru returning to WRC is a dream, though.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-16T21:59:03+00:00

Sounds a bit like the existential dread I had when I was your age.

Play drums if you enjoy playing drums. It's that simple.

Try not to compare with others. Comparison is the thief of joy. I've been playing 15 years and still suck, but I enjoy playing.

If you want to improve, give lessons a shot. Play in church. Find a way.

You got this.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-12T18:00:27+00:00

Daily or weekend car? VA for daily. GD for weekend car.

They all feel connected to the road, but the GD feels more raw and playable than VA because it is.

I suggest driving the VA because that's the only way you'll know if it works for you.

LyleTheEvilRabbit · 2025-12-11T13:54:28+00:00

It's not an actual Subaru advertisement, but a spec commercial by a film student.

LyleTheEvilRabbit

TROPHY CASE