[mattd]

Exterior wise, the 04 and 08 are completely different cars.

If you want the hatch, get the 08. If you want the sedan, get the 04.

Personally, I'd go with the 04/05 anyday if it was over $10,000 cheaper.

[waktasz]

Depending on what I wanted to do with it, I wouldn't get an 04. Wheel choice and the hub design sucks for the 5x100 bolt pattern.

[pbm317]

Flawless carfax doesn't guarantee a clean car. Sometimes accident reports can take a few months to register on the report, so make sure to get it inspected by a professional.

[MacAlert]

Originally Posted by pbm317

Flawless carfax doesn't guarantee a clean car. Sometimes accident reports can take a few months to register on the report, so make sure to get it inspected by a professional.

Also doesn't show how the car was driven.

[damstr]

Originally Posted by MacAlert

Also doesn't show how the car was driven.

Exactly. I would only buy a used car from someone I knew and knew they didnt abuse it.

[mofoSTI]

I got my 08 for 33,600 including dest. You dont have to pay the mark up or even msrp. I loved my 04. It was a different animal compaired to my stock 08. They are the same birds, but with different feathers. I would go for the 04 first then an 08 or 09 down the road.

[mofoSTI]

The evo X was not impressive in person and looked cheap.

[Gokufive]

UPDATE:

Just got home from dealer, applied for financing and waiting to get the figures...

[MacAlert]

Which car?

[stratguitarist]

I would get the 04. Its the best looking IMO and with the money saved you can mod it. Also dont have to worry about warranty crap.

[scottjua]

I have two Subbies now, and thinking differently these days. I'm all for saving money and buying smart, so I'll say get the 04 and save some $. Let someone else take the depreciation hit, use the saved $ for mods or investments that actually work for you.

[Hitman83]

Buy the one you've always liked. It's just as fast as the 08, cheaper and it's the one you've always wanted. If down the road you opt for an 08 you can still trade in the 04. You'll have a hard time finding a mint 04 to trade your 08 for in a couple years. If you don't buy the one you love you'll regret it every time you look at the focus, I mean 08

[kpSTi05]

Try to find an 05' STi... It has some updates to it over the 04' and you can find them for the same price and same miles.

[PuccasBad_STI]

If you can get an 08 for low 30s then I would go it... but most dealerships are not bending on price at least around here. For an 04, thats hella low miles so I doubt the original owner ragged it out but then again it is a used vehicle. If you can get the 04 for 2 grand less than asked then I would go for the 04. You should be able to beat them down on the 04 because your biggest argument to them is that the vehicle is basically almost out of warranty if not already... a car that falls out of warranty depreciates tremendously from a bluebook price perspective and plus its a used car so you have more to leeway in bargaining... the dealer knows this so just throw them an offer... whats the worse thing they could say... they loose the sale and you jus walk away...

[Dj Hurricane]

I say go for the 04... You will love it!

Then just when you get used to driving AWDT it will be time to trade up.