How reliable are the STI's

306fordgt · 04-18-2008, 07:46 PM

Hello,

My name is Paul and I am looking into getting a 2005 sti, but I am wondering how reliable these cars are? I know subaru has always had a good reputation for making a good long lasting car...does this hold true for the STI.

I know a lot depends on how you take care of the car and how you drive it. So I am asking on average how long do various parts of the car last. Is it acceptable to think that the engine will hold up for 100,000miles even with minor mods like a reflash and exhaust or am I dreaming.

Just trying to get an idea before I spend a decent chunk of money.

Thank you,

Paul

GWjade87 · 04-18-2008, 07:49 PM

well, i drive an 04 STi and everything is great on the car at 90k miles, clutch is slipping now but with hard driving thats to be expected, other than that routine maintenance is more than enough to keep it running strong for a long time.

**tyler_sti** · 04-18-2008, 07:51 PM

Theres a milage thread somewhere on here. Search it, and you'll be amazed. I belive theres quite a few guys with 04's running stage 2 with over 100,000 miles. I belive these cars reliability is second to none, in the class that their in. IMO

Stedenko · 04-18-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 306fordgt

Hello,

My name is Paul and I am looking into getting a 2005 sti, but I am wondering how reliable these cars are? I know subaru has always had a good reputation for making a good long lasting car...does this hold true for the STI.

I don't know about the 2005, but this year Consumer Reports ranks Subaru as the 4th most reliable manufacturer. That's ahead of Toyota (5th) and Lexus (6th).

I'd imagine you can take something from that.

306fordgt · 04-19-2008, 05:35 AM

Wow, Thanks for all the information. I shouldn't say I am looking for only a 2005...a 2004 would be fine also.

Is it really that bad to just put a DP and Cat back exhaust on these cars without a cobb stage 2? Or is that mainly for the 06 and 07's? Just making sure I don't buy something with an engine that might be hurt.

Thanks,

Paul

rgt · 04-19-2008, 05:41 AM

Yes it REALLY is that bad. Do not put an aftermarket DP without engine management.

Mykl · 04-19-2008, 05:46 AM

For the most part they're good solid cars. They're not perfect though, and there are a few "isms" that can get you. For example...

I recently had a timing belt idler replaced because it was going bad prematurely at 30k miles. Had it failed completely the valves would have been ruined. It was fixed under warranty.

There's a potential issue with the oil pickup tube. It's failing on some people's cars and the resulting lack of oil pressure destroys the engine. This seems to be a very rare occurance though.

The gearboxes in these cars are *bulletproof*.

Stock turbos tend to develop a crack in them. They still seem to operate just fine to at least 100k miles, and it's fairly easy to swap out and the VF39 is pretty cheap.

Radiators only seem to be good for about 60k miles before developing cracks.

Tends to use roughly 1 qt of oil ever 3k miles, which is about right for a high performance engine.

For the most part I've gotten good reliable service out of mine. Just little stuff here and there, like at the moment I've got an extremely small oil leak somewhere on the passenger side of the engine. If the car is parked for a week there'll be a quarter size oil stain in my garage under the car.

As far as cars with full exhausts and ECU upgrades... I wouldn't worry about it as long as the owner got it tuned professionally or used an off the shelf map.

Mykl · 04-19-2008, 11:12 AM

I think I'd like to take back the oil leak thing. I can't find a leak... but the oil filter sure is messy, so I think I just didn't tighten it enough the last time I changed the oil and it leaked a wee bit.

gOt_rally? · 04-19-2008, 12:01 PM

All depending how how hard u drive it and mod it. Stock these things are bulletproof. But if u track the car reliability goes down. So far I've blown a catalytic converter, but i track the car heavily.

wrx9181 · 04-21-2008, 10:50 AM

hi paul think its a very reliable car as long as you keep it standard start playing around gaining power etc and this will shorten the life of parts on the car hope this is a help apart from the maf which seems to go every now and then

04-18-2008, 07:46 PM	#1
306fordgt Lurker Car: Looking Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 4 Join Date: Apr 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	How reliable are the STI's Hello, My name is Paul and I am looking into getting a 2005 sti, but I am wondering how reliable these cars are? I know subaru has always had a good reputation for making a good long lasting car...does this hold true for the STI. I know a lot depends on how you take care of the car and how you drive it. So I am asking on average how long do various parts of the car last. Is it acceptable to think that the engine will hold up for 100,000miles even with minor mods like a reflash and exhaust or am I dreaming. Just trying to get an idea before I spend a decent chunk of money. Thank you, Paul This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

04-18-2008, 07:49 PM	#2
GWjade87 Amateur STI Driver Car: Silver 04 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: SE Michigan Posts: 47 Join Date: Apr 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How reliable are the STI's well, i drive an 04 STi and everything is great on the car at 90k miles, clutch is slipping now but with hard driving thats to be expected, other than that routine maintenance is more than enough to keep it running strong for a long time.

04-18-2008, 07:51 PM	#3
tyler_sti Gold Member Car: '07 CMG STI Fav Mod: Not knowing how to "spell" hah Location: los angeles Posts: 3,728 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (15)	Re: How reliable are the STI's Theres a milage thread somewhere on here. Search it, and you'll be amazed. I belive theres quite a few guys with 04's running stage 2 with over 100,000 miles. I belive these cars reliability is second to none, in the class that their in. IMO

04-19-2008, 05:35 AM	#5
306fordgt Lurker Car: Looking Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 4 Join Date: Apr 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How reliable are the STI's Wow, Thanks for all the information. I shouldn't say I am looking for only a 2005...a 2004 would be fine also. Is it really that bad to just put a DP and Cat back exhaust on these cars without a cobb stage 2? Or is that mainly for the 06 and 07's? Just making sure I don't buy something with an engine that might be hurt. Thanks, Paul

04-19-2008, 05:41 AM	#6
rgt Professional STI Racer Car: 07 WRX STI WRB/Gold Fav Mod: COBB AP Stage 2 93 oct v1.04 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 766 Join Date: Apr 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How reliable are the STI's Yes it REALLY is that bad. Do not put an aftermarket DP without engine management.

04-19-2008, 05:46 AM	#7
Mykl S204 Racer Car: '04.5 STi Fav Mod: ZZYZX Location: Montgomery, Al Posts: 2,751 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How reliable are the STI's For the most part they're good solid cars. They're not perfect though, and there are a few "isms" that can get you. For example... I recently had a timing belt idler replaced because it was going bad prematurely at 30k miles. Had it failed completely the valves would have been ruined. It was fixed under warranty. There's a potential issue with the oil pickup tube. It's failing on some people's cars and the resulting lack of oil pressure destroys the engine. This seems to be a very rare occurance though. The gearboxes in these cars are bulletproof. Stock turbos tend to develop a crack in them. They still seem to operate just fine to at least 100k miles, and it's fairly easy to swap out and the VF39 is pretty cheap. Radiators only seem to be good for about 60k miles before developing cracks. Tends to use roughly 1 qt of oil ever 3k miles, which is about right for a high performance engine. For the most part I've gotten good reliable service out of mine. Just little stuff here and there, like at the moment I've got an extremely small oil leak somewhere on the passenger side of the engine. If the car is parked for a week there'll be a quarter size oil stain in my garage under the car. As far as cars with full exhausts and ECU upgrades... I wouldn't worry about it as long as the owner got it tuned professionally or used an off the shelf map.

04-19-2008, 11:12 AM	#8
Mykl S204 Racer Car: '04.5 STi Fav Mod: ZZYZX Location: Montgomery, Al Posts: 2,751 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How reliable are the STI's I think I'd like to take back the oil leak thing. I can't find a leak... but the oil filter sure is messy, so I think I just didn't tighten it enough the last time I changed the oil and it leaked a wee bit.

04-19-2008, 12:01 PM	#9
gOt_rally? Junior STI Driver Car: 07 WR Blue STI Posts: 190 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: How reliable are the STI's All depending how how hard u drive it and mod it. Stock these things are bulletproof. But if u track the car reliability goes down. So far I've blown a catalytic converter, but i track the car heavily.

04-21-2008, 10:50 AM	#10
wrx9181 Lurker Car: wr blue 04 sti Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 2 Join Date: Apr 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: How reliable are the STI's hi paul think its a very reliable car as long as you keep it standard start playing around gaining power etc and this will shorten the life of parts on the car hope this is a help apart from the maf which seems to go every now and then This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.