Soooooo, 2015+ STi, what does it take to make them live for the occasional HPDE?

I sat in a Focus RS yesterday, and the moonroof cars are going to be a tight fit with a helmet (I forgot mine after getting it out), and the local dealers don't seem to interested in moving off MSRP or letting you take a test drive.

I took the BRZ to get the oil and transmission fluid changed this morning, and started thinking about an STi again. An STi was the car I wanted to buy when I first graduated college, but I couldn't afford one then. It looks like the 2018s received updated Brembo's and DCCD tuning/operation. 

And it looks like you can get them with Recaro's as well. I didn't get a chance to sit in one (and the service manager said I could actually test drive one if I was interested!), since the sales guys weren't there yet, and the STi's were all parked outside and this morning it was 25F outside.

Thoughts on the STi?

I have a 2017 Limited in WRB for sale right now for 35K with 2.5K miles if that interests you. 41K+ or so MSRP has every option on the limited nad the short-shift and the better floor mats. 

HDPE frankly better brake fluid and better pads and you are good to go. Tires on these things are noisy as heck though for daily usage. Make sure the transmission of flushed same with engine oil at a rational time and a flash if you don't want the ECU pulling timing. 

DOT4 Fluid, and pads (just get a set of track pads and switch them out). Like mentioned, make sure you have 93 octane in if you have it available because Subaru's like to knock when heat soaked and blow up. 

If I didn’t have to deliver reels of hose or 800# rolls of conveyor belting I would be in the base, non sunroof version WRX.  

There is a lot on YouTube comparing the STi to the base WRX and most lean towards the base WRX. Buy new, buy the base model - that’s my angle.  

wearymicrobe said:

I have a 2017 Limited in WRB for sale right now for 35K with 2.5K miles if that interests you. 41K+ or so MSRP has every option on the limited nad the short-shift and the better floor mats. 

 

HDPE frankly better brake fluid and better pads and you are good to go. Tires on these things are noisy as heck though for daily usage. Make sure the transmission of flushed same with engine oil at a rational time and a flash if you don't want the ECU pulling timing. 

 

 

Not ready to do anything just yet, and even though I'll get less trading the BRZ in vs selling it privately, I don't really want to deal with the type of people who would want to come look at it.

Do the ECU's have counters? IE, if you flash a tune, then flash back to stock for service, will they be able to tell the car has been flashed and thusly deny any future drivetrain claims?

goingnowherefast - 91 only in OK. 

Datsun310Guy, not really interested in the non-STi WRX.

I'm basically trying to decide between GT PP2 Mustang, SS 1LE, Focus RS, STi, or possibly something used a bit higher up the food chain. There is just a ton of options in the $40k range.

I'd be really surprised if any modern ECU didn't have some sort of counter. There's way too much money to be lost on warranty repairs and legal liability with emissions stuff, for them not to cover their bases.

Do you need all wheel drive?  Cause if you don't and you actually fit in the SS 1LE with a helmet on, that's the one I'd buy as a fun DD/track toy...

docwyte said:

Do you need all wheel drive?  Cause if you don't and you actually fit in the SS 1LE with a helmet on, that's the one I'd buy as a fun DD/track toy...

No, we rarely get nasty weather in OK (only every few years) and I just work from home if it's nasty out. Hell my boss and I will leave the office to put our cars in the garage if we think it's going to hail! I've just always had a thing for STi's and the warbly exhaust note.

Saturday I'm going to go sit in the SS 1LE, and see if they will let me test drive it. And I'm going to go back and sit in the STi and test drive it as well. And actually remember to take my helmet with me!

A 2016 STI blew it's engine at last years ice races.

z31maniac said:

docwyte said:

Do you need all wheel drive?  Cause if you don't and you actually fit in the SS 1LE with a helmet on, that's the one I'd buy as a fun DD/track toy...

No, we rarely get nasty weather in OK (only every few years) and I just work from home if it's nasty out. Hell my boss and I will leave the office to put our cars in the garage if we think it's going to hail! I've just always had a thing for STi's and the warbly exhaust note.

Saturday I'm going to go sit in the SS 1LE, and see if they will let me test drive it. And I'm going to go back and sit in the STi and test drive it as well. And actually remember to take my helmet with me!

I'll go with you and sit in the back encouraging you to do lots of things that will soil the salesman's pants

I keep reading “if they let me test drive it”. Is this a thing?

I haven’t bought a new vehicle (except for the wife’s Town & Country which we took for a long ride first) since ‘89.

Are dealerships really not letting potential buyers take a vehicle for a test drive?

Id never step foot in a dealership where I went in wondering if they’d let me test drive what I might be buying. What’s going on here?

In reply to ebonyandivory :

Dealers don't want to "waste their time" on faux customers who just want to test drive the latest/greatest without the means or intent of actually purchasing the car.

I experienced this when looking at a Golf R a while back. The salesman basically said "you have to commit" before considering a test drive. His rationale was that they were selling them sight-unseen over the internet and any test drive miles worked against that sale. So I didn't buy a Golf R.

I'm in the market for a BRZ/86. And I also haven't bought one for the same reasons you say - except on the buyer side as I don't to deal with Broz.

PM me some info, or post it here!

Dashpot said:

In reply to ebonyandivory :

 

I experienced this when looking at a Golf R a while back. The salesman basically said "you have to commit" before considering a test drive. His rationale was that they were selling them sight-unseen over the internet and any test drive miles worked against that sale. So I didn't buy a Golf R.

The way around this is simply to run a credit check aka "run the numbers."

Corvette dealers also have a no-test-drive policy. But if you walk in and show an 800 credit score? Here's the keys, let's go.

I'm glad I drove the c7, it's amazing, but it's not the car for me.

Just a note on the Camaro. Completely different than the STi. Or the FoRS for that matter. The biggest downside is the rear seat. I can sit behind myself in a BRZ (I sit clost to the wheel when I drive) but I can't in a Camaro. There is less head room in the back seat of a Camaro than a BRZ. Maybe the rear seat doesn't matter, but it does significantly reduce the useability of the car. The pass thorugh trunk is nice though. 

The STi and the FoRS are real five seat cars. The BRS is sort of a four seater, the Camaro is a two seater unless you hate your friends and family. 

Blaise said:

I'm in the market for a BRZ/86. And I also haven't bought one for the same reasons you say - except on the buyer side as I don't to deal with Broz.

PM me some info, or post it here!

My email is my screen name @ gmail dot com, if you're interested. It's a 2015 Limited with 37k miles. Ground control coilovers and an MXP cat-back. Also have a JR Dual cooler and Winmax W5 pads that are new in the box.

mazdeuce - Seth said:

Just a note on the Camaro. Completely different than the STi. Or the FoRS for that matter. The biggest downside is the rear seat. I can sit behind myself in a BRZ (I sit clost to the wheel when I drive) but I can't in a Camaro. There is less head room in the back seat of a Camaro than a BRZ. Maybe the rear seat doesn't matter, but it does significantly reduce the useability of the car. The pass thorugh trunk is nice though. 

The STi and the FoRS are real five seat cars. The BRS is sort of a four seater, the Camaro is a two seater unless you hate your friends and family. 

I'm only 5'8" and can't get a six pack on the floor between the driver seat and the back seat on the floor. I consider my BRZ a 2 seater car, I've had someone lay/sit across both back seats for very short trips but that's it.

I'm not really concerned with back seat area. Like I said, I've just always had a thing for STi's.

And from what I'm reading it seems the 2018s are putting another 15-20whp to the ground. Possibly the new driveline adjustments aren't pulling as much parasitic loss? Who knows.

Dashpot said:

In reply to ebonyandivory :

Dealers don't want to "waste their time" on faux customers who just want to test drive the latest/greatest without the means or intent of actually purchasing the car.

I experienced this when looking at a Golf R a while back. The salesman basically said "you have to commit" before considering a test drive. His rationale was that they were selling them sight-unseen over the internet and any test drive miles worked against that sale. So I didn't buy a Golf R.

I can sort of understand that when the hype is high. No point in bothering if you're selling them sight unseen. On the flip side if you're not....

The only reason I bought my MS3 is because I drove it. I'd have passed if they said no.

That seems to be par for the course now since manufacturers have realized that the real money is in low production run "special edition" cars. It's especially prevalent on the high end but it's filtering down into top end cars of a product line.

Blaise said:

Dashpot said:

In reply to ebonyandivory :

 

I experienced this when looking at a Golf R a while back. The salesman basically said "you have to commit" before considering a test drive. His rationale was that they were selling them sight-unseen over the internet and any test drive miles worked against that sale. So I didn't buy a Golf R.

The way around this is simply to run a credit check aka "run the numbers."

Corvette dealers also have a no-test-drive policy. But if you walk in and show an 800 credit score? Here's the keys, let's go.

I'm glad I drove the c7, it's amazing, but it's not the car for me.

And that's fine, I get that. Don't need a bunch of looky-loos who can't afford to trying to go out and thrash the car. 

The Ford dealers here specifically said, I couldn't test drive the car until the paperwork was signed. Add in there are literally hundreds for sale across the country, the whole "the price is the price" attitude is a turn off. 

The0retical said:

Dashpot said:

In reply to ebonyandivory :

Dealers don't want to "waste their time" on faux customers who just want to test drive the latest/greatest without the means or intent of actually purchasing the car.

I experienced this when looking at a Golf R a while back. The salesman basically said "you have to commit" before considering a test drive. His rationale was that they were selling them sight-unseen over the internet and any test drive miles worked against that sale. So I didn't buy a Golf R.

I can sort of understand that when the hype is high. No point in bothering if you're selling them sight unseen. On the flip side if you're not....

The only reason I bought my MS3 is because I drove it. I'd have passed if they said no.

Yep. When I bought my MS3 years ago, the salesguy purposefully took me to an empty road and said, "Turn off the traction control and nail it."

Back in 2008 My S4 got totalled.  I was interested in the new Evo X.  Walked into the Mitsu dealer, gave them my card (Look, it says Dr. and everything!) and asked to drive one.  Nope!  Told them there's no way I'm giving them $35-40k for a car I haven't driven.  They suggested I sign a sales contact and if I don't like the car after the drive, they'd tear it up.  Nope!

Didn't buy an Evo X.  Ironically the Porsche dealer had no issue with throwing me the keys to a much more expensive 911 and telling me to pound on it some.

I understand it to some degree, but there's a point where you have to let the customer try out the goods before purchase...

I was also interested in the EVO X about 5-6 years ago. Read about the ridiculous maintenance to keep the DCT trans and AWD system happy and decided to pass.

A quick search just showed there are still some NEW EVO X's for sale around the country.

In reply to docwyte :

I think sometimes it depends on what you drive in, in.  I took my Phaeton in for service a few years back and was just sitting there waiting.  Sales dude comes back to find me and hands me the keys to a V-10 M5 (drool) and suggests we go flog it while the Phaeton gets new oil.

I'd walk in a heartbeat from a dealership that didn't hand over the keys to whatever I wanted to drive.

In reply to z31maniac :

Interestingly, I did drive a Focus RS without any paperwork. I wanted to drive a new 5.0, and they didn't have one.

"We do have this white RS to try though!"

It was great but the seat height (from the floor) was SO high. Huge turnoff for me.

In reply to KyAllroad (Jeremy) :

I agree. A friend and I got the keys to an Evo X when we showed up in his STi. I can understand why dealers dont let just anyone drive corvettes. The CarMax in Ontario California let a guy test drive a c6 Z06 and he crashed it and killed the salesman as he walked away unharmed. Since then they dont let people test drive cars over 400hp unless they can prove they can afford it. This was told to me from a buddy who works there.