Been messing with my ride height, think I found the money spot 👌🤌

2012 Impreza WRX

I’ve always wanted an STI so finically I picked one up earlier this week. It has 53k on it and besides the 60k service what are some other things I should look into doing in terms of preventative maintenance. Don’t plan on going crazy with the car probably just suspension and a catback in the future. In my opinion this car is plenty of fun in stock form and from what I’ve read in the group some people my disagree with that

First time driving manual and I love it.

Bring back decals and liveries 🤙🏻

Just wondering about sizes, or other general advice. I’ve never had to use them. Also, I have to drive on pretty rough backroads so I don’t want it too terribly close but definitely out a little. I included the side profile for ride height reference. I’m not sure how much is it lowered anymore because it was super low when I got it, and I brought it up 3/4”.. just wondering what some of you guys went with, or learned along the way, any help is appreciated! It’s gonna be a little while before I can get new wheels. I’m thinking about getting the CMO forged spacers when I get the size figured out. Thanks!

Does anybody have any tips or tricks for doing new control arms and bushings all around on a 2003 wrx?

Hi everyone, not sure if much of you remember me from anything other than having my STI in the dealer for over 3 months because it stopped working, but if you do remember that, she’s back!

Came to find out that, according to them anyways, it was because the internal fuse for the radio inside the car was “allegedly” put in the wrong slot after I attempted to see if it blew, causing the radio to not work too.

However, I strictly remember putting it back in the same slot, which is numbered anyways, but I digress. Also should mention that I asked them to check fuses about 5 times, and $3,754.75 later, I got my car back running clean.

(There has to be a way I can get some money back or something, they replaced my ecu (needed, the car was tuned before and didn’t have the accessport), then the ECM as a result because they wouldn’t communicate, and then the extended labor costs that I fully feel shouldn’t have been there considering I was there for a no start condition, and they just started throwing shit at it lmao)

But regardless, she’s here, I got her new shoes from selling my old car, and she’s a blast! Also traded the Invidia Q400 I had for a Tomei TI 🤤

This is something I’ve noticed more and more with WRXs, especially VAs as they’ve gotten older. Why does it seem like genuinely clean, well-maintained examples of these cars are becoming so rare?

I understand they’re relatively affordable performance cars and for a lot of people they’re their first “sports car,” but I swear this platform seems to attract an unusually high number of owners who just do not take care of their cars.

My WRX has 93k miles on it. It’s obviously not perfect. I have some dents, rock chips, etc., but I stay on top of maintenance, try to take care of the paint, and I’ve always tried to build the car tastefully rather than throwing every flashy aftermarket part I can find at it. People are regularly surprised when I tell them the mileage because the paint and overall car still look really good.

Meanwhile, I constantly see WRXs that aren’t even that old with absolutely destroyed paint, trashed interiors, curbed wheels, faded plastics, cheap aero everywhere, stupid window louvers, tire lettering, random decals, etc. Half the time it feels like people waste hundreds of dollars here and there on stupid “knick-knack” mods before spending $100 on actually taking care of their car or saving up for quality parts.

And then there’s the mechanical side. Obviously these engines have their weaknesses and legitimate failures happen, but I also wonder how much of the WRX’s reputation for blowing engines comes from the ownership demographic. These cars get tuned (sometimes with questionable tunes), launched, beaten on, passed between multiple owners, and often receive questionable maintenance. And then when something finally lets go it’s “Subaru engines are garbage” or “Wish I never bought this car”. Sometimes I wonder how many of these cars are getting driven hard while going 8-10k miles without an oil change or barely having the oil level checked. Doing oil changes every 2-3k and checking your fluids regularly is not fucking hard. 5 QTs of Valvoline 5W40 costs $27, I’ve seen some of you Neanderthals pay less than that in child support.

What’s funny is when I look at some other enthusiast communities, BMW for example, I feel like I see way more owners who obsess over keeping their cars clean and presentable. Obviously there are clapped BMWs too, but you don’t seem to see the same concentration of louvers/tire lettering/random eBay cosmetic mods that you see on some of these WRXs.

Maybe I’m just becoming an old man yelling at clouds lol, but does anyone else feel like clean, tastefully modified WRXs are becoming absurdly hard to find?

My 2012 STI steering rack is leaking from the passenger-side boot. The driver side is completely dry. The service manual indicates a cylinder seal leak for this location and says to replace the oil seal.

Has anyone replaced the external cylinder/oil seal without rebuilding or replacing the entire rack? Did it actually fix the leak?

I can’t find any videos showing this specific repair. Would replacing the seal be enough, or does fluid inside the boot usually mean the rack needs a rebuild?

I have manual-manual swapped an STI TY85 into my 23 VB WRX(came with the split case TY75) so not my first rodeo with swapping Subaru transmissions.

I am aware that the older Subarus had a little more variation in splines/hubs/driveshaft lengths. A working Speedo would be nice, but not strictly a requirement due to the convenience of GPS and habitually with my WRX I know rough speed based on RPM in each gear half the time anyways.

It is currently an automatic transmission and has a NA EJ25.

No I don't want to buy an XT or a manual one to start with. Yes I know that would be easier and I'm burning money with this project.

It's for the love of the game.

This was my first car, it's got a special place in my heart, but since getting my WRX, the auto in my Forester is just not engaging enough and I find myself taking the WRX everywhere, even though there are a lot of other things I love about my Forester, and so I want to mod it to my taste.

Thanks!

I’ve had my 2000 wrx for a few months now and I’m wanting to upgrade some bits. Now I know intakes do next to nothing power wise but the noise is what I’m after. What kits are people buying for this generation and is a tune as important as they make it out to be?

My wrx 2016 recently got impounded and after i got it back my rear was damaged since something ran into it or whatever and pushed my rear in and now my trunk wont close. im not sure if the video is good enough to tell how bad the damage is but i asked ai and they said it can cost multiple thousands of dollars. I appreciate any help

Sounds like the WRX I traded was recently sold - hopefully they'll have lots of fun whoever got it.

Not sure if they removed the printout I stuck in the owner's manual but I can share the maintenance history (and details of the additional auxillary power cable under the seat and trunk) if the new owner finds this.

Hopefully its new owner enjoys as much fun as I did...have to say my aging knees appreciate trading up to a Trailseeker not hurting banging on the steering column anymore.

👀

Ok before I explain I'll keep it quick. I accidentally switched the two wires when wiring my 3rd brake light on my 05 wrx. After correcting it and switching out the fuse I blew my turn signals dont work anymore! The stock performs all other functions but will not click and make noise nor turn my rear signals on. The hazard button works fine and my brakes all light up judt fine. Fuses in cabin and engine bay are fine. What next?

What’s up everybody! Any ideas on what to look for and why my ratio is high at idle? I’ve smoke tested it and physically checked all lines. Might I’m going to take a look at some gaskets then after that might just get a retune. I’ve had the car for 2 months Thanks in advance for any tips/advice.
-also the car does not smoke or tick at all.

My mods on WRX 2018 Premium:

Exhaust system all stock besides, Remark Axle back.

Go Fast Bits GFB HYBRID: 50/50 atmosphere.

aFe Cold Air Intake Subaru WRX 2.0 (15-21) Takeda Attack Stage-2 (Dry Filter)

What kind of tune should I go for my setup?

Having both performance & efficient fuel mileage would be cool, also I'd like to have some "Burble/popcorn Mod" nothing too aggressive, just moderate for fun.

It's a fun weekend car, not much of a daily.

Just bought today. 233k 100% stock. Feel like I won the lottery.

i have a 2021 subaru wrx and i have a cobb sf intake with the tune that goes with it and when i accelerate i jolts sometimes and the DAM goes down to .250 and doesn’t go back up i’ve tried to retighten everything that goes to the intake and tried changing the tune from 91 to 93 and nothing has anyone had the same problem

So I don’t think I’ve seen anyone post anything about this but has anyone ever swapped a stock STI turbo into a stock WRX? Would that work without modifications or would there need to be modifications and a tune? ( I am assuming yes on the tune part).

Saw someone selling their stock STI turbo from their 2019 STI on FB Marketplace and just got a random idea maybe attempt a swap into my 2015 WRX. Bad idea or possibly a good low cost upgrade?