The nightmare begins...

I left my newly bought, Subaru Impreza WRX STI Version 9 at the workshop, MBA Unggul on Sunday to wait for the engine that I bought to arrive. The engine arrived the next day and I expected the workshop to start work on the STI the latest on Tuesday. Since it arrived early, it should be done in no time. According to the owner, an engine swap would take 4 days and I should be able to collect the STI on Friday. I called to check up on the status on Wednesday but to my horror, he had not even started work yet with the excuse of being too busy. Several other STIs were waiting for parts and needs to be done to clear some space for my car. I was smart to give him a longer time frame of a week but I was getting anxious. I would be on a business trip next week and I did not want my car to be kept at the workshop while I am gone. There was no update until Thursday afternoon where he told me work has begun. I gave him an earful and reminded him I must collect the car latest on Sunday. On Saturday night, I received a video from the owner that the swap was done but there is a little sound. I was worried and arranged to collect my STI the next day with my wife. When I arrived, the owner told me the sound was gone after he sprayed a little WD-40. He thought me the importance of engine oil for Subarus and need good oil such as Millers Oil. Bad engine oil could cause engine failure. I paid and drove away happily, experiencing an STI for the first time.

 

I was heading to a nearby mall with my wife and while I was driving, I had many thoughts about the STI. I love how the shifter shifts easily, how light the clutch is despite being a performance car, and the bypass valve sound. All these put a smile on my face like a child whose dream came true. She complained that I never smiled like that whenever I am with her. In a short while, the first issue came unexpectedly when I reached the parking of the mall. The engine would not off even after the key has been released. I suspected the turbo timer but it was not functioning, to begin with. I called the workshop owner and he was baffled as it did not happen when he had the car. He told me to unplug the MAF sensor located at the intake pipe which killed the engine but the radiator and power were still on. Next, I had to unplug the positive battery terminal to turn the power off and connect the terminal back. It was embarrassing and inconvenient that I had to do it every time I drive the car. My friend told me I could visit a workshop called Sham Auto which is famous for handling Subarus to check on this problem. It was good news because this workshop happens to be nearer to me compared to the first workshop. I made an appointment and went to visit with the intention to check on the wiring and change the oil for the gearbox and 2 axles.

When I reached, I told the owner regarding my issues with the engine and he had his electrician look at the wiring. He started by opening the compartment below the steering wheel because that is where the turbo timer was installed. I was shocked when I was greeted with a jungle of messy wiring. He also looked at the fuse box located in the engine bay to ensure no fuse was blown. While he was checking, I tried to install an STI Genome engine tower bar that I bought from MBA Unggul. I took some tools and tried to install but to my dismay, it would not fit. Most probably this was not for my model. I called MBA and asked for a swap. After around 20 minutes, of organizing, he removed the faulty turbo timer and an alarm system that was not in use. Next, he proceeded to check the ECU with an OBD Scanner for fault codes. There was one code regarding the MAF and upon checking, one wire was on the verge of breaking. He quickly changed and repair the wire. After all that, the moment of truth came and finally, my car behaves normally and could turn off. In addition, the compartment looks better and more organized. I thanked the owner for solving my problem and told him I did not have the time to change the gearbox and axle oil when I had the engine swap and would like to make another appointment to get that done at his shop. He quoted me and I agree to return next time.

Jungle of Messy Wiring

Fuse Box

Left: Alarm not in use, Right: Faulty Turbo Timer

Well Organized

OBD Scanner

MAF Cable

Strut bar would not fit.

Dream Came True

I finally sold my Toyota Altezza and was actively searching for the perfect Subaru Impreza WRX STI to purchase. Despite having cash money ready, I did not manage to find any potential unit and this was depressing. Nothing turns up on online marketplaces that I have not yet encountered. I kept complaining to my friend who viewed several used STIs with me and that was when he told me the good news. He saw the owner of the Version 9 with a broken engine which I viewed, posted a price reduction. The obvious reason I could think of would be the lack of any person who would go through all the hassles to restore the car. I contacted the owner once again and hoped for a big reduction but I was disappointed that it was only a tiny, insignificant drop. At that moment, I felt my available cash could sway the owner and counteroffered him my price. I put on my A-game to negotiate with him and finally, we decided to meet in the middle between our prices. My condition for the completion of this sales was to bring someone over to check on the car. I brought my trusted expert the next night to view the car. He knew I already viewed the car but he has the ability to see if the car had any major accident. Unfortunately, I was sick that night and so, it was all up to my buddy to determine if this is the one for me.

Although it was dark, my buddy checked and gave me his approval of the unit. Immediately, I shook the owner's hands and transferred the downpayment. I am proud of myself for scoring an STI for way below market price despite the heavy repairs needed. At the end of that night, my buddy congratulated me and I left a happy man. I gave the owner 2 days to prepare the car before heading to the government office as he wanted to keep the car registration number. Meanwhile, I had a lot to prepare for my side as well. I have to source for an engine, find a workshop, and arrange for all the logistics. Initially, the plan was to rebuild the engine but since it was not the right engine, I decided to change the engine instead. My buddy introduced me to a part seller from another state and this shop just happened to have an original, 2 liter STI engine but I did not expect the price of an engine to be that expensive. Nevertheless, I ordered the engine. Next, he introduced me to a workshop called MBA Unggul that was said to have good workmanship and is relatively cheap. I visited the workshop beforehand but unexpectedly, it was not a shop. The location looks like an abandoned yard with tents and not the most ideal environment in my mind. On the bright side, there were many Subaru Imprezas and this shows that they know what they are doing.

After 2 days, the owner told me he needed a few more days as he was too busy to tend to the car, which frustrates me. Once he was done, we went to the government office to settle the paperwork. It felt weird that although I am here because I bought a car but I would not be driving the new car home. When I arrived, I was surprised to see the owner accompanied by his mother and she insisted I pay the remaining sum before his son signs the ownership to me. I showed her the cheque and only then she allowed it and I became the new owner. Another surprise was the registration number remained due to his busy schedule. I do not mind because I definitely will change the number sometime in the future. The next day I arranged for a carrier to transport the car from his house to the workshop my friend introduced. It was a short drive but I was so excited. When it reached, I talked to the owner of the workshop and he told me after the engine arrives, it would take him 3 to 4 days to complete the swap. It was faster than I expected but I told him to take his time as I do not want to rush him. I thought to myself 1 week should be enough for the swap. The cost to swap was quite cheap and I was happy because the engine had already cost me a bomb. In the end, I am happy the STI is mine and now it is in good hands to restore its glory. I could not contain my excitement and I wish it would be a week later sooner.

Too good to be true

My search for a Subaru Impreza WRX STI had to continue because I could not find one that is in good condition and at the same time, affordable. One day while I was scrolling through Facebook, I saw someone selling his Version 9 at the price of Version 8. I could not believe my eyes as it was too good to be true but at the same time, I did not want to lose out if it is genuine. Immediately, I messaged the owner and ask for a meetup. When I arrived, I was told the car itself has not been driven for a while and was mainly parked outdoor. The first thing I had to ask was the reason behind the low selling price. The owner confessed that the car is not fine and the problem was the engine itself. Based on his experience, he suspected the main culprit was the crank rod. It was not the first time the engine had that issue while under his ownership. He asked the workshop he frequents for an estimation of a repair cost and the total amounts to around RM 10,000. After knowing the estimation, he decided it made more sense financially, to sell it rather than fixing the issue. That is why he decided to sell at a low price. I was shocked at the amount needed and I definitely could understand why he is selling at a cheap price. Despite that, I decided to look at the condition of the car before I plan further.

At first glance, the exterior was still stock with no body-kit but I noticed several patches where the paint was faded as a result of being under the sun too much. The only things that are not stock are the Apexi exhaust muffler and aftermarket rims. Next, the owner popped the hood and I was surprised that the engine bay is yellow in color. Under the hood, it looks like an original version 9 engine bay and not a converted unit. Then, the owner started the engine and immediately from cranking, there is a knocking sound that could be heard coming from the engine. When it started, the exhaust blared loudly and after 5 minutes, the knocking sound could not be heard and it idles like normal. I am not an expert on boxer engines but that definitely is not sound you would want for your engine. That was the main issue with the engine and this STI is not recommended to be driven. I was also told the engine was not the original 2 liter engine but a combination of 2 liter head and 2.5 liter block. While looking at the engine bay, I saw some aftermarket parts. I could see the Koyorad aluminum radiator, HKS intake piping with an open pod air filter, several aftermarket hoses, and a Defi sensor fitting near the radiator. The rest of the engine bay looks fairly stock. I proceeded to check the other parts of the car, mainly the interior and the boot.

I opened the driver's door and there was no creaking sound. Although it is more than 10 years old, the interior seems to be well taken care of. I sat on the seat and the cushion was still firm. The steering wheel has no scratches and the leather was in good condition. I could not say the same for the gear knob because the red stitching on the bottom part of the knob came out a little. The center console has been decorated with carbon fiber sticker and the entertainment was a 2 din player but not a screen. The player is an upgrade that must be done to install a reverse camera as it will be more convenient. It is great to see such a condition for an old car but I could not help but feel a little disappointed. Most of the STIs that I have viewed before, have at least 3 Defi meters and many extra gadgets. However, this particular STI's interior is by far the most subtle one. There was only an Apexi mechanical boost meter near the A-pillar and a Defi ZD multimeter hanging out of the ashtray in the center console. I took a look at it and the Defi ZD was not even working. I was hoping to get a little extra as I am sure these meters are not cheap and it would have been a great bonus for me. Next, I went to take a look at the boot of this STI. 

After inspecting, I was satisfied with the overall condition of this unit. I was also very grateful for the owner's honesty on the engine's health. The important part now is to negotiate with the owner on the price. At that moment, I have yet to sell my Toyota Altezza and its estimated market price was RM 45,000. Meanwhile, the owner was looking to sell the STI for RM 55,000. The difference was RM 10,000, which was the amount needed for the engine repair. I felt this was fated and propose to him to swap my Altezza with his STI without extra payment since I would need the difference to fix the engine. He was not interested and would like to get around RM 15,000 on top of the swap. I was shocked at his counter. I felt at a total of RM 70,000, I should look for a unit where the engine works because the market price for Version 9 is around RM 75,000. I left there feeling disappointed as I thought I found something worth buying. I did not mind the broken engine because even with the repair cost, it would still be undervalued. It looks like the search must continue.

Budget Issue

Like before, I had to take a look at this Subaru Impreza WRX STI when I chance upon it on the Internet. When I arrived, I was immediately captivated by its condition. In my opinion, a well-maintained paint job is the only way to preserve an aged car and maintain its beauty beyond time. The photos I took could not express how exciting I feel. It is a really clean car without exaggerating body kits or excessive canards or huge GT spoilers or covered in decals. Even the rims are stock and when I was inside, I like what I saw too. Everything is original and again, very clean but there are also some enhancements. The center console is dipped in carbon print and above the aircond vents are 3 performance meters. Near the A-pillar, there is a boost meter. This is definitely how I picture the inside of my Impreza to look like if I ever buy one. Surprisingly, the most unexpected part would be the engine bay that shows no sign of any modification whatsoever. It truly seems to be a rare find indeed but after I started the engine, I realized the exhaust is sort of loud and found out the exhaust muffler is not STI but of Greddy/Trust.

Although I have the wish and intention to purchase an Impreza WRX STI but I do not have the finance needed. Nevertheless, I went to have a talk with the salesperson regarding loans and because it is such an old car, I worry that it would be difficult. So I had him break down what are the requirement and loan structure would be. I was told that I need 30% downpayment instead of the usual 10% and the loan period is only 6 years maximum because of its age. If I have to fork out that huge amount, I could have gone for a car that is newer and with a higher price. The reason why I considered a car of such an age is that it has finally dropped to a price that I could afford. This is when I think I would rather buy a much older car with a lower price using cash money but it would take a longer time to save up the amount needed. One year has passed but the situation that I am in did not change one bit. It might take a few more years but I am determined to get an STI in the future. 

Not That Easy

Following my last post, this is the continuation of my viewing of the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The salesperson came back with the key and unlocked the car. I was nervous but excited to finally able to sit inside an STI after looking at tons of photos online. I opened the door and admire the frameless doors, usually only available on 2 door coupes. The first thing is to try on was the seats. It was weird to me that a sports car like the STI did not come with Recaro seats and instead have seats that look too fat and sits too high. When I sat on the driver seat, I was surprised the seats provide good side support. I started messing with the gear shifter, testing how hard the clutch feels, sizing the steering wheel and look around at the basic interior design of the STI. The clutch was hard but it was expected from a car that has an output of at least 280 bhp. It is common for enthusiast to change stock clutches to a more sporty twin-plate clutches that could handle more power. Overall, the interior is very clean and only has a Turbo Timer installed. I would have hoped for a 2 din touch screen and some Defi meters. I also had to find evidence that this is a Version 9 and not a converted unit. I learned that the DCCD adjustment switches are different for each different model. So, I took a photo of it for comparison.

I put the key into ignition and start up the engine. Just as it was starting, I heard a hissing sound and I did not like that. I went over and open up the hood to take a look at the engine bay. The first thing I noticed is the add-on oil catch tank, blow off valve and cold air intake which goes into the fender. Since I do not know much about boxer engines, I did not know what to look for. I only saw the shape of the fuse box, which tells me that this is definitely a Version 9 model. I took a look at the chassis code and year manufactured and it all checks out. I am definitely convinced it is a Version 9. I began talking to the salesperson, mainly on the bank loan because it is a fairly old car and is a sports car. I was told I need a large sum for the downpayment and the amount that can be loaned is very low. This is really some bad news for me. While I was talking to the salesperson, I noticed something off about the engine. It was idling all the way but it would stop for half a minute and continue running. I am not sure whether that is normal but it sure seems like a bad sign. I went back into the inside and step on the throttle to hear the exhaust note and I was not disappointed. I love the low bass grumble but could not hear the blow-off valve. I turned off the engine and let the Turbo Timer do its job, gave the key back to the salesperson and left. 

What do I think about this particular unit ? From what I noticed, I could definitely confirm that this is a real, Version 9 and has all the features from the exterior to the interior to the engine bay. However, the salesperson insisted that this is a Version 8 converted into Version 9. Usually, owners only convert the exterior but this is too much. I like to modify cars but it seems this has been overdone and I get the feeling the engine internals have been modified but I cannot be sure. I give thumbs up for the excellent paint and the clean interior but the engine bay modification and engine idling issue turns me off. The financial side is really not to my advantage and that is the main issue. If I have a big sum for downpayment, I would not need to wait for a sports car to be so old and cheap to consider buying one. It is really not easy to purchase a used sports car, especially with my limited savings. 

In the Flesh

Previously, I posted here I am looking to experience a Turbo car and I am really interested in the Subaru Impreza WRX STI? If not, you could read that story here. Having said that, it only made sense that I started researching STIs and search the market for a nice unit for sales. Around 1 month ago, I found this particular unit that and I was deeply interested in. It has an uncommon brownish-grey color that is the same color as my previous Celica. All the other STIs usually are blue or white and I love this color very much. There was some confusion when I first saw the online ad for this unit. It has the exterior, interior and even the engine bay of a 2005, Version 9 but the title of the ad is Version 8 for sale. I had to take a look to clear my confusion and so, I went down to the used car dealer. I was excited while driving to the car dealer because it would be the first time I come close to touching an STI in the flesh and thinking this could be the one for me. 

When I first saw the STI, I thought the color looked way better than in the photos and I really love it. I was soon checking out the condition of the nice rim and was surprised it is only 17 inches. I also took a peek at what suspension it is on and saw it was sporting an Ohlins suspension kit. The car registration number was a cool feature because it is WRC 204. This might not register with the average person but for us Subaru Impreza fans, it means a lot. The WRC stands for World Rally Championship, a rally race that made the Impreza so famous. Furthermore, the number 204 represents Version 9's limited edition model, the S204. The previous owner was definitely a fanboy. Then, the salesperson walk over to me and asked me would I like to unlock and start the car up. My 5-year-old self was jumping up and down excitedly inside while trying to hide it all up and gave a mere "yes" as my reply. Stay tuned for my next entry on the rest of the viewing. 

Photos above are taken by me while the bottom ones are from the online ad.