2002 Subaru WRX // Review

"TheDutchTexan" (TheDutchTexan) 03/18/2016 at 11:15 • Filed to: TheDutchTexan, 2002, Subaru, WRX

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Every once in a while you come across a unicorn. Now a 2002 WRX is hardly a unicorn you might think, but this one really was. 100% stock and one owner... Was it still fun? I’d like to think so!

What do you think? Should the owner have “butchered” it with a huge STi wing, an exhaust and slight tune (which is, admittedly, what I would do if I ever get my hands on one) or keep it nice and stock?

Needmoargarage > TheDutchTexan 03/18/2016 at 11:27

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Mixed feelings on this car...I want to love it but just can’t. I owned a stock ‘02 WRX for about 9 months. First the engine spun a bearing at 90k miles. Replaced it and the trans went a month later. Got it rebuilt and the center diff died a few months later.

Regardless, it’s near impossible to find them without the STI wing so that’s impressive!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheDutchTexan 03/18/2016 at 11:28

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As a former WRX owner, the cars are great stock, but really wake up with some mods.

Also, I hardly think a wing, tune, and exhaust is “butchering” it. You haven’t really done anything that can’t be undone with basic hand tools.

TheDutchTexan > Snuze: Needs another Swede 03/18/2016 at 11:42

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You know, you’re right! But it hardly stops there most of the time. All the ones on craigslist nearby seem to have custom faded paint, questionable hoods and not my cup of tea rims. And the ones that are nice have been worked over in a way I don’t like. It’s a good thing though, my wife would hate me if I said I wanted to get rid of the rock solid grand marquis and get a 02-03 wrx with 100K and start tuning it.

TheDutchTexan > Needmoargarage 03/18/2016 at 11:47

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Guess the previous owner lived at red line? The trans would have gone a whole lot sooner if he dig raced it though... Someone told me he had a stock 02 with 200K on the clock. So the engine / trans can last that long if treated right I suppose.

I’d punish it though, especially with an exhaust. That rally car sound, can’t get enough of WRX’s and STi’s getting on it at cars and coffee!

Ash78, voting early and often > TheDutchTexan 03/18/2016 at 11:48

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“Hey Janine, sorry about the 'Bug Eye' thing. I'll be in my office."

Needmoargarage > TheDutchTexan 03/18/2016 at 15:06

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Maybe. I really think the 5-speeds were just fragile. Seen lots of premature failures on that particular gearbox.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Needmoargarage 03/18/2016 at 16:00

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I had an ‘04. They did some upgrades to the trans that year, but the synchros were still weak, so while I couldn’t destroy the trans, a lot of hard launching and shifting causes the 2nd gear synchros to eat themselves.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheDutchTexan 03/18/2016 at 16:03

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You’re absolutely right, most people mod them to hell. And that’s always the trouble with mods - one persons ideal mod is another persons worst nightmare. Also, a lot of people seem to think mods make their car worth more. It’s like “Oh, I added $5,000 in upgrades” and all I think is A) I don’t want half that crap so it’s of no value to me, and B) You probably drove the piss out of it and now I have to worry about it breaking if I buy it!

But minor stuff I can overlook usually - rims, mufflers, etc. I always had mixed feelings on the STi wing - if I bought an STi I would have kept it, but I just had a regular WRX so I kept the stock WRX wing. no sense in pretending.

BTW, I meant to say this in my first post, but nice review!

TheDutchTexan > Snuze: Needs another Swede 03/18/2016 at 21:42

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I just love the STi wing... And that is why I would put it on there. I wouldn’t pretend it was an STi though, if someone asks it’s “Nope, just a WRX, nothing special”

And thank you for watching the video! It always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when people enjoy my content!

NJAnon > TheDutchTexan 03/18/2016 at 22:24

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Well to be fair, the Impreza WRX came how that blue one is in the video. The Impreza WRX Sti had the factory spoiler which is fine because that was engineering specifically for the car.

I do still want a Lancer Evolution or Impreza WRX though.