Suburu - WRX '07 - Any feedback

[ab]

Narrowing down to a used Suburu WRX '07 with 70k miles.  Will see it this weekend.  I know clutch needs work at about $1000.  

I know nothing about WRX other than I liked it always.  Since I can't afford Fiat Abarth, I am seriously looking at it to replace my dying VW before winter.

How do you rate WRX '07ish interms of

Mpg
Maintenance
Reliability
Parts
Gas - 91 but can I put '87
Will tuner addition have setup to save gas


I am not a car person at all other than I need it for winter and point A to B.  I put about 7000 miles a year and commute roughly 10 miles a day on average.

Trying to talk dealer from $15k to $12.5k.  Is that reasonable.

Any info and opinions on this model is greatly appreciated.

Thank you
-Ab

[Barney]

I've owned several subarus, and I would absolutely recommend one to anyone that was interested in it - That WRX will be an absolute blast to drive...it's light, flickable, pretty powerful, and plenty of traction wet, dry, snow, etc. etc. even without TC which i dont believe that car has (which makes it a blast in the slick stuff!)

Just like the ducs (maybe moreso, just because there are so many on the road), there is literally TONS of info in on forums like this one.  nasioc, iwsti, i-club, just to name a few...the wrx has a ton of modification potential...its not unusual to see exhaust, turbo swaps, full sti motor/drivetrain swaps..i've seen plenty of 3-350 WHP WRXs... 

as far as MPG goes, its not bad if you can manage to keep your right foot off the floorboard  , I dont remember exactly what i used to get, but 25mpg average wouldn't surprise me if youre gentle.  It will never leave you stranded if it's pretty much stock.  maintenance isn't any more than any other Jap car, nor are parts.  it will NOT be happy with you if you run anything less than the best gas you can get though, esp. if you flog it. You can get fuel management, I would suggest Cobb Tuning, but you're not gonna want to drive the economy mode, even stock...It's just too fun to drive, and the cost of that may offset any potential savings in gas money, and I'm assuming anything other than a dyno tuned custom map will still req'r 91-93 octane.

I haven't looked into prices in a while, but I would check KBB or whatevevr and the forums for cars before settling on one that needs clutch work - because there are so many of them around, you should probably be able to mint car in your price range... I wouldn't hesitate to pick up a well maintained/gently modded car with records even with higher miles.  I would say unless you think you're getting a serious deal, skip this particular car, but that's just based on what you've told me here, so it may very well be a fine car other than the clutch. 

I will say this though, I sold my last wrx with ~70k miles and no clutch issues what so ever, and I wasn't exactly gentle on the thing...so that car may very well have been driven VERY hard...the car is pretty quick and fairly inexpensive for the perfomance, so the typical WRX driver is early 20s. Track days, autocross, general hooliganism are all very real possibilities.   one more reason to look private, you'll get to actually meet the guy who beat the piss out of it before you.  The only other thing that bugs me about them is the fit and finish of the pre 2008 cars - you're definitely paying for the motor, drivetrain and nothing else. 


Sorry about the novel - good luck finding a car...Hope I didnt scare ya away from a Rex, they're really great cars 

[zooom]

1st...is it a WRX or a WRX-STi ?

2nd...generally speaking, Subaru reliability is pretty durned good, maintenance isn't hateful, but isn't cookie cutter dumb simple either. Haynes manuals have been pretty good for everything I have needed to do to mine. I have a 2005 Subaru Baja with the 2.5 Turbo motor. Turbo = 91 or better octane gas, which while not cheap, it does keep from certain carbon deposits from building up on the intake flap sensors. Parts are Plentiful. The AWD drivetrain isn't the most condusive to high MPG, but they generally get what I would call "decent" MPG for a car with this drivetrain. Are you going to see 35+ to the gallon, most likely NOT! Is it possible to see 25 or better? without a doubt, depending on your driving habits.

[JimmyTheDriver]

2007 WRX - Super awesome
2007 WRX STI - Awesome car with not awesome reliability

I owned a 2007 STI for many years and was scared the entire time.  When you start to dig, they are horribly tuned out of the factory, causing detonation and cracking the 4cyl ringland.  There are horror stories all over the internet.  I had mine protuned at 5k miles and ended up selling at 20k miles.  I felt like I couldn't drive the damn thing knowing the 4cyl ring was just waiting to pop.

One caveat - I worry a lot with my cars.  I'm sure there are MANY out there that never had the issue, at least not yet.  Any other year STI in my mind is an amazing car, but I woulden't get a 2007 again.

If you are speaking base model WRX, well then throw this all out the window, great car.  Do the "COBB Stage 1" or 2 and you will love it.

-Jim

[Barney]

Do the "COBB Stage 1" or 2 and you will love it.

+11ty million. Jump right to stage 2

[klone]

I have had a Cobb Stage 2 for about 10 years now and it has been awesome. The 2007 model is different than mine, but similar in principal. The worst thing that has happened to mine in ten years is a radiator hose broke. I have raced it and live near great twisties and it has been awesome. Great in both snow and summer. Takes mods well, and I still get about 25mpg (although I don't do a lot of freeway driving). The weak point with my model year is the transmission, which was strengthened by 2007. While every car is different, Subaru WRXs have a reputation for being reliable. I will say this, it is AWD and many people do not treat them accordingly. It is not a car for burnouts, which is how most people break them (hard launches).

[numbskull]

+11ty million. Jump right to stage 2

Did this to mine when I had it. Made it a completely different beast from stock. Fun car but screams boy-racer here in Vancouver and always gets unwanted attention...  , even if you're not driving like an asshat.

[ab]

Thanks for the great info here.  I will look at this WRX (not STI) tomorrow.  I have a friend that has STI that will help me do the clutch so I am good there.   Not being a car person, I don't see me flogging it at all. 

My buddy just ordered The tuner for his STI so I will see how it helps his and save up for it :-)

Much thanks DMF'er

[Speedbag]

I've always heard nothing but great things about Subarus until I met a co-worker that owned two turbos.....

He had an '05-ish WRX and a '08-ish Forester (also with the turbo). Both went down around 80K or so with a bad exhaust valve. You might want to do some checking online for this, seems to me he said it was a relatively common problem. And not cheap to fix unless you do the work.

He dumped the WRX for a Dodge pickup, but to my knowledge his wife still drives the Forester.

[Nero-92]

Yeah bye an integrale.

[Greg]

I owned a WRX as well and it was an enjoyable car, and the MPG was around 25 if I remember correctly.
The power band was a bit narrow, as the turbo kicks in there is a big rush, but it is over quickly, kind of like riding a 2 stroke. Be careful not to park to close to other cars because the doors are very thin and you will pick up a lot of door dings very easily.

Have fun