If you are going to keep your WRX, I say get an STi shortblock. No one would know....sneeky, sneeky.

-scu

 

I guess it would depend on a few things like:
-which body style you like better
-Can your tranny hold up to the increased power
-How much money you have
-You will need to upgrade your brakes
-You will save on insurance costs tho...
-Uniquenessof the STi engine in a WRX

 

I think you better off selling your wrx and get the new STi than any engine swaps.

Why you may ask? because your wrx is already 2 years old.. even if you swap in a newer engine or powerful engine, the value of your current car stays the same.. it just doesn't add up that way. Where as if you just sell your car as is right now, you probably will be able have payment for the new STi, and some cash left over to work with. plus the car is NEW! the depreciation value doesn't decline as fast.

take this from a guy who had a RS/WRX conversion..I had almost very thing done except the engine internals.. sold it for pretty decent value but I still took a huge loss.

Now I drive an EVO! ahh.. the new car smell makes me feel great!

 

Oh yeah...New Car Smell....

Decision made....

 

What I was going to do (still might), was to pick up a new STi, swap the front bumper, fenders, headligts, grill, hood, rear taillights, rear bumper cover over from a WRX, then install a large hood scoop, and paint the Java Black Pearl STi back to Midnight Black Pearl, IMHO a superior colour.

 

I would keep the WRX and get an STi shortblock and mod the **** outta the rex. The shorblock is 1500$, a new tranny is what? 4000$ or you could just get stronger gears for 1 and 2(right?). Then a turbo, intercooler and tuning-4000$
Total: 9500$+ for a shortblock, tranny, and upgraded turbo/intercooler/tuning = Owned STi
oh and you can always give the 20,000$ you save to me (im not kidding, you bastard, i want your money)

 

I have an friend who has an STi shortblock in his car and he is using the stock tranny without any problems. He teels me that he runs the car in 4th gear most of the time and it runs fine. He has not broken the tranny and he is doing about 250whp. In addition to the STi shortblock, he has a VF30, full turboback and I believe STi injectors, but not sure.

I have a swap also and I know that right now I enjoy it more than the STi. Take it from a guy who has both. I have no internals done on my swap and neither do a few of the other conversions running around in the Bay Area and one is doing almost 300whp in a conversion.

Check with Chris at I-Speed. www.i-speedusa.com

In the end it is all up to you.

 

Just buy an STi. You get more than just the engine. There's the 6-speed, DCCD, STi intercooler w/water spray, STi interior/gauges, Brembo brakes, better wheels/tires, etc. Plus the STi is pretty rare itself. If you really want a sleeper, just debadge it and sell the huge scoop, STi body panels, STi interior to someone with a '04 WRX and keep theirs. Then you actually end up with some extra cash.

 

but if he gets an STi bottom end and a turbo and stuff i mentioned before he can have a car thats better than the STi for less $ than actually buying one now

 

It would not be better. He would have to spend about $4-5000 in engine upgrades to match the STi power, and he still wouldn't have the gearbox, the brakes, the wheels, the suspension, the chassis bracing... it's just not worth it to build a sleeper WRX with an STi short block when the perforance is right there for the taking with a new STi. All you have to do to stay a 'sleeper' is swap trunklids with another 04 (easy to do) and change the wheels. You can then just say that you got the brakes for a good deal, I wouldn't sell those.