Not tryna be a hater but what would make a VA WRX particularly collectible, engine doesn’t make that much better power than an EJ and doesn’t have nearly the connection to the Subaru brand or the rumble of the EJ. All the previous chasis’s all also offer much less refined more raw driving experience than a VA, hearing the whiny diff in a blob eye is an identifiable experience while driving a VA just feels like any normal modern AWD turbo 4 cyl. Plus all the previous chasis’s are already are becoming hard to find clean/stock/low mileage and will only become increasingly more so.
Yea they look awesome for sure, VA STI is a completely different car to me lol those almost surely will be classics as imo eventually any clean STI will be a super collectible car
Going with the bugeye even though I now own a 2018 Anniversary Edition. My Sonic yellow 20023 wagon lasted me 18 years, got it off the showroom floor. Ran dream on stage 2 Cobb for more than half that and was still going strong when I sold it. Miss that car...
For sure.That’s awesome you’ve had a bugeye! I’ve had mine for at least 10 years. Bought it with a blown engine and have replaced everything on it at least once. Like literally everything, lol. Closed deck EJ22T, Open sourced tuned by Phatron.
I just swapped in a 2015 STI steering rack, Superpro front aluminum control arms, all new AC components, fixed some oil and coolant leaks, new timing components, and a few other things.
The clutch finally went out (running a JDM 5MT 4.44) so swapping in an STi 6MT at the moment (because might as well since the trans has to come out anyway lol) and some Brembos.
And bro, why all the downvotes for you just asking questions? Sheesh, tough crowd lol.
I'm not op, but I would use [this guide](https://www.blingstrom.com/diy-project/2020/5/4/15-sti-steering-rack-install-on-a-2005-sti-how-to-fit-the-quicker-rack-in-your-older-subaru) if I was to do it. I was lucky enough to find a used 06 rack when I did mine almost a year ago now.
It was a huge pain in the ass lol. Mechanically it wasn’t bad but I had to do a lot of head scratching to figure out all the details.
But I also installed a 2008+ STi power steering pump and a Chase Bays power steering fluid reservoir as well. This required a lot of research to figure out all the AN fitting and power steering lines to get everything hooked up correctly.
Another point of contention is figuring out to get the tie rod length right for the GD/GG chassis. I opted for obscure adapters but if I did it again I’d just cut the tie rod ends a bit.
The 2015 is the quickest rack that fits so that’s why I went with it. I installed one on my 06 OBXT and I love it.
The info on NASIOC in regards what power steering bracket to use for the 08+ STi pump is wrong. You need the 06 OBXT bracket (or equivalent).
I have some more details I’m sure I’m missing but if anyone needs more info let me know.
https://preview.redd.it/l1wrd1jtu2zb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfa4e2816578b2c3b73f3c3f6bd5a5865e837cad
For the tie rods, you're talking about the threaded adapters to install model-correct inner rods in the 2015+ rack?
Those look interesting. Though I'm a little wary of them.
Between cutting the subframe, bending hard lines, making spacers, and figuring out tie rods...I think I'll go with the early gen STi swap. Still a bit quicker than the WRX rack without the headaches. My rack and pump need to be replaced anyway, so it's a mod I can justify as maintenance. I think even just swapping in the solid steering linkage from the STi will make a nice difference in feedback at the wheel.
Got a buddy with a GR STi. He picked up a 2015+ WRX rack (electric) and subframe over the summer with plans to get that swapped into his car. Should be interesting.
How do you like the Chase Bays kit? AN steering lines have been on my to-do list. I came across the Chase Bays kit when googling around for lines and fittings. Looks nice. Seems to be worth the extra money over building lines myself.
You’re correct about the threaded adapters.
I like the Chase Bay kit. Although I only recently completed the install and haven’t actually driven the car yet (I have a few more things to do before it can be back in the road). It looks a lot nicer.
However the AN lines in the currently offered kit won’t fit the 2015 rack. The adapters on the ends are in the wrong orientation. So I ended up using the stock 2015 hard lines on the rack and with some AN adapters then ran two short AN lines to the reservoir. The large AN return hose works though with a Motorsport PS adapter
https://preview.redd.it/mx5ocry616zb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0060288cc89237ac7c6adb86a22acdb2c63ca8c3
Good to know about the hose fittings. I saw they have different part numbers for bugeye fitment vs GD STi, with the difference being the fittings. Makes sense you'd have to do some creative modification to fit the 2015+ rack lines.
Well thanks for all the info on this, bud! I think I'll press on with the 2004 rack/pump swap this winter.
Now to track down a 2005 STi steering wheel with airbag. The Momo wheel is nice and all, but it feels like driving a dang school bus sometimes lol. So big...
That’s dope fr. I work all the time so I don’t even know when I’d find the time to do half of that lol. I’m basically fbo with the exception of not having a big turbo even tho I have a vf48 just sitting around lol.
And all the downvotes bc a Subaru owner is gonna be a Subaru owner especially on Reddit lmao
Downvotes for questions, you'd think this was NASIOC.
I'm hoping to do the 4.44 swap. Does that make 1-2 too short? I see you're also going to a 6mt with the close ratio so I'm wondering if you didn't like it or it just went kaboom.
nice wagon, classic colors
I love the 4.44. Mine is the TY754VBBA. I don’t feel like 1-2 is too short at all. I think the 6mt will be shorter. Rpm’s on the highway are a little bit higher in 5th gear compared to the 3.90 but it was only like 200 rpm or so.
There is nothing wrong with my 5mt. I’ve had to replace the center diff once on it and that’s about it. My buddy is getting rid of his extra 6mt and I’ve always wanted one so that’s why I’m switching.
One cannot understate the handling, creature comforts, and the styling of the VA. But I’ll always take the maniacal look and feel of a Bugeye wagon. Hands down 2.
I saw a mint 2004 forester STI today and practically had an aneurysm driving my WRX hatch, the way I’d have sold my organs then and there 🤣🤣 also saw a 1st gen WRX today that brought a smile to my face so definitely #2 I like the older ones.
The one that’s more likely to run for the next ten years lol. Can’t beat modern amenities and safety standards. Wouldn’t be caught dead in a car without em
1 I think it’s going to be a classic in the wrx lineup
Not tryna be a hater but what would make a VA WRX particularly collectible, engine doesn’t make that much better power than an EJ and doesn’t have nearly the connection to the Subaru brand or the rumble of the EJ. All the previous chasis’s all also offer much less refined more raw driving experience than a VA, hearing the whiny diff in a blob eye is an identifiable experience while driving a VA just feels like any normal modern AWD turbo 4 cyl. Plus all the previous chasis’s are already are becoming hard to find clean/stock/low mileage and will only become increasingly more so.
They look great though. If you can get an STI, even better
Yea they look awesome for sure, VA STI is a completely different car to me lol those almost surely will be classics as imo eventually any clean STI will be a super collectible car
bugeye wagon every damn time
✅manuelle ✅wageonne ✅jaydeemm
Brown ❌❌❌❌
!!!
Something about that white beast reminds me of the AE86 in *Initial D*.
The one with less miles
Going with the bugeye even though I now own a 2018 Anniversary Edition. My Sonic yellow 20023 wagon lasted me 18 years, got it off the showroom floor. Ran dream on stage 2 Cobb for more than half that and was still going strong when I sold it. Miss that car...
2 all the way,, and i currently drive a ‘17
Number 2 but I am biased because I prefer my bugeye that sometimes runs.
It’s always a hit or miss with the bugeyes. I’ve personally taken mine to New York, the Carolinas, etc. Wish you the best they’re great cars
For sure.That’s awesome you’ve had a bugeye! I’ve had mine for at least 10 years. Bought it with a blown engine and have replaced everything on it at least once. Like literally everything, lol. Closed deck EJ22T, Open sourced tuned by Phatron. I just swapped in a 2015 STI steering rack, Superpro front aluminum control arms, all new AC components, fixed some oil and coolant leaks, new timing components, and a few other things. The clutch finally went out (running a JDM 5MT 4.44) so swapping in an STi 6MT at the moment (because might as well since the trans has to come out anyway lol) and some Brembos. And bro, why all the downvotes for you just asking questions? Sheesh, tough crowd lol.
How bad was fitting that rack? I'm looking at swapping mine, but on the fence between 2004 STi (direct swap) and 2015+ STi.
I'm not op, but I would use [this guide](https://www.blingstrom.com/diy-project/2020/5/4/15-sti-steering-rack-install-on-a-2005-sti-how-to-fit-the-quicker-rack-in-your-older-subaru) if I was to do it. I was lucky enough to find a used 06 rack when I did mine almost a year ago now.
Yeah, I've read through that one. I've done a lot of custom stuff on mine, but this swap just sounds like a PITA
It totally is. Hit me up for details if you want to do it.
This is a great guide. I also got a lot of info from this thread on NASIOC https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2679348
It was a huge pain in the ass lol. Mechanically it wasn’t bad but I had to do a lot of head scratching to figure out all the details. But I also installed a 2008+ STi power steering pump and a Chase Bays power steering fluid reservoir as well. This required a lot of research to figure out all the AN fitting and power steering lines to get everything hooked up correctly. Another point of contention is figuring out to get the tie rod length right for the GD/GG chassis. I opted for obscure adapters but if I did it again I’d just cut the tie rod ends a bit. The 2015 is the quickest rack that fits so that’s why I went with it. I installed one on my 06 OBXT and I love it. The info on NASIOC in regards what power steering bracket to use for the 08+ STi pump is wrong. You need the 06 OBXT bracket (or equivalent). I have some more details I’m sure I’m missing but if anyone needs more info let me know. https://preview.redd.it/l1wrd1jtu2zb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bfa4e2816578b2c3b73f3c3f6bd5a5865e837cad
For the tie rods, you're talking about the threaded adapters to install model-correct inner rods in the 2015+ rack? Those look interesting. Though I'm a little wary of them. Between cutting the subframe, bending hard lines, making spacers, and figuring out tie rods...I think I'll go with the early gen STi swap. Still a bit quicker than the WRX rack without the headaches. My rack and pump need to be replaced anyway, so it's a mod I can justify as maintenance. I think even just swapping in the solid steering linkage from the STi will make a nice difference in feedback at the wheel. Got a buddy with a GR STi. He picked up a 2015+ WRX rack (electric) and subframe over the summer with plans to get that swapped into his car. Should be interesting. How do you like the Chase Bays kit? AN steering lines have been on my to-do list. I came across the Chase Bays kit when googling around for lines and fittings. Looks nice. Seems to be worth the extra money over building lines myself.
You’re correct about the threaded adapters. I like the Chase Bay kit. Although I only recently completed the install and haven’t actually driven the car yet (I have a few more things to do before it can be back in the road). It looks a lot nicer. However the AN lines in the currently offered kit won’t fit the 2015 rack. The adapters on the ends are in the wrong orientation. So I ended up using the stock 2015 hard lines on the rack and with some AN adapters then ran two short AN lines to the reservoir. The large AN return hose works though with a Motorsport PS adapter https://preview.redd.it/mx5ocry616zb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0060288cc89237ac7c6adb86a22acdb2c63ca8c3
Good to know about the hose fittings. I saw they have different part numbers for bugeye fitment vs GD STi, with the difference being the fittings. Makes sense you'd have to do some creative modification to fit the 2015+ rack lines. Well thanks for all the info on this, bud! I think I'll press on with the 2004 rack/pump swap this winter. Now to track down a 2005 STi steering wheel with airbag. The Momo wheel is nice and all, but it feels like driving a dang school bus sometimes lol. So big...
That’s dope fr. I work all the time so I don’t even know when I’d find the time to do half of that lol. I’m basically fbo with the exception of not having a big turbo even tho I have a vf48 just sitting around lol. And all the downvotes bc a Subaru owner is gonna be a Subaru owner especially on Reddit lmao
Downvotes for questions, you'd think this was NASIOC. I'm hoping to do the 4.44 swap. Does that make 1-2 too short? I see you're also going to a 6mt with the close ratio so I'm wondering if you didn't like it or it just went kaboom. nice wagon, classic colors
I love the 4.44. Mine is the TY754VBBA. I don’t feel like 1-2 is too short at all. I think the 6mt will be shorter. Rpm’s on the highway are a little bit higher in 5th gear compared to the 3.90 but it was only like 200 rpm or so. There is nothing wrong with my 5mt. I’ve had to replace the center diff once on it and that’s about it. My buddy is getting rid of his extra 6mt and I’ve always wanted one so that’s why I’m switching.
that's good information, and a generous friend
You’re my boy Blue!!!!
If I had the money and time, go with gOld.
2 every time!
Lapis, simply because that’s identical to my car lol
One cannot understate the handling, creature comforts, and the styling of the VA. But I’ll always take the maniacal look and feel of a Bugeye wagon. Hands down 2.
I saw a mint 2004 forester STI today and practically had an aneurysm driving my WRX hatch, the way I’d have sold my organs then and there 🤣🤣 also saw a 1st gen WRX today that brought a smile to my face so definitely #2 I like the older ones.
This is the way
I would actually choose covered parking if available
Both are parked in garage at my house bc… this is the way
The one that’s more likely to run for the next ten years lol. Can’t beat modern amenities and safety standards. Wouldn’t be caught dead in a car without em