Is the 'worst' Subaru WRX STI really that bad? | ReDriven used car review

so basically ... it's like every car... if it was owned by a dipstick you wil have problems. if it was owned by a actual car enthusiast you have a good one.

Currently have a 2012 WRX Hatchback Premium and it has been my dream car for 8 years.
Got it 2 years ago and haven't regretted it.
The car is basically 100% stock mechanically; Catback exhaust + a GFB Blow Off Valve.
It's currently got 208,000km and stock engine, stock transmission, etc is from the factory.
People underestimating the power a WRX has is crazy. They're plenty fast enough for street fun and they put you back in your seat hard.

Problems that can arise is leaking oil (Often from rocket cover gaskets or turbo seals) and / or burning oil (Often from sticky oil control rings around your pistons.)
After an engine flush, it made the rings 'unstuck' and was able to keep oil in and blow by has significantly decreased.
Subarus are known to burn oil so don't be surprised if yours does.

Don't service them every 10,000-12,00km; do it every 5000km and keep everything clean.

Overall (My experience atleast) has been a solid 10/10. I bought it at 144,00km with full service history every 7000km.

If your going to buy a WRX or STI, please get one bone stock or close to it. Do your own modifications and take them to a reputable workshop.

Lastly, don't flog the fk out of it. Put your foot down here and there but don't be red-lining it constantly.

The worst generation ever do not buy!!!! Leave em alone!!! Get yourself a VA or an older 02-07 STI leave these alone!!!!

The back looks fabulous

my friend bought a 2014 sti, and she had spend over $14k to get it fix up, i told her that if you buy this car, you are going to pay for someone else's repair, it is almost get her to give up and selling the car instead.

Nice review.

He lost me at "electric is the future"

Late comment but the head gaskets in much of the cars found in the states go bad every 100k miles. Depending on if you daily the car or not, that's more than enough time for you to put pennies in the savings jar for when that head gasket does start leaking and you'll have more than enough money by then to pay for it. That is, if you save money. That's really the only major red flag with the boxer engine and even then it's a fixable problem. It's just expensive to be thrown in to if it were to happen expectantly. So expect it.

08 models were the first year they came out and I guess the reviews for the car were so trash that the 09-10 model is technically a "refresh", and has less issues.

STI is true drivers car . I own a blob STI with ej207 motor that i had done a fully forge motor top to bottom 2.1 stroker . Puts a smile on my face every time i drive.

How can I join owners group?

The old hatchback looks better than the 2022 I wish they work on the 2008 hatchback version

I wish i owned a german hot hatch like the rest of the sheep!! 😂

I own 08 hatch sti still going strong no modifications and it still pulls like a train

Even back when I was a Z guy I appreciated these STIs and now that I have the 2014 Impreza Sport I even have more respect for it. Can’t wait to get one

Had a 2011 STI hatch and it blew up at 230,000km when I bought it used at 130. Too much oil burning and do u really need to promote redriven all video, first time here and I feel like I'm watching an ad so I refuse to subscribe

Great review video. Thanks for sharing.

You should definitely purchase one since the new ones look like crap. My 2008 gets daily thumbs up and people breaking their neck too look at it. I own the rare black metallic factory paint that is still banging. I posted more.

I can sell you my 2008 with wide body with black and black all around in and out, new engine and 12 inch wide rims plus more for 50k. Most famous car in Denver Colorado. How many will reply. Great video, thanks for showing.

I have a 2012 wrx sti. The paint is absolutely dog 💩. I live in canada, and the roads are heavily sanded. The SMALLEST rock will chip the paint right to the metal. I have never owned a car and had paint issues like i have on this car. Other than that, the car has 150,000km and I haven't had any issues, only costs have been regular maintenance. My car hasn't been modified

It's my favorite gen WRX. I still want one as a daily one day.

2011 to 2014 sti are the better ones in the third gen.

Do love mine. 2011, auto spec r, swapped the recaros for some all leather WRX seats for a bit more comfort and carbon wrapped all the plastic. till I die car.

I have a 4dr sedan sti
About 2000$ cad a year to maintain if you beat on it a little bit and do the work yourself

The GR chassis WRX STi hatchback is my favorite WRX to this day. Why do people hate on the hatchback?

Just lost my 2013 manual WRX one of those that I got new to an idiot crashing me, good review, they're an awesome car

What about just a normal impreza? Are they reliable?

Everybody that buys a 2.5 is looking for a closed deck block forged engine so please look for modified engines. Terrible video 😂

I’ll say this much, mate: head gaskets, while very important, are, fortunately, dirt cheap! They’re just a couple pieces of thin metal, and are decently easy to replace, whereas with certain high end Italian cars often have issues with snapped connecting rods, which are a great deal more expensive and challenging to replace. Ferraris. Ahem. Regardless, if you get a car that’s know to have a weak link, prevention is better than the cure; replace that part.

gets into a wrx sti to complain about the interior trim

Electric is the future?... Way too early to be so certain there buddy

This particular gen is very rare here. And the only I have seen is the sedan version. I'd get a hawkeye or blobeye which is a simpler car. Hawkeye is my favourite looking gen and the interior is better put together in those.

The hatchback was my first option unless i found an Evo 10 but I ended up with a hatchback WRX and it’s SOO convenient with carrying and driving people

My first car I bought on my own was a 2010 STI and I loved it but unfortunately it caught fire will definitely be getting another though

The updated G3 hatch is one of the best looking WRX's imo.

My first car is a plasma blue 2012 WRX hatch with 180,000+ currently. I’ve gotten it to stage 1 with a 93 octane tune and daily it. I still am yet to find how Subarus are just ticking time bombs.

I just bought a 2009 with 90k km for 18000 canadian

Still have my 09 WRX, after riding in modern Teslas, I'll take my WRX any day. It's still a car, not an appliance.

I own 2 GD chassis or i think they might actually be GG chassis because they are hatchbacks (Saabaru) and i love these chassis Impreza WRX. I own a 2017 VA chassis WRX too and it's far superior as far as ride quality and interior comfortability but i love driving the GD/GG chassis!!

Wow that Ken Block comment just aged really fast and poorly ... RIP Ken....

Bought one a few weeks ago. Wrx S prodrive. Tuned to 325. So far so good. Living it

I've got a 2012 sti a-line (auto) sedan. Ive had it for a year now and it's been awesome, sitting at 105,000km and was at 95,000 when I got it and cost me $22,000. It feels awesome to drive, super fast, super good cornering and touch wood - it's been very reliable. My experience with it so.far had been very good - one thing to remember is these have a cambelt so make sure you're prepared to spend about $2000 to do that.

Not only is the 08 sti my dream car. Ive owned one and modified it for the last 13 years. This channel has done its research and was open about the not so good. Still on the original engine internals at 340whp on track days. some day it will give out but prepared to rebuild the stock motor when that happens

Still have my stock 2012 WRX STi hatchback in white, all stock, 70,000kms, bought it brand new. It's been a good car, shit on gas though, and burns oil, but I haven't driven it much and it hasn't given me any major issues. A part of me wants something newer with a better ride and better cabin sound dampening, but there's nothing new that is very interesting and still a 6 speed that will set me back a bunch of money.

maybe not the most beautiful WRX but one of the nicest looking hatchbacks, and around 6-8 times more affordable than a sedan variant around here
really considering buying one

My from new 2014 WRX hatch limited has been spectacular, no mods other than a COBB access port stage 1 tune which is waaaay better than Subaru's tune. Dealer serviced and loved and cared for every day.

Junk. As bad as Joe Biden.

smh... bro does not know about Subarus.

Nice legs