Hi,

 

I'm thinking of buying a 2002 WRX STI but don't wanna waste my money on the wrong year of WRX STI.

 

These cars seem to change very quickly. I have read that the 2002 WRX STI was slower and heavier than earlier models WRX STIs. Is this correct?

 

The really like the new WRX STIs, they look awesome but I haven't got enough money! so don't recommend them.

 

Thanks for your help

Hayden

I would be more worried about the owner and history of the car than the year. You wanna know everything you can about what mods may have been done as well as undone and you can be pretty sure a new gear set is in your future. Just understand that almost for sure your getting a car that has been beat up!

Charlie is right....If I had an STi I would spank that bad boy every chance I got.

 

You know sensible people don't buy STi's. They buy Volvos and outbacks and they drive them like they are out for a Sunday stroll.

have the same WRX we get. It might be good to check that before you take advice from us yanks. Last time I was in Kiwi you were getting more HP than we did but that may have changed now.

I would check an Aussie board since they usually get the same models you do.

When I first read this, my initial thought was, "There wasn't a 2002 STi in the USA.", but that I saw where you were from. To answer your question, I believe it is correct that the earlier, "GC" models were/are lighter, especially the 2 door model. I believe the horsepower would be the same though, around 280hp, there were a few models that had 300hp, but I believe those were only available in Japan. Where the STi's were quicker was in the gearing, they usually had a close ratio tranny and a lower final ratio (4.44 versus 4.11), this made them very quick off the line and out of the corners, but the top speed suffered. If I were in Austraila, I'd probably be driving a GC8D28 (that is that model code for a 1997 WRX STi Type R).

When I first read this, my initial thought was, "There wasn't a 2002 STi in the USA.", but that I saw where you were from. To answer your question, I believe it is correct that the earlier, "GC" models were/are lighter, especially the 2 door model.

 

The newer the body style, the heavier the car, but also the stiffer the chassis. In a purpose built race car this matters, but for a street car it's no big deal.