(Sorry if some of you might find this OFF TOPIC...if so just click and go on to the next topic...thanks)

Well I was talking to Mike (IPS) about WRXs and the new STi, etc not to long ago via AIM. He brought up a good discussion...will the WRX and new STi suffer the same theft/vandalism problems the ITR does currently? I think (and hope) not myself. One of the factors that helped my decision in trading my ITR for a WRX was the theft/vandalism factor. I feel comfortable parking my WRX a lot of places I wouldn't with my ITR due to paranoia (yes even here in Nebraska). Mike felt that it would only be time before the WRX swap becomes the new hot item.

Here are some reasons I came up with in my hopes to convince myself that it won't become a problem like it is for ITR owners to park their cars...

- The WRX would be a much more difficult swap into another Subaru. Most people wouldn't be able to do the swap as easy as the B-series swap
- There are a lot less cars that the 2.0L turbo and new 2.5L turbo would swap into
- Less people are into lower model Subarus that would be interested in a swap

Thoughts, concerns?

Thanks,
Todd

 

I hope not!

In Australia, WRX's are stolen like ITR's in the USA. For me, insurance on a WRX is three times that of an ITR. You just can't park your WRX anywhere....

 

yellow dragon, if what he said is true, youre in trouble!

 

I agree that it most likely won't happen mainly because the majority of the subaru crowd that own lower models wouldn't be interested in the wrx motor. I'm not saying that they all don't, but very few. What I'm worried about is that the STI may be the one stolen because WRX owners might want the stuff in their wrx. Of course I don't know if everything is useable on a STI like the Type R is on other honda/acura models, but I'm assuming some or all of it will. I think WRX owners are ok, but STI owners need to keep an eye on their cars.
Just my opinion.

tj

 

Todd - YES, like I keep telling you.

It won't be as bad as our ITRs, but since they can swap into quite a few generations of Imprezas and Legacies, problems will occur.

 

Never will happen. I don't think I've ever seen a Sube stunna before. Civic and Integra stunnas are a daily occurance.

 

Lets also keep in mind that the people who steal R's do not just put R components in other integras. They filter down and end up in hatches, civics...etc. Time and depreciation have also contributed to high theft rates of the R. Its now possible to buy a civic hatch or coupe or older integra for near nothing. Factor in the relatively low cost for a swap and you have a fast car for a really great price.

This works in favor for the STi guys. Most people cant go out and get an older WRX for $1 and then spend $5k on the engine, so sheer cost will work against most thieves and hopefully kill any market that would be available for the stolen engines/parts..etc.

I'm not saying they wont be stolen, I'm just saying that some time must pass before costs come down. And even then, for the price of an STi engine, a WRX owner can seriously beef up his/her own engine.

 

All I know is that it's a pain and costly to swap a EJ20 motor into a GC8. I'm sure it's just as hard for the new motor too.

 

no, cause they already have a turbo.
its motivation to get a turbo upgrade and smote them STI's.

 

I don't think WRX STi thefts will even be an issue. The only thing you'd have to worry about is vandalism like spoiler stealing or keying and just outright complete car steal-age... But even then I doubt it would even be that terrible.

 

Yeah in Austraila the WRX have been know to b the most stolen car. Insurance company will not even insure you if u r under the age of 25 for a WRX its much more easy to get insurance with ITR then the WRX.

 

in the states? i dont think the WRX will come close to the theft rate of an ITR.

for one, the ITR is a huge target for theft because they are a limited edition car, their parts can be sold with ease.
second, like 90% of Honda parts, ITR parts are interchangeable with 90% of every Honda period.
third, more people are into hondas/acuras by far, this gives a much bigger population of automobile enthusiasts to sell to rather than a WRX/STi

 

I was thinking the same thing. Because I am now in the market for a new car to replace 01-0347. I don't want another theft magnet. I want to drive a car and not worry about it getting stolen everytime you park it at the Mall or movies even in front of your house in my case. That is why I think the EVO is better becuase it can't be swapped in to the lower Lancer models without some serious work.


[Modified by PyR01-0347, 9:28 AM 1/14/2003]

 

If the STI motor fits in the current WRX, I'm sure they'll get stolen. Who wouldn't want that bullet proof tranny at the very least. Seats (Like ITR's), Engine (Like ITR's)..there are lots of kids w/ WRX's that would love to "trade up".
I guess you guys are right. There is not the immensly huge "civic, integra, etc" to swap down into, only the current WRX, but that may be enough that some STI's will get picked off.

 

in regards to trading up to the sti wrx i really hope that anyone who can shell out over 20grand for a new wrx won't be so ghetto that they'd have to steal their upgrades.... if wrx shells start floating around for the same price as the shells our little itr motors go into then wrx owners in the states might have a problem but until then it shouldn't be anywhere near as bad

 

...only on opposite day.

 

I dont think it will have any problems. One, its mass produced, so soon there will be tons of WRX's and STI's everywhere. Two, old subaru's aren't "cool" to the young kids compaired to a old civic or integra.

 

history will repeat itself

 

I hope it doesnt happen to the scoobies as well. My friend is getting a WRX next week and has big plans for it. But I have heard more and more recently that WRXs are becoming a target for theft. And once the STi comes out, hopefully people dont jack those to swap them into a WRX/2.5RS shell. I dont think it will become as large an issue as honda motors, basically because the Honda motors fit in EVERYTHING from CRXs, Cibics, Del Sols, tegs, accords, etc. The STi is only gonna fit in WRXs and 2.5RS's so I think that will limit the theft considerably. just my 2 cents.

 

It will probably be one of these only time will tell things. I hope all the Sti folks don't have to deal with the same thing we Type R folks have had to deal with. Especially considering that I'm considering a Sti or an EVO as a second car. Two theft magnets...

But, I understand that Subaru is planning on bringing 5k - 7k of the STi's in the first year. That's more than all of the Type R's brought into the country 97-2001. There will be more of them, so for the theft rate to be high a lot more of them will have to get stolen. Of course this also means there will be more of them on the streets to steal. Lets say the theft rate of one year fo Type R's is 10%. Saying there were maybe 1500 Type Rs in one year, 15 cars would have to get stolen. For the same theft rate in 5000 Sti's, 50 cars would have to get stolen.

I also wonder if this is something the EVO crowd may have to deal with. I see more wanna be Lancers driving around than WRX's.

 

as far as the EVO goes, the dealer I talked to said they are only getting 1 every 3 months. he didnt have an estimated total that will be brought to the US though. That seems pretty limited though. I think the STI is gonna have a lot more than that.

 

I was going to say the exact same thing, "n the states? i dont think the WRX will come close to the theft rate of an ITR.
for one, the ITR is a huge target for theft because they are a limited edition car, their parts can be sold with ease.
second, like 90% of Honda parts, ITR parts are interchangeable with 90% of every Honda period.
third, more people are into hondas/acuras by far, this gives a much bigger population of automobile enthusiasts to sell to rather than a WRX/STi"

 

IMHO, I think that the more modded your STi or WRX looks the more chance sthat you take in it getting vandalized/stolen/sought after. I think staying as sleeper as possible is the best way to go, but hey? I look forward to getting out of the GSR and getting an STi within the next two years...and even then there is no way to make an STi sleeper.

If I owned an STi, I still will treat it as if it will be a theft target like our GSR's and ITR's, which means not leaving it on the street out of my sight for long periods of time, no stopping by the malls and going shopping for hours, avoiding poverty stricken areas of town (even though in my upscale neighborhood a few of my neighbors cars were stolen in front of my house....even if you live in a rich area stuff happens......the theives will come to your house scope it out and take your car anyway). Another, good thing to bear in mind also is to watch who's following you especially if you are going home. I never pull into my driveway if I suspect someone is following me or even eyeing my car.

 

I dont think STi's will be as much of a target as an ITR. As matter of fact very few cars in history have been sought after in the black market as the Integra Type R. The fact that a $2,000 EG Civic shell can have every nut and bolt from an ITR bolted on to it makes the ITR a target for years to come. Even more as the years go by since there will be a lot less ITR's in circulation.

Not to say that no sti's will be stolen, I'm sure there will instances of theft and vandalism just as the base WRX has seen but probably nowhere near the rampant theft rate of ITR's and Honda B series powered cars.

 

I think the WRX will not so much be stolen for parts, but more to do the crime itself. In Europe last year I read an article about the thefts of WRX's and how the thieves were using them for smash and grabs because of their impeccable traction. Not to mention that both the off-road and on-road abilities of these cars made them great for getaways.