Currently, I have a 98 C43 with 53K miles. I went to the subaru dealer today and to my surprise, they have a new Subaru STi on their lot available at MSRP. I live in a small town in upstate NY so the demand there is less. I am very tempted, especially STi's are hard to come by at the moment. Here are some options:

1) Trade in my C43 for the STi now. I really like my C43 and will miss the luxury, comfort and style. But the STi is more tempting performance and fun wise. Of course, I need to chip an extra sum for the STi.

2) Keep my C43, save up, and buy the STi as a second car in a year or two. At that time, the STi should be readily available. Will it be expensive to keep 2 cars at the same time. Will insurance be a lot more? I guess I can ask my insurance agent to find out. Both cars are different enough to justify owning both of them.

3) Forget about the STi and keep just one car at one time. I like an all-around car and the C55 due out next year may be more tempting. But I bet it will be in the 60K range. And paying the large premium and trading up from a C43 to C55 is just getting a new styling and a bigger engine, otherwise both cars are quite similiar in character fundamentally.

I here are my choices. Also would the C43 be worth keeping? It will be out of extended warranty in about 2 years and maintance cost will be high. I hear dreadful stories about blown trannies and costing $6k to fix. Will the C43 become a "modern classic"?

Also, if anyone is interested in my C43, please contact me. The car still have extended warranty till May 2005 (100k miles). Exterior is obsidian black, and interior is sliver/black.

Thanks,
Baron

i would keep the c43 and get the sti in couple years, depreciation on the sti first 2 years will be pretty big

also if you get the sti after you sell the c43, you'll probably get sick of the sti in 6 months or so and will be missing your c43

that's just me though

I would never buy a used turbo car.

hehe...was just there in ithaca ...boy, r flights hard to shop for...

anyway...keep the c43, then get the sti as a winter car...the comfort levels and interior of the sti isn't gonna be as good as the c43...

Hmmm, could you elaborate on where you heard of c55 due out next year? I have heard this mentioned a couple of times on various forums but I would not count on it being true. But if you have some proof please cough it up man.-MOE

From what I read, a 5.4 V8 or something to that liking will replace the lower end supercharged AMG engines.

Get the STi.

It is ugly but fast!

yeah...was just at a track, 100F outside....guy ran 13.2 in his subaru

There is truth, absolute truth, and then this statement.

So true. Thumbs up.

To stay on topic, have you considered modding your C43?

Thanks for the inputs.

I think I might decide to go with option #2, keep my C43 and get a 2nd car in the future. I might decide the Evo over the STi though. With either the Evo or STi I plan to do some mods and keep them as my "fun" cars.

I might also lightly mod my C43 to keep it reliable and luxurious. Might lower the car slightly since the factory height is quite high. I might also consider the Evosport UD pullies and intake manifold. Has anyone had positive experience with those?

Baron

I know they rate the Evo over the STi but Subara cars are better made than any Mitsubishi. Personally, I love the c43. I wish I had one. My friend does and he lets me drive it. I love that car. STi with it's AWD is a very good winter car. It matters where you live though if you're going to get it as a winter car. Consider yourself very lucky to have sucha car(C43). Good luck with your car(s)!

Depending on the use you have in mind, you may want to consider something else.
I have seen and driven the STI at the track for DE events and often watch them fall apart due to one of a number of reasons...all mundane mechanical failures that leave the impression that they are underbuild vehicles.
If on the other hand, you just want a street car that is fun and safe (at least from the AWD perspective) its not a bad choice.

Personally, keep the 43.

Chris

Well, there is nothing wrong with seeing how much you can get for your C43. Don't trade it in.

I would keep the C43 for another year, then sell it with one year left on the warranty. Then buy the STI (new) and another used benz with a starmark. Maybe a 2000 C230k or so.

So you have a Benz for styling and you have the STI for track/street.

Plus you can see how the STI engine holds up (remember the M3, hey you never know).