A WRX is not a car you want to run cheap. It WILL blow up in your face eventually if you put low octane gas in it and don’t keep up on maintenance.
Like we’re not trying to gatekeep you or anything, it’s just a fact of most sports cars. They’re expensive long term, even more so when you’re talking about an almost 20 year old car.
If you want a reliable car, you and your mom should pick up an 06+ CRV/Accord or NA Subaru. The WRX, particularly one that old, is unlikely to be all that reliable.
The WRX will detune itself and reduce boost if it detects you put 87 in it. There's a low power mode that cuts boost in 1/2. It's built into the ECU. You could manually do the same thing by disconnecting the boost controller solenoid and plumbing the vacuum direct. I'm pretty sure it'll only boost to 7 PSI without the boost controller.
Wait to get a WRX until it can be a fun extra car. I remember what it was like to want one really bad, but if it is going to be shared and driven a lot it’s not going to be cheap to keep it maintained and healthy, and could leave you or your mom stranded if something goes wrong. However, when properly maintained these are probably the most reliable EJ. You also have to think about the transmission, center diff, clutch, cv axles ect. I’m not knocking the path you want to go down completely just be cautious and don’t neglect the car just for the sake of being able to have one. I don’t see any benefit to running a 87 octane tune.
Like the others have said, these car are finicky and require more maintenance and care if you want to keep them reliable. Get a honda or toyota for cheap reliability. Learn to work on that car a bit, and save some money for a wrx in a few years. Then youll have some more money and knowledge.
I was 23 until i finally had a nice car. Having a beater car is nice cause you dont care if something happens to it and its a good learning experience for when you get the car you want.
If a car says it requires 91, put 91 in it. Saving $5 at the pump isnt worth it when the car blows up in a couple months
Could you? sure, but it would run so poorly and at such a low power level on 87 I don't think there is a point in owning it. I know you really want a wrx but if this is honestly a reality then I think you just need to wait until you're older and can buy one for yourself and take care of it, get something else now that won't blow up on you or be slower than a crv because you're running it with 87.
If you can’t afford the gas , you can’t afford the car
Mother can't be trusted at the pump either. She's too frugal.
Second this, don’t cheap out on gas will cost you more in long run
Just no. Get a Civic to save on gas.
A WRX is not a car you want to run cheap. It WILL blow up in your face eventually if you put low octane gas in it and don’t keep up on maintenance. Like we’re not trying to gatekeep you or anything, it’s just a fact of most sports cars. They’re expensive long term, even more so when you’re talking about an almost 20 year old car.
If you want a reliable car, you and your mom should pick up an 06+ CRV/Accord or NA Subaru. The WRX, particularly one that old, is unlikely to be all that reliable. The WRX will detune itself and reduce boost if it detects you put 87 in it. There's a low power mode that cuts boost in 1/2. It's built into the ECU. You could manually do the same thing by disconnecting the boost controller solenoid and plumbing the vacuum direct. I'm pretty sure it'll only boost to 7 PSI without the boost controller.
Wait to get a WRX until it can be a fun extra car. I remember what it was like to want one really bad, but if it is going to be shared and driven a lot it’s not going to be cheap to keep it maintained and healthy, and could leave you or your mom stranded if something goes wrong. However, when properly maintained these are probably the most reliable EJ. You also have to think about the transmission, center diff, clutch, cv axles ect. I’m not knocking the path you want to go down completely just be cautious and don’t neglect the car just for the sake of being able to have one. I don’t see any benefit to running a 87 octane tune.
No
Like the others have said, these car are finicky and require more maintenance and care if you want to keep them reliable. Get a honda or toyota for cheap reliability. Learn to work on that car a bit, and save some money for a wrx in a few years. Then youll have some more money and knowledge. I was 23 until i finally had a nice car. Having a beater car is nice cause you dont care if something happens to it and its a good learning experience for when you get the car you want. If a car says it requires 91, put 91 in it. Saving $5 at the pump isnt worth it when the car blows up in a couple months
Could you? sure, but it would run so poorly and at such a low power level on 87 I don't think there is a point in owning it. I know you really want a wrx but if this is honestly a reality then I think you just need to wait until you're older and can buy one for yourself and take care of it, get something else now that won't blow up on you or be slower than a crv because you're running it with 87.
Like others have said if you can't afford the gas you can't afford the fix. I bought my 11 hatch at 97k miles and dumped 5k into it off rip.