80 is plenty Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 HI i'm a new member i've been searching for a new car for ages, last week i had a demo in a 2016 Type R and yesterday a Subaru WRX STI, I prefer the Subaru. the reviews are wrong, she drives fantastically ( better than the Honda), suspension is fine and not too firm and the clutch/ gearbox is great too, the interior is ok if a little plain but the Type R has better seats, but that's no problem at all...........the Subaru of course sounds far better, but the clutch takes time to get used to... but i did notice something :- at the end of a dual carriageway with me doing roughly 80mph, i noticed a horrid burning smell, it lasted about 30 seconds... hard to describe, the smell of burning rubber or plastic is closest, i was having problems getting used to the clutch maybe it was this, the Salesman kept quiet ! the Subaru looks great, this one was blue and from here :- http://www.dorsetsportscars.co.uk/Subaru/ i think i'll get either white or silver to hide the dust and pollen etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Hi mate welcome to S.O.C Not sure what the smell might have been I've not had the please to test drive one but if I was going to get one either white or the darker grey colour would be my two choices. We have a fair few people with the newer STi so hopefully one will belong to give any advice. @Sparky has a nice build thread going. Well it's had a bit of a hiccup but certainly worth a look and ask away I'm sure he won't mind ;) http://uk.subaruownersclub.com/forums/topic/15637-sparkys-2015-sti-build/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 is plenty Posted August 9, 2016 Author Share Posted August 9, 2016 hi and thanks she looks amazing in white.....the burning smell has been reported by others online, it's either me not used to the Clutch, or an oil gasket leak on the Rocker cover etc ............. neither of these put me off as the car will be under Warranty. she's one hell of a car she really is, she's miles better than the reviews say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NGBZ Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Hopefully it will be the clutch - though don't recommend doing that too often as you'll wear it out really quickly! I'd ask the dealer to investigate and then take it out for another test before committing to a purchase. It may well be covered by warranty but it's the inconvenience if it needs to go back in. I would be very concerned by an oil gasket leak on such a new vehicle though. Agree with you totally about the reviews. Sure, the STi isn't a comfortable long range cruiser - get yourself something else it that's what you need. This is a real driver's car and will never fail to put a smile on your face. Let us know how you get on. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 If your getting a new new car they always tend to smell a bit while they bed in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NGBZ Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 A plastic burning smell isn't normal to be honest - even on a new car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 my dads did a bit, they put this !Removed! protection gunk all over the engine and that tends to smell a bit, but as you say depends on what it pongs of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 is plenty Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 it's hard to tell what the smell was like..........a rubbery plastic smell, the thing that makes me think that it wasn't the clutch is that i hadn't changed gear for some time, because the smell started at the end of a dual carriageway and lasted maybe 25 seconds........... definitely not the smell of oil. i'll either be buying new or less than 400 miles, because i dont want one that might have been thrashed to death in its 1st year and then quickly sold off ( the dealer warned me of this) the Subaru is perfect for me, i !Removed! love it, the only other cars i'd consider are the Type R and the Evo V, but the Evo V is way too old now. will i mod it ?.............an induction kit and a remap and then maybe Afterburner exhaust, (but to be honest she sounded ok to me)........just something to wake up the engine a bit, after all she is definitely fast enough already................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NGBZ Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 Unlikely to be the clutch then. Remember that as soon as you start modding, the factory warranty will become void. I think that some cat back exhausts are okay and don't void the warranty, but anything else will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 is plenty Posted August 12, 2016 Author Share Posted August 12, 2016 thanks, i forgot about that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 is plenty Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 . look at the car tax from brand new...........£885 for the 1st year and then £500 from then on, i'd better buy one that's not brand new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Wait till next april and the tax drops to £140 a year ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80 is plenty Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 i quote :- £1700 (up from 870) for first year then 140 a year thereafter.so a pre-reg wrx-sti with the first year tax paid would only be 140 quid a year to tax instead of current 460..............end quote so you have to buy new before April 1st or you'll pay £1700 tax and then £140 a year there after..............flipping heck ! good, so it looks like the best thing to do is to buy 2nd hand and less than 400 miles...............BEFORE XMAS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Hi mate hard to say what the smell is never had it my self maybe some of the coating they spray all over the engine not sure. but the clutch is a bit snapy takes a bit of getting used to. pm me if you want any advice on mods or were to get parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowman Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 Did you buy it? Mine had a bit of a plasticky burning smell when brand new but it went away and didn't come back. Probably some protective coating where it shouldn't have been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieT Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 I have noticed the smell too on my 2017 STI with 3000 miles on it. I usually smell it when I'm pulling away from behind larger vehicles and nosing out of the parking space so for me this indicates that its a high probability of being the clutch. Also remember that some parts of the cars engine has been coated in a protective wax too. Richie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muziqaz Posted November 25, 2016 Share Posted November 25, 2016 Yes, smell is here as well on my 2017 STI. But it is seldom, usually when I step on the gas. But as I said it happens once a week or so. Also I'm in London, might be other cars as well :D I don't pay much attention to it, as it goes away quite quickly. The only better thing about Type R against STI is the clutch, but everything else is on STI favour (I don't mention MPGs in performance car comparison, smiles per gallon). When you are inside STI you know that you are in a car and not in some luxury boat. You can hear and feel everything car does, love it ;) Also, if you haven't bought that white 2016 model, give a call to Kinghams Subaru in Croydon, London, they have 2017 model in blue waiting for lucky owner :) Brand new, zero miles. If you do decide to go for the blue one, mention Tomas to Keith ;) I'll buy you a beer :D :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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