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Old 09-24-2020, 01:05 AM   #1
2019subieSTI
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Default Purchasing Used 2019 STI w/Cobb SF Intake

Hi All,

I'm picking up a 2019 STI with 20k miles and the only modification the dealership has found is a Cobb SF Intake + Airbox. They have not mentioned anything about an AP coming with the vehicle.

From my research, a lot of people are saying its required to have a tune for this intake.

My question is - How can I tell if the car does have a tune on it? Am I expecting any type of issues getting this car? I also plan on getting my own AP. Would that help?

Obviously new to this but am real excited to join the fam.
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Old 09-24-2020, 10:39 AM   #2
ericsson
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If you're buying the STI from a Subaru dealership, you can most likely use the FACT of the aftermarket intake as a "bargain chip" to get a few hundred dollars off whatever the asking price is. You can EASILY argue the car is longer in "OEM" condition / specs and therefore you WILL have issues. In fact, most dealership would use the same argument to DENY warranty claims EVEN if the modification has NO DIRECT link to whatever the fault is.

There's no way of telling if the car has a tune or not just by simply looking at it. You would need an access port or a 3rd party engine management software to check.
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Old 09-24-2020, 10:53 AM   #3
Stretch18
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Agree with ericsson, any powertrain issues that come up are going to be blamed on the intake. A 2019 has enough warranty left to make that an issue. I'd steer way clear.

If you decide to move forward, know that Cobb lists the SRI as requiring a tune for MAF calibration, so no tune would be a red flag:

https://www.cobbtuning.com/products/...-sti-2015-2018

If it is tuned, but the AP is not with the car, that's another headache that you, as the buyer, shouldn't have to deal with. Also 'the only modification the dealership has found' doesn't instill confidence. You are going to need an unaffiliated, subaru mechanic to inspect to let you know of any potential issues...

Good luck however you go and welcome!
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Old 09-24-2020, 11:09 AM   #4
Jefe159
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Is it a Subaru dealership? If it is tell them to ditch the intake for an OEM one, warrant the car, and flash it back to stock. If not, I agree with the folks above saying its not worth the headache. Go find another, there are plenty
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Old 09-24-2020, 01:13 PM   #5
2019subieSTI
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The car is at a Ford dealership, not Subaru.

If the car is tuned and does not come with the AP, why would it cause problems for me if I'm going to get an AP anyway?

Something I'm thinking as well is just replacing the Cobb intake with the OEM factory one once I get it.

I went ahead and got a leakdown test on the vehicle before even considering purchasing it and the results came back very good.
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Old 09-24-2020, 01:24 PM   #6
gtlyearsley
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2019subieSTI View Post
The car is at a Ford dealership, not Subaru.

If the car is tuned and does not come with the AP, why would it cause problems for me if I'm going to get an AP anyway?

Something I'm thinking as well is just replacing the Cobb intake with the OEM factory one once I get it.

I went ahead and got a leakdown test on the vehicle before even considering purchasing it and the results came back very good.
Well if it does have a AP TUNE then the ECU is locked to " that " AP which in turn is married to each other.

So that part alone sucks
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Old 09-24-2020, 01:29 PM   #7
Stretch18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gtlyearsley View Post
Well if it does have a AP TUNE then the ECU is locked to " that " AP which in turn is married to each other.

So that part alone sucks
I think you can overwrite with a new AP during install, but if you select that option there is no going back to the oem tune. I'm not sure if there is even a convoluted way to go back or if you are resigned to pay a tuner for a 'stage 0' tune...

None of this is what you want to deal with purchasing a relatively new car from a dealer.
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Old 09-24-2020, 01:30 PM   #8
Jefe159
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Why go through all that hassle when you can find comparable cars for sale everywhere? Unless you are getting a smoking good deal but perhaps there's a reason why... just my .02.
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Old 09-24-2020, 01:32 PM   #9
gtlyearsley
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stretch18 View Post
I think you can overwrite with a new AP during install, but if you select that option there is no going back to the oem tune. I'm not sure if there is even a convoluted way to go back or if you are resigned to pay a tuner for a 'stage 0' tune...

None of this is what you want to deal with purchasing a relatively new car from a dealer.
Yes I agree and I think you are correct!!!
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Old 09-24-2020, 01:49 PM   #10
rtv900
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2019subieSTI View Post
The car is at a Ford dealership, not Subaru.

If the car is tuned and does not come with the AP, why would it cause problems for me if I'm going to get an AP anyway?

Something I'm thinking as well is just replacing the Cobb intake with the OEM factory one once I get it.

I went ahead and got a leakdown test on the vehicle before even considering purchasing it and the results came back very good.
So what is the price for this 20,000 miles 19 sti?
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Old 09-24-2020, 02:13 PM   #11
2019subieSTI
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Price of car is $33,991
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Old 09-24-2020, 02:17 PM   #12
JP Chestnut
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Forget about a Powertrain warranty.
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Old 09-24-2020, 02:24 PM   #13
2019subieSTI
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just got off the phone with Cobb. They said if I purchased my own accessport I can reset the previous tune, if there is one, and install the OTS stage 1+ for the car.
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Old 09-24-2020, 02:24 PM   #14
2019subieSTI
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JP Chestnut View Post
Forget about a Powertrain warranty.

Why's that?
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Old 09-24-2020, 06:01 PM   #15
ericsson
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2019subieSTI View Post
Why's that?
Probably because dealerships LOVE to deny warranty claim the moment they sniff mods.
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Old 09-24-2020, 06:13 PM   #16
JP Chestnut
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2019subieSTI View Post
Why's that?
Because the car is modded and you have no idea what has been done to it.
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Old 09-25-2020, 07:16 AM   #17
rtv900
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2019subieSTI View Post
Price of car is $33,991
Just FYI dude, I paid $35,300 for my STI with 8 miles on it.

You are getting a $1400 discount for a 20,000 mile car with a sketchy warranty situation

That is a crap deal IMO.
That car should be a minimum of $5000 less than new, and that's a minimum.

For that price round up another 1400 and buy new.
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Old 09-25-2020, 08:05 AM   #18
Jefe159
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rtv900 View Post
Just FYI dude, I paid $35,300 for my STI with 8 miles on it.

You are getting a $1400 discount for a 20,000 mile car with a sketchy warranty situation

That is a crap deal IMO.
That car should be a minimum of $5000 less than new, and that's a minimum.

For that price round up another 1400 and buy new.
Seriously.. Not sure why OP is hell-bent on this particular car but the deal is bad in almost every way. The advice on here is to run and find something else and I hope you take it. We don't want to see you back here in 6 months saying 'please help my STi is making a weird noise and I don't have a warranty'.
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Old 09-25-2020, 10:02 AM   #19
rtv900
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jefe159 View Post
Seriously.. Not sure why OP is hell-bent on this particular car but the deal is bad in almost every way. The advice on here is to run and find something else and I hope you take it. We don't want to see you back here in 6 months saying 'please help my STi is making a weird noise and I don't have a warranty'.
yeah and I can't imagine in this economy with half the country working from home or not working at all people are lining up to buy new cars

You'd think dealers would be dying to unload a new one
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Old 09-25-2020, 10:52 AM   #20
Kickinbeatz
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Worst deal and so much sketch on this, I would run far away. Just reading the forums on how many problems buyers face with married AP's is enough to scare me. OP can expect to pay another $2K to get the AP problems sorted out. Even going with a new AP, you will have to get all the stage 0/1 tunes alongside it.

For the price and mileage, and especially NOT FROM A SUBARU dealership, this is a bad deal. Ford is trying to offload a seemingly cool car to an idiot buyer and never help them again.
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Old 09-25-2020, 11:55 AM   #21
oichan
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Carvana and Carguru's prices are in the $34k-37k depending on the trim of the 2019 STI with less miles.

$34K for a mystery car with 20k miles is hardly a good deal.. if one was to give some perspective.

Knowledge is power. Get a new one.
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Old 09-25-2020, 02:56 PM   #22
Dave D.
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The only justification for gambling on this car would be if it's a Limited.

If you buy new, and mod it right away, well there goes the powertrain warranty regardless.

If I'm buying an STI for 34k it's not going to have 20k miles on it plus mystery mods.

So some point/counterpoint here.
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Old 09-25-2020, 04:35 PM   #23
ericsson
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Old 09-26-2020, 11:35 AM   #24
gtlyearsley
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I would steer clear away from that car bro. I purchased my 20 STI base brand new with 5 miles but had the Recaro package as well so it was a plus for lil over 38G out the door, as I'm in Utah prices are tad higher here.

But the heart wants what the heart wants, so if you're attached to that car then you gotta do what you gotta do!!
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