There is a good shop in UT, I took it to them and that's what they quoted me. I am not interested in making any more power. The car is actually bone stock right now.

2k for a used engine and 2.5k for labor and another 1k for parts and tax is about 6k.

Dealership is about the same 2850 for new bottom end, 2.2k for labor and 1k for parts and my 120k mile service and tax is just over 6k.

 

For me, I'm leaning toward dealership cause I'm getting a new bottom end vs a used. Yes, it cost more, but in this case of a new stock motor vs used in going to spend a little more for a new motor

 

I don't know how long these clutches last, but I have maybe 30k on it now. Anyone know if it will last a lot longer? My Sti has 41k on the stock clutch and there seems to be full of life still. How does the Evo clutch last compared to the sti, no launches. Just normal driving and shifting around 2800rpm

 

Depends how you drive the car. My Evo went 48k on the stock clutch but my car was making a lot more than stock power for most of that 48k miles. My STI at stage 2 power levels (not very much power compared to my Evo) went 100k miles on the stock clutch and was still going when I sold it.

If I was in your shoes I would get rid of the STI, build the Evo and pick up something else to DD. Why have 2 of almost the exact same car (turbo 4 with AWD) with one being clearly inferior in almost every way?

 

I'm not interested in building or making more power, I just went from making 330 awhp to stock. Power is fun, but I just like my cars bone stock. Plus it is a lot easier to sell a stock Evo if I ever need to do so.

Right now my sti is almost paid off and I use the wagon space as a good vacation car to haul my dog, camping gear, and people all in one vehicle. The Evo just can't carry all of it. Plus I'm not trading in my sti for a truck.

 

To answer your question, first I must ask:
1) what is your budget?
2) what do you want from your car?

 

I think I will just take it to the dealership. There is no point in paying my tuner to do it when the price is the same and I get a warranty on the work. Plus the turnaround is a lot faster. My tuner is booked for the next 2 months.

 

There is no budget. I just want my car to stay stock and good compression across the board. That's basically it.

 

Makes no sense to spend $6k plus to keep the car stock. Why not just sell it how it is and move on? Like I was saying you basically have 2 of the same car, the GR STI obviously isn't in the Evo's league but it's still turbo AWD and like you said you can haul stuff and go camping with it.

It's not hard to sell a clean Evo 9 in any way shape or form. 330 awhp in a 9 is basically stock anyway, mine made a tad more than that with exhaust, intake, IC pipes and tune, not exactly modded out. Now if you mean harder to sell for top dollar stock vs modded you may have a point.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do, the dealer is the last place I would take my car and it isn't because of cost.