Living in MN, finding rust free GD chassis is getting harder as these cars are already 15-20 years old. I've been considering either selling my wrx to buy a crewcab truck or possibly making do with a smyth kit ute conversion https://www.smythkitcars.com/subaru-ute If it was a Charger or mk4 jetta I would already have the Sawzall smoking but I'm torn cutting up a reasonably nice wrx wagon. Thoughts?
It looks pretty great! So, I’m on the fence. But maybe one that has been rear ended with rear quarter rust would make it feel less criminal? Looks like they provide new rear quarters?
It's also different when attempting on a wagon, because the kit is specifically made for a sedan. Obviously most of the exterior gets replaced anyway but I'm not sure what the differences are internally that would make the difference. For example, isn't the tailgate line where the trunk would normally be? So the taillights from a wagon wouldn't work (shaped differently). And I wanna say the strut towers in a wagon are slightly taller than the sedan? Or maybe it's just the struts themselves. From their site: "Smyth truck conversion kit for the 2002 to 2007 Impreza sedan. Note: The Impreza wagon can be used but the rear quarter panels are shaped differently for a bit of a challenge with fit." Long story short, I think it'd be pretty sweet. But like Josh said, ideally on one that already has damage and/or isn't worth nearly what yours is (or at least what you were asking for it, if I remember right).
Yeah, i mean at the point I'm selling the wrx I'd just buy a truck. The tdi sportwagen is tentatively sold so I'd have something like $15-20k for a downpayment. But if I go the smyth kit route it would figure to be $3765 for the kit and ??? For basic paint with cash left over. The car market is such a ****show right now i don't see an obvious best choice.
The new quarters have provisions for the sedan tail lights, the tweaks to the fenders is to accommodate the lack of box flaring iirc
I guess my question is what would you be using said "truck" for? Don't get me wrong, the ute would be rad as hell to have and to drive, but it's not like you'd be able to fit anything substantial in there (both size wise and weight). Did you try to advertise the WRX nationally? I'm in a handful of Subaru groups on FB and the GD/GG's seem to be pulling stupid money lately (like everything, of course).
If i had a "real" truck i could stop borrowing/asking for assistance moving cars, landscaping stuff for 1 acre, build my shop, etc. I had been borrowing a family members e-350 flatbed until another family member totalled it. If i had the ute it would cut down on some of the smaller landscaping, car part run stuff and then the "real" truck scenario would be a few times a year
Any recommendations for those national groups/selling to out of state buyers? 3 of 3 past engagements went poorly for me
I just reread it and noticed it was an E350. Got any pics of that thing? We have a crew cab long box K3500. It sucks to put gas in but I can't imagine not having a full size truck.
That Ute conversion looks so sweet, but I wouldn't cut up a beautiful WRX, wagon or sedan. Sell the WRX for a record price and just get a truck. My two cents. Good luck!
If anybody wants to donate to the cause, I'd gladly cut up one of my rusty sh!t boxes before we have to witness this one getting sacrificed. Haha.
I put the WRX up for sale, if it doesn't sell in the next few months I'll consider the Ute path. The Ford Van-Truk sold so my wife recommended a different vehicle to be revealed if we actually buy it. I think I'm going to go win the lottery so I can just have a warehouse of all the cars I never have time to drive.
while i don't think a whole lot is automotive sacrilege (outside of stance and ruining 1st gen NSXes), this just feels like a subaru baja with extra steps.
You seriously just made my night. I was gonna tag you in my comment because I swear I remember you dishing this out in the past. So good.
Man, just thinking about Bob Sagat standing up and shouting out right now has given me a case of the giggles!
