How are the Impreza 2.5 RS'? I know the specs (about 3000 lbs and 165hp and tq), but are they pretty nimble and quick? I am really pushing to get a WRX, but if things don't work right, then the 2.5 RS is what I will get. The second part is related to this section. What is available for the 2.5 RS? I haven't seen many mods for it as far as performance or really anything aside from universal things (wheels, suspension, etc.). Is there much support for the 04 and newer Imprezza's yet? Thanks. Mike I will do a search later, I just wanted to get some general ideas right now. If there are some good threads, could you link them? Thanks again.
Depends on what you want to do with it. For not having a turbocharger that 165 horses certainly feels like more, especially just as you stab the throttle. But if you're looking for the easier route to more power you're better off starting with something turbocharged from the factory. Making all engine power on an RS will cost a bit more than mods to a WRX. However if you take into account the difference in price up front that extra few thousand could afford you the beginnings of a turbo kit for an RS. I think they still make them, **** I haven't looked in a while Are you planning on voiding the warranty right off the lot then?
I dont have an RS but i have an older LX. i like the way it handles. mine has only 135hp (stock) but its enough. before i had this i was driving an SUV. so i cant realy compare to other cars but its a world of difference compared to an SUV. mod wise. you will probably find more aftermaket parts for a WRX 02-05 probably have most of the same options (or will soon). i have found it difficult to find GC impreza parts. but i havent looked to hard. i know right off hand that you can get intake, exhaust, under drive pulley, suspension, turbo kit, and some other gooies. but alot of people have already done this stuff, and the cooler things are arder to find. ie Cams, Throttle Bodies. (i think JUN makes both of those) for exterior stuff there are a ton of options from japan, becuase the GC8 WRXs have been there forever. good luck
"posted by subi_2.5rs" the avo turbo kits for the RS will put you next to an sti or watever....runs about 3g's....
Stock, the curb weight for a MY00-01 is 2825 lbs. The curb weight for MY02+ Impreza RS' is about 3000 lbs. The RS slowly runs the 1/4 mile in ~15.8 @ 87 mph, but it does very well at auto-x because of the AWD and the low-end torque. Power-wise, there are a lot of bolt-on mods you can do. Although not as much as the WRX, enough to make the car lively and nimble. Handling-wise, there are several suspension systems out there that you can get. Or you can get individual parts to your preference: rear sway bars, end links, struts, springs, Sti parts, etc. I love my MY00 Impreza. I would like more top-end power, but the strong low-end keeps me happy. It's also fun to race the cars in the same class because they have to play catch-up every time you launch on them. The weaker top-end lets the amateur driver maintain better control of the car. To me at least.
Five thousand for that kind of power isn't bad. I know what you mean by starting with a WRX over the RS though because I am a member of Saturnfans.com and turbosaturns.net. I own a 99 SC1a and 92 SL1a (coupe and sedan, both auto)...anyway, they have the same engine...1.9L only difference is SOHC (both of mine are) and DOHC...but that little difference turns into a lot (easier on the engine since one cam does intake and one does exhaust and also starts with an extra 24hp...granted these cars don't have lots of power...100hp in my 99SC1 stock and 124 in a DOHC, but considering the ~2400 lbs they have to pull, it's pretty good). My SC1 does a quarter in roughly 18 seconds stock. When you add the intake and exhaust I have it maybe gains a quarter to half a second (being generous)...and that DOHC right off the batt does mid to low 16's. With a few things done those DOHC manuals are quite quick, but to get the same power it takes a lot more with the SOHC and is almost pointless. We do have some DOHC turbo Saturns in the 400+ hp range and are running sub 13 second quarter mile. Anyway, thanks for the info...I will explain what my plans are. I am really wanting the WRX because it's already got the power (wouldn't plan on doing much of anything for performance)...however, being that it will be a brand new car, it may be more beneficial to buy the RS since it's a few thousand cheaper. My biggest concern in MN is of course the AWD (You all know what I mean...you're all in MN afterall...or at least near MN I think). Coming from a slightly lighter car, the power difference is the equivelant of a full bolt-on SOHC Saturn. That's a pretty good start for the RS alone. With the WRX though, I would only do suspension/brakes/wheels (aside from the basic Turbo-back exhaust, uppipe, and intake). A little visual is required as well (tint and wheels). If I went with a RS, I'd want to go with those bolt-ons and maybe a couple more as well. I don't think I'd spend the big money for a turbo or any internal work, but some other bolt-ons or maybe ECM/PCM (whatever it is, I get those two confused) if that is available. Anyway, I like the bugeyes, but for some reason the 04+ caught my eye in a different way and I really like it more. Those would be the plans. WRX: intake, exhaust, tint, wheels?, suspension, brakes. RS: intake, exhaust, tint, wheels, suspension, brakes, other small bolt-ons. That's the only difference. This will be a daily driver for me so the better choice would probably be the RS, but why not have the performance as well. I got a quote from Brooklyn Park Subaru or Morrie's (is that the same place or two different ones) for a WRX Wagon (only 24,000 roughly for an auto with a few options). Seemed like a good deal for the car considering the performance it has. I would prefer the Sedan, but the Wagon is kind of cool too. Also, I was curious what the TS is? Is that a version of the Impreza RS, just a wagon? That's what all the TS' I've seen were (wagons). Thanks again.
The TS is the wagon version of the RS. Still a good car though. If you can afford to pay ~$5000 more for the EJ20, then go ahead. The WRX responds way better to power modifications than the RS/TS and there is a ton of aftermarket support for it. You'll never be happy with your power, and you'll always want more. )
Of course I'll always want more. I was planning on doing a custom header for my SC1 (would've cost 500 bucks because no companies make one, but oh well) and also a few other things. Then I was going to add a supercharger (Powerdyne BD11a probably) with an itercooler and try to run it well tuned at about 6-8 psi, but I am going to scrap that idea and keep it for a spare when I get the new car. I will still make it look a little better though (tint if I can get in on that deal from the buy/sell forum) and wheels...steelies just don't work for me. My car needs to lose weight there. I definately just want a new car though and it's got to be 4-door because being engaged we want to get married next year and then the kids will come. Also the extra power will be nice and lastly it's new/quick/cool. I would love to do a lot to it performance wise, but I won't be able to (at least not right away). We want to buy a house as well and make a few other purchases. That's going to make me take it easy on the car.
Oh by the way, an automatic will always be slower than a manual. You won't get to choose the gear you want to be in and it uses HP from the motor before it get to the wheels. Unfortunately, your new car will hurt your future plans for a house and a baby if you don't have a good paying job.
Well my fiancee works full-time for about 13 bucks an hour (has a part-time that she worked more, but now only works 1 8-hour day a week). I have a full-time job paying 12 and a part-time job (15-20 hours per week) that pays 8.55 per hour. It's not great by any means, but it's more than enough to get started. We will be saving for a down payment on the house for the whole next year or possibly two. We won't be having a kid for at least a year and a half to 2 years probably. Also, someone I work with, she and her fiance both work one full-time job and both make just under 12/hour. They have a kid, a dog, a cat, a house payment of 1200/month, and she has a 04 Grand Prix she bought a month ago. I'm not sure if he has a car he's paying for. If they can do that, then we should be able to in a year to two. We'll be making more by then (I'll be getting at least one raise at the part-time of 90 cents and 2 or 3 raises at the full-time job). Nicole gets a raise in less than a month of over 25 or 50 cents. And she gets them every 3 to 6 months. I just started the full-time job so we'll see how it goes. Nicole's brother works for a company that starts at 17/hour and he's trying to get me in there when they have an opening. The manager has talked to me and he's interested in me if they lose someone or if an additional position opens up. Also, her brother's fiancee makes 15+/hour and they have a house, 2 vehicles, a camper, 2 boys (1.5 and 4) and other expenses (they love to spend money). Granted they make more, but the point is that we'll be there someday as well. I'm also going to school part-time online mostly right now, will do a morning class or two when I can. I will not be buying the car until the fall most likely, possibly the beginning of next year (may hold out for the extra couple rebates during the auto show next year). If I wind up not getting a Subie, Nicole's future sister-in-law works for Iten Chev and knows the sales manager at Lupient so I can get a deal (a little over invoice plus rebates). Anyway, since we'll be saving for a year or more, we'll have money down on the house and my car. We also won't be getting a house for over or probably near $200,000. I figured something small (starter home) for around $150,000 to $180,000 in the Anoka County area is a good start (should be $1000/month at most...especially with some money down). So we'll just have to wait and see how it goes. If nothing else, I'll just keep my car going (only has 64,000 miles and a slight tick...would spend 700 for an engine swap and my friend and I could do it...would get car in better shape to last longer). That way the money could go towards the house and I would have a more reliable car. Wouldn't need a car, just really want one that will last many years to come. I'm only 21 (22 in August) and my fiancee will be 21 in December. We have a long time to get things we want, but we want to start soon. So we're on the right track and as I make more, I may be able to get rid of my part-time job and attend school more and finish up and then get a job with my degree. Slowly but surely, we will have everything we want and it's just a matter of time and smart thinking/planning. I am afterall going to school for accounting. I'm sorry for such a long response. EDIT: Since a mortgage is easier to get for first time buyers, it would probably be beneficial to start with that, then when I know I have the finances to buy the car, go ahead and get the loan for it. They say if you have less than 40% of your income being used, it's more likely that you'll get the loan for a house. I only pay insurance and a phone bill currently. We both live seperately at the moment (our parents homes) saving money. I figure why spend 600 to 800 on an apartment or more when that money can go to a down payment on our own home. Also, I didn't mention, but I plan on putting at least 5,000 to 7,000 down on a car when I get one, keep my payments as low as possible (but I will pay extra each month to get it paid off sooner if it allows it in the purchase agreement). Just want to keep the monthly payment down.
Every $1000 down, it will save you about $40-50 per month, depending on the interest rate. Personally I love my WRX, I just need some time to get all my new toys on, than I will really love it
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TrisNiN Every $1000 down, it will save you about $40-50 per month, depending on the interest rate. Personally I love my WRX, I just need some time to get all my new toys on, than I will really love it <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote"> All I know is that my fiancee's Pontiac G6 was 21,000 after rebates and tax/title/license. She was going to be paying $417 a month. Then she found out she got another rebate so it was $20,000 (they were the ones that screwed up and wound up giving it to her). Anyway, now it's $396 a month...that tells me it's about 20 bucks a month roughly for every $1000 financed. However, she has a 6.9% interest rate. They had figured it out and it was cheaper that way rather than going with 0% and no rebates. So if I get a car that was the same base price as hers and winds up being a little more after tax/title/license. Then I put a few thousand down, I should be able to pay less than $350 per month.
FYI, I can get wrx drivetrains, so if you get that RS now, you can do a swap later and have wrx power with less weight, and that means more fun let me know if you are interested when the time comes. welcome to the board too, good choice of car Ben
