well first off the pre 99 mustang GT isnt all that impressive its runs high 14s and u should be able to beat that stock. racing a 99+ would have been a different story... my bro just got his borla hush catback with his helix up/downpipe in yesterday and is planning on getting it installed tomorrow for free at his work. he spent around $1100 on it, and is saving up again for a tune at s-squared.

 

I'm a 03 GT owner myself... Welcome to Scoobies! When you say modified putting 247 to the wheels... thats really not much... what have you done? X-pipe? exhaust? tune?

You will be very satisfied with a WRX... provided you do the following...

Upon test driving I know you noticed a lot of differences with the Mustang... for example


1. You loved the build up of boost after 3k.... But you missed the on-tap torque
2. You liked the "in-control" upright seating position.... But you missed the dropped down feel
3. You loved the handling... You didnt miss $h!t
4. You enjoyed its mechanical feel.... But missed the solid feel of the mustangs Gear Box...

Truth is... it wont be simple to adapt to the WRX EFFICIENTLY, sure you can drive it off the bat, but if you smash these gears like we do with our mustangs, you might as well just drive it to the service dept for your first drive

They are light, have arguably mechanically frail trannies, they are japanese, but they are quick... Its sometimes easy to overlook the greatest things about this car... as it shouldnt be compared to a mustang GT.

Some things you should really appreciate is the fact that it is MUCH more solid than its intended competitors... Try finding another 25k japanese car with a chassis this rigid... Also, the AWD rocks when appreciated... Our mustangs just dont pick up like this...YES they have gobs of torque, but they dont have the giddy-up feel that they should... The WRX has this... it is SLIGHTLY hard to notice due to the amount of turbo lag, but there are a great deal of modifications that will allow you to fix these subtle issues...

Follow this path and you can't be happier....

1 Get the WRX
2 Get a Silicon Intercooler Hose kit, such as one made by Perrin <-- a reputable company
3 Get a Helix Uppipe
4 Get a COBB AccessPORT... this will remap your air/fuel/boost you name it, you can clear engine codes and i can go on about this product for a day and 3 hours... but i wont
5 get a Helix DP, and a catback exhaust of your choice

You will have a reliable AWD car with boost that spools earlier, stronger, and longer... The car will basically run the way it should have from the factory, with no holds barred, at its optimum potential with the stock turbo and internals in tact... youll find yourself finding 60mph in 4.5-5 seconds, and running 1/4 miles in mid 13s consistently. You wont miss a thing!

Ok except for the ballsy feeling of all that torque gurgling under your *** :-D

But seriously, the trade-offs you will be completely over in no time... the WRX is a very well rounded car and will last you... provided you dont abuse its tranny... no burnouts are recommended with it...

Happy Decision Making!

Vimik

 

i can give you some advice. go to pdxtuning.com. ask for jerrad, tell him clint sent you. they do an absolutely incredible job on install and tuning. check out their stage packages. great variety! prices are good, and they really stand behind their products and service. good luck

 

All I can say is check the car up and down. Has the car been modded by the previous owner? CHECK IT OVER ! I traded in a 1994 Mustang GT with high miles but I miss it already. Yes the WRX handles and once the turbo spools up it is a blast but when you stick your foot in it... you get the same if not worse gas milage then your GT. I am 34 with no accidents or tickets and my insurance is higher on this car. The car I purchased was modded by the previous owner. He is somewhere here in Charlotte and I wish the coward would speak up so I can ask him what else he did to screw this car up. ( I asked in another forum who he might be, he traded up to a BLue STI- He wanted to keep his wing so the STI wing is on this car.) When he traded this thing in he removed most of his previous mods and put his stock stuff back on. He didnt tighten the black plastic hose that runs from the turbo to the intercooler. He put the Blue Silicone Samco coolant hose on backwards. He removed several other bolts to heat shields and last but not least he added a front swaybar that hits the frame somewhere (thats what the dealer told me) and it sounds like a CV joint going bad. The Samco hose was touching the alternator belt resuting in the coolant hose to fail. Dealer replaced the tube with factory hose. In the shop overnight 2 days after purchase. Asked dealer to do a once over. Assured all was well. Driving out of town the very next Sat morning with kids and wife: turbo hose blew off at 55 in 3 gear entering a highway from an overramp. Instant check engine light - car cutoff. Subaru vs Mustang? I question the gentleman a few post up who said the build quality smokes the stangs. In my case it doesnt. At highway speed drivers window has a wind leak, I hear gear whine and you freakin hear and feel every bump and crack in the road. Same gas milage and worse insurance cost. HIGHER MAINTAINANCE COST on the Suby. Bonus is WAY more room, I have 2 kids. I get a trunk , Mustang trunk is nonexistant. 4 doors...no more getting in and out to let someone in the backseat. As far as handling goes hands down Suby winner. This car would smoke my GT on a course. I am disappointed with my experience so far with this car though. I read these forums everynight and I want to love it 3 weeks old. 3 visits to shop. 2003 Subaru WRX 52000 miles. CHECK YOUR CAR THOROUGHLY. As with Stangs these tend to be driven hard. I have 5 years of payments ahead of me... and I am waiting to see what falls off, blows up or disappears next.

 

Update: After this last dealer visit I went on a trip with the wife to the beach. Car ran excellant with great gas milage. I did notice some hard substance, yellow in color on the steering wheel column. It was like something was placed there with adhesive and then removed. As I was searching the web for more info on my year car I saw a pic of a Factory boost guage option... placed exactly where the yellow gluelike susbstance is. The previous owner had to be one cheap individual. If the salesman didn't lie and you traded up for a WRX STI... why remove the factory boost guage. lol BTW, your girlfriend or wife left her Old Navy Credit Card under the passenger seat. Last name Cato. Please let me know where I can drop it off.