Originally Posted by scoobylvr

How much HP does the 1.8L have?

I have 2.2L and I just laugh at ZX2's, with my mighty 137 HP!!!

Originally Posted by Rallysportz

New intake- custom CAI is the cheapest, but not easiest way to go I have a sort of short ram CAI with my custom built heat shield for cold air. Big difference.

Full exhaust. Borla header, stromung high flow cat (~$570-600 for both) Get a shop to finish the cat back for you- hundreds less than name brand, same sound/performance and they install it for you Sound is unmatced by any N/A vehicle on the road, IMHO.

Then get into pullies, crower cams and fuel system if you're a die-hard 1.8er like me and want to go all out. Wish there were more of us...

I'll take a stock 2.2 Suby any day but that 2wd will almost always beat you throgh the low gears until you have at least 20 more HP than it, at the crank. AWD does affect power delivery so you just need to make your motor a beast...these 1.8s are some of the best engines Subaru made so you'll have a blast fixing it up if you're serious about it- and if you ever blow it up, you can find 'em from a junker for less than $500 usually so have a blast and keep us informed...