Figure $6,000 minimum to do a turbo RS right. That's both for the $4300 stage II kit and proper brake and handling mods. It is MUCH simpler though to just buy a WRX if you have that option. I think a turbo EJ25 is pretty sweet, but it's not for people who just want easy speed. It's more for the challenge of having done it, because it isn't simple.

 

Let me reiterate the above post. $6000 is the MINIMUM to have a fast, functional, SAFE RS-T. To do it right you're talking $10,000 or more for rebuilding your block, forged internals, new gearbox, etc. etc... You WILL save money buy simply starting with a WRX, no matter what. The only reasons for putting a turbo on an RS are because you either A) already have one, or 2) really want to be a cool guy and do it the hard way (because getting it right the hard way makes you darn good). Yes, I know I said "A" and "2". Just seeing if you're paying attention.

 

Buy the turbo or else you'll be gettin spanked by New PT cruisers and u don't want that! Just about everything had more HP than the RS, to name a few NA's SE R, RSX type S or the regular both have more HP, Damn even the Tiburon is faster subaru makes them turbo for a reason ya know? For your money you can get alot better cars than the RS, like Mazda, Nissan, Neon, if your not gettin a WRX don't bother buying a Subaru! You'll get raped on after market parts and availibilty. So save up or stay away! I know u know u rather have the WRX right, yup thats what I thought so why settle for less?

 

I disagree. It is difficult to get a better car for the money than an RS. It's just not that fast. The most you'll get out of it, no turbo, no nitrous, no s/c is maybe 190 horsepower. But there IS plenty of torque. 0-30, an RS is as quick as anything in the price range. Suspension wise, anything that works for a WRX works for an RS, so how is he going to suffer from lack of availability or higher prices? You won't have the fastest car on the open highway, but you can't count on that no matter what you drive. There's always a bigger fish. Anyways, your life will be simpler if you can afford a WRX, even used, right out of the box. But if you can't, then an RS is as good a second choice as any. As far as specific mods for it, the N/A forum is almost entirely devoted to the RS and the Suspension forum directly applies as well. For less than $2000 aftermarket you can have a reasonably quick street car that is quite competitive on an autocross course.

 

Well if I lost a brain cell everytime I heard that I feel dumber from reading this I'd feel as as dumb as u N/A Beast. No harm just a smack back , Ok lets go, so he buys an RS puts 2k into it, Beast following me, don't wanna make u feel dumb, he could have bought a lease trade in or slightly used WRX. SO is it worth it to put 2k into a car that will only be 190hp which I imagine your doing all the work yourself, cuz labor would push ya up to 3k easily! I can put 1.5k into a civic and have 200hp+ and still spank his RS on the auto cross. I'm speaking from experience I bought the RS before the WRX, wish I had the WRX instead, now that neons blow my doors off! The torque factor u brought up, um ok unless your racing from 1st -3rd gear only that would come into play, as u would in auto cross love to keep goin but I have to go!