Rs vs Wrx
Thread Starter
2006 Mt Hammy Car Show Winner
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,730
From: Danville, CA
Car Info: Black 03 WRX, White 04 E46 M3
Rs vs Wrx
I prefer the looks of the rs 2.5 over the wrx. Just the whole front end is alot more apealing. Anyways is the only difference the engine? I mean besides not being turbo how much diff is it. Is there a nooby site explaining all of the diffs? Also does the turbo on the wrx the only thing making the hp alot more than the 160 or so with the rs. And one more thing, can the rs being upgraded easly to say 350+hp like the wrx can?
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Ok lets start with clearing up your use of "RS". You are refering to the 99-01 body style of the RS best known as the GC8. The '02 RS looks exactly like the WRX, but its engine is identical to the other year RS'. Yes, the turbo is what makes the power difference between the two, but they do not have the same engine. The RS has a 2.5 liter EJ25 while the WRX has a 2.0 liter EJ20T. The RS engine makes 165hp and the WRX makes 227. So since the RS engine is bigger, can you simply bolt on a turbo and make it faster than a WRX? No. The factory engine block on the RS is not built to handle the extra power. Much much more is needed to reach the HP numbers you're talking with an RS. Going that route is not recommended. If you like the GC8 body style a lot, but are looking for a little more "umph" your best bet would be to swap an engine from a totaled WRX and start from there. Buying a GC8 and doing an engine swap would cost you roughly the same as buying a used WRX.
Thread Starter
2006 Mt Hammy Car Show Winner
iTrader: (11)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,730
From: Danville, CA
Car Info: Black 03 WRX, White 04 E46 M3
alright, besides the different engines what are other differences. Like suspension, interior, and overall strength of the car. Like will it be durable for all the extra power that the 2.5 didn't give it. And also is the swap exact swap or do you need mounts, if so how much for that?
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No real differences other than engine between the 02 RS and WRX. 99-01 has a slightly different interior, comes in both coupe and sedan, and it doesnt make you want to bathe your eyes in acid every time you look at it.
Here check out the '04 coming out in a few months, judging by what you've said in this and your other post I think this may be your best option. http://impreza.subaru.com/microsites...za/wrx/wrx.jsp
Oh, if money is not an issue DEFINETLY go with the STi(also on that site). They come out together with the '04 WRX and MSRP for one of those should be around $32,000.
Here check out the '04 coming out in a few months, judging by what you've said in this and your other post I think this may be your best option. http://impreza.subaru.com/microsites...za/wrx/wrx.jsp
Oh, if money is not an issue DEFINETLY go with the STi(also on that site). They come out together with the '04 WRX and MSRP for one of those should be around $32,000.
hey there
wel, there is a bit of a difference between the chassis ans suspension. i am also having the "get an sti OR mod an older GC8 OR mod another wrx wagon again" debate. here is what i know...
1 the RS (old) is lighter car. the chassis is not as stiff, but the lightchassis and suspension just felt better to me. i tried many suspensions on my old rs, and settled on a set of GAB rev stok 2 co's. that car with a 2.5 motor was one of the faster cars at the auto-x, and was decent around town, and a GAS in the canyons. with a properly tuned ej20(wrx motor) you would have one hell of a ride, and smog legal as well. i also dig the older looks, but the new (04) front end is growing on me. the engine swap is relatively easy. as someone else has said, these cars are like legos.
2 i got a rex wagon for a couple reasons.
a) it had more room, and the wifey liked that.
b) it already had an ej20 in it.
those 2 reasons made the choice easier than doing a swap. at the time, a wrecked motor was way too expensive and i really didnt have the extra cash to finance a swap. so i financed a car instead. the rex was an awesome car, but it drove "heavier" than the rs (well, cuz it is). it didnt handle as well, and although the chassis was 150% stiffer, i just could not get the old school chassis dynamics out of the new car. trust me, i tried 4 or 5 different suspensions, and never really found the "ultimate" set up(including DMS). so i sold it and got an S4 avant...
3 now the avant is gone, and i have a deposit on an STi. i am not sold on the STi, honestly for price alone. i am kinda waiting to see the comparo between it and the EVO. i don't think i will ever get an EVO, but i an curious to see how the two compare in a slalom course or a skid pad. the STi is VERY appealing, but for much less, i can build up an old school wagon/sedan OR a used wagon again. and although everyone is foaming about all the extra power the new STi has, i am willing to bet that the EVO motor will make more power tuned properly. i REALLY hope i am wrong, but the EVO is going to surprize people when they get tuned.
i am leaning toward the old school wagon for sheer raw
performance. the older chassis is NOT as refined, but i wont need to worry about my wife driving it, so i dont really care about that at this point. i have the resources to build a 2.5 turbo monster, and the cost would be about 10k less than an STi. That leaves alot of room for making a car even more original, say, like adding fender flares, or 22b style look. it seems very appealing to me.
anyway, i hope this helps. the bottom line is you are in a win win situation. these cars are amazingly fun to drive and easy as pie to work on.
good luck in your decision and let me know if you have any other questions.
josh
PS i just reread your ast post. there is alot more than just adding a turbo to the car to make it faster. the 2 motors (ej25 in the RS and ej20 in rex) are very similar, but very different. you might hang out in the factory and aftermarket turbo section to get more familiar with these motors. if you cant find the info you need, send me an email, and I will do my best to not write a book about the differences
wel, there is a bit of a difference between the chassis ans suspension. i am also having the "get an sti OR mod an older GC8 OR mod another wrx wagon again" debate. here is what i know...
1 the RS (old) is lighter car. the chassis is not as stiff, but the lightchassis and suspension just felt better to me. i tried many suspensions on my old rs, and settled on a set of GAB rev stok 2 co's. that car with a 2.5 motor was one of the faster cars at the auto-x, and was decent around town, and a GAS in the canyons. with a properly tuned ej20(wrx motor) you would have one hell of a ride, and smog legal as well. i also dig the older looks, but the new (04) front end is growing on me. the engine swap is relatively easy. as someone else has said, these cars are like legos.
2 i got a rex wagon for a couple reasons.
a) it had more room, and the wifey liked that.
b) it already had an ej20 in it.
those 2 reasons made the choice easier than doing a swap. at the time, a wrecked motor was way too expensive and i really didnt have the extra cash to finance a swap. so i financed a car instead. the rex was an awesome car, but it drove "heavier" than the rs (well, cuz it is). it didnt handle as well, and although the chassis was 150% stiffer, i just could not get the old school chassis dynamics out of the new car. trust me, i tried 4 or 5 different suspensions, and never really found the "ultimate" set up(including DMS). so i sold it and got an S4 avant...
3 now the avant is gone, and i have a deposit on an STi. i am not sold on the STi, honestly for price alone. i am kinda waiting to see the comparo between it and the EVO. i don't think i will ever get an EVO, but i an curious to see how the two compare in a slalom course or a skid pad. the STi is VERY appealing, but for much less, i can build up an old school wagon/sedan OR a used wagon again. and although everyone is foaming about all the extra power the new STi has, i am willing to bet that the EVO motor will make more power tuned properly. i REALLY hope i am wrong, but the EVO is going to surprize people when they get tuned.
i am leaning toward the old school wagon for sheer raw
performance. the older chassis is NOT as refined, but i wont need to worry about my wife driving it, so i dont really care about that at this point. i have the resources to build a 2.5 turbo monster, and the cost would be about 10k less than an STi. That leaves alot of room for making a car even more original, say, like adding fender flares, or 22b style look. it seems very appealing to me.
anyway, i hope this helps. the bottom line is you are in a win win situation. these cars are amazingly fun to drive and easy as pie to work on.
good luck in your decision and let me know if you have any other questions.
josh
PS i just reread your ast post. there is alot more than just adding a turbo to the car to make it faster. the 2 motors (ej25 in the RS and ej20 in rex) are very similar, but very different. you might hang out in the factory and aftermarket turbo section to get more familiar with these motors. if you cant find the info you need, send me an email, and I will do my best to not write a book about the differences
Last edited by josh; Feb 8, 2003 at 11:17 PM.
