It's the quintessential question for those of us growing out of our twenties, or at least feeling as if we're "growing up" from our car, for whatever reason.

For me, I bought my 2000 2.5RS sedan (5MT, Aspen White) brand new. I love it, I really do, but I haven't had much money to mod it to my desires. I have a lot done, but power-wise it's still stock, except for a PDM intake, K&N panel, 2.25" midpipe and WRX axleback. Of course I'd love to mod the ever-loving snot out of the car, but it'd cost well north of $10-12K by the time a full swap was done...

More reasonably is a $4K (or so) path, whereas I could do a Rallitek ECU reflash, good for 10hp, plus new headers and muffler. TechWorks Engineering, LLC claims laid by them and on the web seem wonderful, so their header is preferable. $350 for the reflash, $950 or so for the headers, a couple hundred for the new muffler (better flow). Maybe 25-30hp, all said and done, including say a Cobb/PRM intake. The $4K might include a $2K repaint, which the car needs, plus a couple STi Version 6 exterior pieces, like the grille and front lip. (I have rear spats and aero guards now, not installed yet.)

My car now:





Suspension, stereo, leather (dealer option) and a few other things are already done. It runs great, except for a pesky P0304 CEL that refuses to clear permanently (appears just in the winter).

...But...

There's the issue of space. My wife just got a 2001 Outback LL Bean wagon, which is wonderful.
Has the H6, it's gobs of fun and a great highway car. Got it for $14,800 from NASIOC's GRMPer in June. So we now have that wagon to carry stuff, but the thought of having *two* wagons is nearly too cool to bear. I love hatchbacks, love wagons, and hate the dinky trunk in my car.

So here's one thought:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...584614687&rd=1


Currently at $4900, sure to rise, but.... According to KBB, this 2002 Legacy L wagon (5MT) is worth, private party, $9,535, private party. Yes it's a base model, but assuming I got it for even just a little below that, never mind a couple grand below that if it sells for so little, well.... I could probably fetch $9K for the RS, give or take. That'd leave some left over for mods, and I'd probably keep the '05 Legacy GT wheels and Pirelli tires anyway.

A GT suspension and decent rear sway would be dirt cheap, if I wanted to go that route. I could keep my stereo equipment and rig a new install. But would I really miss the RS?

I put up a couple threads on NASIOC and RS25 several months ago, pining about whether to mod the RS or pick up a 2006 Saab 9-2X Aero, which is still an option. If they sell for as cheap as the '05s did. But for half that price, I'd be happy to sacrifice the power loss to get something like this 2002 Legacy.


Just looking for some opinions.

=S2=
Withering in his own mind.

 

Keep the RS!!!

You already have a wagon in the house.

Same thing why I don't take my dad's H2 Hummer when we have an X5 already at home.

 

I know I know.... lighter weight... better power-to-weight.... more nimble....

I'm with you, trust me. But damn Leo, I love wagons....

 

Sweet RS. You know you want a wagon!!!!!!!!!! I love my 5spd '00 LGT.

But it's a tough call since you already have a wagon in the family. Do the '02s have 2.2L or 2.5L? I forget.

 

Mod the RS. STi swap pllllllllllease.

 

EJ25. If I got the wagon (maybe not this one, but one like it, let's say), I'd probably go for new stock GT springs with KYB GR2 struts, and like a Baja Turbo rear swaybar (17mm). Along with a WRX front rotor swap, 16"s and good tires. But you know this since we've been talking in AIM all morning.



1reguL8NSTi,

Wish I could do a swap. But it's soooo much money... $4K would seriously buy the paint job, the reflash, the full exhaust, maybe a couple extra goodies (cosmetic). A swap would be $6K by a pro shop, and that's for an Ej20, which has a torque defecit I don't want. An STi swap is nearly double that, including all the extras (transmission, brakes, etc.), ***plus*** $2K for the paint.

**sigh**

 

I really like wagons. I have one myself, and when we replaced my wifes Acura Integra last year, I tried to get her in to a 2001 Legacy GT Ltd. 5spd. Sweet car. But the day before we were to check out the wagon, a perfect RS coupe popped up, and that's what we bought.

So when I had to get a new car in July, you know what I did. 05 WRX wagon.

You've already got one wagon, I say keep the RS. Spending extra money at the moment probably isn't worth it just to get the same car you already have. But wagons are sweet, so it's your call

 

You're right about the money thing. I was just thinking I'd probably nearly break even, except for remounting the stereo stuff maybe, if I got the Legacy for a bit less than the RS would sell for. **shrug**

I'm also contemplating saving up for a Tacoma pickup, but I wouldn't sell the RS, I'd keep it and have the truck as a second vehicle.

=S2=

 

I hear you. Moving all your stereo stuff is a PITA though. Buy the truck, tacomas are sweet

 

I'm looking on the introwebnet right now to see if I can find a cheaper solution. If nothing else you could swap a new head on and get a turbo for it. Or even just get turbo. Hang on, let me look.

 

http://www.gruppe-s.com/Subaru/submotors.htm

Order one of these and then a five speed tranny with RA gears. 6K and you'd be in business. You might not have the paint yet but you can rest assured it wouldn't be sitting still long enough for anyone to notice.

 

^^ you funny

 

I struggled with the decision to dump $$ into my RS or not. Basically you'd have to keep it for a loooooong time for it to make sense, and pray it was never totalled. I just could not justify dumping 4-6k into a rapidly depreciating older car with 132k on the chassis. The return, although cool and fast, just could not justify the cost. And what happens if it is wrecked 2 weeks after the work is finished. You are F-ed.

There comes a time where you either keep it as is and run it into the ground, or sell it and move on.

 

Yep, I'm torn by the two schools of thought: practical vs. what my brain really wants.

The $6K+ swap/turbo thing just doesn't do it for me. I mean yeah it'd be wonderful, but... While expensive, I could chalk paint up to "regular maintenance" I guess, and $1-1500 or so on engine mods, to get 20-30hp, isn't so bad. A loss, but not a huge loss, if I were to wreck the car. (Insurance reimbursal on actual cost of stock parts might cover it financially anyway....)

Plus I could buy some stuff used and price shop on the paint, so $4K for the N/A power bump could be closer to $3K if I scoured the forums for a good long time. **shrug** I dunno.


And yes, Tacomas are indeed sweet!!

-=Chris