I agree with your priorities (namely hockey, and not getting killed in an car accident) but not to burst your bubble, but it's gonna take a TON of work to get a 96 Impreza to run with a RWD V8 domestic sportscar on a drag strip. We're not talking about a few thousand dollars of bolt ons and a weekend in the garage with a mechanic friend, we're talking about using the current motor as a paperweight, and dropping enough cash to buy a brand new Viper (ok, maybe not a viper, but definately a Mustang) to install a new engine and a 20+ psi turbo the size of your head.

Besides the fact that once you get it up to that kind of speed, it will stay there for about 3 1/4 mile runs before collapsing into a heap of smouldering paycheck stubs.

AWD rally cars (even STi's) just aren't built for the strip, they're built for the twisties, and the snow. If you want a great car to haul your hockey bag around, that can handle the snow, and will be really fun to drive, go for it! If you're looking for tire smoking stoplight launches, and 11 second quarter miles, I hope you have a really fat wallet, and a friend that works at a transmission shop.

 

in that case it becomes a matter of how much you have to spend, and how much of that you want to reserve for mods (and how long you need the car to last).

You'll have a very different driving experience from (for example) a $10,000 car with $5000 of mods, versus a $15,000 car that's stock.

If you can afford a GC8 Impreza RS, there's extensive mods available for those, and a pretty good driver base of people (which means used performance parts, which cost less...) and experience (for good advice). They're capable of 300+ HP when heavily modded, but still pretty fun to drive close to stock, and they're a bit rare, which is cool.

If your price range stretches far enough, I would recommend trying to find a high miles WRX, and go with lighter mods. $1500 well spent on a WRX provides a very quick ride that's still pretty durable, since you're mostly tweaking factory components (turbo, intercooler, etc), rather than replacing stuff. Of course, I'm pretty conservative, and dont' really like modding for modding's sake (I like the results, not the process), so your position may be different.

 

The kid is a brand new driver. The last thing he needs is a modified WRX with high miles, and the insurance that comes with it. I think he's on the right track looking at a bit older model of car. I would actually recommend that you check out the Legacys. The Legacy GT is sweet sweet sweet and they'll last quite a long time. There's a few gotchas, like the headgaskets and stuff, but once that's out of the way you're cool.

I was going to buy a Legacy GT myself until a 2.5RS literally fell in to my lap

 

Nah, I didn't mean a new GT, I meant like a 98 - 01 GT. I prefer the look of the '98, however the '01 has a bit more comfort and the phase II 2.5. The GT i nearly bought was a black '01 with dual moonroofs, 5 speed, all leather, heated seats/mirrors.

It was awesome ;D

 

All depends. The '01 I was looking at was $16k, the '98 I was checking out was $9k.

 

Yea id go with the legacy, my friend has one and it has enough room for 5 and it very very very fun to drive. It's a white gt with black leather, 5spd (i think its a 98). and from what i hear its a very safe car too.

 

am i wrong...or does a stock WRX have a quicker 1/4 mile time than a stock V8 mustang???

 

It sounds to me like you've got everything about right. First off I don't consider Camaro's and Firebirds "nice cars" but to each his own. Like everyone else mentioned you'll be hard pressed to beat on a Camaro in the straight line but who cars because he won't have it for long in Mass. (black ice is a ****!!!). You're light years ahead of them, a future Subaru driver and a hockey player. Keep the stick handy to beat the ladies off you.