New here so please bare with me if questions have already been asked.
I'm looking to buy a 2001 rs impreza so I have Q's
1. What is the differences in years
2. does it come stock with a rear LSD
3. Thing to look at, problem areas in the RS
4. Engine diagram, or were to hook up to test vacuum.
Thanks

 

Here's 1-3 all balled up..

'98,'99 models have headgasket issues that the '00 and '01 models don't have. The '01 models come stock with the carbon fibre trim that was a factory upgrade option on the '98-'00. '00 and '01 come from the factory with a rear LSD.

There's also minor cosmetic changes from year to year. IMO, the '01 model looks the best of the bunch

 

What Sonicsuby said.

Except that '99s had a MAF issue that's mostly been resolved, but not the DOHC gasket issue. They're SOHC. Most '99s came with LSDs, but oddly many had no cruise control, it was optional that year only. And '01 is definitely the best year.

 

Oh, and there's lots of sources to check engine vacuum. Offhand, a good one might be the feed to the cruise actuator on the passenger side of the firewall.

 

Except for the CF trim, I thought 00 and 01 'look' the same, no? I think 01 has tilt adjustment driver seat cassette player stock where 00 doesn't.

 

I swear that 00 and 01 are mechanically the same, no?

 

Yes. But Matt currently owns a white 2001 and until Sunday I had a blue 2001.

 

Yeah I'm not to big on the CF trim either. I certainly wouldn't have gotten if it were an option

 

Heh, I wouldn't pay $350 for it either. But I like it for what it cost me.