Alright R3V school me on this car.

[Wishno87]

I am going to buy a 2.5 RS for my dad because he got a permanent job halfway into the columbia river gorge. Many of the PNW guys know the weather gets pretty crazy out that direction and his 92 E30 vert has taken quite the beating driving out there the last few years. Im on a few of the Subaru forums trying to soak up as much as I can but what can R3V tell me about this car?

[Bimmerman325i]

Great, reliable aside from headgaskets, light, understeers, plenty powerful and torquey, and has a solid aftermarket following if that's at all important.

Downsides: 2.5RSs are priced higher than they really are worth imo, headgaskets suck

[Erik]

^ Everything he said. It's a great car. I was considering one for a while. I have an '02 WRX wagon and it's the perfect PNW car.

[Wishno87]

Great, reliable aside from headgaskets, light, understeers, plenty powerful and torquey, and has a solid aftermarket following if that's at all important.

Downsides: 2.5RSs are priced higher than they really are worth imo, headgaskets suck

Ya many are in the 8-9 range but I have seen some good ones on CL for 6K. I have heard a lot about the headgaskets though so maybe I should find one that already has them done.

I REALLY want to avoid dumping a bunch of money into modding one though but I think I have already gotten a small amount of the bug :blowup:

[Wishno87]

^ Everything he said. It's a great car. I was considering one for a while. I have an '02 WRX wagon and it's the perfect PNW car.

Ya the bottom end of the WRX market is in my price range as well but I think the 2.5 RS is a little more special. Not ruling them out though by any means.

[Bimmerman325i]

Ya many are in the 8-9 range but I have seen some good ones on CL for 6K. I have heard a lot about the headgaskets though so maybe I should find one that already has them done.

I REALLY want to avoid dumping a bunch of money into modding one though but I think I have already gotten a small amount of the bug :blowup:

As a Subaru addict and modder, don't. At the end of the day, it's still lipstick on a pig. Just mod your BMW, your smiles/mod ratio is much higher.

If you want to avoid the headgasket issue, buy a 2.2L non-RS. Indestructible but sloooooow.

For 8-9k you can buy an E36 M3 that will spank the RS up and down and all around. Not worth that price whatsoever.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Pretty easy, (minus harness merge) to swap late model STi bits(interior, including dash), engine and six speed into, light chassis, good aftermarket suspension options...

[Wishno87]

How are the AWD systems on these cars? Whenever I think of AWD maintenance I think money.

[Erik]

Awesome, with a side of awesome.

[Bimmerman325i]

How are the AWD systems on these cars? Whenever I think of AWD maintenance I think money.

amazing. Mine is unstoppable in snow, but when my center diff went it was $$$$$$$$$$ to fix.

[Bimmerman325i]

Pretty easy, (minus harness merge) to swap late model STi bits(interior, including dash), engine and six speed into, light chassis, good aftermarket suspension options...

and I just so happen to have a set of AST4100s that would bolt right in, and would be happy to sell them.

[Wishno87]

Pretty easy, (minus harness merge) to swap late model STi bits(interior, including dash), engine and six speed into, light chassis, good aftermarket suspension options...

This is what I have noticed on many of the forums. I need to try really hard to ignore it though otherwise I will not be able to resist.

[Bimmerman325i]

This is what I have noticed on many of the forums. I need to try really hard to ignore it though otherwise I will not be able to resist.

remember that STi bits are hellishly expensive, and that side from the transmission/brakes/hubs there's not any real benefit to swapping them over vs a normal wrx.

Case in point: buddy bought a 1.8L GC (that chassis code) impreza, swapped his rolled WRX motor (2.5 block with 2.0 heads) interior driveline suspension, etc over, and welded in a roll bar to significantly improve the wet-noodle chassis dynamics.

He is making 400wtq uncorrected at 5300ft elevation in a car that weighs 2500lbs. It's a fucking RIOT. Oh, and there's no lag. Yay E85 and tiny turbo.

[Wishno87]

As a Subaru addict and modder, don't. At the end of the day, it's still lipstick on a pig. Just mod your BMW, your smiles/mod ratio is much higher.

If you want to avoid the headgasket issue, buy a 2.2L non-RS. Indestructible but sloooooow.

For 8-9k you can buy an E36 M3 that will spank the RS up and down and all around. Not worth that price whatsoever.

Well im not really trying to get another "sports car" I just need something thats AWD but im also a car enthusiast so I want to get something "neat" and somewhat desirable. My cousin is also coming from Japan in a few weeks to go to school at EOU in La Grand where the weather can be pretty extreme as well so I need something I can drive out there to get him during the holidays.
I have seriously considered an E36 M3 but I just cant justify it. Especially since my E30 already handles amazingly.

[Wishno87]

amazing. Mine is unstoppable in snow, but when my center diff went it was $$$$$$$$$$ to fix.

Is that usually the only part that goes bad? Do they need the same sort of maintenance as IXs?