Semi-newb needs advice: 2.5RS/L to WRX?

OK, I don't know a ton about street cars, but I've always been a fan of the Impreza WRX and have wanted one for a while. I like the 02/03 model better than the 04 (Do I have myy dates right, the 'bug eye'?), but there are too many of them on the road today, so I thought maybe the 2001 and earlier model might be for me (That's the one I always liked best anyway).

I bought the February 1999 issue of Sport Compact Car for a long flight, and they converted an early 2.5 RS to basically a WRX with suspension and body mods, but more or less left the engine alone. What could I do to a similar 2.5 RS or even Impreza L (I kinda like the WRX wagon) as far as suspension, brakes, body, exhaust, and some mild engine mods? I want something fun to drive that looks good, but I don't need to go nuts in the power department (I've only owned an 84 Omni and now an 88 Camry: anything withing shouting distance of 200hp should suit me fine).

Does anybody have an advice on a project like this, what I could do, what it would cost, etc?

i dont remember the site ill try to find it again but you can put a new coil strut set on starting at about 1k for a quality one all the way to bout 2500 for realy good ones, get strut towers to increase twist resistance. this will im prove handeling and you can adjust ride height as nessicary. body mods well what year are you talking. but you can get new hood, better lights, ground effects or depending on the car a complete body kit(fenders, door pannels, quarter pannel front and rear bumper), a spoiler(go small please), new wheels of course. mild engine mods well new air intake, high flow exaust, preformance spark plugs(not nessicary unless you start doing major upgrades), higher volume injectors, ported throtle body just to name a few