Looking for my first car, 11,000 dollar budget.

Ok so im 16 right now and will get my own car when I turn 17, I have been looking around about a year and have always like the imprezas Especially wrx's, I have always thought I could find a WRX for cheap since I get all Tranny rebuilds, engine work, and body work for virtually free but still havent had much luck. So I have recently been intrested the older body style RS like 98-2000 or something, they didnt make a turbocharged impreza back then correct? Well its looking like I might be able to find a 2.5 RS within my price range but it doesnt have as much power as I would like, Im hoping for it to be as fast as the new WRX's. So my questions are what prices do you think are reasonable for the older RS? What all can I do performance wise keeping it within reason? When people build there on turbo Kits how exactly do they do this? how do they know if it will work right ot not? I would like to get a turbo for it because I love the one on my dads car, but i have to keep it within the price range or pretty damn close. Any links to good deals, Ideas, Or just advice would be greatly appreciated.

Well, I'd look to pay anywhere from 6-10k for an 2.5RS depending on the mileage. Nice little cars. There was not a USDM Turbo Impreza back then, but there were JDM Turbo Imprezas. I know that turboing the EJ2.5, and even EJ2.2 and EJ1.8, can be done, but takes a lot of work and tuning, and without internal work, you're not going to get the power I think you're looking for. I've already looked down this road and I've turned the other way and I'm now back on the N/A path. If I wanted a turbo Subaru, I'd get a WRX instead of turboing a car that can't handle that much pressure. As far as modding for N/A, I'd go with Rallitek's Intake. I love mine. Then a nice catback exhaust. Personally, I'd look at going N/A for the time being. Going turbo is going to kill you on insurance. The 2.5RS is already a 5 Speed Sport Coupe.

I bought my latest wrx for 16 grand which is above your budget but i did see wrx's on ebay for lower than that, sometimes around 13. If you can get engine rebuilds etc for virtually cheap i woud try searching ebay for one that has a few problems with it, maybe see if you can swing a deal for less. Would be worth a shot for a 2002 or 2003 WRX.

BTW, i was bored so i looked some up. Here ya go and i hope this helps.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2446388412&category=31868

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2446373936&category=31868

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2446344041&category=31868

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2446508319&category=31868

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2445938838&category=31868

I posted this in another thread about turbo RS's

The thing is, the RS doesn't have to run as much boost as a WRX to be as fast. Throttle response and powerband make up for what it may lose in peak power. Building it up with bolt on kits can be pricey, but if you can piece together your own turbo kit and know where to shop for your other stuff, it's not very expensive at all. I remember a 2.5 powered Legacy that made 270 whp and 280 wtq on ~10 psi off a basic intercooled kit, standalone ECU, and stock internals. I'm not sure how long it would actually last at that power level, which is why I'm adding forged and cryo'd pistons and probably forged and cryo'd rods on top of what he had.

Bascially what I'm saying is a turbo RS can dish out a lot more ownage than it's power figures imply. With 250 whp, there are very few cars you'll come across on the street than will put up a decent fight.

Wow, if I could find a 2.5 RS that would be awesome, id still have a lot left over for wheels, exhaust ect.

Also not a big fan of the wagons

And I have read mix feelings about turboing the 2.5 RS, easy or not easy? Reliable or no? Im only looking to pump 10 psi or less anyways, i want a fast reliable car. Also has anyone seen a widebody kit for the 2.5 RS? Thanks Also With BPU for the RS could it beat wrx's?

I was reading through the Cobb Tuning Forums a while back and there was a huge thread about turboing an EJ25. I believe a guy with 60k was running 4lbs of boost on his stock internals, and was only expecting to get another 30k miles out of it before having to rebuild it.

At 10psi you're probably looking to get new pistons and rods to be reliable. 6-7 psi will make you as fast as a WRX, and with the right tuning it can be reliable on stock internals. People sell the 22b widebody for the 93-01 coupe.

http://www.i-m-racing.com/trialtryrimw.html <--- wide body kit

http://www.i-m-racing.com/trialtryrimw.html <--- wide body kit
^^^^
UGLY

Regardless of the primary question of the thread... I don't see the 2.5 as the best car for 11,000 bucks. Could be a personal opinion, but if I had 11 grand, it'd go elsewhere. Anybody agree?

Nope :biggrin:

The only things that could tempt me away at that price range would be a 240sx or a Miata.

The 240 is exactly what I had in mind. Even an 1G or 2G Eclipse GSX could appear for that price.

Trust me I have definetly looked at the 240SX, my dad currently says no to the eclipse cause its to small but its so much car for the money :(

Eclipse is just not my style. I'd rather grab up a Starion and do a 4g63 swap.

An engine swap is gonna be a pain in the ass. I was gonna try and swap my EJ25 for an EJ20 because the turbo was already there, but you need a new trans and ECU. I'm ordering a kit that has a garrett T25 turbo and intercooler and installing it myself, shouldn't be too bad but i'll keep ya posted. Hopefully with that should put me in 13's

Galant VR-4 perhaps