Teach me about the Subaru 2.5 RS

What are the differences in the years?
What is the best year?
What to look out for?
What kind of face do you make while driving it?
Reliability?
Real world gas mileage?
Autocross classing?
Anything I missed?

GO!

mtn wrote: What are the differences in the years? What is the best year? What to look out for? What kind of face do you make while driving it? Reliability? Real world gas mileage? Autocross classing? Anything I missed? GO!

'98 had the DOHC motor

99-01 had the SOHC (no matter what people tell you, the DOHC IS faster throughout the whole powerband)

-2001 would be the best year IMO, due to 4 door availability (stiffer chassis) as well as rear LSD

-rear fender lip rust, leaking headgaskets, worn out diff bushings

-the 2.5RS is most fun on anything but pavement. The 2.5 motor is REALLY good for daily driving though

-I've never had one explode on me yet (on number 2, beaten daily plus lapping days, auto-x, and rally-x)

-I get 32USMPG on the highway cruising at 65mph, I get 24USMPG with all city driving. YMMV

I don't know about your other questions, but another thing to consider is Subaru's have ridiculous resale value. If you find a good deal on a 2.5RS, jump on it! The 2 doors look much cooler, but the 4 doors can actually transport more than two people.