WRX shopping

Does the 9-2x come in turbo mode?

Edit: just found out they do but look to be more expensive than I can afford.

In reply to mad_machine:

here's an 05 for only $8k http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/1638357833.html

edit: probably not turbo

EvanB wrote: Does the 9-2x come in turbo mode?

yes, the 9-2 was availible in "linier" (nonturbo) and "aero" (turbo) just look for the scoop on the hood

WilberM3 wrote: In reply to mad_machine: here's an 05 for only $8k http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/ctd/1638357833.html edit: probably not turbo

Absolutely not turbo.

Tom Heath wrote: We had a tough time finding a clean, low-mileage example for our new project. Keep looking, they're still out there. We'll start turning wrenches on our project shortly after the Mitty. Looks for these topics to be addressed. What else would you guys like to see us look at with the project?

I've been thinking about this. Back when I had my 2002, I had to do things the GRM way, aka on the cheap. That's not a knock on you guys. I just couldn't see spending thousands and thousands of dollars on my daily driver, and I can be a cheap bastard.

I think you guys should cover the simple stuff to start, like maintenance. Like any used car, I always hop right in and do a tune-up no matter what had been done by the previous owner. There are certain things to look for, like on the 2002's, you need to check the coolant resivoir by the turbo to see if they removed the paint off of the top plate. The factory painted both the outside AND the inside here, and the coolant bubbles that paint right off and it goes through your cooling passages. 5 minutes with some aircraft stripper and a rag and that problem is solved. Show readers the best way to get to the spark plugs, how to remove the "snorkus" (air intake silencer), how to make better ground cables (yes, they make a difference on these!!!), etc...

The next issue, dive into the exhaust work. Ditch that up-pipe cat and show readers how to install an up-pipe. This is one of the biggest PITA's on these, and a step by step article would be great. Show people the various differences in exhaust products, maybe even test a couple of different brands on a dyno.

Later down the road, show readers how to fabricate their own fender braces, master cylinder braces, etc. Keep the focus on cheap, DIY stuff like you guys do on every other car. Every time I see one of these in a magazine, even when they are doing a build, I always think to myself that they could have done more to the car for half the price they paid.

The only problem I see here is the removal of the cats on a magazine project car. Hopefully, you guys could get away with saying that it's for "off-road use" or some other legal mumbo jumbo.

If any magazine out there can do this the right way, it's GRM. Go for it!!!!

WRX sedan has a surprising amount of room. I’ve picked up an entire disassembled Pontiac 400 from the machine shop and fit it in the truck. Block, heads, and rotating assembly, sheet metal, brackets… everything. You can also fit 8 225/50/15 Hoosiers in car if you try. One might be riding shotgun.

I’d like to see an uppipe replacement article in the magazine but I don’t think you could get away with publishing the removal of a cat on a street car. With the cat in place you might be limited on what other exhaust and tuning mods you can do.

Something about reflashing with open source software and data logging would be cool and very GRM but Cobb might not like that. Would want to hurt any relations you have with them.

EvanB wrote: I was planning on getting a wagon. I looked at sedans but after I found out the rear seats don't fold down I would rather have a wagon. I have a few prospects, one as far as Little Rock. I would really like a yellow wagon but I haven't yet seen one for sale.

NIIIIICE!

You'll never find a yellow wagon. They were made in 2003 only, and they made 1200-1500 yellow WRX's total, including sedans and wagons. They made yellow WRX's for 2 years. 2002 had the pale Blaze Yellow in sedan form only, and 2003 had the Sonic Yellow sedans and wagons. If you do by a miracle come across a clean 2003 Sonic Yellow wagon (known by some in Subaru circles as the "little bus", lol), by all means go for it.

And yes, the suspension is a little bit different between the sedans and wagons, but mainly in the front. They use different control arms and sway bar end links up there. The rear is pretty much the same. I even had a 2002-only sedan 20mm factory swaybar in mine. It took like 10 minutes to install, too. Struts are the same, but wagons had specific springs that were a little taller and stiffer in the rear to accomodate for cargo. My old wagon had Tokico D-Spec struts with factory STI Pink wagon-only springs that you can buy from any Subaru dealer. I also had a cheapo Ebay STI-knockoff rear strut bar which made a huge difference too. That suspension setup was awesome.

Pseudosport wrote: WRX sedan has a surprising amount of room. I’ve picked up an entire disassembled Pontiac 400 from the machine shop and fit it in the truck. Block, heads, and rotating assembly, sheet metal, brackets… everything. You can also fit 8 225/50/15 Hoosiers in car if you try. One might be riding shotgun. I’d like to see an uppipe replacement article in the magazine but I don’t think you could get away with publishing the removal of a cat on a street car. With the cat in place you might be limited on what other exhaust and tuning mods you can do. Something about reflashing with open source software and data logging would be cool and very GRM but Cobb might not like that. Would want to hurt any relations you have with them.

Quiet you, I told you to get a wagon!

(Thanks for picking up that Pontiac 400 for me btw! )

Oh yeah, again, the space in the wagon is awesome. Back when I was in my band, I fit all of my drums, my bass player's bass, and my bass player in that thing for gigs and got there faster than everyone else because my car was still faster than the other guys' SUV's. HA!

If you live in an area where it snows and you need to have a dependable and fun daily driver, the answer is WRX.

I love my '02 so much, I'm strongly considering a second one. I just bought a pretty nice '95 M3, but I think I like the WRX better. I don't feel bad about beating on it- I love the fact that it will never be worth much as a collector (not that the m3 will...) the thing has been dead-nuts reliable. I'd love for the engine to poop out one day so I can do a 2.5 short block conversion. The one thing its missing is low down torque.

This is one of my options.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/1624997257.html

It isn't a wagon but it does have a turbo-back exhaust and accessport which I would likely buy anyway (not the accessport but if it already has it I won't complain). If the timing belt hasn't been changed I would have to do that right away.

SilverFleet - Thanks for the great summaries you've been providing, they're very helpful. Not shopping yet, but a WRX/STI is definitely on my bucket list!

I've had a bunch of cars that are lots of fun on bright sunny days. The WRX is even more fun when the roads are crappy.

I was just thinking about a 9-2x. So what are the real differences between a wrx and one of these?

The first year, the Saab had the 2.0, the second year they got the 2.5. Saab has a nicer interior than the Subaru, although the colors can look kind of funky. I think all the Saabs have the quicker steering ratio of the STi.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-SAAB-92X-5-SPEED-SUNROOF-CRUISE-CONTROL-ALLOYS-60K_W0QQitemZ350326923763QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item51911ca1f3

Like that is an awesome dealio, for a respectable work car and semi family hauler, and such.

ignorant wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-SAAB-92X-5-SPEED-SUNROOF-CRUISE-CONTROL-ALLOYS-60K_W0QQitemZ350326923763QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item51911ca1f3 Like that is an awesome dealio, for a respectable work car and semi family hauler, and such.

Non turbo

Woody wrote: The first year, the Saab had the 2.0, the second year they got the 2.5. Saab has a nicer interior than the Subaru, although the colors can look kind of funky. I think all the Saabs have the quicker steering ratio of the STi.

Whoops, those comments refer to the turbo only.

MrJoshua wrote:

ignorant wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-SAAB-92X-5-SPEED-SUNROOF-CRUISE-CONTROL-ALLOYS-60K_W0QQitemZ350326923763QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item51911ca1f3 Like that is an awesome dealio, for a respectable work car and semi family hauler, and such.

Non turbo

I'm on the fence about the turbo.. I'm so cheap that I don't want to pay for premium. But I want it for funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Woody wrote: I've had a bunch of cars that are lots of fun on bright sunny days. The WRX is even more fun when the roads are crappy.

That's precisely the reason it's on my list. The roads I travel on a daily basis are garbage, even more so in the winter/spring.

ignorant wrote: I'm on the fence about the turbo.. I'm so cheap that I don't want to pay for premium. But I want it for funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

My wife drives a NA 2.5 and it is peppy enough for a daily driver.

ignorant wrote: I'm so cheap that I don't want to pay for premium.

I used to think the same thing, but then I did the math one day, and realized that it's only about $5 a month extra worst case.

Josh wrote:

ignorant wrote: I'm so cheap that I don't want to pay for premium.

I used to think the same thing, but then I did the math one day, and realized that it's only about $5 a month extra worst case.

I dunno... We'll see. I'm so cheap, I don't wash my car, or fix the horrible water leak in the passenger side. Why?

http://worcester.craigslist.org/cto/1643584477.html

DILYSI Dave wrote:

DoctorBlade wrote: Say, how big is a WRX? I'd love to have a small car I can get good mileage in, but I've got two pre-teens to fit in the back. Trouble?

They don't get very good mileage. I do about 22mpg in mine.

But but that's what a P71 gets and it gets ZOMG best mileage ever!

< Found a low mileage, unmolested WRX wagon. They're out there. I love every minute of driving it. I only have one car right now, and I can't think of a better "only car."

That said, there isn't a whole lot of room in the back seats if the front seat occupants are on the taller side. I don't sit back there and leave the back seats down most of the time, anyway. Roomy!

According to that CL ad, retail on a 9-2x is 16.5. My cousin and her husband bought one new off the lot in 2005 for 16.7, drove it for 2 years/20k or so then sold it for more than they paid. I thought that was crazy. But even in the intervening 3 years, it STILL hasn't depreciated?