How about a new old car

[Goodspeed]

If you can find a 2.5 RS, you can swap the EJ20 and 5 speed out of a WRX into it. The engine/tranny bolt right in with no modifications, other than a WRX front crossmember, but the tricky part is the wiring...the harness for the ECU is integrated with the main harness. I have a great article from the June 2004 SCC about it. Theres a shop in Hainesport, New Jersey called RalliSpec, they specialize in the swap. Just something to think about :wink:

[.RJ]

I have a great article from the June 2004 SCC

*yawn*

Your post is about as constructive as Feersty's. He's looking for a reliable AWD winter beater with storage space, not something to put a JDM engine!1!!!1 in.

You *might* be able to get a 2.5RS for that price but it will be a stretch. Keep an eye on nasioc, autotrader, craigslist....

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/car/193238360.html">http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ ... 38360.html</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/car/193325382.html">http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/ ... 25382.html</a><!-- m -->

some leads for you...

[Ginger]

*sigh*

The Make RJ Sound Nice translator (what he really means): Is that Hunter needs a car that's going to be Factory Reliable Stock. Swaps and Hacks make for great, fun cars.. some are more reliable than others, but they all take work - and more to get them done right. There's nothing quite like a factory car, and nothing like being able to go to the dealer and order parts for your car that fit without modification... or ones that are just for your car, instead of the 4 others that went into it.

So we should probably stay away from swaps. Or the idea of any heavy mods at all.

I really like the Scoobaru concept, though, they're great, fun cars.

[Goodspeed]

Wow, thanks man, I know what he wants :roll:. I said this

Just something to think about

not "omg you should totally get this RS and swap motors man!!!". Hunter I hope you find what you're looking for

[CaptainHenreh]

If you really want a 2.5 RS, I know of a 2001, one owner, 5 speed, very cheap.

[.RJ]

Wow, thanks man, I know what he wants :roll:

Really?

I thought about an RS but I like the idea of having a station wagon so that I can actually fit things in my car for the first time ever.

The idea of space to put stuff is not a bad thing to have, especially if you already have a track/autox car. One of the big reasons I love my truck, and I have been tracking integra's for the past 4 years.... tons of space for whatever you need. It makes a big difference.

[Ginger]

*sigh*

A truck.

How can I pull THAT off?

[.RJ]

"My father never went to college, so it was important that I go. I graduated, called him long distance and asked, 'Now what?' He said, 'Get a job.'

[Hunter]

This car is going to be all about utility: Driving in the snow, storage space, gas mileage, somewhat cheap and then fun to drive. Hopefully I can find a good combination of all of them.

I think I'm going to look for a car similar to this:
1999 impreza outback sport

In fact I may try to go look at that car tomorrow.

[ViPER1313]

How about an A4 wagon - like this one or this one

[Nis01]

Another place to look for good used Subies... especially the 2.5RS, lots of them.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rs25.com/classifieds/showcat.php?cat=12&si=&page=1&sort=1&perpage=12&ppuser=0&what=allfields&name=&=&sl=">http://www.rs25.com/classifieds/showcat ... ame=&=&sl=</a><!-- m -->

Let me know if the link doesn't work for some reason..

[bimmerboodle]

This car is going to be all about utility: Driving in the snow, storage space, gas mileage, somewhat cheap and then fun to drive. Hopefully I can find a good combination of all of them.

I think I'm going to look for a car similar to this:
1999 impreza outback sport

In fact I may try to go look at that car tomorrow.

That silver was only offered in 1999 and is the color I have. It is pretty nice. I looked at one of those Impreza's but with 2 kids, I needed more room. Just took a week at the beach and still had to but cargo on the roof of the bigger wagon. Watch out for the dreaded head gasket issue in that car...it is ripe considering the mileage. Look for tell-tale spooge on the inside of the radiator cap and in the coolant tank that may indicate combustion gas leaking into the coolant passages. they blow internally. when I got mine, you could drive it about 40 miles on the highway BEFORE enough pressure would build up to blow the coolant out the overflow....pretty strange symptom

[bimmerboodle]

How about an A4 wagon - like this one or this one

maintenance nightmare

[Jeff]

Wish you would have posted this about 3 weeks ago! We had a 95 Outback Sport (wagon) for $3500!!!! Had 140,000miles. Wholesaled it.... Anyways, If we have anything come though I will let you know, they are out there, just keep looking.

EDIT-
If you want I could find out who got it and shoot a call to see if they still had it around. There was some jive around the shop that it had a coolant smell. No one ever really looked at it. One of the sales people swore up and down that it was going to need a water pump...and as typical...my dad folded and got rid of it. Hes not much of a risk taker when it comes to import stuff. He stays in his comfort zone, CHRY-CO. It was a good clean car and it was pretty damn quick (I took it for a back roads run) for an N/A 4-banger. White/Silver, Automatic, good air, power goods.

[Hunter]

Look for tell-tale spooge on the inside of the radiator cap and in the coolant tank that may indicate combustion gas leaking into the coolant passages. they blow internally. when I got mine, you could drive it about 40 miles on the highway BEFORE enough pressure would build up to blow the coolant out the overflow....pretty strange symptom

Just so I know, does this look like a bunch of gunk (maybe black) built up around the inside of the areas coolant would be? I want to make sure I know what Im looking for when i go look at one of these.

[bimmerboodle]

Look for tell-tale spooge on the inside of the radiator cap and in the coolant tank that may indicate combustion gas leaking into the coolant passages. they blow internally. when I got mine, you could drive it about 40 miles on the highway BEFORE enough pressure would build up to blow the coolant out the overflow....pretty strange symptom

Just so I know, does this look like a bunch of gunk (maybe black) built up around the inside of the areas coolant would be? I want to make sure I know what Im looking for when i go look at one of these.

\bingo
look in the expansion tank for ring around the collar
in my car is was blackish
also same type of stuff around the gasket on the radiator cap.
get it good and warmed up, and give it the sniff test to see if you detect a faint coolant odor
look for bubbles in the expansion tank when it is running hard

[Feersty]

Your post is about as constructive as Feersty's.

He was ambiguous.

[.RJ]

It's not my fault he said in his first post that he could afford a WRX

Huh?

He clearly said his budget is $6-7k. I can afford an STi, or a C5 corvette, or a new CBR 1000RR, but I'm not buying one....

[Hunter]

So I called about 3 outback sports around DC and baltimore this morning and all three had been sold already...

BALLS!

[ScottyB]

How about an A4 wagon - like this one or this one

maintenance nightmare

not as bad as the hype, especially the pre-'00s. still worse than a suby though