I looked at the 2.5 RS a couple years ago here in San Antonio. And really the only reason I didn't buy it then was the dealership was rude and flipant about my purchase. So . . . I bought a '98 Trans AM with the venerable LS1. I've done some slight massaging to the intake and exhaust, so the car goes pretty darn good. But, I'm starting to look at either a '02 Firehawk or a WRX or an Audi S4.

What I want out of the car (after modifications ) daily, reliable 10 to 1 power to wieght ratio. An even ride with moderate noise that can pull with the best of them through the twisties. Basically, I want my current car's straight line performance and better handling.

Yall are the experts, how much would I have o spend to meet or exceed what I have now?

Thanks,
Jaguarcult

'98 TA, 340 Hp, 360TQ

I can't give you specific on the WRX but there are and will be many bolts for it as FI motors make bolting power on easy.

I can say this. Talk to the Texas Forum about their local Dealers. I bought my car from Huffines Subaru http://www.huffinessubaru.com/ in Dallas and it was a good buying experiance even with there being 1200 miles between me and the dealer.

You aren't going to get 340 horse from a WRX without major modifications and skillful tuning. you have a brutisg muscle machine now, the WRX is a sophisticated drivers car. If you get one, say goodbye to smoke-spewing burnouts at lights, and neck-snapping torque off the line. The wrx is pretty wuick, but it's the whole package that makes it shine. On that note, finding an all-wheel drive car with great handling and 350-400 horse is pretty much gonna break your bank.. 911 Turbo? $150 grand. Anyway... don't expect to do any barnstorming in the WRX, it's just not that kind of car.

Hmm, let me clarify. I'm looking for 10 to 1 power to wieght ratio. NOT 340 HP. I realize my TA is much heavier and it compensates for it by housing an LS1. But the Imprezza should be much much lighter, so I shouldn't need as much power to achieve the ratio.

[This message has been edited by Jaguarcult (edited April 17, 2001).]

OK, so you'd need to make a little over 300 horse. How attainable this is remains to be seen as people are just starting to mod the cars here. Whether or not new internals, transmission, etc. are neccessary will become evident as things start to break. I'm sure some bolstering will need to be done to reach 300 horse... how much remains to be seen.

I see you're also looking at S4. I would take the S4 if I were you.

There are going to be so many future and current modification possiblities for WRX. I would love to buy one. But, I think that if I had a choice of buying an S4 or WRX, I think I would take the S4. It will cost you around $40,000 after tax and all that.

In fact, my mother and I are thinking about buying an S4 (if not A4 2.8) together.

The WRX is a car to have "fun" in. It's comfortable, but not a luxury sedan like the Audi. It's fast, but not a `67 GTO kinda fast. It handles very well indeed and answers most abrupt inputs with safe results. It makes yer face hurt from all of the smiling! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

Wait for the STi http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif (280hp, 4.3 0-60)

Basically, I want my current car's straight line performance and better handling.


By a used 1999 2.5RS (2825 lbs). Add a Stage II turbokit to it. Tweak the suspension a bit. I'm sure this combo will have at least 282hp at the crank at around 7-9psi. There you go!

Kewl, So, when will the STi be released. And, how much for a 2.5 RS Turbo kit??

save up and get a M3!! hehehe...jokin...take the S4

Wait for the STi or Evo 7

Buy a Skyline R34 GTR! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif

If you can swing the S4, go for it. Heck, if I felt like dropping that kind of coin on a car, I would.

I have ridden in and driven both stock and modified S4s. That's the car you want. It will have 95% of the stoplight grand prix mojo of your TA, and drop it like a bad habit in the twisties.

Put a chip on it, upgrade the suspension if you're really serious, and ba-bing!

The WRX is really cool, and can be modified horsepower wise to something in the neighborhood of the STi. But as another poster said, you're really talking about three very different cars. The WRX is a scalpel, while the S4 is a switchblade. The Firehawk is a machete.

But you live in San Antonio, so you don't have to worry about parking the Firehawk when it snows. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

Kevin

>>>I'm looking for 10 to 1 power to wieght ratio. NOT 340 HP

So only 320 hp then? How much do you think the WRX weighs?

I'm sure you mean weight to power, not power to weight. But that's just getting technical.

The STi doesn't get 4.3 0-60 times. I don't know where that info came from. On a REALLY good day, it may see 4.8. But the magazines test it at 5.0-5.2.

Get a MINI and put in an M3 engine and drivetrain! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/biggrin.gif
Kidding. I say get a used RS to tinker with. Your 350hp firebird would quench an y desire to go fast. WRX or STi will not give you that lunatic RWD burnout.

Whoops, missed the 6 and hit the 3 on the numpad...