I want a Subaru and I don't know why. Well I kind of do know why.

"Frosted" (frostedbuns)
02/17/2014 at 13:36 • Filed to: None

I love Subarus. I'll get that out of the way. I think they are great. For me, they are the end all of consumer level mass-produced automotive goodness. A car that goes BRAAAAPAPPPAPPPAPP and has AWD systems good enough to handle almost any terrain. I've known that I've wanted one for a long time now. I thought that my XC70 would be a sort of more upscale version of an Outback. And is, sort of. It's nice and comfy and goes when you hit the right pedal and has a turbo plus AWD. But that AWD system isn't made for offroading nor is it made for hard launches, it's really just there for when the weather is less than perfect. But anyway, back to Subaru.

When I was a tiny little kid, my father used to take me to a place called Raceway Park where there was always some drag race shenanigans going on. One day, a little Subaru Legacy RS station wagon was making a run down the quarter mile. It looked bone stock. It ran a 9 second 1/4 mile. It had a full WRX STI powertrain. I've wanted one since.

Lately I've been watching Mighty Car Mods and last night I saw the Regular Car Reviews of the 05 Outback and it's made me start wanting one again really badly. However I don't want an Impreza WRX or anything, oh no, I still want a mid-90s Legacy RS.

That station wagon shaped my views as an enthusiast. It's the reason why I love wagons and why I love Subaru despite having never owned one.

The Subaru Legacy RS - I saw it for 9 seconds when I was probably 6. It's been my hero ever since.

DISCUSSION (28)

Brian Silvestro > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:40

Beautiful write-up. Every time I see a nice WRX wagon for sale on Craigslist I feel the need to buy it. There's just something about them.

Frosted > Brian Silvestro
02/17/2014 at 13:42

Same, I've been looking at early 2000's Legacy Outback wagons and 2400 seems to be all a nice one is worth. I may just have to save up and splurge on a second wagon to make into a project 9-second drag beast.

Brian Silvestro > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:43

That's so cheap! Maybe you should...

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:45

STi swaps aren't even difficult to do really. about 90% of all the parts bolt into place, the biggest pain I've had with my project is stripping out and labeling the wiring, so I can ship it to have a harness merge done.

BeaterGT > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:45

I think what you really want is to go back to Raceway Park :)

Having said that, beware of head gaskets!

Frosted > Brian Silvestro
02/17/2014 at 13:46

Once I have a stable job with steady income, I plan to. Before marriage and kids and responsibilities, I'll have my dream haha. I'm sure my parents will love having a Subaru shell in the backyard and a motor in the house.

Brian Silvestro > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:48

I've come to the conclusion that the secret to fueling automotive desires is to not get married/have kids.

Frosted > BeaterGT
02/17/2014 at 13:48

I do want to go when NHRA comes through. Otherwise it's nothing but Drifting and all-motor hondas that run 20s.

Frosted > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
02/17/2014 at 13:50

How hard is a manual swap? I haven't seen any manual Outbacks and kind of doubt that that was a thing.

rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:54

My stepbrother, who knows literally nothing about cars, recently purchased a hawkeye WRX from a ricer. It has a fartcan and about 200k extremely hard miles on it, but it's still an absolute joy to drive. I've been trolling CL for Subarus as well.

Frosted > Brian Silvestro
02/17/2014 at 13:54

I'm lucky enough to have a girlfriend that understands how important cars are to me and has promised over and over that she would never make me sell one. But I also know that marriage and kids leave no money or time for car parts.

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:55

Shouldn't be any harder than an engine swap although I'm not sure what you need to do for wiring because the ECU connects to the Auto trans but doesn't in the manual so you may just be able to leave it unplugged.

Brian Silvestro > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:57

My ex girlfriend hated the fact that I loved cars for some reason, every time I pointed out a nice car on the road, she'd get angry. Guess that's why she's my ex. You're a lucky dude.

Niquemarshall > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 13:57

Where are you located? I found an old Loyale for sale. $500, and one in Ohio for $1100, both AWD and 5 speed.

Frosted > Niquemarshall
02/17/2014 at 14:00

I'm in Jersey, don't really have money for a second car at the moment though. Hoping that when summer comes, I will.

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist
02/17/2014 at 14:00

There is almost no way to buy a used WRX without the previous owner modifying it in some way or another unless you want to pay a ton for it.

Frosted > Brian Silvestro
02/17/2014 at 14:01

I would breakup with anyone who hated something that I had a passion for. You just know that'd bite ya in the ass down the road otherwise.

rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
02/17/2014 at 14:11

Weirdly it's easier to find a stock Dodge Neon SRT4...

Arben72 > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 14:14

Get a saab 92x, they're usually cheaper and in better condition than a wrx of the same vintage. I practically stole one for 2,000 with full coil overs and a built sti hybrid engine. Just needs a new tranny plus a little work here and there on the motor.

Newsboy > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
02/17/2014 at 14:22

Which is why you should buy a WRX shell for $2-3k, a rusted out SVX for $900, and drop the 3.3L H6 into the WRX chassis.

Why? BECAUSE RALLYCROSS CAR.

BeaterGT > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 14:26

What? We're talking about Englishtown Raceway Park?

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Newsboy
02/17/2014 at 14:27

Or do what I'm doing. I took the shell of my 2.5RS and
I'm swapping in a VER 4 STi drivetrain

BeaterGT > Newsboy
02/17/2014 at 14:28

This.

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > rightfullrudder: Resident Pontiac Apologist
02/17/2014 at 14:29

Probably because 90% of the people who buy WRX's want to be Ken Block. Frankley I'd rather be like Peter Solberg

Frosted > BeaterGT
02/17/2014 at 14:33

Yea, I haven't been in a while but stopped when the drag racing just became Team Puerto Rico with their 1980s Civics everyday. I did see some drifting right after the road course was built. Wouldn't mind going when Formula Drift comes through.

Frosted > Arben72
02/17/2014 at 14:36

I've seen those a bunch and thought about it but I know that, at the end of the day, I wouldn't be satisfied with it because it isn't exactly what I want. Which would be this:

Kinja'd!!!

BeaterGT > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 14:53

There are events all the time. I never even see Civics run lol

Arben72 > Frosted
02/17/2014 at 18:01

I'm a big suby guy so I know people swear by the suby they like. I have a forester and saabaru, as long as they're maintained they'll last forever (just expect a head gasket, spend the money on the best replacement). Suby's are one of the few Eco cars that still have a soul.