99-01 Impreza 2.5 RS

[Loserkidwac]

Hey guys, I've always liked the 2.5 RS atleast the looks never driven one but because of recent problems with my MSP i think i am going to trade it in or sell it and pick up a 99-01 2.5 RS, I'm just looking for some opinions from owners and things I should look for, common problems things like that...i think i am going to go test drive one soon to make sure it is what I want but i just want a good reliable DD and AWD would be nice for the PA winters, thanks...Matt

[SUB2.5RS]

Dude! you will love the RS. No matter what! I think the RS's before 2000 have this thing with their headgaskets. Pete (teh dirt) could probly give u a good peice of his mind on RS's and things to look for.

[Loserkidwac]

Oh ok I'll try and just look for the 2000-2001, seems to be hard to find them and the prices are all over the place...I'll shoot Pete a PM

[4g4d4u]

what happened to the MSP?

[Loserkidwac]

what happened to the MSP?

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8578/img1612su8.jpg

:cry:

[Audihoe]

i think A&T Subaru in sellersville has a black 99 on their lot. seen it driving past...ill stop and look at it sometime.

[girlyspeed]

my 98 didnt give me any problems, but i would look for 00 or 01 anyway for lower mileage and clear headlights :)

[Renegade_]

I will tell you this: They are hard to find. VERY hard. Finding one in good condition is even more difficult (I got lucky as HELL when I was looking).

There is always the alternative as well... Buy an impreza L and just swap on body panels. Replacing the rear bumper is easy, front bumper I have never done. Other than that, replace the doorhandles and hood and cosmetically you basically are an RS.

Powerwise the stock motor won't net you anything over like 180chp. Swapping in motors is done with absolute ease. Everything is a bolt for bolt drop in. The wiring though sucks... Area 1320 does swaps if you want someone else to look into it. Any 4 cylinder subaru motor bolts right into these.

I have a 2000 with 115k miles and I have yet to have a day where it did not start on me. It has never overheated, never broken down, no trans problems at all. Other than rattling doorcards I can't really complain (and lack of turbo, but that's another story :roll: ).

If you want a pristine condition one, they are pricey.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1191778

Here is one for sale up in MA.

[Bizee]

i was just on the hunt for one big time the last few weeks, which was really hard becuase i was looking for a particular color, interior, m/t etc. i was sticking to 00/01 for a couple reasons but found what i wanted in 99 so i took it anyway and ill deal with the hg if that arises, and at that point ill just put a new motor in anyways so im at 0 miles. i dug the one i bought up off of autotrader. if you go on craigslist right now there is a nice red one thats really reasonable and a blue one with a dent that a pdr could knock out im sure. there are people who post them on rs25.com for sale at a reasonable price but are nowhere near pa at all. i dont know what you are looking to spend, but to get one in nice condition with reasonable miles i doubt your going to be able to spend less than 7. the one at a&t is high mileage but it appears to be really clean, and when i spoke to a rep there about it they stressed how well it was DEALER maintained (including t-belt) and all of the service records are available. if you go to look at one definatly check the antifreeze and it should have had a tbelt done around 70k (you can use that as negotiating leverage). i wasnt given much room to negotiate on the price because the car had a line, which your going to find out unless you pick one in poor condition. dont expect to pay book value any lot that has one knows its worth above it and prices that way or will not budge one cent below it (just from my personal experiance). my opinion came to be, if you find a 99 at a good price go for it and worry about any b/s later.

[Signatus230]

Oh, you got one Bizee? Thought you were getting a DSM, lol.

[Bizee]

lol, yes i bought one on monday

[Signatus230]

Ah nice. Post some pics up, I am curious as to what you got.

[Renegade_]

Ah nice. Post some pics up, I am curious as to what you got.
Check his thread, there is a pic there. It's silverthorn

[Loserkidwac]

I e-mailed A&T they said it wasn't avaliable anymore, I was wondering why they had i priced 2K over KBB and Edmunds..I'm just looking for a nice stock one, gonna sell the MSP or trade it in so i will have some cahs from that, thanks for all the input guys

[Renegade_]

they had it 2k over KBB value because they know it will sell for that much. The re-sale value on these are ridiculous.

check out www.rs25.com

[Bizee]

yup, price is nuts, i just went through it..check my response in this thread i posted...

[Bizee]

Ah nice. Post some pics up, I am curious as to what you got.



yeah i cant really get any good pics because i have a broken femur so its hard for me to get out there, but i have a pic from the window in my wtb thread.

[STI_wagon]

Just like SUB2.5RS said, try to avoid the DOHC EJ25s. The 98's and some 99 RS's have the problems.

[Renegade_]

The SOHC EJ251s actually have a smoother powerband than the DOHC motors for some reason. If you search in the archives of RS25 someone had side by side dyno graphs of both and you could see the difference. Smoothing was the same for each one.

However, if you do get a 98/99 and the headgasket goes before 100,000 miles, the dealership will replace it for you under warranty.

[dwl137]

Only the 98 RS was a DOHC, the 99 was a SOHC. I had a 99 RS for 3 1/2 years, and I never had a single problem with it. Only thing I ever replaced was tires, oil, PCV valve, fuel filter and plugs. That was all routine maintenence though. Was still on the original clutch after 89,000 miles when I traded it in on the GTI. Loved the car, but was looking for something newer. I'd buy a 99-01 again in a second.

The 99 is MAF and the 00-01 is MAP. If you want to mod, I'd go with the 00-01. More options out there for those years.

[Loserkidwac]

Thanks, i think i will look for the 00-01 but right now it looks like whatever i can find for the right price is what i'll get...

[Bizee]

how much money are you putting aside for one? i will start posting links for you in your price range.

[Loserkidwac]

how much money are you putting aside for one? i will start posting links for you in your price range.

Well I am hopeuflly getting my MSP on the road in the next week or so and it will go up for sale or if i find an 2.5 RS at a dealer for a decent price I'll use it as a trade but I gotta see what i get for the MSP...I'll probably just grab a cheap civic for a DD and then start look for an RS

[STI_wagon]

Just get this and be done with it.. :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-SUBARU-GC8-COMPLETE-CHASSIS-AND-EG20-TURBO-SWAP_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33615QQhashZitem14 0075207777QQihZ004QQitemZ140075207777

[Loserkidwac]

Just get this and be done with it.. :)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-SUBARU-GC8-COMPLETE-CHASSIS-AND-EG20-TURBO-SWAP_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33615QQhashZitem14 0075207777QQihZ004QQitemZ140075207777

Thats HOT!!!