New daily driver check it out

[jwetering]

That's it - after 40 years I've had it with driving beaters. I took the plunge yesterday and bought myself a brand new 2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS. Good deals this time of year and at 0.8% financing for 5 years it means my own money stays invested while I pay this thing off.

2.5 L Flat four, 165 hp, 166 ft-lbs torque. AC, power windows and locks (first time ever for me). full time AWD, 50:50 f:r split. It drives really well, kind of tank like, but really nimble and spunky at the same time. I think we're going to have many happy years together. It's got plenty of personality in terms of handling and drivability.

No more junkers in the driveway! Here's the pics of the Scoob and the 911 which I can't realistically commute in. Yes the wagon fit in the trunk.

[RSBob]

One boxer motor deserves another. Congrats on non-beaterhood.

[das908kind]

Doesn't work give you a deal on a cement truck?

Nice ride Jasp!!

[island911]

Well thats great Jasper. How long 'til you've mod'd the scoobie to the point where you can't realistically use it for commuting?

[dick911]

Hello Jasper,

Well, good looking car(s)!
I have the same combination, altough an older type Subaru.
Another question: Are you from Holland?

Regards,

Dick
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hallo Jasper,

Ziet er goed uit !
Ik heb dezelfde combi maar dan wel een ouder type Subaru.
Even een andere vraag: Zo te zien kom je uit Holland?

Hoe kom je zo in Canada terecht?
Ik ben al een paar jaar bezig om Holland te verlaten maar het wil niet echt lukken. Wellich kun je mij hier iets over vertellen...

Groeten,

Dick

[Sonic dB]

Put some Fuchs on it and you will be in business.

[Doug&Julie]

Subies rule. After owning four, I've decided (unless I win the lottery) there will be no other car to compliment the Porsche in my garage. (And for the record, Julie is kicking herself for selling hers to get her Civic. So look for us to be going to all Subies next spring...if not sooner.) Enjoy that Subie!

[jwetering]

Originally posted by island911
Well thats great Jasper. How long 'til you've mod'd the scoobie to the point where you can't realistically use it for commuting?

That's too funny. Only because it could realistically happen. Lucky for me the 911 chews up every single spare $ I have. That said a set of 17" graphite coloured wheels with performance radials for the summer months is in the cards. So too is a suspension upgrade, But that's it!

Tristan - they're called concrete mixer trucks, not cement trucks. Next time we sit down for drinks I'll review the difference between cement and concrete (again).

Dick - I am indeed from Holland but I've been in Canada since I was 7 years old (I'm 40 now). It's really great over here on the West Coast and I highly recommend the move. I guess my advice would be to move back in with your parents, then convince them to emigrate, then let them feed and clothe you while you attend University to get a chemistry degree , then work at a lab for about 13 years, then move into cement manufacturing and then get married and have two kids.

After all that you will end up with an track modified and well used 911 and a newer model Subaru. You will live in a nice neighbourhood but it will rain a lot. You will pay lots of taxes but your medical will be paid for by the state. You will be able to smoke Marijuana pretty much whenever you like but you won't want to because it makes you feel uncomfortable. Kind of like Holland no?

All kidding aside, it's great over here, but it's stil a socialist country so becoming rich enough to buy a new GT3 for instance takes some cunning, more so than it would in the USA I think.

Anyway - thanks for the positive vibes on my Subaru everyone. One good boxer does indeed deserve another.

[911boost]

Nice car Jasper. I have a 2004 WRX Sedan and love it. I thought about the 2.5 RS, but after driving the WRX decided I could not go without the turbo.

Mine is my daily driver, and as such, I have over 31,000 miles on it. The stock Bridgestones are crap, but as long as you keep them properly inflated, they do the job.

These wheels will be going on my car in the Spring, after the snow is gone, along with new Springs and COBB Front and Rear Swaybars.



If your car is a five speed, I highly recomend getting a new shifter for it. Its a breeze to install and actually makes quite a difference. You can PM me if you want and I can tell you about mine.

Also check out:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/

Unlike a lot fo the WRX Forums, this one has a good bit of information on the NA Impreza.

Bill

[ddann]

Good choice. Makes me miss my STi.

[Drago]

Time to start "adding lightness".

Nice pick Jasper.

[RSBob]

Those are seriously nice wheels for a Suby.

Jasper - we don't want to see your 911 motor transplanted into your Suby to give it a bit more grunt - or heavin forbid the other way around.

I'm a Suby fan too - Legacy AWD wagon with 165K - great snow, dog car, and hauling car. And then there's the Audi, sigh (not black).

[efhughes3]

Nice. I'm going to get a new car next Spring, and an Outback and Legacy wagon is on my list to look at. I'm going to a wagoon, as I need a little more room, and don't want to go back to an SUV.

[nostatic]

I have the wagon version of this...2.5RS. It is nice. I find myself wishing I had gone for the WRX though...but it does the job and the $6K I saved bought the Triumph.

[jim72911t]

Now you guys have got me thinking again............

I'm due for a new (used) daily driver this spring. I'm really torn between the 2002-2005 Impreza wagon and an E36 M3. Like Todd referred to, I'm really leaning toward the WRX version of the Impreza, but the price difference makes the 2.5RS look attractive.

Then again, the E36 M3 makes such a wonderful driver, and is no slouch on the track, either. Might not have the practicality of the Subie though, and I'd probably be less willing to throw dirty swap meet Porsche parts in the trunk.

I'd like to keep either under $15K.

Thoughts? Sorry for the hijack.

Jim

[ddann]

Originally posted by jim72911t
but the price difference makes the 2.5RS look attractive.

Not to mention gas prices.

[nostatic]

mileage is about the same.

Well, except that the turbo makes your right foot twitch for some reason...

[jorian]

Jasper,

Do I get to drive the crap out o this one too?

[jwetering]

Originally posted by jim72911t
I'm really torn between the 2002-2005 Impreza wagon and an E36 M3. Like Todd referred to, I'm really leaning toward the WRX version of the Impreza, but the price difference makes the 2.5RS look attractive.
Thoughts? Sorry for the hijack.
Jim

No probs about the hijack, we've been bumped to OT anyway. Nice wheels by the way - that's what I'm after, only maybe a matte finish. They look expensive Frankly I'm hoping to pick up a set of used wheels with rubber from one of those ricer types at NASIOC. They're always looking to trade up into the next blingiest thing I figure

I started this exercise wanting a E36 bimmer, but in the end the lure of a brand new wife friendly car with full warranty was too much. I'm a big WRC fan too eh so I figured I should start walking the walk as it were. Did I mention the 0.8% financing? I paid 23K Canadian for it. That's about $19K USD or something like that, maybe $18K.

I drove a WRX, liked it ok, but the 2.5 has plenty of spunk, where the 2.0 in the Rex is all limp off boost. I'm not really a Turbo guy. Plus the WRX uses premium fuel compared to 87 oct for the RS, and I really didn't like the skirts and wings on the WRX, and I would have had to buy a used WRX and it would have had those akward looking bug eyes.

Anyway - the RS is my *style*. I'll take my speeding tickets the hard way please, and no blingy crap tacked on either.

It drives really solid for a small car. You sure can feel that AWD working all the time.

ps - Jorian you can drive it, but you can't beat it k? Maybe I'll even bring it out to an autcross one day.

[livi]

Looks great, but looking at the two pictures it really hits me what a timeless uniquely gorgeous design the old 911 is.