Less expensive alternative to the wrx?

In reply to amg_rx7: Right, it doesnt have to be a Subie, just seeing what other people might suggest that is similar in platform. Kind of that "all weather" sports sedan type.

Why not just a cherry GC body 2.5RS?

Swank Force One wrote: Why not just a cherry GC body 2.5RS?

I honestly have not been able to find any. Wouldn't mind one though.

2002 WRX $5600

What about the AWD turbo Mazda 6?

Found one ms6 that is intriguing http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4126917087.html

And i know its not awd but what about Viggen's? http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4122802506.html

I have to comment that after owning a WRX since 2005 (2.0L....2.5L impressions may be different), I really like my peppy little slightly rusty 2000 2.5RS. The catch is that they aren't always necessarily cheaper it seems :(
mine was cheap due to rust and some fixer-upper needs (brakes, tune-up, cosmetics, a few CEL's that have gone away since).
The RS has a bit better low torque than my WRX, gears are a little shorter, car is a little lighter, and makes this nifty whistling sound at WOT. The WRX is more fun in the mid to higher RPM's though, more so if it's in Stage 2 form.

High mileage on the ms6 scares me.

I know it's not a turbo, but what about the BMW E30 325ix?

2700lbs AWD 5spd Manual 160hp from 1.6l turbo

An all-trac celica would be awesome if you can find one.

There are some e46 3 series that are awd with a manual as well....

Galant vr4?

I feel that awd is over rated, lots of components that aren't helping most of the time weighing the car down , and spinning around causing parasitic drag when rwd and the right tires would be cheaper, just as practical and way more fun.

In reply to carbon:

This is true, if i were going to look at an e46 it definetly wouldn't be awd. I guess I'm just confused as to what I really want. An all-trac celica would be cool as well, I've always liked those.

VW R32?

m4ff3w wrote: 2700lbs AWD 5spd Manual 160hp from 1.6l turbo

How many of the original 900-ish (half of which went to Canada eh) do you think are left? I'd love one, but not to destroy DDing on salted roads.

Can you get an acceptable R32 for under $10K yet?

• Lee

Jaguar X-Type?

I think a 330xi would be sweet.

• Lee

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/4122535825.html

Seems underpriced for an 06 saabaru but worth checking out. Tire condition kind of leads me to believe this car was beat.

The 06 came with the 2.5, the saabarus had the sti steering rack and aluminum lcas I believe. They usually go for 12-16 depending on area and condition.

look for 2008 WRX. It's the black sheep of the family and you can find them for LESS than many earlier models.

Because....it had the same engine as the previous generation, and had the "boring" looks of the GE/GH body, and soft springs and wasn't seen as "sporty" enough. So most people didn't buy them. And those that did often quickly "upgraded" to the 09+ or 06-07 models soon thereafter.

I saw one locally for sale with under 50k miles around here last month for under $10k.

My problem with a lot of the cars that are good in the snow is that if they're special (vr4, wrx, alltrac, etc.) I dont want them to rot away because of salt. That's why I sold my wrx, I liked it too much to watch it rot away, and if I wasnt going to get it salty, what was the point of the awd? Was I going to build it to make the kind of power that could exploit the awd, no, if I had, the driveline would have needed extensive upgrading, at that point, it would be more practical to buy an sti. So I built a fun summer only car, and rock winterbeaters that I flip in the spring (often making a small profit or breaking even). It's really too bad that they dont do a better job preventing corrosion on these cars.

How do Mitsu Evolutions do in terms of corrosion?

I have a regular ass 2005 Impreza. Its big fun to drive. When I bought it was jones for the WRX but I told myself that I had enough sports cars...but in reality I should have gotten it.

With that said. I still love my Subi. Stock they have 125HP Not to bad. Still a fun car to drive.

Leo

Man, I need to go sell my 02 WRX in Green Bay apparently. Then I can go buy the 04 Forester XT in Quebec.

Now that would be a road trip.

In reply to NGTD:

No joke, I need to sell mine up north! In Texas I would be doing good to get $8k for mine.