any impreza 2.5 rs owners here?
 

I'm in the market for a daily driver, something cheap. Just wondering if you have one and what are your impressions. Mainly praticality, maintenance, performance, fuel consumption, insurance costs oh and what years they were available. From what I have found it's 98-01in the style I was looking for. I'm not a big fan of subarus other that the svx but next to an xt-6 this is something I may like but not enough to start getting obsessed with :D and the xts seem a little too rare to keep on the road without getting involved. I basicly want to put gas in it and change the oil. Thanks for the help and if you only feel like dropping a link that is appreciated too.

I've got a 2000 RS2.5 w/ 135k miles that is my daily driver. I like it a lot for what it is.

Compared to the SVX it is incredibly simple and it is easy to work on. It gets fair mileage depending on how much you flog it. No big issues so far in about 15k miles that I"ve had it, just regular maintenance stuff. If you want a daily driver w/o having to mess with it, it is the way to go. I owned an XT and it was ok, but at 20 years old and even older technology, it took a lot more TLC to keep it happy.

You're right that they were made from 98-01. The earlier DOHC engines are not as good for reliability (head gasket issues) as the later SOHC versions like mine. I don't know the year of the switchover, but it was SOHC in 2000-2001 for sure.

It's no luxury cruiser like the SVX, but it is great around town with the torque of the 2.5 and a 5MT. It is hard to compare it to the SVX as they are designed with totally different purposes.

Parts are easy to come by as it shares the same engine/chassis as the Forester.

The RS models sell for a lot more than the regular ones with the 2.2, but you can dress them up the same if you like.

Lots of info here: rs25.com

If you're under 25, be prepared to eat a lot of insurance on it. Impreza insurance is expensive for us younger folks.

the first gen SOHC 2.5s are more known for head gasket problems than the DOHC, the DOHC is better in that respect; the second gen 2.5 (phase II) is better for not popping head gaskets, but according to the master tech @ work, the problem is more the head gasket + customers not taking care of their cooling system... So basically if you keep on top of coolant changes you're pretty much ok, and if it does pop, or if it's popped in the past, and the HG is replaced with the newer formulation gasket, it won't pop again unless you overheat the snot out of it, in which case most head gaskets will fail anyway.

The 2.5 isn't going to be your car then. I looked into them for a while. I want one BAD, more than I wanted an SVX. But I got the SVX for half the price of an RS, so I couldn't turn it down.

They are great for what they are, but they really are nothing more than a econo-box with some pep. However, they hold their value incredibly well, which is why I'm saying they're not cheap. Considering their purchase price, and the fact that they're just a 4-door Subaru Impreza, albeit a glorified one, they're crazy.

My father used to own a Black on gold when they first came out. Still have custom made BBS rims in the basement for it. I loved that car. But when I saw the prices they go for (Even KBB value is absurdly high) I learned I could get ALOT more car for the money.

Just my $.02.

Yeah. Pre 2002? 2.5RS's have an insane amount of private value. For what reason? I have no idea. They aren't fast and they aren't that loaded. Heck, cruise control was an option on them.

It's because they're the last good looking impreza :)

But yes, they are spendy for what they are. Like I said, you'd be just as good to buy a 2.2 model or outback version and dress it up. The 2.2 in an Impreza is pretty decent too. The 1.8 not as much, but it is very reliable.

I owned a 1999 2.2L, I bought it new in 1999. It was a great ride, not as comfortable as my SVX but it was a heck of a lot better than the other small 4cyl options that were out there. I traded a 1990 Legacy for the Impreza. The Legacy was very durable I put over 200,000 miles on it in 9 years. If you could find a low mileage 1st generation Legacy, you would have a low cost dependable car, not much style but peppy and affordable.

Help with new daily driver
 

This is so true! I would like to be smart this time around, so I'm asking for your suggestions.

Here are some I am considering:

94-99 celica
93-95 golf III
92-96 prelude
95-99 eclipse
95-98 nissan 240sx
93-97 mx-6

any input? Think low maintenance, fuel mileage, insurance, reliability all that boring stuff.

RWD!!! The rest of the stuff isn't as important.

Unless you get an older celica and get the AWD model.

I concer the Celica GT-4 or just get the Impreza. The rest will go right off the road and the insurace and other cost is not what you are looking for. I also agree on getting a 2.2 Impreza. I have a 97 OBS and well that's actually my prefered drive cause of the options and cost/zip ratios. Insurance is low. You can swap and do a 2.5 block conversion for under 1500 and get a real fire cracker.
See here. http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1159632
This kinda stuff is why I'm huting down 2-3 Imprezas for friends.

Dude, you can totally by my Celica All-Trac!! But...I need to find an SVX to buy :(.

I was looking for something under $2000. This car would probably be purchased at the auction and I don't even know if I can be there. What year impreza would I be looking at for a 2.0 or 2.2? I don't want to register to a forum just to ask a few Q's then never post, seems like a pain for the admins. I know the AWD and trans is problematic for the SVX but what about the imprezas? I read that they came in a 2WD would this be advisable to avoid costly repairs? I don't mind FWD too badly as I have an 84 rabbit currently and with good snow tires it goes where some SUVs won't.

You will not find an RS for under $2000. Actually, I don't think you'll find any of those cars on your list for anywhere close to $2000 (with the exception being maybe the MX6).

I thought the 2.0-2.2 impreza wasn't an RS. I'm sure there are regular imprezas to be had for $2000, especially going back as far as 93.