2001 Subaru RS2.5 - sell the xB & get it?

I'm -this- close to selling the 2006 xB and buying my friend's Subaru, for almost the same price by the time I'm done. It's been 5 years, the Toaster has been a great car but maybe I need something different?

I think this winter is also going to be a brutal one. AWD in Dayton OH would be nice. I could also drive this for another year, and then Spring 2015 go for the "new car". Any opinions? I know very little about Sub's but I co-drove his car a few months ago and had a blast at a rallycross. He says it's a great daily & having a back-up RX car would be a bonus.

What say anyone?

I think you should so he has no choice but to rallyx the Porsche next year.

2.5 RS are phenomenally fun cars, especially in the white stuff.

I'm currently debating offing my commuter for something a little older and more fun myself. Why not, right?

I hope you don't drive far - the fuel economy difference between an xB and a Subie is going to shock you.

I still love my WRX but they are not an economy car.

A 12 year old Subaru? Hope you have lot's of nickles and dimes.

My wife (then fiance) had an opportunity to buy a new one in '98 but got a 1 year old Eclipse instead. We still think, in retrospect, that she made the wrong choice.

In reply to NGTD:

26 miles each way to work. The xB is good, but not great on MPG. I can typically fill up and get through about a week (fill Wednesday and refill following Tuesday). I can take a slight hit.

NGTD wrote: I hope you don't drive far - the fuel economy difference between an xB and a Subie is going to shock you. I still love my WRX but they are not an economy car.

This.

Zomby Woof wrote: A 12 year old Subaru? Hope you have lot's of nickles and dimes.

And this.

And you may need some large bills too... its not all nickles and dimes.

Do it. 2.5rs beats a Toaster any day. Except moving day.

I'm slightly interested in hearing about your xB. I can even offer a trade of a complete turd Oldsmobile Intrigue.

midniteson wrote: Do it. 2.5rs beats a Toaster any day. Except moving day.

Check.

In reply to ProDarwin:

Tell me more. Specifics to watch for?

Jerry wrote: In reply to ProDarwin: Tell me more. Specifics to watch for?

Headgaskets, Transmission, headgasket, etc.

They aren't horribly unreliable vehicles in any way, but the rate of catastrophic failure of them seems to be quite high. They also get pretty awful gas mileage.

I had an 01 2.5rs. Fun car, but the motor was mundane at best when compared to the chassis (though it did have prodrive suspension under it). And that was with Cobb cams, a lightened flywheel, full exhaust and an intake. I got to the point of either having to do an STi swap or sell it..... sold it instead.

Things to watch out for:

Head gaskets Cam seals Weak transmissions if you turbo it, or drive it in too much anger

All in all it was the most awesome handling boring car I've ever owned.

I believe the headgaskets on this particular example were done recently.

Around Northern California these cars hold their value to an obscene point. 180K miles still asking $7k.

How big of a PITA is a swap on these? Even the JDM half-cuts on eBay are pretty affordable.

In reply to EvanB:

I was hoping some local people would chime in if they knew any details...... The owner seems very forthcoming on any problems.

The only problem I would have with it is the rust, but then again you would probably have to fly and drive from the south to get a rust free one.

I've got a '99. Love it. It is 100% bone stock, which you don't often see, and is about to turn 175K miles.

Mine had the passenger headgasket replaced at the 100K mile timing belt service just before I bought it, and knock on wood, no problems since. Only repairs I've had to do was rear wheels bearings (not hard, but a huge pain in the ass, I broke down and took the whole drivers rear corner into work to press everything apart), and a knock sensor. It's stock-ness helps the reliability I think, no worries about transmission issues or some of the other common problems people have.

I drive mine as a daily, and get 24-26 on the regular mixed commute, and 28-30 on pure highway trips, so not as bad as some. I think the NA motor does better than WRX's. No complaints about the stock 165hp either, but then I take the Z06 out if I want to go fast. I have more fun driving the wheels off a modest performing car for a DD though .

Me at Mid-Ohio:

chrispy wrote: My wife (then fiance) had an opportunity to buy a new one in '98 but got a 1 year old Eclipse instead. We still think, in retrospect, that she made the wrong choice.

My Version:

My wife (then fiance) had an opportunity to buy a new Monte Carlo SS in '86 but got a new Pontiac Grand Am SE instead. We still think, in retrospect, that she made the wrong choice.

Squeaks, creaks, rattles. Low gears for highway use(not quite Honda bad, but worth mentioning). Head gaskets. Wheel bearings. I think there's some recall on them for control arm rust too.

Buy it.

See my rallycross photos thread for numerous reasons why.

If clean 2.5RS's weren't selling for the price of gold in Southern California, I would have one or more of them.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Squeaks, creaks, rattles. Low gears for highway use(not quite Honda bad, but worth mentioning). Head gaskets. Wheel bearings. I think there's some recall on them for control arm rust too.

The recall was for bugeye wrxs.

EvanB wrote: I believe the headgaskets on this particular example were done recently.

If the headgaskets were done and done right, they typically aren't a problem again. I had a 97 with the DOHC (the supposed worst one) with 412K kms (about 260k miles) on it and it ran like a top. Still see it around town.