Which one to buy?

[SILINC3R]

So i originaly wanted to buy an 00-01 Impreza 2.5 RS comes with 160+ Hp i think. they look cool, and are kinda rare, have wanted one of these for a while. didnt include AWD or turbo cause our cars have them too except mine . of course i would get it in Manual no other way to go for this car. these cars are known for there lightness and so would handle pretty well. price from 10,000-12,000

then i started tinking about the 2004 forester XT, comes with 210 HP and even though it is kind of big can upgrade turbo and intercooler quite easily for 240+ HP. the lines on th 04 look better than the newer ones, one reason why i chose this year. also they have body kits available which I think look good on them. not only this but who would expect to be passed by one of these. if i baught this i think i would get it in Automatic so i would have something to drive in the city which would make life more enjoyable, but still have loads of power. price from 11,000-13,000

so which one would you choose. totaly different cars. RS is lighter with less HP but that is where weight to power ratio comes in, dont know much so im not going there. XT is around 3100+ and RS is around 2800+ so there is a 300 LBs difference with about 50 HP between them.

not sure why i am thinking so much about this since i wont be ready to buy a car until i get into the Coast Guard and dont expect to buy anything until late 2010. any input or more knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

[beatersubi]

What are you really asking?

[PhyrraM]

If it were me, at this point in my life, easy choice is the Forester. Utility, Impreza suspension and only a tad heavier than a GD/GG. Actually I'd be looking for a Baja Turbo, even if they weight 3600 pounds, the utility is even greater then the Forester.

If your looking for an RS, consider an already turbo swapped one. For the same money you quoted, you can find '93-'97 swapped Imprezas w/RS front end conversions. Sometimes dash swapped too. If your really picky you can find one with a proper '02+ WRX/STI swap and be 50 state smog legal. From experience, the main problem with a stock RS is the lack of a 'cheap' upgrade path when the itch hits you. Of course, you would need to go through any pre-swapped car with a fine tooth comb to make sure your not buying somebody elses problem. Mine would be a STI swapped Outback Sport.

Good luck in your search.

[SILINC3R]

What are you really asking?

the questions i guess is what yall would chose i guess between the two given the information i have provided or if you have info that would make decision easier

[SILINC3R]

If it were me, at this point in my life, easy choice is the Forester. Utility, Impreza suspension and only a tad heavier than a GD/GG. Actually I'd be looking for a Baja Turbo, even if they weight 3600 pounds, the utility is even greater then the Forester.

If your looking for an RS, consider an already turbo swapped one. For the same money you quoted, you can find '93-'97 swapped Imprezas w/RS front end conversions. Sometimes dash swapped too. If your really picky you can find one with a proper '02+ WRX/STI swap and be 50 state smog legal. From experience, the main problem with a stock RS is the lack of a 'cheap' upgrade path when the itch hits you. Of course, you would need to go through any pre-swapped car with a fine tooth comb to make sure your not buying somebody elses problem. Mine would be a STI swapped Outback Sport.

Good luck in your search.

well utility is not a most im only 21 so i dont have a kids or a house yet but the extra room would be cool and since the forester is still fast that is why it is an option. but the RS is like a quick dream car before i buy a WRX STI later on

[beatersubi]

What are you really asking?

the questions i guess is what yall would chose i guess between the two given the information i have provided or if you have info that would make decision easier

The Forester. But then I'm all about form following function.
If you do get the foggy, you'll be suprised by how much you use the space inside, and come to appreciate it. Then eventually you'll wonder how you could do without. And other drivers will be surprised by how a SUV/tall wagon is blowing by them on the straights and in the corners (assuming you're going to do the suspension).
But, being 21, form is a large part, not to mention a huge deciding factor, of one's life. So, If looking like a pimp to and out-performing you're friends and rivals, and picking up the girl of your dreams is important to you, by all means, get the RS. You can always trade it later for the Forester when you've landed the dream girl but need the utility for the aftermath. And you'd still be able to impress and outperform your friends and rivals.

[SILINC3R]

well im sure i will end up getting both of them in the future hopefully. RS is a collecter car to me and the Forester can be a mean machine. i think i could pick up a couple of girls in the forester and still be my friends

[Aerotech]

I'd vote for the Forester. Really kinda depends on your lifestyle how much use you'd get out of it, but if you're into (or plan on getting into) any sort of outdoor activity, you can't beat being able to chuck everything into the back and still carry 3 or 4 friends.
Plus the added capability of the roof rack... the sedans just look silly trying to carry a Thule cargo box.
AND... the ability to shock the living shit out of anyone trying to beat you to the next light STI power isn't too far of a stretch for that motor, and you have a more modern ECU, easy to chip and tune.

[evolutionmovement]

I got more ass in my 1984 wagon than any other car. Convenient bodystyle for that as well. Forester's the nearest thing to that, so that's my vote, but I protest the automatic. I'll never have kids, but always appreciate the utility of wagons.

[Aerotech]

Forester XT 5MT! Plenty of them out there... Auto is nice in traffic, but you'll miss the stick.

[John Drivesabox]

Go with the Forester, but get an '05. Better interior, plus more options were available together.

[evolutionmovement]

I would have preferred an automatic due to traffic exactly 4 times in about 300k miles of driving a manual. 2 x in absurd Boston traffic (usually it sucks, but these were the rare occasions, like the other day when it took me 2.5 hours to drive the 25 miles home from work due to the asshole last-minute Christmas shoppers buying junk for people they don't like or know), 1 x in LA's notorious rush-hour jam, and 1 x on the GW bridge to NYC where I waited 1.5 hours to get through the toll at 12 AM.

[entirelyturbo]

It's actually very hard to find an SG Forester XT 5spd.

The SH Forester XT now comes only in an automatic for the same reason the BP Legacy GT wagon now only comes in an automatic: only 5% sold were 5spd.

If I were going to have one, I'd wait until I found a 5spd nonetheless.

To me, it depends more on the car rather than the driving conditions. I got my Fit in a 5spd because I've always found that small cars drive better with 5spds. However, I've driven two C6 Vettes, one 6spd, one auto, and I'd take the auto hands down. It actually pulls harder, and drives better.

GC/GM 2.5RSs are indeed fantastic cars. I wish people would buy them for their own merit and not solely as the recipient of an STi swap OMG!!1! They handle great, have lots of torque, sit very comfortably, and (from what I've seen) can take more of a beating.

Hmmm. Although the SG Forester XT would be thirstier, I'd probably recommend that, as you'll likely avoid the typical Subaru douchebag previous owner, and like Steve said, you'll have the utility of a wagon that comes surprisingly in handy when you might least expect it. Plus, GC/GM 2.5RSs are frequently owned by those aforementioned douchebag previous owners who know what they are and want a far higher price than what they're really worth.

[SILINC3R]

DerFahrer, sorry but what does SG mean?

evolutionmovement didnt you fell like you were killing your car though in the traffic. i wouldnt mind a manual Forester but i think being able to drive a automatic whenever would be nice since i will be keeping the Legacy as well

[entirelyturbo]

SG is the chassis code for the second-gen Forester. Just like BC is the chassis code for the first-gen Legacy sedan.

[evolutionmovement]

No. Don't ride the clutch. They should last well over 150k miles. Especially with a Subaru, there's plenty of low end. No getting around it in San Francisco, though. Hill holder didn't do shit, either.