I was thinking about selling my ITR in the spring and getting something new. Not so much because I dont like my ITR but because of theft and wanting something new. I have owned way too many hondas and i feel like its time for something rwd or 4wd. I race solo 1 so keep in mind that the car i get will be used for daily driving and track duty.

I was thinking about getting a 98-01 impreza 2.5 RS and swapping in a version 8 STI engine. I would imagine that this would be a great track car and lots of fun but i am afraid to buy a car that isnt a honda. i know what to expect with hondas, and they all seem to have similar problems that im used too, if i get a subaru it will be a new ball game with no vtec, and a boxer engine.

does anyone here have experience with a modded gc8 impreza and an ITR aswell? can someone compare pros and cons? thanx.
ben.

 

I had a modded WRX before my ITR. Get ready for gross understeer.

 

lol, rrrarrg, by the end of this thread ill prolly stay ITR... dammit... the curse never ends.

i guess i have to make a subaru thread aswell just to hear both sides...

 

also, if i went gc8, it would go immediately to a shop and get a version 8 drivetrain and full coil overs.


Modified by Freeltec at 7:17 AM 10/3/2005

 

oops 2x post


Modified by Freeltec at 7:31 AM 10/3/2005

 

It doesn't sound like you're getting a regular WRX, but here's my experience with them. I've wanted one since they first came out in late 2001, but I could never afford one. So after selling my R because I couldn't afford all the maintainance on it, I decided to get one. I bought a 2002 PSM WRX stock with 29k miles. It was nice for about the first week then I began to realize how much the transmission sucked, how the steering had no feel, and the interior rattled VERY badly above 60mph. To top it all off, I was paying $375 a month for insurance. Needless to say, it's for sale and I own a '99 GS-R and I couldn't be happy. I drove an STi though, was much happy with the transmission, it felt solid and wasn't slow to shift unlike the WRX transmission. Steering was way better too.

EDIT: Isn't a full V8 swap with transmission like 10k?

 

yes the v8 drivetrain is like 10k, but for me since my friends owns an importing company it would be substantially cheaper. i figure if im doing the subaru thing, im going to do it right. thats IF tho.

 

I think that is a good idea!! especially if you can get the sti drivetrain. the GC8 is lighter than GDB and looks way better. the conversion is quite a pain with all the harness but it can be done with patience. besides the coil-over, you can also add in the anti-lift kit and the steering rack bushing kit along with a rear sway bar. these things make the biggest difference (nite and day!!) also bigger master cylinder helps a lot, the stock pedal feel is kind of sluggish.

but the quality of the interior is not very good and all the bushing are soft tho... and the steering is kind of slow, the sti ones also helps a lot too. R is a great car but if you want something different, GC8 is a good choice too.

just my 2 cent

 

PM "Zephyr The Subaru Guy" here. He has a GC8 with an EJ20 swap and knows allllll about them. He's also tracked that car extensively.

 

no bumping in the ITR forum, fyi

 

Huh?

 

you should get in touch with my friend John, he has 2002 wrx which is pretty much a JDM sti now, he got the 2l v.8 motor, tranny everything you can think of, it's on the car, which is the twin-scroll setup as well. I think he's switching bottom ends to a 2.5 block and is going to use the v.8 head for more compression. PM me if you want to get in touch with him

 

My freind has a 1999 2.5 RS with a JDM Version 7 STi RA Spec-C motor with the 6MT transmission. If he left the motor stock it would probably be a great track car. He turned it into a highway monster though. He got it dyno tuned at TurboXS in Maryland and it made 507whp on C-16 and 430 on 93octane Once the turbo spools up, there isnt much that can keep up in a straight line.

I was going to go the same route this summer, but I dont want to deal with selling my R. Its got the SRS, P/S and A/C removed, as well as a rebuilt title, so I dont even know how much I could get for it

 

i have an 06 sti and its a great car tons of power and if your a great driver it will be an improvment for you. Im still learning and feel
that the type r was so very easy to drive at
the limit where i feel that the Sti will bite me
hard at the limit if i dont have 100% consintration. gas milage is noticably worse
but the power gain is well worth it! and i sleep
good at night and have very little worry that the car will be there when i come out for it.

 

You need to speak to my lil brother HT = ACCORD94DX : 2.5RS stock drivetrain (99's have OEM LSD's stock) with the EJ20T, fujitsubo exhaust, so on... in it. Ohlins coilovers and STi rear sway. Handling wise it's is very ITRish in many ways. Except has a shitload of power in its 2700lbs chassis. It s my dream car too......

 

So wait, he has that Scooby, but he tracks/autoxs the Accord? WTF?

 

I have owned a 97 GSR, 02 WRX, 00 GC8 2.5RS and have driven ITRs in the past. As far as reliability, Subaru IMO is almost as reliable as a Honda anyday of the week (stock, that is). The boxers are great motors, very strong and great build quality. You cant really compare any of them to a Honda, though, especially not an ITR because they are such different cars. Each one has it pros and cons. I would buy another one of either in a heartbeat...it all comes down to what you really want, and, where you live. If your like me and your climate sees its fair share of snow, you cant beat a Subaru for all weather fun...they are great cars in anything mother nature throws at it. Not to mention any Suby with Boost responds to mods amazingly...a good friend of mine has an 03 WRX with turbo back, up pipe, K&N drop-in and a Greddy EBC, and he runs 12s. Hope that helps, if there are any other questions about anything in particular, dont hesitate to ask.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sscguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So wait, he has that Scooby, but he tracks/autoxs the Accord? WTF?</TD></TR></TABLE>

That accord was sold over a year ago....He's SuBi3 4 Lif3

 

Ohhhhh, ok. That makes more sense.

 

dude, the 2000 2.5 rs impreza coupe is the only non-honda i'll drive. it looks nice, its fast, its reliable, it looks nice, its fast. get it!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FULLY_BUILT_NA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dude, the 2000 2.5 rs impreza coupe is the only non-honda i'll drive. it looks nice, its fast, its reliable, it looks nice, its fast. get it!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

I dont know about fast, but I agree with you on all other counts...

 

It can be fast, but it sure isn't when stock.

 

i say keep the itr handles good, looks good and you wont have to deal with motor swaps and all hidden costs with the GC8, but its up to you if you want the 4wd plus turbo and they are good cars too. just my opinion

 

If I could have found a decent GC8 before I found my EM1, I would have bought it. Less theft and AWD, plus I love Subarus. Go to Nasioc.com and check out the swaps, lots of people have done the STi into GC8 swap and they always make nice numbers at the Dyno. For the people who are giving advice by comparing a newer 02+ WRX to an GC8, its just not the same.

-Rob

 

Eh, why wait till spring? There might be a couple guys in HADA looking for ITRs. How many kms?