Older or newer... what would you do?

[subiemommy]

Ok, so I'm not going to pretent I know half of what ya'll do, because I don't! I am getting started and I do love cars, but when it comes to working on them I'm still a noobie! I'm doing my research and learning, but I will never act like I know anything! haha (so be prepaired for some "dumb" questions!)

Eric (hubby) and I got into a fight last night. He asked me what I wanted to do about the cars. Here were his thoughts, 1. Buy him a beater (he made sure to point out that that is all mine is and will be, that's where the fight came from!) and really dig into getting his car ready for the track. This was to include no mods on my car (that I call Dmitry, in case you see that name! ahah) besides cosmetic. YaY, my car will look like it can kick ass but really can't even beat a stock Civic off the line! 2. Buy me a nice car (a '03-'06 Impreza stock), give him my car and then wait a few months before starting the work on his car. Again with no mods to my car, the old or new.

Now, either way I will mod my car(s). But I don't know if I should take him up on getting me a newer car (since I do love my L) and put different mods on my old car (he wants to put the new air intake and exhaust he just put on his car on mine when he strips his down, so I would start with something else, suspention maybe). Or if I should let him buy a beater for himself and do a full project on mine. Now you have to remember I can't have my car out of commission for too long while working on it because it is the 'family' car and I need it to take the kids around and run errands when Eric is at work. So because of that I'm thinking it might be easier to just get the newer one that will need less mods and give my old car to Eric.

So any input on what I should do, both with which car I should take and what mods I should do on what car woudl be great! Thanks.

[MoN]

So the legacy L that you just bought, is it in drivable conditions right now? Like does it need alot of work to get it on the road? If it does then you guys should put together a list of all the expenses of repairing it. After you do that, compare it to what its going to cost you to get the newer impreza. Is it going to save you money to fix this one or to buy the newer one? Then you want to think of putting mods on the car little by little. Its gonna kill your pockets if you just jump into getting it hooked up.

Your off to a good start if your hubby gives you the intake and exaust. Then you can move onto other things. Important question about your project is: Do you want your car to drive more aggressivley or to look aggressive? After you answer both these questions I think you'll get a much better response as to what you should do to it.

[xxthat girlxx]

If you got a newer Impreza (the 03-06 you spoke about) you'll probably have a bit of amore reliable daily driver for you and the boys.

You could keep the L and turn it into a super sleeper for the track. In that case it will be pure performance mods and not for looks. I bet it would be a fun project. :)

[subiemommy]

My car is running pretty good now. Took it driving the last 2 days with no problems, but I think we still have gunk in the fuel rail. Every once in a while it will kind of jerk, but we ran the fuel through a clear tube and into a gas can and it was all clear, no floaties or anything, so we think the issue is gunk in the rail line. Other than that it has no problems, could use new brakes, but I want to swap them out for disc breaks whether I keep it or give it to him.

As far as what I want from my car, I defenitly want it to look good aggrasive. As far as preformance, I want more power, I mean it is a 13yr old car! But I think my main concerns will be with the suspention to be honest. I want to be able to climb with it and take it to the mountains/sand dunes. I'm not as worried about street racing or any of that (though it is fun), just want to look good and get me to the top of the hill! Or back into the woods. I've missed out on some awesome backpacking because my cars couldn't get where I wanted to go. So as much as I want it to look good I have to think about the fact my bumpers/skirts can't be too low and spendy as I will be in rough terrain. Which also leads me to do I want to get a newer car to beat the Hel out of?! hmmmm.... Guess I have a year to think about it and I'll just save my money and modify when I make my decision! There are a few things I wuld like to do as money is avalible even if I give it to Eric and take the new one.

[BoostinChick]

Get a newer Impreza.

As far as what I want from my car, I defenitly want it to look good aggrasive. As far as preformance, I want more power, I mean it is a 13yr old car! But I think my main concerns will be with the suspention to be honest. I want to be able to climb with it and take it to the mountains/sand dunes. I'm not as worried about street racing or any of that (though it is fun), just want to look good and get me to the top of the hill! Or back into the woods. I've missed out on some awesome backpacking because my cars couldn't get where I wanted to go. So as much as I want it to look good I have to think about the fact my bumpers/skirts can't be too low and spendy as I will be in rough terrain. Which also leads me to do I want to get a newer car to beat the Hel out of?! hmmmm.... If these are the things you are worried about/want to accomplish...get a newer Impreza.

[Jonathan]

Keep the Impreza you already have.

I would keep the stock (2.2 ?) power train, and springs. I would go for some whiteline or Perrin Anti-Sway bars with better end-links, upgrade to WRX brakes and larger 16" wheels and since you want to take it off-road some maybe front and rear skid plates.

These cars are reliable, but there isn't a whole lot of aftermarket performance parts available, but for a reliable daily driver they are awesome. You could grab some decent lowering springs and a new set of struts... but since you want to take it off road, I would stick with the stock suspension.and keep the ride height.

[subiemommy]

Really keep the stock springs?! Hmmm Everything you listed, Jonathan, sounds like things I could do even if I don't keep the car next year. It can still be our off road car and I can do the fun high preformance stuff to my new one. Thanks. I'll start looking around for sales on parts, I'm cheap that way! haha Any brand to steer clear of?

[Jonathan]

I am thinking you should have no problems snagging a set of USED WRX brakes (Calipers, rotors, mounting brackets) and a set of WRX wheels from someone doing an upgrade to their WRX. I am not sure if you have rear disk or drum brakes.. doing a conversion from drums to disks can be a bit of a challenge getting all the parts (I am not sure if you can keep your existing parking brake cables or not).

I don't know of any aftermarket springs that will let you retain your stock ride height, that is why I say you should keep the stock springs.