i have given great thought into a 1200 AWD with G.T.i.R running gear but you would need to have a tube frame front cut the floor out ect you get my drift but i might try it one day

Naw, I am not kidding. I see this as a turnkey car -- for the person who just wants to buy and drive a super car. Remember, I'm almost middle-aged already.

I'm saving my "work on it in my spare time" energy for a 1200 project.

But the idea of paying a premium over list price is souring the idea for me.

We're not supposed to take you seriously, right? Well, in case we are, I've spent some time on Impreza m.b.'s and here's what I've concluded: The STI is a prima donna's car. Most real men would buy a WRX and do a few mods and get superior performance compared to a STI (and without the top gun spoiler, too) and save yourself 10k. Real enthusiasts I've talked to prefer the previous body style and drop a JDM STI motor & 6spd and save themselves even more $$$. If you were just out to provoke us, may you dream that your 1200 is covered in pink STI badges.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that an east/west engine? I'd rather leave the car with a north/south orientation. Besides, we never got those here in the states.

don't bother with an STi. with the amount of cash they cost, plus the go through petrol like anything, u'd be better off buying something a lot cheaper and doing it up. and like 1200 said, if u got a WRX, u'd just be one in the crowd. use the money to make something unique that'll turn heads

I'm OK with the subie-running-gear-in-a-1200, as long as you use a Subaru-built 1200. How can we tell if our 1200s were built in the Fuji plant? Is there an id mark somewhere on the body?

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Aaargh, at least use GTiR running gear....

;)

I haven't driven the STI yet, but I was not impressed with the 2 liter WRX. There was no torque below 3000 rpm. Once the turbo hit, it screamed to redline though. The 2.5 turbo in the STI could help with that bottom end torque problem, but I'll bet they lowered the compression so much that it is soggy down low too. Again, I haven't driven one, so I don't know.
Also, in my opinion, the longer wheelbase of the Legacy (Liberty) handles better and is more stable. I'd stay with the Leg. In fact, I am going to stay with my Legacy instead of trading for an STI.

Here's a "bunny" for the thread: I'm giving thought to an all wheel drive 1200 using a Subaru 2.2 SOHC engine and transaxle.

Flame away! I have my Nomex boxer shorts on!

I was thinking that going to the Blue Lake show today -- and seeing all those 1200s -- would make me forget about the STI. But a guy showing his roadster had an STI there (first one I've seen). It looks kinda big (odd thought). He said it drives better in traffic than his Mustang 5.0 because the clutch pedal is so much easier to modulate.

Torque? The US-spec STI has 300 lb ft of torque (same as the Ford 5.0 liter). Word is that only the US gets the 2.5 turbo.

I hadn't thought about the increased insurance costs. The STI list is $31k USD, so it's about the same as in Oz. But ... they are selling for $37-$42 right now according to the guy I met (who works at a Subaru dealership). That's too much for me.

I like what you guys are saying about buying a used car (GTI-R, etc). Problem is we never got any GTI-Rs, 323 GTRs or Skylines. The first Skyline we get is the 2003 Inifiniti G35. Maybe an import twin-turbo engine to stick in my '96 Legacy (Liberty)? Or maybe I could get a 2003 QR25DE for a few Ks at the wreckers and stick it in a 1200 ... hmmm. I wonder if the KA tranny bolts up to the QR25?

think, what could you do to a 1200 for only 10000-15000

hardly gonna be a nice family car but more fun i reckon and prob faster if you do it right, obviously not as much traction though