Heya gang!
I have a small dilemma....
I currently have a stock Evo IX MR and am wanting (not needing) a wagon for the space. My good friend has this:

2003 Subaru WRX Wagon
72,000 origional miles
Clean title in hand
No accident history
Very well maintained

Motor professionally built and tuned by Performance Race Engineering, Portland OR


Motor:
NEW EJ257 block
- all timing components replaced
- new '08 STi oil pump
- STi head gaskets
- ARP head studs
- EJ207 Heads with shimless buckets (puts compression around 9.0:1)
-GT-Spec Unequal Length tubular header/up pipe combo
-3" down pipe
-Borla "hush" cat back exhaust 3"
-NEW Forced Performance "Green" turbo
-BPM turbo inlet tube
-Koyo aluminum radiator
-TurboXS front mount intercooler kit
-Short ram intake with new AEM dry-flow filter
-Perrin top feed fuel rails with braided stainless hoses
-800cc top feed injectors
-Hardrace motor & transmission mounts
-Turbo XS UTEC delta
-JIC coilovers
-Two sets of wheels/tires (one snow)
-Full swaybar endlink setup
-5 speed STi RA Gearset

What I will swap asap:
-OEM wrx rearend (boo)
-OEM oil pickup (boo)
-OEM interior for an STi interior/dash/gauges

He bought it from a SOLID local shop and has since put 12k on the engine and 8k on the RA gears. He wants $14.5k

Ive driven the STi wagon and its SOLID and pulls hard. I love it. However, without forged internals and putting down 366whp ive been told that its a matter of time until it goes "POP". The "POP" will be costly and I can put forged pistons in it and hope I dont get piston slap for around $2k??

Or, I can mod my Evo and make close to the same power (?) and have a reliable (?) car. I DONT drive it daily. Only on the weekends and a few long (500 mile) trips a year.

Lemme know what your thoughts are. Just looking to brainstorm. Thx!!!
Oh, BTW I would be selling the Evo and buying the Wagon.

 

Keep the Evo...you will thank yourself later. I would go into more detail, but I've been through this scenario twice and found myself back in the Evo both times.

Clean out the trunk bits and there is your space.

 

Trunk bits?
Also, will my mpg at cruise raise when I start to mod (TBE,tune,intake)? I averaged 21mpg on my last tank all at 70mph

 

Once you start making power you will loses gas mileage sadly.

I have a turbo back exhaust upper and lower inter cooler pipes and a intake and a tune. still get about 21 mpg.

 

highway, off the turbo?

 

If you only drive your Evo on the weekends and a few trips a year, do you think worrying about mpg is important? I would keep the Evo for sure. Wagons are cool, just not for me.

 

Yeah driving about 65-70.

 

also, I had the timing belt/tensioner/serpentine and balance shaft belt all replaced (I just had to cover $200 for the cost of the belts) under warranty so it doesnt need any major maintenance for a while

 

MPG is not important to me (or I would buy a TDI). I've been reading that Evo's run rich from the factory and was thinking that once opened up, it would lean out and thus increase efficiency.

 

Keep the evo! its alot better car and more reliable with the mods you wanna do to it. I sold my first evo and bought a wrx wagon and it was a huge mistake on my part. The space is nice but the performance and reliability of the evo outweigh the benefits of more space. Plus wrxs feel lazy behind the wheel when it comes to handling, the MR i bet is great on long distance trips due to the bilsteins.

 

its a comfy ride, except the lack of cruise control is FAIL. I need to update the I.C.E. too. any suggestions on either of those tid bits?

Thx again for all the input. I bet if I posted this on NASIOC I would get close to the same response because so many of those guys have grenaded their engines.

 

Without pictures, this thread is lacking.

I'm sure the EVO will make you happier in the long run.

 

pics incoming tomorrow when I go drive it. What do you want to see more of Wagon or Evo?

 

I guess I don't see how you have all that room. I have an '04 WRX sedan as a second car and my wife and I took it for a spin today. With the two of us belted in the buckets we practiced poking each other in the ribs with our elbows and my wife is tiny. That doesn't happen in the Evo.

 

Spare tire, trunk lining, etc. Opens up a lot of space for stuff.