So I have had many problems with my Talon - as do most Talon owners...lol. Every time I fix/mod one thing another breaks.

So lately I have been considering parting/selling the Talon and buying a 2000 Subaru Impreza 2 door with a full version 4 STI swap and Hydra EMS. I have been talking to a reputable shop in
Guelph about it.

I don't want to give up my Talon after coming this far, but at the same time I have the money right now for this Subaru and I think it could be a much better car.

What do you guys think? My fear is that I will spend the money on the Subaru only to end up having problems with it too...

Suby. DSM's are getting old, and there will be more aftermarket parts available in 10 years for a 2K Suby than a 1G Eclipse.

Go newer, it will be cleaner.

I hate to say it. But the Suby. I love talons and will always have one. But suby's are reliable. I have not heard of a wrx or any model suby having engine problems or anything like that.

....you should keep both lol =]

lol....wish I could keep both....Unfortunately I still live at home and daddy is not a fan of all my vehicles taking over

Kick him out. =] lol I have alsways loved suby's but price wise I think I will like talons forever. Not to mention it was my first respectivetly fast car those are hard to shake out of your memory.

Thats why it is hard for me to part with my Talon....
I have had a lot of fun with her, but I have also always wanted a 2 door impreza.

I'm in the EXACT same situation as you. I'm looking to demote the 2g and pick up an 06 sti or a mkiv supra. Unfortunetly the parents feel I should be saving for a down payment on a house, which I whole heartedly agree with.

My impression? Save the cash.

You'd be selling your Talon, for which arguably there are incredibly cheap parts (due to both availability, and age). But you'd be upgrading to an almost 8 year old Subaru. Subbies are generally a more expensive maintenance, though you have one, so at least you know the car. I wouldn't necessarily upgrade from one old car, to another old one.

Especially given that the Evo X is in the area, and there's the looming possibility that Evo's in general might be importable. That would put the Evo VIII at close to the same year.


That, and I admit it.
If I were going Subby, I'd go four door.
If you can get that performance, but still have 4-door insurance and less cop hassle? I'd do it.

How much would that particular Suby gonna cost you?

Well here is the thing with that specific vehicle.....
It is an accident repair - the front end has been replaced....all work has been done properly and it is a government registered repair. Repairs were done a few years ago I believe. The shop said he would build it for/with me for 11,500. While this is a lot of money, the swap alone is usually worth 10 grand.

Build consists of STI everything.. steering column, rack, ect.

I was having the same dilema as you. I would like a new cleaner car. I was leaning towards a wrx sti, done some research, found out they can be fussy with mods. Even a simple intake can f things up without a reflash on some people. I also remembered I don't like 4 doors. I went for a ride in one and wasn't overly impressed with the interior or quality, door clunks etc. Ya my 1g does the same but its 12 years older.
I pretty much decided that I may go with a 2g later down the road, and keep my fingers crossed that I can get an evo some day;)

I also do not like 4 doors...... That's why I would only ever go with a 2 door Impreza.

I do regret getting a 2-door. But yet, im glad i got a DSM. If i slap them together, the closest thing i could get within my budget is a VR-4 or a 2000 GTX AWD (Galant GSX) turbo conversion.

I rode a 2006 WRX that my friend bought, its WAAAAAY quieter than my 1g. It's faster than my 1g (although, my car is running pigly rich). And it has 4 doors. CONVENIENCE is sweet. Im sure ill be paying a bit more for insurance for a newer car than an almost 18 yr old car. I do like having a normal conversation w/o yelling over a droning exhaust or a rattling deck lid/hatch. Or maybe im just getting old .

Then again, ive spent close enough on replacement parts over what ive paid for the car. Might as well keep the car until i run it into the ground.

Well that point is not too valid for me. Any vehicle I own will be heavily modified....Talon or Suby.

Now another guy is offering me to buy his 1999 2 door Impreza that has an STI version 7 motor in it. Version 7 is an even better swap - it is the 2.5 motor and 6spd trans out of the new STI's.
This swap is more expensive....But well worth it I think.

Too much to think about....

AAAAHHHH!!!! or do I keep my Talon??

Get the Suby Man, ditch the Talon. I'm already sorry I got back into it again. All kinds of money down the drain and all sorts of problems.

Quit while you have a chance, I'm about too for the very last time

hahahahahaha........I know that feeling.
I decided to fire my Talon up today in hopes that I would get in it and realize why I want to sell it. Unfortunately, in true Talon fashion she started right up, ran beautifully, no problems.... HA!
The one time I want her run like crap she runs fine! DOH!

Hate to tell you this but an Evo has four doors too.

Man, if you're looking for something more reliable than a DSM (which is pretty much anything) don't go with a Swap! There will ALWAYS be something wrong, and it won't be cheap to fix. There's tonnes of guys in our local Subaru club with swaps, and they are constantly fixing stuff. Most of the guys have them as toys, and not daily drivers.

An RS was not built to take 300+ hp, whether it be the tranny, clutch, steering, brakes... the list goes on. If you want a car that's fun to drive and cheaper to maintain, there are a billion and one options that I'd look for before a swapped Subaru.

Just my humble opinion, of course.

Yeah, you're better off buying a wrx and modding it slowly yourself.

On the other hand, I'm sure people would say the same thing about our cars so as long as you've got good local support and have a really good idea of what you're getting yourself into then go for it. Just make sure you do your research before you buy.

I have a friend that has an STI he loves the car but they are a pain in the ass to mod, he has done a lot to his car bigger turbo etc... tunned at a dyno made good power but when he pushed the car at the track the engine gave out...
New is always better you don't hear any noises when you go over bumps etc...
Any car you mod will become unreliable.
Stock talons are very reliable I know a few guys with over 250k and the only thing replaced was an alternator but the car was 100% stock.

Keep the talon and spend the money you where going to spend on the suby and you will have a much better car. Just my 2 cents.

Ahh, I had just never heard of them breaking down. You are right on the talon reliability in my Eye's. Only thing that has broke my previous cars is lack of maintence(I.E. leaving the timing belt to long, 5th gear problem)

The new talon I picked up has 277 000k on it. The only thing in records the previous owner kept that was a somewhat big issue was the rad was replaced (They have records from 1999). Other then that its just oil changes and the odd break changes. No record on timing belt though. Engine still pulls fine seems to be in good shape. Will change it this time.

All I ever got out of modding my talons is better fuel economy and more power. I would call them Un reliable seeing as how my neon has broken more times in the last year then all my talons combined.

I would agree with Helber on this though. If your just going to mod the car all the time anyway. Whats so wrong with the talon?

so what do you guys think of Mazda RX8?

Sat in it at the auto show. Comfortable. From what I hear they are expensive if the engine has troubles. But from what I hear mazda isn't exactly low end quality.

Id pick a 3, or a 6 if I went mazda. Stay away from mx5 (miata..) unless your really short.

Can you say... "Fill up the Oil and check the Gas?".

They burn almost as much gas as they do oil!

^^^^
The new Rx8's too?? I know the RX7's did but didn't know the new ones did...

The car I'm starting to lean towards now is the solstice GXP.
Turbo 2.0, 260HP 260TQ in a RWD 3000LB roadster, only prob is its a GM LOL

PS I know the EVO's are 4 door too but I like the look way better then a STI so I can live with it....

The Rotary engine, by design, is a pig on gas and hard on the seals, but makes great power for it's small size. I just wonder what would have happened had Chrysler been able to market it's turbine-powered cars they tried in the 50's. 40k rpm anyone?

People either love the Solstice or they hate it. I'd rather have the Sky Redline. The only Saturn I'd ever consider owning, as they have the stigma of almost always being owned by poor drivers. It's too bad they're so heavy, though.

I second the fact that the Sky looks better, if I could get past the fact that it is a Saturn. The Ion redline is supposed to be peppy too.

I leaned towards the RX8 but I found it is hard for me to replace my 2G (I decided not too). The looks of RX8 is sure good, but the rotary design seems only a benefit for mazda in terms of production cost. Hard to change AWD to RWD, even with the turbo kit the car is limited to bellow 300whp. Also the motor will die if overheated or knocked.

I do agree that a swapped car is obviously not as reliable as a stock car. However, from the research I have done, and everyone I have spoken to that has a swapped RS and nobody has had problems. The good thing about subarus is that they are like Hondas. EVERYTHING bolts up....so in order to do a swap like this I would already be replacing all those parts you mentioned could break. It is a full STI swap into an RS body

A car is as reliable as you have time and money to make it...though an older car will take more time and more money to make reliable. I went through the same question when I bought my 95 2 years ago. Ultimately it was the difference in price that sold me on the talon. I could have bought 2 DSM's for the price of one Sub'. SO if you have more money than time go with a subbie else stick with your DSM.

tyler is a baller, he went with the suby lol