Kowitz's 98' RS.

[Kowitz]

Hi everybody.

Lets start this off with some background info:

My name is Brenton Kowitz, I live in Golden, Colorado and I am going into my Senior year of high school.

I got my 1st car during my sophomore year year of High School, a 1996 Isuzu Trooper. I lifted that trooper 2", put on 33" tires, and a full sound system.



I love this truck, and I still own it(not for long though). The reason for selling it is fuel economy. I average about 10-12mpg, and it just wasn't fun to drive on my Canyon road....

So I started looking for a car that was:

-Sporty
-Good on Gas
-Fun
-AWD(for winters in CO)
-5-Speed


The 98-01 2.5RS came instantly to mind.

The problem was finding one in my price range.

I started looking on Craigslist, and found an old listing for a 98' RS 2dr, 5-spd, with 130k miles on the clock. He was asking $5500, after a couple of days, I had talked him down to $3300

I just picked up the car this morning( 6/17/08), this is how she looks right now:











It does have some damage:




Current Status:

ENGINE
-<a href="http://www.rs25.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=195"><a href="http://www.rs25.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=195"><a href="http://www.rs25.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=195"><a href="http://www.rs25.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=195">ebay</a></a></a></a> Short Ram intake
-Borla Replicas
-<a href="http://www.rs25.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=195"><a href="http://www.rs25.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=195"><a href="http://www.rs25.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=195"><a href="http://www.rs25.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=195">ebay</a></a></a></a> Axleback

Exterior
-Clear side markers and corners
-Debadge'd
-Painted taillights
-Pink i badge
-Painted headlights
-Rally pig on driver side mirror
-Tint
-Painted side skirts
-v5/6 front bumper
-Authentic p1 lip

Suspension
-Helix 20-24mm adj. Rear Swaybar
-Kartboy rear endlinks
-KYB AGX Struts
-P1 Springs
-front strut bar

Brakes
-Painted red calipers
-New pads

Interior
-05 WRX seats(front, still looking for rears)
-Alpine CDA-105 Head unit
-Custom made shift knob by me(turned on lathe in metals class. Powder coated black)
-WRX floor mats


Thanks again, let me know what you think!


-Kowitz

[Scooby South]

Congrats on the purchase....

make sure you take it somewhere and get the engine and everything all checked out...98's were notorious for Headgasket issues....Fenders are cheap....doesn't appear to bad...

Bill

[RFFG]

Wow, nice coupe!

Congrats...

[BLACK 05 RS]

Congrats on the new ride! Looks like you got a good price on it also.

[Kowitz]

Originally Posted by Scooby South

Congrats on the purchase....

make sure you take it somewhere and get the engine and everything all checked out...98's were notorious for Headgasket issues....Fenders are cheap....doesn't appear to bad...

Bill

Head gaskets, other gaskets and timing belt were all done by previous owner.

I have receipts to prove it.

Fender is fixable, and it is being fixed next week, along with some new shiny black paint for the whole car.

Originally Posted by RFFG

Wow, nice coupe!

Congrats...

Thanks!!!


Edit:

Yah I got a great price!

AND

Whats y'alls opinion on the headlights....should I go back to stock(I have them in my room), what about the side markers...the clear or the stock orange?

[Circaisdashiat]

please go back to stock.

But its really what you like better. Side markers dont really matter if you have clear put them in, if not then use stockers for now.

[cmiovino]

On the angel eye or stock headlights issue... stock for sure. And clear or stock side markers... I'd say clear side markers and clear corner lights (you'll need some when you put the stock lights back in anyways).

I see in the engine bay that the belt is not around the one pulley (AC?). If you don't plan on having AC, just get rid of the whole unit... but if you want AC, I'd suggest fixing that.

And STi wheels vs the stock goldies you already have... well, you already have nice stockers, I'd replace the wheels last after everything else is done if it was me.

You may want to check out www.awdpirates.net for some meets in your area. I'm not sure how close you are to their stuff, but I know they're in Colorado.

[Kowitz]

Originally Posted by Circaisdashiat

please go back to stock.

But its really what you like better. Side markers dont really matter if you have clear put them in, if not then use stockers for now.

The clear are on in those pictures.

Originally Posted by cmiovino

On the angel eye or stock headlights issue... stock for sure. And clear or stock side markers... I'd say clear side markers and clear corner lights (you'll need some when you put the stock lights back in anyways).

I see in the engine bay that the belt is not around the one pulley (AC?). If you don't plan on having AC, just get rid of the whole unit... but if you want AC, I'd suggest fixing that.

And STi wheels vs the stock goldies you already have... well, you already have nice stockers, I'd replace the wheels last after everything else is done if it was me.

You may want to check out www.awdpirates.net for some meets in your area. I'm not sure how close you are to their stuff, but I know they're in Colorado.

I am planning on going back to stock headlights. My dad actually likes the angel eyes...haha

I took the belt off, because when the A/c is on, it sounds like crap. It think it has a bad condenser, getting that fixed soon.

Yah I like my stock wheels, the sti wheels would come LAST if I even get them.

I have a user name on awdpirates....Ill check for meets. thanks!

[Kowitz]

Also, how do I get a picture of my car to show up on the main members journals page?

Thanks

[Omegamagi]

Nice car man.