Sigh, I guess I'll get sucked in to the conversation.
My situation:
2002 OBS.
Rallitek Custom Turbo Kit.
Stock block
FMIC,
etc, etc, etc.
Total cost of parts: ~3,000.00
Total cost of labor: ~1,000.00
And I beat stock WRX's.
And I still pay 65 per month insurance because I'm still technically driving an OBS. And all parts are covered under my after-market insurance coverage- anything happens, I'm totally covered (Full 100/50/100 coverage). How much do you pay? Do the math, you'll eventually spend more insuring your car. Does your insurance cover aftermarket parts when you start modding it? Do you know how much your rates would go up if you did on an WRX at your age?
And I bought my car at 24k miles for 12 grand (3 years ago).
When everything is said and done, I've spent about 14 g for a relable car, gets great gas milage (I get better than stock at 24~29mpg), pay dirt cheap insurance, have piece of mind, and is fast enough to destroy all ricers out there with their Type-S, ITR, SI, fart can, etc, etc...
I'm not the only one to pull this off. There are others out there that have done it cheaper because they have their own shop. Where do you think I learned my stuff from?
Oh, and I've met many people that have run the Rallitek AVO turbo kit and put down 65K+ miles on it. The only reason I quote 65k is because he sold it so he could swap an STI block in his rs. I've met a guy that gave his gc rs-t to his wife and then he bought an STI. The rs-t is still running fine even after 45k (last I checked). So it's not unreasonable to easily get 65k out of a solid turbo kit. AVO has been making them for 20 years, they've done it right and have the number to prove it. All engines will have reduced life when you drive it. It's a matter of it's if's done right so the engine won't die prematurely. This again, with a turbo kit can and has been done.
AND I'm happy with my power. Of course I've maxed out my block but I've made the decision to be happy at ~265hp. You can push a wrx block further and faster, but in the end, it's no longer fun to have a undrivable car putting a huge hole in your wallet. There is a happy medium between power and driveability and given I use my car to get to work, I like driveability and comfort over raw power. Oh, thieft rating on a OBS is almost non-existant but a WRX... Man does everyone want to steal them...
Something for ya newbz to much on and think about.
inexpensive, sleeper ftw.