15k: Peg The Bro-ometer: 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX LS1 V8

There’s no replacement for displacement, even if you
have a displacement adder like a turbocharger. This WRX lost its
factory turbocharged engine, and the replacement is displacement. As in, going from 2.0L to 5.7L. It shed half of its all-wheel drive components
in the process, making this one of the very few V8-powered, 6-speed,
RWD compact sedans out there. Find this 2004 Subaru WRX with LS1 swap for $18,000 in Albuquerque, NM. Words by DT contributor slowcarSLOW-MPGlol.

LS1 swaps are common in some cars but rare in others, like Subarus (although probably not as rare as the seller suggests). Still, this isn’t the first time a V8 Scooby graced
the pages of Daily Turismo with its presence. They’re rare because
gaining more power is only a matter of turning up the boost and swapping
out existing pipework for bigger hardware. Stock 2004 WRX boxer fours
made 227 horsepower, only 77 fewer than 1998 Camaro LS1s. That doesn’t
make the swap much of an investment – especially since the V8 weighs
over 100 pounds more – unless you start throwing mods at it, which the
seller has.

The ad’s “artistic” photos leave a lot of questions unanswered. With some digging, Google turned up a 33-page build thread mainly
filled with gay jokes and name-calling [EIC Vince: this quote shows up on the first page: “but then i thought… why a 2.5? why not a 5.7. screw it right? all the lezbaru with none of the gaymaro.” Huh?]  Page 22 has what you’re looking
for: pictures of the quality fabrication pieces done by RaceFAB. That’s
not a place to be thrifty or weld something up yourself, and the
results look fantastic. The seller ditched the front drivetrain and
beefed up the rear axles, differential, clutch and flywheel, and
exhaust. Air conditioning and power steering were pulled and a carbon
fiber hood was installed because this machine is all about going fast. 

Wait, then why is it weighed down with a 12″ subwoofer, LCD screen, and
amp? Folks, if the pictures and build thread on “TrueStreetCars.com”
weren’t a giveaway, you should know that this Blobeye was built by a
bro. See the video below to see what I’m talking about.

http://vimeo.com/80197608#at=0

You
just watched a video sponsored by Monster Energy Drink and hormones.
Now, this isn’t the place to make disparaging remarks about the seller’s
colorful online vocabulary or illicit vehicular behavior on his YouTube channel. It’s
just a suggestion to do your research before you pay $18,000 for a car
put together by this guy’s hands. On the other hand, if your first
reaction to seeing this WRX was “THAT’S HELLA TIGHT BRO” then this ‘Rex
is unquestionably the car for you.

See a cheaper car that doubled its cylinder count? Email us at tips@dailyturismo.com

slowcarSLOW-MPGlol knows how many licks it takes to reach the center
of a Tootsie Pop, and he’s not telling. As someone with a B+ blood type,
he considers himself an optimist. Unless it has structural rust.