Hey guys, this is my first post so i'll try and make it nice and pretty.

A friend of mine whose gone through plenty of cars, and actually has some experience (and isn't some punk kid who wants NOS in his CRX) told me that all the 2002-2007 Body's are alike. The only differences are the Hoods, Fenders, Bumpers, Lights.

Is this true? I was hoping to buy a cheap 2002 WRX and take off all the front parts (and rear bumper/lights/trunk) and just buy after market parts to make it look like a 2004.

To me, this seems to good to be true. But if it is possible please tell me!

 

Its possible and has been done before. There are actual kits that come with all the parts (including headlights). But it'll be pretty expensive. My advice is to buy a 04-05 wrx, you'll be spending around the same without all that effort, plus the newer wrx's have upgrades to the transmission. Good luck!

 

The main reason i am doing this is to save money and have fun while doing it. A 02 with aftermarket parts would suit me better because of one, the insurance won't be so high, the price tag won't be so high, and when my friends see me in a month they'll be like "woah! how'd you get that!?"

2002 Impreza WRX = 7,000 dollars
Carbon Fiber Parts (CF Hood, Fenders, Trunks Spoiler) = 1,500+
Headlights, Tail lights, bumpers = 1,000
Insurance = VERY LOW

2004 Impreza WRX = 15,000+
Carbon Fiber Products = 1,500
Insurance = HIGH

These transmission upgrades sound like their worth it, so would that same transmission from the 04+ fit to my 02? i'm pretty sure their the same engine.

 

Good luck finding a decent WRX of any year for $7k. It would likely have to be a salvage title. Have you priced '02 WRXs locally or looked at www.kbb.com?

You're right about insuring an '02 likely being cheaper than an '04 but insurance for a WRX is really only cheap if you have all the good criteria (age, clean record, multiple car policy, etc.), otherwise it will always be higher than the same year Saturn.

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0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

In addition to what WW already posted, you will not find all of the required front and rear end components painted and installed for $1,000. Having recently hit a deer with the front of my STi I can guarantee you of that.

If you really spend the time to price everything out, dollar for dollar, pwnx0rz is correct that you might as well get an 04/05 and call it good. If you add in repair savings from any possible remaining warranty and resale value, you're money ahead. Insurance will not be all that different between 02 & 04 (I've owned an 02 WRX and now an 04 STi) - all of the major parts that could be damaged in a coliision are practically the same.