[WhiteImprezaSport2019]

As the title shows I've been wishing I got a Crosstrek. I've seen a lot of threads on here that go over this topic but none have ever actually explained what they needed to go though with this swap. I have had people say just get Crosstrek struts and springs then get them alligned and thats it, but I have also had people saying that I need new Crosstrek control arms, end links, and all this other stuff. I was just wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of what I actually need to get this job done? Thank you.

 

[C J]

Dunno the complete answer you are looking for but wanted to welcome you to the forum.

That sounds like a big job, any chance that you could trade your low miles Impreza for a low miles Crosstrek that might be right off of a lease? Might save you a lot of time and aggravation. If I were you I would also worry about the resale value of an Impreza that has been modified to such a huge extent, it might turn most people off of the car and it certainly would make a dealer think twice about it.

 

[Alex_Rochester]

Well, you will need springs, struts, hubs, control arms, bushings, about 20 hours of shop time, and then your wheels will stick out past your fenders, unless you also get the fender extenders, and do the body work as well. You'll end up spending $20k to make it into a $10k used Crosstrek. Just go out and trade your Impreza in, and put it down on a used Crosstrek.

What confuses me is that you bought a Sport, which is about as far away from a Crosstrek as you can get on this platform. If you wanted more of a car but with some extra lift, you would've done far better to buy a non-sport model, then just added a 1" or even a 2" lift kit.

Around where I live, there are probably 5 Crosstreks for every Sport, so I can't imagine there was ever any lack of stock to chose from. So, I can only guess that you bought a car not knowing what it was that you really wanted. In that case, just trade it in, and be done with it.

 

[C J]

You could of course just raise it up a few inches like a few of our members have done.

 

[peaty]

Welcome

While I agree with some of the comments that it may be easier in the long run to get a Crosstrek, that wasn't the question. I haven't done this myself but from what I understand, in order to do it properly, I think it's more involved than struts and links. If you look at this kit Kartboy makes for raising the Crosstrek, it should be similar for the Impreza. In fact I think that kit will also work on the Impreza but I'd check with Tom (kartboy) .

Subaru 1.5

There are detailed instructions on his page you can DL to see what is involved.

Subtle Solutions also has a kit:

Subtle Solutions - Subaru Lift Kits & Accessories

Hope this helps a little

 

[Eric Z]

Tell me where to find this 10K Crosstrek! Around here, even 2013s with high miles go for 15K.

Anyways. Yes, OP, you'll need to swap out all of those things you mentioned, plus the few things that Alex mentioned. If you want it done, go do it. 20 hours shop time? lol Imagine the time it took me to swap this car from FWD to 4WD, including the entire drive train and suspension, plus a 4 inch lift. Time is nothing if you really want something bad enough.

 

[ScoffingYayap]

If you think about it you could trade it in for a Crosstrek, but then get some Impreza springs and different wheels for that so if you feel like being low again you can but then you'll also have X-Mode and those other nifty things the Crosstrek has. Two cars in one.

 

[Alex_Rochester]

Of course, a swap like Eric Z did was the sort of project you can undertake if you have a garage, have the tools and knowledge, and have a lot of time. Trying to do a 'project build' on a daily driver is never a good idea. Is it possible? Probably, but only if you have a lot of time and cash available, and don't mind the car being out of commission for months as you work away and source all the parts you need. Yeah, even buying a used Crosstrek is still the way to go; 24 hrs. from now, you could be driving a REAL Crosstrek WITH a warranty. Or you can screw around for weeks on end, and end up with a hack-job of a car.

I once owned a heavily modified car; a 1986 Omni GLH Turbo that was fully rally-prepped. It had extra-lift competition springs, modified brakes and control arms, full roll cage and racing seats with 6-point belts. It first had a Torsen differential, but was later changed to a modified locking diff. The original owner spent 2 months modifying it before it's first race. But this car was never a daily driver.

 

[PDawg]

If this is your daily driver, don't do it. If you aren't an experienced Mechanic with a full shop at your disposal don't do it. If you want a nice trouble free car , don't do it. If you care about your warranty, don't do it. If it's your only car don't do it. Buying a Crosstech (I'd recommend a Forester at that point) will be cheaper in the long run, will have a full warranty, will be worth more when you trade it in, will have fewer issues, and will save you a lot of time. There are other options that might make you like your Impreza more for cheap. You can get a half inch lift just by installing taller tires (which can always be removed) for well under $500 and you can install up to a 1 inch lift without having to buy a bunch of other parts. Just installing taller tires made my car more driveable on Chicago's crappy streets, gave more clearance, and improved the ride quality. Have you driven a Crosstech? I don't like the way they handle and would never want that much of a lift even if it was easy. I'm just trying to save you a bunch of headaches and money.

 

[Rilegerard]

Tell me where to find this 10K Crosstrek! Around here, even 2013s with high miles go for 15K.

Same, Crosstreks around here tend to retain their value far more than Imprezas do, (Just one example, +10000 miles for +$3000, $19000 for 42k miles in total)

I also would love to be living the fantasy life many of these respondents seem to enjoy where they can buy a car, and immediately trade it in for another one of similar mileage without inviting financial ruin upon themselves.

Ultimately though, the advice isn't without merit, doing a suspension swap or a lift on a daily is just asking to turn it into a lemon, but if you really want to do it I'd look into the links Peaty has posted.

That said, as someone who also bemoans the Impreza's insufficient ride height, who drives along uneven mountain roads daily, I can hopefully assure you that even if you're stuck with the car for a while, you will develop a sense of how to drive to to avoid scraping.

Too short? Maybe, but it's a capable vehicle.

 

[peaty]

Poking around I did see these here

https://get-primitive.com/lift-spac...ek-19-forester-19-ascent-2020-legoutback.html

I still don't like the idea of only putting in spacers but maybe a 1/2 - 3/4 combo would be okay. I guess it really depends on your ultimate purpose.

 

[WhiteImprezaSport2019]

Well, you will need springs, struts, hubs, control arms, bushings, about 20 hours of shop time, and then your wheels will stick out past your fenders, unless you also get the fender extenders, and do the body work as well. You'll end up spending $20k to make it into a $10k used Crosstrek. Just go out and trade your Impreza in, and put it down on a used Crosstrek.

What confuses me is that you bought a Sport, which is about as far away from a Crosstrek as you can get on this platform. If you wanted more of a car but with some extra lift, you would've done far better to buy a non-sport model, then just added a 1" or even a 2" lift kit.

Around where I live, there are probably 5 Crosstreks for every Sport, so I can't imagine there was ever any lack of stock to chose from. So, I can only guess that you bought a car not knowing what it was that you really wanted. In that case, just trade it in, and be done with it.

I lived in SoCal originally when I bought it, had no worry of snow or anything then my job took me up to Bend Oregon about 6 months later. Obviously not gonna go through with that lift now, thought it might be cheaper and easier than going through the trade in process. Thanks for your help!

 

[C J]

Same, Crosstreks around here tend to retain their value far more than Imprezas do, (Just one example, +10000 miles for +$3000, $19000 for 42k miles in total)

I also would love to be living the fantasy life many of these respondents seem to enjoy where they can buy a car, and immediately trade it in for another one of similar mileage without inviting financial ruin upon themselves.

Ultimately though, the advice isn't without merit, doing a suspension swap or a lift on a daily is just asking to turn it into a lemon, but if you really want to do it I'd look into the links Peaty has posted.

That said, as someone who also bemoans the Impreza's insufficient ride height, who drives along uneven mountain roads daily, I can hopefully assure you that even if you're stuck with the car for a while, you will develop a sense of how to drive to to avoid scraping.

Too short? Maybe, but it's a capable vehicle.

lol at "inviting financial ruin", I liked that.

 

[peaty]

Check around, I bet you can find good deal on a set of wheels to put on snows for winter. Many wheels from other Subarus will fit. There are a few threads around on the subject.

 

[Rilegerard]

lol at "inviting financial ruin", I liked that.

I'll be here all week...I guess.

 

[Alex_Rochester]

You know, this same question gets posted about every 2 months, with pretty much the same answers. Maybe it should be a sticky?

BTW, just in general, I don't think this is really the place to ask about major mechanical projects. I can think of maybe 2 people here who are knowledgeable and competent enough to give you a good answer, but a dozen other people with varying degrees of cluelessness invariably will give you there $.02's worth. For heavy mechanical questions, there are technical subforums at NASIOC and ScoobyNet where you will actually get professional advice.

 

[C J]

You know, this same question gets posted about every 2 months, with pretty much the same answers. Maybe it should be a sticky?

BTW, just in general, I don't think this is really the place to ask about major mechanical projects. I can think of maybe 2 people here who are knowledgeable and competent enough to give you a good answer, but a dozen other people with varying degrees of cluelessness invariably will give you there $.02's worth. For heavy mechanical questions, there are technical subforums at NASIOC and ScoobyNet where you will actually get professional advice.

I agree that we should make this a sticky because we have had a lot of people asking this question. As far as the technical questions I tend to agree as well but we have helped people out with a lot of stuff Alex. And I really don't like the idea of sending people to another forum, that is not a good way for us to grow. Better to get more members who are technical and build our posts to help anyone that comes. Have you noticed how many people we get who join just to ask a question and then they never come back? I can't remember the amount of people who have come here asking how to make their car faster and then leaving because they don't like the answers they get. LOL

 

[Alex_Rochester]

I agree that we should make this a sticky because we have had a lot of people asking this question. As far as the technical questions I tend to agree as well but we have helped people out with a lot of stuff Alex. And I really don't like the idea of sending people to another forum, that is not a good way for us to grow. Better to get more members who are technical and build our posts to help anyone that comes. Have you noticed how many people we get who join just to ask a question and then they never come back? I can't remember the amount of people who have come here asking how to make their car faster and then leaving because they don't like the answers they get. LOL

Well, CJ, to be honest, the constraints of this forum are that it deals with only 1 model, one which is recent, and not really established enough for it to have a tuner community based on the model. The types of modifications people post here are generally either electronic or superficial. About the most technical thing discussed here is whether an oversized tire will fit.

 

[Eric Z]

Maybe in a few years if I still have this impreza, I'll go buy a Crosstrek that's wrecked and swap the drivetrain and suspension into it. I'd do it just for shits and giggles. The idea of a slightly lifted sedan with xmode and the whole shebang sounds awesome to me. I know guys with the wiring know how and the adapters to put an older 5 speed dual range trans into it. hmm. Yeah, years on down the road. After all these Subarus, the longest I've ever owned one is 3 years. We'll see how much I still love this one once I see something newer and shinier. lol What I do know about them is each generation is just like legos.

 

[JoepureMed]

As the title shows I've been wishing I got a Crosstrek.

Hah! As an owner of a white Impreza Sport, I have GCE (Ground Clearance Envy) much more than I thought I would! I love my car - flaws and all. It's a lot of car for the price and it is definitely fun to drive where I live in Medellin, Colombia. However, the lack of ground clearance relative to most normal cars escaped my test drive. It only took a month before I added 3/4" spacers which help somewhat, but not very much in all honesty. I bought my Sport because I preferred the way it drove than the Crosstrek. I haven't changed my mind on that. One of the other Impreza Sport owners in town put taller/narrower wheels/tires on his Impreza and it definitely made the car feel softer and not as directly responsive...which makes complete sense. If you really need ground clearance...don't buy an Impreza. The little hacks like spacers, wheel packages or suspension changes will probably never give one what a Crosstrek offers in that regard. But, like I said - I am happier with my Impreza Sport day-in-day-out than in a Crosstrek. I sort of side with the other in this thread who say to buy a Crosstrek rather than to do something so radical to your Impreza. Common platforms are not identical! Good luck and safe driving.