I'm kinda getting in the market for another vehicle. I had a truck, but traded it in for a car..I kinda screwed myself because I go to the beach a lot with my family and our CRV is almost as low as my car.

So I've been looking around at something that would be a good median. I was originally looking into WRX/STI of the '05 era for fun. That or maybe getting a new Camaro. But I'm really not sure where to go with this. I have seen several baja's and they would fit me perfectly. 4 door, awd, a small bed, and from what I understand some of them came with a turbocharged engine.


Anyone know anyone that has one? Do they like/hate it? Also, are they geared like a car? Fun and relatively fast to drive? I know they're no offroad monster, but they have more ground clearance than our suv and the bed in the back in a HUGE advantage.

Can they be made fast? As in do they have a share in the aftermarket? Do they have any similarities to the STI/WRX? I don't want a super duper sports car either..just something that's fun and very energetic to drive.

I know someone that has a turbo one & loves it.
For ground clearance, go 2004+ for 8.4", the first year they sat about an inch lower.
For what it's worth, I've always considered the Baja to be like my Outback since they share a platform, just with a bed instead of a cargo area plus it's got the flip out gate guard thing to make more room - I love my Outback! If you need the open bed, go for it. IMO you can't go wrong with Subaru. I've never actually rode in a Baja, but like I said I think they're all but the same.. and the Outback has a ride that lets you know it's raised. Maybe it's from riding in my lowered Sunfire, but the Outback feels kinda tall. It's not bad, but it doesn't exactly zing around the corners. The base 2.5 165 hp isn't the fastest thing when attached to AWD, but it can get up & go if you need to. Merging on a highway is no issue. I'd love to have a Baja so all of my yard waste & mulch hauling could be done on the exterior of the vehicle Unfortunately, when I priced them a few months back, they were still pretty expensive. I was hoping they'd drop faster since they didn't sell well, but they've got a good retained resale value like most Subarus.

turbo baja's use the ej255 (06+ wrx motor/05+ turbo legacy motor) downpipes, turbos, intercoolers, injectors, intakes, etc from either wrx or turbo legacy should work without any issues. the wrx exhausts probably will not fit due to the difference in length of the cars and the change in suspension design in the rear from wrx to baja.

Baja's are nice cars. the turbo baja i drove was very peppy even with the auto (turbo 5spds are rare)

Yeah that would be fun with the turbo.. i think they look pretty cool.. and you don't see too many of them.

Yeah I searched ontario for baja's and came up with i think 1. these thing's are pretty rare up north here...