In this thrilling video, I take a 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS for a spin, but this is no “normal” 2.5RS. This car has been taken to the next level with a crazy engine, transmission & drivetrain swap.
If you’re a fan of Subaru tuning and car modification, you won’t want to miss this! With its aggressive tuning, engine swap, and transmission swap – it really has the works.
From the engine rebuild to the final result, I’m showing you what it takes to create a true Subaru WRX STI beast. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own Subaru build or just want to see some impressive car mods, this video is for you.
So, buckle up and let’s dive into this epic Subaru Impreza 2.5RS engine, transmission & drivetrain swap.
Also check out Drive Culture on YouTube. Drive Culture is detailed car review YouTube channel hosted by the ultimate car enthusiast, Jonathon Rivers.
Who is Jonathon Rivers?
Well, he’s a +15 year Auto Industry veteran, born and raised in the Motor City!
He lived several years in Japan, speaks & reads Japanese, and now works for American Honda Motor. (Although this channel is his own & not affiliated)
He’s owned several fun cars including a Evo IV, multiple Civic Si, Focus RS, and most recently the Integra Type S (which he lead planning for Acura)!
He’s also been lucky enough to drive just about every key new product in the market from compact cars, to SUVs, EVs and super cars!
If that isn’t enough to prove his “car guy” status, Jonathon has also been featured in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, AutoBlog, Jay Leno’s Garage, Raiti’s Rides and the SavageGeese channels! He’s on Instagram here and Facebook here.
Check back every Friday at 7am Pacific Time for new content and videos!
The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.
A transcript, cleaned up by AI and edited by a staffer is below.
[Image: YouTube Screenshot]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
Transcript:
Intro
Here we go. This thing really moves. Welcome to Drive Culture, I’m Jonathan Rivers, and today we have a 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS. This one is far from stock. We’ll go over the exterior, interior, powertrain, and of course take it for a drive.
Background
This car is the definition of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. At first glance, it looks like an early-generation Impreza—no STI badge, no turbo—just a 2.5 RS. The model predates the WRX and STI’s arrival in the U.S., helping set the stage for Subaru’s turbocharged performance cars. It carries the rally-inspired styling of its Japanese counterparts, but this particular example has been heavily modified with a full drivetrain swap.
Exterior
From the front, it looks stock, finished in silver with an aggressive hood scoop and vents, rectangular headlights, and large rally-style fog lights. The lip spoiler and subtle details suggest nothing extreme.
Moving to the side, the upgrades start to show. It rides on powder-coated bronze Volk Racing TE37 wheels wrapped in 225/45R17 tires, with gold Brembo calipers and slotted rotors. These are from an STI, and they’re just the beginning.
The truth is under the skin: this car is now running the complete drivetrain from a 2005 Subaru WRX STI—engine, transmission, suspension, axles, brakes—making it essentially an STI coupe.
The rear keeps the stock badging, big rear wing, and AWD sticker. Brembos and slotted rotors are also fitted at the back. The exhaust tip is STI-branded, hinting at what’s under the hood.
Interior
Inside, much looks original—dash layout, gauges, steering wheel—except for a few key differences. The five-speed shifter has been replaced with the STI’s six-speed manual, complete with Subaru’s DCCD torque distribution controls.
The seats are aftermarket Recaro Sportster CS buckets in black leather, with aggressive bolstering and minimal adjustability, blending well with the cabin.
Otherwise, it’s classic early-2000s Subaru: leather-wrapped wheel with red stitching, white-faced gauges, simple HVAC and audio controls, and a moonroof. The rear seats offer decent space for a coupe, and the trunk holds 11.1 cubic feet of cargo.
Powertrain
The original 2.5 RS had a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four with 165 hp and 166 lb-ft. This car now runs the STI’s 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four with 300 hp and 300 lb-ft, paired with the STI’s six-speed manual and symmetrical AWD system.
The swap is fully legal in California, with a Bureau of Automotive Repair sticker to prove it. Under the hood is an STI carbon fiber strut bar and a Subaru Performance Tuning air intake.
Drive Review
On the road, the transformation is obvious. At nearly double the original power in a lighter chassis, it accelerates quickly and feels like a factory build. The six-speed shifts cleanly, the clutch engagement is smooth, and there are no warning lights—impressive for such an extensive swap.
The SPT intake delivers noticeable induction and turbo sounds, and the coilover suspension keeps the car planted. Despite the aggressive seats, comfort is reasonable for shorter drives.
Even without pushing it hard, the car wants to go. The combination of STI performance and RS stealth makes this one of the ultimate Subaru sleepers.
