Question: What do ya do when you have a 2008 RS #1499, with 148K, burns no oil, you've owned and babied her since new, then someone backs into you at light so hard that the insurance company wants to total it?

Ans: You tell the insurance company to screw-off, you buy a 2012 with a locked motor, upgrade the 2008 with a the 2012 front and rear end, keep the 2008 body with side skirts, sunroof, RS interior, and add a few tweaks, sell off the remaining 2012 which has a clean title for break even to a co-part buyer who has a running wreck but needs the remaining parts and title, making lemonade out of lemons.

Here's the details of the 3 month transformation:

Replacement Parts:

• 2012 condenser, radiator support, air box, battery tray, hood, fenders, headlights, headlight wiring, front bumper, upper and lower grill, all body parts painted millennium gold
• 2012 taillights, taillight wiring, rear bumper - painted millennium gold

Tweaks:

• Ebay 2012 Fog light kit, Use fog lights wired to 2008 existing system. Use dash switch, relay and wiring to add circuit for LED daytime running lights in 2008 RS 5.0 - 47.00
• Ebay 2013-2015 Daytime Running lights. Remove covers, install in 2012 bumper - 179.00
• Ebay - 06-07 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Front Bumper Lip Spoiler Splitter PP - shortened, end cap plastic welded back on new end, painted to match, and install with plastic fender/body clips for XB grill
• Eiback Pro Kit lowering springs and SPC Alignment camber bolts - 150.00 (been on the shelf for 15 years) and 31.00, respectively
• Scion factory rear mud flaps - Painted to match. (1st heated and reshaped 2008 RS rear bumper wings to fit 2012 bumper but it didn't look right so I trashed this idea and went the simple/clean route with painted mud flaps).
• Scion rear bumper decal
• Remove A pillar factory black film
• 235/40/18 tires and Bremmer BR1 Wheels Yet to be done - front window tint