Flipping heck!!! I didn't realise I'd get so many replies and so quickly!!! Thanks a lot everybody.

Aaquil

Told you so !!!

Flat4x... oops,

Fabpreza

Thanks to Stuart, SimonT, Fabpreza aka Flat4X4(!) for all the help and excellent advice. I know I have a lot of questions but I want to get it right with my next car rather than just guess as I go along (as I did rather painfully with my Legacy turbo!!!).

Stuart I will get in touch once I get the chance thanks for the offer.

Thanks

Aaquil.

small steering wheel.. 17" rims.. decent brakes ... coilovers.

yes i know the RS doesnt have the latter but if you were going to change anything on a 4x4 it would be the only way to go.. am sure Nick would confirm the improvment of RS suspension over std... which obviously is not an option on 4x4 due to the rear setup.....

hence from a "drive" point of view the 4x4 is not the best starting point

It isn't the best starting point as standard, but you can change all that, can't you? It's just that it will cost you...