The stock WRX trans should be plenty fine for anything you'd be towing on a class 1 hitch. :)

I really don't like the WRX, it feels slow and has too much body roll. And I've heard nothing but bad things about the 5 speed.

Its really the early bug eye trans that got the bad name before they upgraded to the wider gears. The '03+ trans is pretty solid for anything under 350whp as long as its not abused (as with anything, but especially so with awd transmissions)

If you want a cheap turbo 4 cylinder for towing you should take your moms SRT-4 off her hands. They have all the torque you need, as far as 4 cylinders go, for towing and their transmission is as bullet proof as they come.

SRT4 transmissions have more problems than the WRX transmissions. They have synchro issues and 2nd gear shitfork issues I think. And I have thought about it, but my mom's is an 03, meaning open diff. Not going to try to pull the boat out of the water with a FWD open diff. I'd even be afraid doing it with a LSD FWD car.

If you're launching a boat I'd say FWD is definitely out then. And you've pretty much eaten up your selection of awd turbo 4's unless you want an evo.

I've also thought about an Eclipse GSX, but I really don't want another old car.

it sounds like you need a truck. Lightning will tow a boat. Gas mileage isnt...uh...good, but other than that it fits all your criteria. Might reconsider what youre actually looking for?

Mmmmm Lightning :)

What size of boat are you towing? Maybe you should just get a cheap ass truck. Get an old diesel truck or something. The one in my sig is bad ass. It gets 20-22 mpg on the highway. Its a good truck.

16ft, 850lbs less motor. Trailer should be around 450, motor around 500, and the Jet is about 80. So that puts me in the 2K lb range, which is what a class 1 hitch it rated to.

I might just buy a class 1 hitch and weld some bracing on it for strength. But I have thought a lot about going diesel. Diesels are so good on fuel. Ideally I'd like to have a long travel Ranger with a 4cyl turbo diesel.