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4EAT can lock rear transfer hydraulically, has 4.44 final through torque converter so effectively same crawl as 3.9 lo range 4spd in brat. With larger tires, more clearance. VLSD rear diff and stronger axles. The jump seats are not safe, let alone legal. They didn't have seatbelt for a start. And the "oh SH$#" handles are more like "Oh SH$#, this thing just stabbed me in the spleen!" So I won't be putting my wife and infant kids in them any time soon. Plus if you put a bench seat in the back of the Baja you can seat 5 not 4. Nice Brats go for more than used Bajas in my area. You could not buy 3 or 4 of them. Maybe 2 piles of rusted parts or 1 fairly nice brat. I'm not at all knocking Brats. I love them. They are just not even comparable to a Baja. It's like comparing apples and bigger, safer, faster, more capable apples.

on a 96, the rear O2 sensor is a 'nanny' for cat. converter only. The ECU doesn't use it for a:f adjustment - but, if the signal is missing/outside its range, the cel will light. Dunno if that can be deleted with ECU Flash or some other tuning trick on a 96. So, the car should run fine - slightly better I'd think since you're a few pounds lighter with less exhaust restriction.

If you’re worried about exhaust restriction, get some larger cars designed for larger capacity engines. Keep cats, get “better” exhaust flow, probably not get a check light, winning. Whats wrong with your current cats? Cheers Bennie

Well that’s one opinion. Many Brumbys over here are daily driven. We’ve got a family bus and my brumby. Laws allow me to travel with one of my children in the front seat once of a certain age and height to fit into a booster seat. Where Subaru ultimately went wrong was leaving the rear axle forward of the load area, it should’ve been centralised for better ride handling and load carrying ability. My 20c. Cheers Bennie

I've sold all my Brats because I have a family. Can't take kids and Wife anywhere. Pretty sure Subaru did marketing/demographics research that showed that Baja should be 4 door to appeal to the people who could actually buy one new when introduced. I would love to have Baja. Brat's are a collectible novelty now. Totally impractical as a daily driver. Baja is an actual car you could own and drive everyday with a family.

Hopefully going to be firing up this project again this summer. Stay tuned.

there can be ways to 'fool' the ECU with a resistor network. Or 'possibly' an ECU reflash....not sure on a 96

It will throw a code for Catalyst Efficiency.