The Professor

Thanks to everyone, both for their insight and their sarcasm. I have consigned myself to the cupholders and realize that they are better than my girlfriend's, as I can actually fit a normal size to-go mug in mine, and we had to find a supper skinny one for her 96 Legacy. As to the roof rails, I have found a way to remove them. There is a small plastic cover at the ends of each rail. If you remove that you can get at the screws under that and remove the whole roof rack. That allowed me to remove the two crossbars, but has left me with spaces in the rails themselves where the crossbars where. I am trying to hunt down some rubber to go in these holes, that matches the stock rubber from the roofrails, and does not cost 200$ that the dealer wants. I have put a Yakima rack on, and it works swell. I am very happy, and just need to work on the details. Thanks again to everybody.

First, the stock roof rack on my 1997 Impreza Outback, is the style with two metal runners that go the length of the car and two cross beams. I am trying to find out if I can replace them with the new style as seen on the Impreza/Outback. I realize there may be a difference in length, but I thought that I might be able to get the roof rails off a current Impreza Wagon, and that they might be the same length? Does anyone know for sure whether this will work? Second, and I am sure this has come up before, but is there a better option for a cup holder that anyone has seen. I know that the general complaint is that the cup holder interfers with something on the center dash, usually the radio or the heater controls, depending on location. Is there any better solution, e.g. an aftermarket center consol, or over e-brake cup holder? I do not want to go to Pep Boys/Autozone/Napa/etc. and get a cheap hang-in-the-window model, I would rather have a cleaner option. Any Ideas? Thanks for your help in this matter.