Thinking of buying a WRX - 2003 ish
Discussion
I've run up an insurance quote assuming I'm 21 and I had a very reasonable quote on this Impreza http://pistonheads.com/sales/3557996.htm
It'll be about 10 months before I buy one, so I want as much information as possible going into the purchase. I've wanted an Impreza all my life and it seems the insurance is finally coming to a tidy level. So what do I need to look for on WRX's of this age? What are they like to live with? (Bearing in mind I currently drive a Fiesta zetec S) and are they as bad on fuel as some people say?
I'm not too bothered about maintennance costs as I'm a mechanic so most of the work I'd do myself anyway. The only thing I'd farm out is the cambelt, or if the turbo cocked up. But what are the parts like to buy?
Thanks for any answers.
It'll be about 10 months before I buy one, so I want as much information as possible going into the purchase. I've wanted an Impreza all my life and it seems the insurance is finally coming to a tidy level. So what do I need to look for on WRX's of this age? What are they like to live with? (Bearing in mind I currently drive a Fiesta zetec S) and are they as bad on fuel as some people say?
I'm not too bothered about maintennance costs as I'm a mechanic so most of the work I'd do myself anyway. The only thing I'd farm out is the cambelt, or if the turbo cocked up. But what are the parts like to buy?
Thanks for any answers.
I've just bought a 2004 WRX and I must say I'm impressed. Before that I had a Skyline R33 GTST so the Subaru is economical in comparison! I’ve travelled 500 miles in it over the weekend and managed 34 mpg. On my commute this week the mpg is looking to be around 20 – 24 so again, for me I’m happy with that (the Skyline managed a whopping 11mpg!)
As for maintenance, if you’re a mechanic you should be able to sort the cambelt no probs. I’m an accountant and it looks fairly straightforward to me! – my MR2 was more complicated due to lack of access. From what I understand, as long as the cars are well maintained they should be pretty much bullet proof.
As for maintenance, if you’re a mechanic you should be able to sort the cambelt no probs. I’m an accountant and it looks fairly straightforward to me! – my MR2 was more complicated due to lack of access. From what I understand, as long as the cars are well maintained they should be pretty much bullet proof.
Wow, youe definitely gone from a car in the same mould though lol. The fuel doesnt seem to bad - i mostly do motorway miles to work, im guessing at 70 in 6th it would probably be pretty acceptable. Glad the cambelt doesnt seem bad though. I can do it on cars like my fiesta no problem. Glad it isnt a huge leap in difficulty. Thanks for the advice mate.
I bought one 2 years at 22 when I too could also afford the insurance. it was a 2003 wrx SL (sunroof and heated leather seats). It was fantastic, aboslutely loved it. I could afford teh running costs (just) and for smiles per mile it was definitely a winner. I only need to do the cambelt (had 94k when I got it) brakes all round and that was it. It came with the PPP too so that saved me a bit of money as it was the mods I probably would have done anyway.
I never went down the re-map stage as after a year of ownership the insurance went up £300 and I had to sell. go for it though, you will love it.
(btw, I went from a wheezy 1.5 mazda 323f to the scoob so you will be fine)
I never went down the re-map stage as after a year of ownership the insurance went up £300 and I had to sell. go for it though, you will love it.
(btw, I went from a wheezy 1.5 mazda 323f to the scoob so you will be fine)
I recently bought a 2003 wrx, first as a weekend car but loved driving it so much I traded in my daily 123d MSport and now solely use the Scooby. I must say its a great all rounder and I commute about 45miles a day in it - mostly motorway driving but a few A/B road blasts. I average 27mpg pretty much most weeks which is not bad and on some longer motorway runs get 30 or slightly higher. It only has 5 gears btw but cruises nicely on the motorway. I can't tell if its standard or had a remap - has a miltek plus sports cat on but certainly feels as rapid to 60 as my Z4M, although a little slower above these speeds. I would estimate it at 250ish bhp... Admiral did the best insurance quote and when I mentioned possible mods they added it on (just in case) and premium only went up £30....
Hi,
I had a 2005 WRX PPP for a few years and covered 40K+ miles including loads of motorway. You should get 30+MPG, but bear in mind it's a 5 speed box, not a 6, although the gearing is quite long.
I test drove a standard one, and one with the PPP and personally think you really need the extra 40bhp the PPP offers. If you get one without the PPP, then the mods can be done for less than a grand, however, the nice thing about the PPP is a number of insurers have it listed as a model.
Great car, great daily and fine for the motorway. I have an STi now, and can honestly say for a daily I would rather a WRX.
I had a 2005 WRX PPP for a few years and covered 40K+ miles including loads of motorway. You should get 30+MPG, but bear in mind it's a 5 speed box, not a 6, although the gearing is quite long.
I test drove a standard one, and one with the PPP and personally think you really need the extra 40bhp the PPP offers. If you get one without the PPP, then the mods can be done for less than a grand, however, the nice thing about the PPP is a number of insurers have it listed as a model.
Great car, great daily and fine for the motorway. I have an STi now, and can honestly say for a daily I would rather a WRX.
Wow thas a lot of help there guys, thank you. Itl definitely be a dream come true moment. My uncle has a wrx sti model hes always promised i could have for a tidy price, but im guessing the insurers would probably object to that lol.
Sorry to sound stupid though, but what is the PPP mod? If the car I buy doesnt have it i wont be bothered. I have 100bhp atm so anything would be more than enough for me. Im not planning on modifying it at all when i get it though. Just want a reliable, confortable motorway car with a fair bit of poke for the mountain roads.
Sorry to sound stupid though, but what is the PPP mod? If the car I buy doesnt have it i wont be bothered. I have 100bhp atm so anything would be more than enough for me. Im not planning on modifying it at all when i get it though. Just want a reliable, confortable motorway car with a fair bit of poke for the mountain roads.
PPP is removal of last cat (replaced with straight through pipe), bigger more free flowing backbox, silicone intercooler pipe and a prodrive remap.
You'll probably want a better exhaust, but that's a cheap mod from an insurance PoV. The standard one on the WRX is that quiet double peashooter arrangement. There are a bunch of decent backboxes which won't make you deaf (I have had loads).
The standard WRX is 225bhp, so no slouch. However, the extra power is really worth while. Having said that, you could always do that later.
Last bit of advice, the one in your original post looks like its been f
ked about with quite a bit. That STi spoiler will probably leak water into the boot, and it would be hard to properly list the mods for insurance...
You'll probably want a better exhaust, but that's a cheap mod from an insurance PoV. The standard one on the WRX is that quiet double peashooter arrangement. There are a bunch of decent backboxes which won't make you deaf (I have had loads).
The standard WRX is 225bhp, so no slouch. However, the extra power is really worth while. Having said that, you could always do that later.
Last bit of advice, the one in your original post looks like its been f
ked about with quite a bit. That STi spoiler will probably leak water into the boot, and it would be hard to properly list the mods for insurance...paulmoonraker said:
PPP is removal of last cat (replaced with straight through pipe), bigger more free flowing backbox, silicone intercooler pipe and a prodrive remap.
You'll probably want a better exhaust, but that's a cheap mod from an insurance PoV. The standard one on the WRX is that quiet double peashooter arrangement. There are a bunch of decent backboxes which won't make you deaf (I have had loads).
The standard WRX is 225bhp, so no slouch. However, the extra power is really worth while. Having said that, you could always do that later.
Last bit of advice, the one in your original post looks like its been fked about with quite a bit. That STi spoiler will probably leak water into the boot, and it would be hard to properly list the mods for insurance...
Ah right. I've seen Japspeed do a fair few exhausts for these. And my Uncles has something vaugely resembling a shotgun on the back. I'll ask him what his has.You'll probably want a better exhaust, but that's a cheap mod from an insurance PoV. The standard one on the WRX is that quiet double peashooter arrangement. There are a bunch of decent backboxes which won't make you deaf (I have had loads).
The standard WRX is 225bhp, so no slouch. However, the extra power is really worth while. Having said that, you could always do that later.
Last bit of advice, the one in your original post looks like its been f
ked about with quite a bit. That STi spoiler will probably leak water into the boot, and it would be hard to properly list the mods for insurance...The one in my original post I wouldn't go anywhere near tbh. I just put it there as an example of the one I can afford to insure.
Shade said:
Ah right. I've seen Japspeed do a fair few exhausts for these. And my Uncles has something vaugely resembling a shotgun on the back. I'll ask him what his has.
The one in my original post I wouldn't go anywhere near tbh. I just put it there as an example of the one I can afford to insure.
The prodrive backbox is nice and be had for 100 quid on eBay. Alternatively get a hayward and scott manufactured one from scooby world (Ninja, Afterburner etc).The one in my original post I wouldn't go anywhere near tbh. I just put it there as an example of the one I can afford to insure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoxxAi74Pi8&sns...
paulmoonraker said:
The standard WRX is 225bhp, so no slouch. However, the extra power is really worth while. Having said that, you could always do that later.
I had a 2005 WRX with PPP giving 261bhp. It wasn't just the power, but the power delivery as well - suprisingly torquey low down for a turbo which suited my driving style, with superb acceleration for second/third gear 'A' road overtakes.Mine was the SL model with sunroof, leather and heated front seats which I had looked long and hard for. Great car - 12,000 miles in a year and sold it for just £100 less than I paid. Still miss it!
Do it, looks like it has the STi intercooler so are you sure the rest is stock? has it been mapped? its BOV looks non standard. Not sure also but does the engine look likes it on a slant in the engine bay or is it just me?
I bought my 2003 Blob WRX 3 years ago and love it, it wasn't as nippy as the MR2 Turbo I went from so googled the hell out of mods for it and just waited for the right deals to come up on SNet. Done the whole hog now and running 340hp all mapped by Dynamix. Its sooo much fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gufDRzl9MRI
I bought my 2003 Blob WRX 3 years ago and love it, it wasn't as nippy as the MR2 Turbo I went from so googled the hell out of mods for it and just waited for the right deals to come up on SNet. Done the whole hog now and running 340hp all mapped by Dynamix. Its sooo much fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gufDRzl9MRI
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