Which Impreza to go for?
Discussion
Evening all,
I've been looking over a shortlist of interesting cars with which to replace my 106 Rallye next year. I'm toying with the idea of putting the Rallye to one side and using it for fun when the moment takes me, but a more practical and comfortable car beckons - or at least would seem sensible!
I've been looking over Imprezas, but I don't really know where to start. I've owned a blobeye GX in the past, which was very good for commuting in, but this time I ideally want a turbo model. I've been looking over some classifieds with old WRX STi imports, Spec C's, Type R's, Series Mcraes, Catalunyas etc etc...
...these things have nearly as many special editions as the MX5!
I'd be looking to spend about £4000 or so, ideally looking for something that hasn't been mapped and modified. Will this money land me a reasonable Impreza? Age isn't an issue, and I prefer the look of the classics as opposed to the bugeye onward. What would represent the best Impreza bang:buck at that price, and what should I keep on my shortlist?
I did nearly end up with a Series McRae not so long ago. Now there is a dream Impreza. It was for sale in Fort William, I made a call to the owner to see if it was still for sale, but it had sold that morning! Ah well, here is hoping that wasn't the end of my Impreza saga...
I've been looking over a shortlist of interesting cars with which to replace my 106 Rallye next year. I'm toying with the idea of putting the Rallye to one side and using it for fun when the moment takes me, but a more practical and comfortable car beckons - or at least would seem sensible!
I've been looking over Imprezas, but I don't really know where to start. I've owned a blobeye GX in the past, which was very good for commuting in, but this time I ideally want a turbo model. I've been looking over some classifieds with old WRX STi imports, Spec C's, Type R's, Series Mcraes, Catalunyas etc etc...
...these things have nearly as many special editions as the MX5!
I'd be looking to spend about £4000 or so, ideally looking for something that hasn't been mapped and modified. Will this money land me a reasonable Impreza? Age isn't an issue, and I prefer the look of the classics as opposed to the bugeye onward. What would represent the best Impreza bang:buck at that price, and what should I keep on my shortlist?
I did nearly end up with a Series McRae not so long ago. Now there is a dream Impreza. It was for sale in Fort William, I made a call to the owner to see if it was still for sale, but it had sold that morning! Ah well, here is hoping that wasn't the end of my Impreza saga...
Last Christmas I did pretty much the same but stepped up from a Sport to a Turbo. Like you I wanted a UK Turbo, no mods and low miles. It took a while of patient hunting and just as I had given up for the Christmas break spotted my car, a Terzo, it was on 44K miles and the only mod is an SS exhaust. As it was reversed out of the vendors garage a voice in my head said sold. My car was just under £3k and I spent a further £800 having things like belts, tensioner, the innevitable cam cover leaks fixed and all the oils changed and apart from an upipe bolt working loose it hasn't missed a beat - I use it daily which on such a low mileage car does hurt but the buzz from just using it far outweighs that.
Look for rot in the rear arches, it's the rear corner that goes near the bumper join, you can check the pass side internally throught the jack cubby door. Also look for bubbles appearing from under the screen trims, careless screen fitters can scratch the (very thin) paint and rust will creep in. On the subject of bodywork, it's very thin steel so they do suffer carpark dinks a bit more than most other makes. '98 engines have a reputation for piston slap, mine does when stone cold but after a mile or so it's silent so always insist on hearing any car start from cold.
Above all be patient - there are loads out there so take your time and find a good one.
Look for rot in the rear arches, it's the rear corner that goes near the bumper join, you can check the pass side internally throught the jack cubby door. Also look for bubbles appearing from under the screen trims, careless screen fitters can scratch the (very thin) paint and rust will creep in. On the subject of bodywork, it's very thin steel so they do suffer carpark dinks a bit more than most other makes. '98 engines have a reputation for piston slap, mine does when stone cold but after a mile or so it's silent so always insist on hearing any car start from cold.
Above all be patient - there are loads out there so take your time and find a good one.
I spotted a really nice looking Terzo last night, which very sadly was being broken for parts. Do you have any pictures of yours?
Is it worth going for an import car? I really want an older, classic shape STi so I will have to, as they were all imports, yes? Or are the UK special editions like the Terzo, the Series McRae and the RB5 likely to satisfy my tastes?
Is it worth going for an import car? I really want an older, classic shape STi so I will have to, as they were all imports, yes? Or are the UK special editions like the Terzo, the Series McRae and the RB5 likely to satisfy my tastes?
That's very sad and such a shame but I gues the truth is that at the moment they aren't seen as rare enough to be saved and the quick/convenient buck is in breaking them.
All of the UK (classic) special editions are cosmetic changes and are based on the "in period" UK spec car, an STI from a similar period will be an import but will have more power. If you want STI power in a UK special edition then you're looking at a P1 which in your price range isn't going to happen.
Pics I can do .......
With the previous owner at Banbury
Southdown Stages at Goodwood
And moody in a car park
All of the UK (classic) special editions are cosmetic changes and are based on the "in period" UK spec car, an STI from a similar period will be an import but will have more power. If you want STI power in a UK special edition then you're looking at a P1 which in your price range isn't going to happen.
Pics I can do .......
With the previous owner at Banbury
Southdown Stages at Goodwood
And moody in a car park
For £4k I'd honestly go for bugeye WRX (maybe even a blobeye). Whilst I have a classic and love it dearly, the newage cars are a lot less fragile and don't suffer rust the same way classics do. Also, finding a good classic is very hard work nowadays!
Don't be frightened of cars with sensible mods either. An exhaust upgrade, panel filter and remap can transform the standard WRX into a properly quick car whilst maintaining decent reliability. Furthermore, my classic has the PPP so given the weight disadvantage of the later cars I'd suspect the standard 215-220bhp may not seem quite enough, IMO of course.
Don't be frightened of cars with sensible mods either. An exhaust upgrade, panel filter and remap can transform the standard WRX into a properly quick car whilst maintaining decent reliability. Furthermore, my classic has the PPP so given the weight disadvantage of the later cars I'd suspect the standard 215-220bhp may not seem quite enough, IMO of course.
72twink said:
That's very sad and such a shame but I gues the truth is that at the moment they aren't seen as rare enough to be saved and the quick/convenient buck is in breaking them.
All of the UK (classic) special editions are cosmetic changes and are based on the "in period" UK spec car, an STI from a similar period will be an import but will have more power. If you want STI power in a UK special edition then you're looking at a P1 which in your price range isn't going to happen.
Pics I can do .......
With the previous owner at Banbury
Southdown Stages at Goodwood
And moody in a car park
P1's do crop up in the 4-5k price range. All of the UK (classic) special editions are cosmetic changes and are based on the "in period" UK spec car, an STI from a similar period will be an import but will have more power. If you want STI power in a UK special edition then you're looking at a P1 which in your price range isn't going to happen.
Pics I can do .......
With the previous owner at Banbury
Southdown Stages at Goodwood
And moody in a car park
Hmm. I definitely don't want a 'new' Impreza, thinking Bugeye onward. Only an old one will do, so it's slightly disheartening to think I could end up having to wade through loads of rusty cars to find a good one. I'm not sure if an old Classic WRX would satisfy, it probably would. But it seems the fuel economy is piss poor in either WRX or STi, so I might as well go for the STi!
The alternative is to be very boring and get something like an Audi TT 225!
The alternative is to be very boring and get something like an Audi TT 225!
plenty said:
paulmoonraker said:
Classics are getting old now.
OP drives a 106 Rallye - I suspect that "old" cars aren't a problem.For some of us old>new...(says the proud owner of a MY93 GC8)
Yes, the interior is very dated and nowhere near as nice as a TT. NVH not great either but it doesn't bother me - my impreza is for backroads and track use where refinement is right at the bottom of priorities.
You're right to go for the limited editions.
I got an RB5 after wanting one for years, I lurked on the owners club for a while, but eventually picked one up from putting a wanted ad on here. I figured that a limited edition may be slightly better looked after (maybe not), I know someone who has an RB320 just because it was black! - they had no idea what it was really about?!
I wouldn't stear clear of classics just because they are old. Most will have had the arches done, but it is a well known problem, I've had mine done. Even high miles are ok if they have been looked after, mine is pretty high - but with a full service history, mostly Subaru, and it has only let me down once.
I got an RB5 after wanting one for years, I lurked on the owners club for a while, but eventually picked one up from putting a wanted ad on here. I figured that a limited edition may be slightly better looked after (maybe not), I know someone who has an RB320 just because it was black! - they had no idea what it was really about?!
I wouldn't stear clear of classics just because they are old. Most will have had the arches done, but it is a well known problem, I've had mine done. Even high miles are ok if they have been looked after, mine is pretty high - but with a full service history, mostly Subaru, and it has only let me down once.
Lefty said:
Couldn't agree more. The classic impreza really is surprisingly small and light.
Yes, the interior is very dated and nowhere near as nice as a TT. NVH not great either but it doesn't bother me - my impreza is for backroads and track use where refinement is right at the bottom of priorities.
I actually prefer the MY96 (and earlier) interior which to my eyes is cleaner and less dated than the later versions.Yes, the interior is very dated and nowhere near as nice as a TT. NVH not great either but it doesn't bother me - my impreza is for backroads and track use where refinement is right at the bottom of priorities.
Edited by plenty on Friday 6th September 13:58
RB5Bird said:
You're right to go for the limited editions.
I got an RB5 after wanting one for years, I lurked on the owners club for a while, but eventually picked one up from putting a wanted ad on here. I figured that a limited edition may be slightly better looked after (maybe not), I know someone who has an RB320 just because it was black! - they had no idea what it was really about?!
I wouldn't stear clear of classics just because they are old. Most will have had the arches done, but it is a well known problem, I've had mine done. Even high miles are ok if they have been looked after, mine is pretty high - but with a full service history, mostly Subaru, and it has only let me down once.
What sort of arch repair did you get done and has it lasted? What did it cost if you don't mind?I got an RB5 after wanting one for years, I lurked on the owners club for a while, but eventually picked one up from putting a wanted ad on here. I figured that a limited edition may be slightly better looked after (maybe not), I know someone who has an RB320 just because it was black! - they had no idea what it was really about?!
I wouldn't stear clear of classics just because they are old. Most will have had the arches done, but it is a well known problem, I've had mine done. Even high miles are ok if they have been looked after, mine is pretty high - but with a full service history, mostly Subaru, and it has only let me down once.
plenty said:
OP drives a 106 Rallye - I suspect that "old" cars aren't a problem.
For some of us old>new...(says the proud owner of a MY93 GC8)
Yes, old cars definitely aren't an issue as such. I commuted in my MR2 Turbo when it was 17 years old and it felt tighter than the disastrous Astras I was driving at work at the time! So an older car definitely isn't an issue as long as it's sound and relatively free from rust. For some of us old>new...(says the proud owner of a MY93 GC8)
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
Something like this would do me (I'd probably pay a little more for something without a ripped bolster). This guy usually has a few decent Imprezas for sale and it seems others in the UK have bought from him with good experiences.
The matter in hand being that I need a car for every day use, yet I work shifts with funny hours so I rarely drive in any sort of rush hour, and my commute starts in the countryside and takes in a good breadth of B roads before I get to a dual carriageway, so I always like to have something capable for that sort of commute, which the Rallye is great at. I mean, I can drive the doors off the Rallye at 3AM when I'm coming home and it's great fun, but I could do with something bigger. Hence the TT being a viable option, because it is a comfortable place to sit and covers ground capably and quickly, obviously slightly less exciting than an Impreza.
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