The "Classic" Imprezas

[SAB888]

I've noticed over the past year or so that the number of "Classic" Imprezas on the roads has gone down drastically. I used to see them very regularly but hardly ever in 2016. The age of any "classic" is about 15 to 24 years old. I do wonder what the future holds for these cars and I seem to be using mine less now but spending more money keeping it roadworthy.

I suspect that the limited edition models will eventually become more sought after and rise in value. I don't want to sell the car and think that it is worth spending money on in order to keep it going rather than selling or scrapping. I've had mine now for about 14 years and it has been a very reliable car in that time, so I will try and keep it going for as long as is reasonably possible.

Does anyone have any views on the future of these cars?

[AdamIndy]

The way I see it, "normal" 2000 turbos etc became cheap enough for anyone to buy. These were bought by people who can't/couldn't afford to run them properly or bought them, thrashed the life out of them, blew them up, crashed them, rusted to pieces etc. Not to mention the ones who bought an eBay bleed valve for £20, wound up the boost and wonder why it shat itself.

A few years ago I was trying to buy a white V5 type r. It was around £6k iirc. I was too slow. That same car now is probably worth £8k+!

Nice ones will hold their value and even appreciate, knackered dogs will continue to be thrashed around housing estates. I will own another one, I just hope they don't go up in value too much before then.

[Freds]

Agree with the comments above. There are plenty of classics about, I know of a few untouched sub 10k miles examples that are in small collections and would command very strong money if they were ever to come on to the market. If you study the DVLA data there are almost as many Imprezas S.O.R.N as there are taxed, more SORN than taxed in some cases.

[rb5er]

I'm getting a new Focus RS soon and it was meant to replace my RB5 but after polishing, waxing and driving the RB5 on the weekend I just don't think I can let go unless I was offered mega crazy money for it (I've already been offered £9k and £10k by 2 separate people).

It's just such a great car and I have in 6 years only seen 2 others on the road. It always gets comments when I take it out and literally the only bad comments about it ever are made by nobody's on PH.

What a dilemma.

[MDMA .]

rb5er said:

I'm getting a new Focus RS soon and it was meant to replace my RB5 but after polishing, waxing and driving the RB5 on the weekend I just don't think I can let go unless I was offered mega crazy money for it (I've already been offered £9k and £10k by 2 separate people).

It's just such a great car and I have in 6 years only seen 2 others on the road. It always gets comments when I take it out and literally the only bad comments about it ever are made by nobody's on PH.

What a dilemma.

keep it

looking to get a WRX STI Type RA soon ( version 2/3 ). just trying to find an untouched, low mileage one is the problem. will pay for the right one and its going away in the garage for short / medium term.

EDIT - this is what I want next -

Edited by MDMA . on Tuesday 27th September 11:33

[bonesX]

Reminds me of one of my favourite videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvrLzrwGPPY

Same question crosses my mind - re my V3 WRX V-Ltd

Edited by bonesX on Tuesday 27th September 15:32

[rb5er]

Shame I don't speak Japanese. Is that a btg 8:10?

[MDMA .]

BTG is 19.1km. They did the full lap - 20.8km in 8m10s. Pretty good going.

[rb5er]

Surely not standard?

[MDMA .]

All standard. Have a look at fastestlaps. Above some good cars.


169 on the list - http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife

Edited by MDMA . on Tuesday 27th September 22:22

[72twink]

I've noticed fewer about and the ones I do see are usually driven by older and I guess longer term owners, rarely see "modded" cars these days - they seem to be targeting Audi A/S3 at the moment. Mine recently had it's 100K cam belt, the guys who do the big jobs like this for me said they rarely see Classics in for work these days. I've also noticed that mine gets noticed more - from comments in car parks at events to people stopping to watch it drive past. To a degree I can see them following the Integrale pattern, I used to see 'Grales used as dailies but rarely seen one now - the last one I saw I was driving! But please don't stop using them, they do their "thing" far too well to be tucked away as you wring your hands over values!

Edited by 72twink on Wednesday 28th September 02:32

[Evolved]

Good in their day but suffer from poor image now, terrible on fuel and dynamically weren't the best, plus finding one that hasn't been thrashed is hard work.

[rb5er]

Evolved said:

Good in their day but suffer from poor image now, terrible on fuel and dynamically weren't the best, plus finding one that hasn't been thrashed is hard work.

No poor image as standard imo. Can do 30mpg, I manage 25mpg. Dynamically, well see the video posted above and all performance cars will have been thrashed on occasion. You are talking balls.

[Evolved]

rb5er said:

No poor image as standard imo. Can do 30mpg, I manage 25mpg. Dynamically, well see the video posted above and all performance cars will have been thrashed on occasion. You are talking balls.

In your opinion of course but expected given the username.

[rb5er]

Not just my opinion, much is fact, other bits may be subjective. I know the mpg they are capable of which is very good for the performance (how many cars do 60mph in 5seconds but are capable of much better than 30mpgon a run?) The good ones have no image problem but the poorly nodded ones do just as with any other brand of car and although the steering may not always be razor sharp the feedback is excellent and the dynamics have been highly praised for decades now. Very playful cars that let you know what is going on underneath.

Show me a review of a classic turbo that results in anything but excellent........

[Evolved]

rb5er said:

Not just my opinion, much is fact, other bits may be subjective. I know the mpg they are capable of which is very good for the performance (how many cars do 60mph in 5seconds but are capable of much better than 30mpgon a run?) The good ones have no image problem but the poorly nodded ones do just as with any other brand of car and although the steering may not always be razor sharp the feedback is excellent and the dynamics have been highly praised for decades now. Very playful cars that let you know what is going on underneath.

Show me a review of a classic turbo that results in anything but excellent........

Hence why I said they were good in their day, the were good. I base my opinion on my own experience over reviews though

Like I said, your username suggests you love them and I'm fine with that, everyone has their own preference and it would be futile to argue with you.

When I was into those types of cars I chose the arch enemy of the time as I felt it was dynamically the better car, it still is tbh but like the Inprezza has suffered from an image problem along with huge running costs.

[Evolved]

Just to add: I think like the cossie's of yesteryear, they also suffered badly but now have emerged the other side as a collectable and desirable car now the oiks have lost interest in them! I can guarantee the Evo's and Imprezza's of the 90's will go the same way but by that point they'll be stupidly expensive again and I'll have missed the boat.

Edited by Evolved on Wednesday 28th September 12:38

Edited by Evolved on Wednesday 28th September 20:29

[MDMA .]

Evolved said:

Just to add: I think like the cossie's of yesteryear, they also suffered badly but now have emerged the other side as a collectable and desirable car, now the oiks have lost interest in them, I can guarantee the Evo's and Imprezza's of the 90's will go the same way. By that point they'll be stupidly expensive again and I'll have missed the boat.

Edited by Evolved on Wednesday 28th September 12:38

problem is, not many bought Evo's and Impreza's and stored away ( like RS Fords ). you'd be hard pressed to find in the classifieds any 90's Evo or Impreza with less than 10-20k miles on the clock.

[Evolved]

MDMA . said:

problem is, not many bought Evo's and Impreza's and stored away ( like RS Fords ). you'd be hard pressed to find in the classifieds any 90's Evo or Impreza with less than 10-20k miles on the clock.

True enough but having followed the trend of the RS cars suddenly exploding, I'd question how genuine most of those 'low miler' actually are, they do after all come from an age where you could use a tooth pick to 'amend' the miles

My preferred Evo has and always will be the 9 having owned a GT, they havnt shifted in price since I sold mine 7 years ago, much to my annoyance as it was a truly great car. Certainly one to keep if I did buy again.

[eybic]

rb5er said:

Evolved said:

Good in their day but suffer from poor image now, terrible on fuel and dynamically weren't the best, plus finding one that hasn't been thrashed is hard work.

No poor image as standard imo. Can do 30mpg, I manage 25mpg. Dynamically, well see the video posted above and all performance cars will have been thrashed on occasion. You are talking balls.

I think what he was referring to with regards to the image is that they became a cheap car that a lot of scrotes could afford to thrash around housing estates and down dual carriageways, the same as pretty much any performance car which does give them a negative image as far as joe public is concerned.