Best Impreza for 7k

[JamesL91]

Afternoon all!

I've been given a budget of 7k (could stretch to 7.5/8 at a push) by my 'in-house financial advisor' and being a Subaru man through and through and not having one for a long time now, it is the time.

I've had a Blobeye STI a few years back, a BRZ and a Terzo for very short time (was fiddled with and spun a shell!)

So up to 7k, doing a 2 mile each way commute each day (investing in a push bike for the nice days too!) what would you get? Blob STI's seem to have shot up in price. I'm not adverse to the 2.5 engine despite it's foibles and I'm not adverse to a classic again either. WRX Type RA I think would be in budget and might be good for the short journeys?

Car will be used on my very short commute, for meets and shows.

What do we think then? So far looked at the Hawk WRX and the classics. Can't work out which classic is best for my budget.

Hatch is out as the Mrs might get one of those!

Cheers!

[Ahbefive]

Classic STi type-RA

Edited by Ahbefive on Monday 30th April 18:48

[vxr2010]

Jdm sti bugeye wagon

[JamesL91]

Ahbefive said:

Classic STi type-RA

Edited by Ahbefive on Monday 30th April 18:48

Do you reckon that's feasible for my budget? All I found were WRX's.

[JamesL91]

vxr2010 said:

Jdm sti bugeye wagon

I have no real need for an estate type car . JDM STI Bugeye saloon isn't a bad shout if I can find a nice one though!

[Ahbefive]

JamesL91 said:

Ahbefive said:

Classic STi type-RA

Edited by Ahbefive on Monday 30th April 18:48

Do you reckon that's feasible for my budget? All I found were WRX's.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F282939235060

[TEKNOPUG]

Budget £500 for a commuter shed. Doing regular short journeys is not a good idea for any car. Surely you can just walk?

[wjb]

RB5

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Probably the rarest with less than 300 left out of the original 444, this one might need a rebuild though

[Ahbefive]

I Loved my RB5 but wouldn't dream of buying one with 170k on the clock. They rust too much for that and that example does not have the PPP.

[rossub]

TEKNOPUG said:

Budget £500 for a commuter shed. Doing regular short journeys is not a good idea for any car. Surely you can just walk?

Agreed. An Impreza engine is going to be really unhappy doing 2 miles each way every day, as it'll never be up to temperature.

I'd be buying the smallest, cheapest, most reliable car I could find and garaging the Impreza for longer runs at the weekend.

[PWeston]

You should get a very nice classic for £7k - I wouldn't heed many of the advertised dealer prices. Most cars sit around for ages. I'd go JDM if I were you, I'd say all variants but the later (versions 5 &6) Type Rs are within reach.

[The_Immortal]

PWeston said:

You should get a very nice classic for £7k - I wouldn't heed many of the advertised dealer prices. Most cars sit around for ages. I'd go JDM if I were you, I'd say all variants but the later (versions 5 &6) Type Rs are within reach.

I'd be very impressed if anyone found a decent v5/v6 Type R for £7k.

[aaron_2000]

I'd be putting my money in an STI wagon, but seeing as you don't want/need a wagon, I think this is perfect:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUBARU-IMPREZA-TYPE-RA-...

[Ahbefive]

If you do find a v6 STi type'R and its not rotten fot £7k I'd buy it in a heartbeat. They are more like £10k-£12k these days.

Edited by Ahbefive on Friday 4th May 14:44

[aaron_2000]

There's a guy I know in Sheffield that has a forged rebuilt bugeye, want the link?

[wjb]

Ahbefive said:

I Loved my RB5 but wouldn't dream of buying one with 170k on the clock. They rust too much for that and that example does not have the PPP.

Loved mine too, but there aren't many left, plus with a few grand in the kitty you can get it rebuilt and any extra work done that's required

[Ahbefive]

The rusr repairs can cost more than the car at that money. I'd rather just find a good one.

Sold mine 2 years ago for just over £10k. What a car.

[PWeston]

The_Immortal said:

PWeston said:

You should get a very nice classic for £7k - I wouldn't heed many of the advertised dealer prices. Most cars sit around for ages. I'd go JDM if I were you, I'd say all variants but the later (versions 5 &6) Type Rs are within reach.

I'd be very impressed if anyone found a decent v5/v6 Type R for £7k.

Maybe it was my wording, I was trying to assert that you could get pretty much any JDM variant except v5 & 6 Type Rs for £7k. I fully understand good late Type Rs are £10k+ now.

[aaron_2000]

I remember a Japanese race driver saying the V1/2/3 were quite a bit better as a drivers car than the V4/5/6. I know you can still get a good V3 STI RA for under £7500.

[TEKNOPUG]

aaron_2000 said:

I remember a Japanese race driver saying the V1/2/3 were quite a bit better as a drivers car than the V4/5/6. I know you can still get a good V3 STI RA for under £7500.

The early cars are the lightest, so are more desirable from a driver's point of view. However, the models get progressively stiffer shells, more advanced engines/turbos, better gearboxes, better brakes etc. With an obvious weight penalty. Ideally you want an early model with a later model engine/drivetrain. But for an investment, originality is key.