Thinking of getting a non turbo Impreza
Discussion
Hi, I'm looking to get a new car to replace my C1 sometime next year. I keep looking at non Turbo Impreza's around the 2003/2004 mark as I have a planned budget of around £4k. I don't think there is much point owning a turbo as I don't really do many miles anymore and do quite a few short runs. I fancy the idea of AWD tho so I can have fun in the snow and enjoy the extra grip/handling.
Has anyone on here had one or had any experiances with them? Are they reliable and practical to own?
Thanks
Has anyone on here had one or had any experiances with them? Are they reliable and practical to own?
Thanks
I have owned my 51plate 1.6ts for nearly 7 years. Has been excellent reliability wise, nothing has gone wrong (touches wood). I now do the oil service myself and have had the cambelt/tensioners done, i had to change a numberplate bulb once too. Apart from that nothing.
Great in the snow too (see profile). Quite slow and thirsty are downsides.
Great in the snow too (see profile). Quite slow and thirsty are downsides.
pidsy said:
isnt the fact that you dont do many miles the perfect excuse to get a turbo?
you'd get a very nice blob eye wrx for £4k. i'm thinking about changing my bugeye for a blobeye wagon.
as mentioned - they are pretty thirsty - i average 22mpg.
This.you'd get a very nice blob eye wrx for £4k. i'm thinking about changing my bugeye for a blobeye wagon.
as mentioned - they are pretty thirsty - i average 22mpg.
Get the turbo. Just for the piece of mind. Imagine if you had to get somewhere quickly... You'll kick yourself!
The only thing that worries me with a turbo is the insurance and also I don't want to damage the turbo by doing too many small runs and not letting it warm up and cool down properly. I just got a qoute for a WRX STI and it come back at £1500 comp, which is a bit steep for me. The most I want to pay on insurance is around half that amount. If I was a wimp and went for a 2l GX Sport AWD (2003 model) the insurance jumps down to £610 comp whilst a 2l turbo 1999 model rolls in at £1200 insurance.
The main thing I want to try and avoid is to pay alot of money each month on insurance and maintence costs when I will be only using a car around 3 times a week..
The main thing I want to try and avoid is to pay alot of money each month on insurance and maintence costs when I will be only using a car around 3 times a week..
Dont worry about the turbo scare stories - just warm it up and down and itll be fine.
And if it does go bang, get another one - they arent expensive.
The difference between a non tub and an sti is significant! Try a good solid wrx and you'll be fine.
Must be young and/or live in an ins risk area to be getting quotes like that.
And if it does go bang, get another one - they arent expensive.
The difference between a non tub and an sti is significant! Try a good solid wrx and you'll be fine.
Must be young and/or live in an ins risk area to be getting quotes like that.
paulmoonraker said:
Just dont rev it hard for the last 30 seconds of journey. You dont need to sit there like a t
t for 10 minutes on your drive.
True, its also worth noting that as you will be buying second hand, you dont know what (if anything) the previous owners have done in terms of looking after the turbo - so its an unknown quantity anyway.t for 10 minutes on your drive.I always say get the best that you can afford. If you love WRX and STI Imprezas then I'm not sure buying a non-turbo Impreza will cut it for you. I've always loved Type Rs, but I could not justify an EK9 or a DC2 right now, so I got an EP3, another car I've always wanted to own.
Your budget and insurance costs might prohibit you from buying a newer STI, but if you've wanted a turbo Impreza for so long, buying something that looks like an Impreza, handles decently but does not go like an Impreza could leave you dissatisfied, in which case you will probably end up selling it and buying the car you wanted all along! If I were you, I'd be looking at a classic Impreza or a bugeye, in WRX form. If you only do a few miles see if insurers will knock the price down accordingly, and fewer miles means less tears at the fuel pump too, since you won't need to fill up so often.
Finally, don't worry about the turbo. As long as you let the oil and coolant get up to temp before driving hard it will be ok, 8-10 minutes is a good rule of thumb, though it used to take only 6 in my Cupra R (had an oil temp gauge fitted). Make sure the last few minutes of driving in any journey are smooth and gentle, to keep the revs down and let the air flowing over the engine cool things off. It's true that you don't know what the previous owner has done to look after the turbo, you can try and look at how they do things if they take you for a demo drive, but you can never be sure. That said, you could say that for all sorts of things, buying a car is always taking a jump!
Your budget and insurance costs might prohibit you from buying a newer STI, but if you've wanted a turbo Impreza for so long, buying something that looks like an Impreza, handles decently but does not go like an Impreza could leave you dissatisfied, in which case you will probably end up selling it and buying the car you wanted all along! If I were you, I'd be looking at a classic Impreza or a bugeye, in WRX form. If you only do a few miles see if insurers will knock the price down accordingly, and fewer miles means less tears at the fuel pump too, since you won't need to fill up so often.
Finally, don't worry about the turbo. As long as you let the oil and coolant get up to temp before driving hard it will be ok, 8-10 minutes is a good rule of thumb, though it used to take only 6 in my Cupra R (had an oil temp gauge fitted). Make sure the last few minutes of driving in any journey are smooth and gentle, to keep the revs down and let the air flowing over the engine cool things off. It's true that you don't know what the previous owner has done to look after the turbo, you can try and look at how they do things if they take you for a demo drive, but you can never be sure. That said, you could say that for all sorts of things, buying a car is always taking a jump!
Thanks for the advice 
I've been looking at a few turbo 2000's and the insurance is a little cheaper. I got a few qoutes around the £800 mark, which isn't too bad considering + the cars are cheaper to buy. I think I may have to look into these more I just hope theres still some good examples left.
I've been looking at a few turbo 2000's and the insurance is a little cheaper. I got a few qoutes around the £800 mark, which isn't too bad considering + the cars are cheaper to buy. I think I may have to look into these more I just hope theres still some good examples left.Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff