C32 or Impreza

[dkl]

Just wondering what your thoughts are on the above. We will replace our Impreza estate soon and had planned another, new or all but. For the same money there are a few C32 estates around, 2 up in Yorkshire, which look an all together more interesting proposition.
Now they will be older and have between 50 and 80K on the clock. Are they hideously expensive to run, the Impreza isn't exactly cheap, both service bills were not much short of £600.
At least one owner here feels his is very unreliable. This would surprise me but I could be guilty of falling for the "quality" marketing. More importantly SWMBO would drive it much more than me so it must be reliable.
In the long run it would surely depreciate less than a new (ish) vehicle and so offset any higher running costs, or am I reaching a little.

Cheers
David

[mergli]

I'm not really qualified to answer this but I have never been an Impreza fan (too many chavved up old ones round our way - I must be getting old!!) so personally I'd go for the C32.
I'm sure the C32 owners will be able to advise on servicing costs but what I would say is to get the basic services done at MB (for the stamp in the book to keep up the MobiloLife cover) with additional work done at a good independant garage (to avoid the £100 per hour labour charge).

[pentoman]

I think it's accepted you would lose less money on a few year old AMG car than a nearly new Impreza... but if you're planning to keep it for a while, you could compare prices of mid-90s cars for an approximate indicators. Imprezas hold fairly good values at 10-15 years old, while C36s and C43s are still worth more than your everyday bangers but don't seem especially high on residuals considering how much more they would've cost new?

Agree with taking it to a good dealer (perhaps get a recommendation) or independent because that's probably the biggest headache for most Merc owners!

As for driving, it's got to be a matter of preference. The C32 will handle well and do a lot of other things very nicely, if that appeals to you as it does to me then it's a pretty neat package. But I bet the Impreza will handle and drive with an extra 10% of everything (except power)!

Please take a test drive and report back.. i'd be interested to hear.

[tonylal]

Having owned an Impreza and sold Mercs I would say stick with what you know. Nearly every C32 I sold came back with gremlins. I cannot believe they get better with age and mileage. At least this one is made in Germany unlike its smaller engined brothers.
Sure the kick from the Super Charger is nice, but its slushmatic only and hunts around for the gears a lot. Why not just ppp the impreza and enjoy the reliability.....