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We've spoken about these things before on STW. I've been kind of looking for one, on and off, for a few years now. I know I'll scratch the itch eventually but this is bad timing.
I'm going to see this in a few hours- https://ebay.to/2KpLyy7
Purely out of curiosity, and because I'm in the area.
But it ticks all my want boxes. It's black on black on black, heated leather seats, unmodified, low mileage, above average MOT history etc... Not many of these left now.
I don't have a daily commute so mpg is negligible. Insurance is just over £600. I did try test driving Citroen Berlingo's but after having a van for 6 years I'm over it.
What's the worst that can happen?
What’s the worst that can happen?
You’ll get over excited and chuck it in a hedge ?
🤣🤔
probably expensive to refuel it. Worth it though. Have a look at owners groups to see what to look out for.
Probably obvious stuff like listen out for knocks etc.
It’s Japanese......it’ll be soooo reliable.
Probably.
Worst that can happen is the bids go up and up and it goes for crazy money.
And you are the winning bidder.
19-21 mpg ..... get used to your local garage forecourt
What’s the worst that can happen?
A mate of mine died in his when the car came off less well than a Malvern stone wall 🙁
Had one for a while ... stunning car to drive ....
23 mpg was hard to take .... even though it was as company car. Don't expect the interior to be plush ....
Did they offer the prodrive exhaust from factory on these? I had a blobeye STI that came fitted from factory but wasn't sure they were available on the WRX.
They are very thirsty, laggy and feel a bit agricultural to drive. I hated driving mine in traffic but if it's just a weekend car that shouldn't matter.
They are not made for tall people. I am 6'5", and although I loved mine with a passion, I'm pretty sure that controlling the clutch with my left knee up near my ear was responsible for the damage to cartilage in that knee - bloomin-eck that was sore.
Also, after years as a rep covering everything north of Dundee in an Astra or Accord, I bought the Scooby-do years later when I lived in Hampshire.
I drove it once, only once, on the old back road rat-runs in NE Scotland I used to drive all the time. A 4 wheels of the ground and one wheeled landing off a bridge onto an off camber corner made me extremely glad I never had it when I was a rep!
God, but I loved that car. Same as the black one your looking at, but silver and with PPP.
Just drove it. It's not as clean as it looks in the pictures. Bodywork is better than most but rusty wishbones and loads of welding on the front subframe.
It's obviously been sitting a while but it fired up first time from cold. No smoke, no knocks or rattles. Gearbox felt like a bag of rocks until it warmed up then was fine.
Tyres are perished, brakes are crap. Loads of whirring from the diffs but nothing weird. It's got a 600 quid receipt for loads of engine work including big end bearings, every gasket etc...
It just wasn't fast though. I might be mistaken but I seem to remember them being pretty swift. It just didn't have that turbo rush. Felt flatter than the T5 I've just sold.
What’s the worst that can happen?
Do they still shit their bottom ends (or is it 'middle' end with a Boxer engine?) with alarming regularity without provocation?
They aren't that fast compared to some of the modern stuff now tbh, but it shouldn't feel slow. The hot hatch game has really moved on since these things were king of the tree. 220hp or thereabouts is 100hp down on a Golf R or civic type r etc.
It just wasn’t fast though......It’s obviously been sitting a while.... Boost hoses? stuck actuator?
Check if the cambelt has been changed or not, I think they should be done every 50,000 miles.
When pricing up a cambelt throw a cambelt tensioner into the costings, my 2001 WRX needed one both times the belt was changed.
My mate had a boggo WRX for a while ( would be the saloon version of this ).
They drive very nicely, handling is sweet with nice weight and feedback from the steering.
But no they aren't that quick. I had a 200bhp Leon FR at the same time and it was easily as quick in a straight line as his Impreza. The suffer a bit from old school turbo lag and less torque low down compared to a more modern direct injection low pressure turbo engines with their flat torque curve from 2000 to 5000 rpm.
Still very nice to drive but if I was buying one I'd want a really straight one that I could garage and not lose much money on if I sold it down the line
How are they so thirsty!?
My Golf GTI has very slightly less power, also from a 2l turbo engine and that gets 35ish mpg in normal use. Even driving it like a loon you'd struggle to get low-20s for any prolonged period.
I test drove one of those brand new back in 2002 and thought it was slow then, so I'd imagine they feel really slow now.
I couldnt believe the fuss made about them back then, the interior was terrible and it was slower than a slow thing.
How are they so thirsty!?
My Golf GTI has very slightly less power, also from a 2l turbo engine and that gets 35ish mpg in normal use. Even driving it like a loon you’d struggle to get low-20s for any prolonged period.
Progess, I’m guessing a turbocharged golf is a bit newer.
Just do it. Cars like that won’t be around long or ever repeated.
I’m trying to justify a big V8 - the longer I leave it, the less chance I think I’ll get to own one...
How are they so thirsty!?
My Golf GTI has very slightly less power, also from a 2l turbo engine and that gets 35ish mpg in normal use. Even driving it like a loon you’d struggle to get low-20s for any prolonged period.
Old-school engine and inefficient, but robust 4WD system.
Engine's not exactly a technical masterpiece, but Subaru are a tiny car maker - it's (possibly) interesting that when they partnered with Toyota for the BRZ / GT86, with their help they were able to produce a N/a version of the engine with 197bhp in a car that can average 40mpg easily (well unless you're drifting to work or whatever).
WRX's aren't all that fast. For a weekend car I'd be looking for a PPP STI (~305bhp).
Even so, once rolling they aren't that much faster than a Civic type R or similar.
Off the line is another story!
They are not made for tall people. I am 6’5″, and although I loved mine with a passion, I’m pretty sure that controlling the clutch with my left knee up near my ear was responsible for the damage to cartilage in that knee
I'm 6'2' and I fitted in alright but that clutch felt like standing in a deep pot hole!
Just do it. Cars like that won’t be around long or ever repeated.
You're right, they won't. And I will, but maybe not today.
WRX’s aren’t all that fast. For a weekend car I’d be looking for a PPP STI (~305bhp).
If I wanted an outright weekend hooligan I'd be looking for something completely different. I just like the all round ability of a Scooby wagon. Carrying bikes is a must, the AWD would be interesting around here in the winter.
Yeah in summary, I think if it was a classified ad and I had some time to haggle over what needs doing I'd still consider it. It needs tyres and brake discs immediately.
I'll keep an eye on it tonight and see what happens.
I had a black 04 saloon WRX and then an 07 silver STI, I had had Impreza's for 11 years up to getting rid this Feb and this username comes from when I registered on Scoobynet (mudflaps were all the rage back then).
Great cars but they look dated now in my opinion, especially inside. My 2007 one had a tape/cd combo and lacked many of the comforts to be expected in a more modern car. The carpet, door panels and seats were starting to show their age too and it was a low mileage car. This and the tax was the reason I got rid. It was something like £48 a month to tax the STI, my new car is £20 for the year.
I miss the AWD and it was a good talking point but apart from that i'm glad I swapped.
Re-that one, was the leather a factory upgrade or done later? Looks like the Spec D interior.
Tip, if buying one then you probably want the STI, most people who want an Impreza do so i'd just go straight for that. Despite the WRX being good, if you want one because of the Burns/McRae eras then go for the top model.
I recently bought a black car, it is nice when clean (which takes bloody ages) that last for 30 seconds then it somehow it is filthy again. I don't even have to drive it, it's magic!
Whats the worst that can happen?
"Catink catink" ... oh look, a rod!
I don't know anyone who has owned a turbo Subaru that hasn't had to rebuild it. Saying that, I'd still buy one!
Two lads at work had the STIs the 2l and the 2.5 ,the later is known for head gasket cooking and both returned next to bugger all on a run . I had the 3l legacy which was just a money pit .. I vowed id never own another Subaru again, yes they are fast off the mark but id much rather have my mapped dirty oil burner ..dirty derv torque all the way
Thank God you went to look at it.
Someone's going to be paying a lot of money for a car they might not have even seen in the flesh, which by all accounts sounds like a bit of a dog.
I miss my 2005 limited edition ppp blob (my 2nd impreza) everyday, sub 5 seconds and would piss all over a civic or golf on anything but a straight road accelerating from 70mph. Had it whilst on holiday in Scotland one year, what a week that was!! As above 50k cam belt will require tensioners and I wouldn't risk one that hadn't been done. I stupidly let mine go as the 2nd owner just under 5 years ago for 3500, I'd get a grand more than that for it now in average condition. I did place a deposit on an rb320 which if garaged would have been a great investment also. A great drivers car, but will catch you out if pushed hard and you don't know what to do.
The action just ended at £4325.50 I hope the winning bidder has seen the thing. It needs at least a grand throwing on immediate fixes.
I'm happy I went actually. I always feel like I've missed out on these things but in this case, someone else is welcome to it.
I'll keep looking.
Cheers for all the pointers. If I find another one, I'll let you in on it!
It’s got a 600 quid receipt for loads of engine work including big end bearings, every gasket etc…
Was that including labour? That sounds far too cheap for doing the big ends. Looks like somebody got carried away with the bidding on this, I reckon you dodged a bullet there!
The 2.5's are the fragile ones.
Forget the Impreza and get a Legacy or outback 3.0r, ideally a Spec B. 245bhp flat 6 which can be upped to 280+ with headers, exhaust, filter and map, the same Subaru AWD system, and awesome comfort and load lugging ability. And you also don't exist to all the boy racers/sales reps in tdi Audi's so you won't get them having a go at every set of lights.
Oh and it'll do 30mpg. On a long run. At a steady 70mph. If you don't press the accelerator too much. Just. 😀
Standard they aren't that quick. They seem to rely on the legacy of Colin MMccrae. But throw some money at them and they can get quite silly. Depends if you are doing the work yourself or praying for the labour.
They are easy to break though - have a look at the mighty car mods channel on YouTube. They have repaired a couple.
Bollocks I wish I'd seen this one, https://ebay.to/2Kt44pu
I could have seen both at the same time. Might even go up on Saturday and use it as an excuse to hit Leeds bike park.
Every time I see the Top Gear Africa special I want a wrx wagon, every time I looked for one and did research I didn't want one.
My best mate is a very senior engineer employed in a multinational car manufacturer who may or may not have design offices in the South East of England. With that potentially litigious bit out of the way, he bought a minter low mileage Impreza back in 1998, the first non-F.whoops non-transatlantic motor manufacturer with a possibly anti-semitic founder that I can think of. Anyway, the Impreza broke down a lot, more so than my own late 1990s V6 Italian saloon. The difference was that Subaru had amazing customer service even with recently warranty expired cars (my mate's piston slap was sorted under warranty with two new pistons and a new cylinder head, belts and tuning - my Alfa's electronic malaise amounted to a new earth strap at £296.37). To this day, none of my mate's Dag...whoops....Luton...Halewood...Ryton etc dustbins have ever failed to get him home.
Short version is that it's going to be a mechanical dog, just that the developmental bugs have been fixed by now.
Have you considered a PPP (Prodrive Performance Pack) car?
Makes it a bit quicker, really improves mid range torque. Worth a look if you have no plans to mod, but want a bit more go.
Interior is functional, but plasticy and basic. They feel a lot more chuckable and raw compared to an S4, S4 feels a lot more refined.
They are cheap, fun and relatively practical, parts are cheap, service parts are cheap, they are cheap to mod (STI parts are readily available so a bolt on OEM upgrade path). Look generally not to bad to work on.
Watch for rust.
I had one a few years back from new (a 2002 one). I changed the oil at 5,000 miles between services (and always used synthetic oil), it had 130K on it when it was written off, and never burnt any oil or missed a beat.
The "standard" car had a great engine that was strangled somewhat by the dual cat exhaust, got rid of one of my cats and that made quite a difference.
Loved driving it, but it would bite like an old Porsche 911 -i.e. one minute it's all fine and dandy, the next you are going backwards.
I drove it to the Alps once, and went up the mountain (with winter tyres on) - The only thing that passed me was another Impreza that had the narrow Rally snow tyres on, everyone else had to stop and put chains on.....
Happy days, but I think now you should think of them as a classic car, so not expect top performance, modern engines have moved on a lot since the boxer, but I still love the sound
Have you considered a PPP (Prodrive Performance Pack) car?
That black one had a Prodrive backbox on. Not sure if it had the full pack. If it did, then there was definitely something wrong with it regarding power delivery.
That silver one that's round the corner from them is a PPP. Looks nice but it's not black. I really love the way black ones look, especially on black wheels etc.
but I think now you should think of them as a classic car, so not expect top performance, modern engines have moved on a lot since the boxer
Definitely. I'm under no illusions about refinement. I've had Opel Manta's, Ford Capri's, turbobrick RWD Volvo's etc.. An Impreza would be the youngest car I've ever had apart from the one we just got for my girlfriend. I still consider heated seats and working air con the height of luxury.
My last Capri was a Cosworth powered, turbo nutter, tyre melter. I just want that kind of acceleration again but with more grip and a bigger boot!
While I appear to have some Japanese 'performance' car people, does anyone want to buy a 2007 (57 plate) civic type r gt (fn2 model), in red, Aircon etc. owned by my wife from new,full honda service history, 73000 miles, 10 months left on the mot. Good tyres (Michelin pilot supersports) witha few mm left all round. Brakes are all good,lots of pads left, discs all fine, shouldn't need anything spending except think a CV joint is on the way out. Completely standard car,no mods/boy racer bits etc.
While I appear to have some Japanese ‘performance’ car people, does anyone want to buy a 2007 (57 plate) civic type r gt (fn2 model), in red, Aircon etc. owned by my wife from new,full honda service history, 73000 miles, 10 months left on the mot. Good tyres (Michelin pilot supersports) witha few mm left all round. Brakes are all good,lots of pads left, discs all fine, shouldn’t need anything spending except think a CV joint is on the way out. Completely standard car,no mods/boy racer bits etc
Yeah but its not an EP3 is it 🙂
If I hadn't swapped cars a year ago I'd bite your arm off.
Thanks all, I haven't advertised it anywhere ,but will probably part ex it in the next month or so.