Fancy a turbocharged Subaru Impreza? Whether you're after a Classic UK Turbo 2000, a wild Jap import or a contemporary WRX or STI you need to know which models make the best buys, and why
Humble Impreza 2000 Turbo spawned a legacy
Just over 20 years ago the first few Japanese import Subaru Impreza WRX saloons started to appear on UK roads. Strikingly-badged turbocharged versions of the more mundane normally-aspirated Impreza that UK buyers had recently been offered, they were the starting point for Subaru's new World Rally Championship car.
To many at the time they were seen as something of a poor relation - especially to petrolheads brought up on a diet of Audi Quattros, Cosworth Fords and Lancia Delta Integrales. But over the next few years the humble Subaru changed the rally scene forever.
We received our own version of the WRX in 1994 - the Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 - but by then the super-hot WRX STI version had been launched in Japan, and that was the model future PHers really wanted. As the WRX STI continued to evolve Subaru was stamping its own mark on the World Rally Championship, with three manufacturers' titles on the trot from 1995 to 1997. And when our own Colin McRae won the drivers' crown in 1995 demand for both the 'official' UK Turbo 2000 and Jap-import WRX and WRX STI models exploded.
Cosworth hatch bookends the UK story
The 'new-age' model had to supercede the original Classic Impreza before we finally received the full-fat STI versions in Britain, and today - after numerous special editions, the rise of Prodrive, facelifts, two-door models, further Subaru World Rally drivers' crowns for Richard Burns in 2001 and Petter Solberg in 2003, a hatchback version in 2007 and the deletion of the Impreza name in 2009 - we have come full circle. Just as in 1993 the WRX and WRX STI are not currently officially imported into the UK.
Hopefully this situation will change very soon, but in the mean time what we really want to know is which models are gaining value and which aren't? Which versions makes the best daily drivers, and which the best future classics? And perhaps most importantly of all which make the best base for tuning?
Many thanks to the following for their help with this feature: Adam Harper, Richard Holburn, Paul Peterkin, Dan Bloomfield, Jon Mathers, Mark Thwaites at Thwaites Developments, Glen and Keith at Revolution 24/7, Richard Good at KW Automotive, Mark Holcombe at Cosworth, Sha at Pole Position, Bob Rawle at BR Developments, Kev at Scooby Clinic, Paul at Zen Performance and Darren James at Pro-R.