Tuesday 12th November 2013

Subaru Impreza: Market Watch

As a new generation of Impreza awaits unveiling we look back at the market for an old PH favourite

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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?

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Introduction
Classic Impreza Turbo/WRX/STi (1992-2000)
WRX and WRX STI (aka Bug Eye) (2000-2002)
WRX and WRX STIi (aka Blob Eye) (2003-2004)
WRX and WRX STI (aka Hawk Eye) (2005-2007)
Gen 3 WRX and WRX STI (2008-2011)

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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.

 

[mkn1ght]

Did the Impreza spawn a legacy or did the Legacy spawn an Impreza?

[VladD]

I had a Type-R. Lovely thing, but a far better car than I am a driver. I had fun with it, but was nowhere near brave or talented enough to be able to throw it around. I still miss it though.

[bonesX]

Of all the many different flavoured Impreza's owned, the Type R was the best fun (for me, before I get flamed)

A few years back I bought another, which I still own... superb machine.

Bilstein dampers, Prodrive developed for UK roads P1 springs and 330 BHP which is (again IMO) AMPLE for the road

[LankyPaddy]

As someone who is currently looking at the man maths behind justifying and buying their first Impreza this article is somewhat well timed!

[suffolk009]

I bought the first of my old wagons on my wife's instruction. "Go and buy an estate car. I don't care what it is, I can't put the baby in the back of the Saab". Since then two more children, and another wagon, and two Legacy GTBs.

Three went to the scrappies with blown head gaskets/warped heads.

Very much regret not getting a P1 when they were almost new.

I'd happily have another one.

[Ennoch]

Just do it. They're fun cars to hustle, and providing you're not spending £20k on one, great value. I'd recommend going for an STi over a WRX though if you're in any way likely to tune it up from standard. The insurance difference is negligible, as is servicing and fuel, but you'll end up wanting to tweak the WRX anyway and it'll probably cost you what you could have spent on a tidy STI in the first place.

Can I just re-iterate that first point? Sod the man maths and do it.

[Escort3500]

bonesX said:

Of all the many different flavoured Impreza's owned, the Type R was the best fun (for me, before I get flamed)

A few years back I bought another, which I still own... superb machine.

Bilstein dampers, Prodrive developed for UK roads P1 springs and 330 BHP which is (again IMO) AMPLE for the road

And the best looking IMHO

[drewbagz]

Gen 3 WRX and WRX STI (aka Japs-eye??)(2008-2011)

[drewbagz]

Escort3500 said:

bonesX said:

Of all the many different flavoured Impreza's owned, the Type R was the best fun (for me, before I get flamed)

A few years back I bought another, which I still own... superb machine.

Bilstein dampers, Prodrive developed for UK roads P1 springs and 330 BHP which is (again IMO) AMPLE for the road

And the best looking IMHO

+1

[HonestIago]

I've got a Turbo 2000 wagon with the Prodrive Performance Pack and I think it is utterly brilliant. It inspires huge confidence even in the wet, is great in the snow on winter tyres, very practical and is plenty quick enough for the B roads where I live. Having said that it's no slouch in a straight line either and the flat four rumble is simply wonderful!

[bonesX]

+1 for wagons (I'm a big fan, I've had 3 ).

The best one was a classic 300BHP STi I used as a DD

[greggy50]

I find myself drawn to this...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

What sort of MPG would these achieve on a run is 25 optimistic?

[Ved]

mkn1ght said:

Did the Impreza spawn a legacy or did the Legacy spawn an Impreza?

The legacy came first but was always a different model alongside.

[Ved]

Still some great examples out there for very little money. They're like nothing else to drive and if you're not a badge snob they can be very rewarding to have as a daily car, especially the wagons.

Here's 50% of my driveway from the car pool feature a few weeks back

[Andy ap]

Damnit stop teasing me....I really want one but the insurance is just pissing me off. Even with no claims (just) clean license and 10 odd years experience the fkers still want about a grand for a WRX. I can forget aspiring to an STi

Touch wood.....

[Turbobanana]

3 door? Was there a 3 door?

[mp3manager]

bonesX said:

Of all the many different flavoured Impreza's owned, the Type R was the best fun (for me, before I get flamed)

A few years back I bought another, which I still own... superb machine.

Bilstein dampers, Prodrive developed for UK roads P1 springs and 330 BHP which is (again IMO) AMPLE for the road

How many ended up....backwards into a hedge!

[4a4]

Turbobanana said:

3 door? Was there a 3 door?

Picture above seems to suggest so ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Ved]

Turbobanana said:

3 door? Was there a 3 door?

Yep but only on the classics.

[xxxscimitarxxx]

Im a V8 yank bloke primarily but I bought my 93 RA as a kind of 'tick the box' purchase wanting to know what all the fuss was about....not a concourse example and somewhat of a Friday afternoon car I think but its grown on me in a year....yes I hate the sub 20 mpg you get with the low ratio box (I had a C4 ZR1 that was more economical) but it does fly for its thirst!.... and even though its basically a stock RA there not much that can touch it to 60....in stock form of course it runs out of legs at 180klm/hr being governed by a limiter which was imposed on its importation by nanny British legislation but that's been fixed and hopping up the power with a remap adds ponies to the 230 its got standard for its 1080 kg....

They have an early 20 something bad boy image! but Im 56 and even i couldn't resist some white 18s on it with a set of lowering springs to lose 30mm next....haha....they call it tuning in ricer circles don't they