Audi S2 Avant vs Subaru Impreza wagon
Discussion
Who has had both to compare? I had a S2 Avant N300 last year, which was putting out 330bhp. This was more than fast enough for what I want, but I found it a bit dull to drive. It was great for straight line pace and wicked for over taking over cars, but for the rest of the time it was boring.
I have a dog and do a bit of camping etc. so an estate appeals to me but I want something fun to drive. The classic Impreza is the car I like the look of out of all the Impreza's, is this the one to go for?
I have a dog and do a bit of camping etc. so an estate appeals to me but I want something fun to drive. The classic Impreza is the car I like the look of out of all the Impreza's, is this the one to go for?
I have a 355bhp RB5 that is a lot of fun. Because the RB5 lacks refinement and with the setup (front mount/induction kit and converted to two scroll) it's quite visceral. It feels like a rush when on full boost whereas the standard cars although fast don't provide the same sensation imho. Over 330bhp and they really start to feel alive as they can move around a lot under full throttle.
They handle very well with a few cheap mods like a thicker rear arb. Lots mention under steer and they generally do from the factory but that can changed very cheaply.
I've owned mine for a lot of years now and still love to drive it when I get the chance.
My opinion is the Type R is probably the best of the bunch but the P1, RB5 are also great cars.
They handle very well with a few cheap mods like a thicker rear arb. Lots mention under steer and they generally do from the factory but that can changed very cheaply.
I've owned mine for a lot of years now and still love to drive it when I get the chance.
My opinion is the Type R is probably the best of the bunch but the P1, RB5 are also great cars.
I think it depends on what makes a car fun for you. The Scooby is certainly very raw and so feels alive, but, at least in standard form, it has comedy amounts of traction which mean it may be too competent to be "fun".
Definitely worth a drive though. I had a modded UK turbo, but always fancied an STi-V Type R
Chris
Definitely worth a drive though. I had a modded UK turbo, but always fancied an STi-V Type R
Chris
It was a nothelle, but tweaking the suspension could only do so much and would not have been what I wanted.
I want something fun that you can throw around. All out power doesn't bother me too much, just something with a good turn of pace.
Is there much difference between the subaru saloon and the wagon handling wise?
I want something fun that you can throw around. All out power doesn't bother me too much, just something with a good turn of pace.
Is there much difference between the subaru saloon and the wagon handling wise?
xstian said:
It was a nothelle, but tweaking the suspension could only do so much and would not have been what I wanted.
I want something fun that you can throw around. All out power doesn't bother me too much, just something with a good turn of pace.
Is there much difference between the subaru saloon and the wagon handling wise?
Apparently yes - there's a thicker section in the chassis near the back - I had a wagon and there was minimum understeer (if you at least feather the throttle) and I recommend them highly.I want something fun that you can throw around. All out power doesn't bother me too much, just something with a good turn of pace.
Is there much difference between the subaru saloon and the wagon handling wise?
But (as noted above) with large amounts of grip/traction you can't have fun at anywhere near legal speeds.
Orangecurry said:
But (as noted above) with large amounts of grip/traction you can't have fun at anywhere near legal speeds.
That worth bearing in mind. I hadn't really thought about it being to good.I used to have an integrale about 10 years ago. That was awesome fun and I would have another in a heart bear, but with out a garage I don't really fancy it. I was hoping the impreza could fill this gap.
lilwashu said:
Personally I don't equate fun in a car with losing traction. A classic Impreza is great fun to chuck around.
Yes it is. I owned one for nine years and 100k miles.But we need to be careful that 'fun' means the same thing - at legal speeds on the public roads?
In typical mission-creep style, I would strongly recommend a 5-door Impreza as an exceptionally capable car (with at least a PPP otherwise you may be underwhelmed), AND an MX-5 for fun at legal speeds.
Forester STI if you want an estate. Try it, you won't be disappointed. 
Been a couple of threads on them recently:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Been a couple of threads on them recently:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Ryvita on Monday 30th November 12:52
had both. cant compare them to each other, although I had the RS2, not S2. was lightly tuned too.
got a Forester STI now and really like it. not as fast as the RS2 / S2 but its something different. lad near me has a S2 with the Nothelle conversion, cup replica wheels. looking a bit rusty now though.
got a Forester STI now and really like it. not as fast as the RS2 / S2 but its something different. lad near me has a S2 with the Nothelle conversion, cup replica wheels. looking a bit rusty now though.
Edited by MDMA . on Monday 30th November 13:58
I'm not interested in a Forester one bit. I'm sure it's ok, but definitely not what I'm after.
The RS2 above looks nice though. I was originally looking for an RS2, but the nothelle came up at a third of the price and had all the RS2 components fitted to it. The trouble with it was, it's biggest party trick was it's turn of pace, which is fun to start with but gets a little boring when the rest of the car can't follow it up.
The RS2 above looks nice though. I was originally looking for an RS2, but the nothelle came up at a third of the price and had all the RS2 components fitted to it. The trouble with it was, it's biggest party trick was it's turn of pace, which is fun to start with but gets a little boring when the rest of the car can't follow it up.
a nice impreza wagon might be for you then. seen a couple of really nice ones recently. they look so much nicer standard though. big / wrong wheels just spoil them. standard all the way !
nice classic wagon here. dealer gets a good rep too for jdm cars :http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/subaru/impreza-sti/wrx-sti-version-6-wagon/3994229
nice classic wagon here. dealer gets a good rep too for jdm cars :http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/subaru/impreza-sti/wrx-sti-version-6-wagon/3994229
Edited by MDMA . on Monday 30th November 14:50
The 80 series Audis will always be compromised by having that big inline 5 hanging out the front. As you say, it's pretty much a one-trick straight line acceleration car. It's never going to be balanced through the twisties.
For an everyday car, I'd suggest a newage Wagon (Classics for weekends). Go for a PPP at a minimum. Having said that, even a standard one will easily map to 280bhp with just some exhaust upgrades and a few other bits. 330bhp+ is possible if you swap in a bigger STi turbo. Does change the character somewhat, as you get more power further up the revs but sacrifice responsiveness and low down pull on the smaller TD04.
It's all about the chassis anyway. Get that right first and you'll have a fun car, no matter what the power. Unless your idea of fun is sliding about, in which case just fit s
t tyres 
Some Pro-drive springs, uprated rear ARB and better brakes (STi Brembos or aftermarket) is all that's required to have a nicely balanced, all-road, all-weather blaster.
Very easy to work on if that's your thing; generally well designed/engineered and robust. Parts don't suffer "M"/"RS" tax and there are a lot of good breakers around for sourcing second-hand parts.
For an everyday car, I'd suggest a newage Wagon (Classics for weekends). Go for a PPP at a minimum. Having said that, even a standard one will easily map to 280bhp with just some exhaust upgrades and a few other bits. 330bhp+ is possible if you swap in a bigger STi turbo. Does change the character somewhat, as you get more power further up the revs but sacrifice responsiveness and low down pull on the smaller TD04.
It's all about the chassis anyway. Get that right first and you'll have a fun car, no matter what the power. Unless your idea of fun is sliding about, in which case just fit s
t tyres Some Pro-drive springs, uprated rear ARB and better brakes (STi Brembos or aftermarket) is all that's required to have a nicely balanced, all-road, all-weather blaster.
Very easy to work on if that's your thing; generally well designed/engineered and robust. Parts don't suffer "M"/"RS" tax and there are a lot of good breakers around for sourcing second-hand parts.
I've had the older S2 Avant - the Impreza is less dull but very similar really - too competent to have fun (which I equate to balancing the car on the edge of grip) at anything like legal speeds.
My 8v Integrale was better, possibly because it was slower.
I've yet to find a fun 4WD - partly to do with how competent they are and partly because they don't have a fixed power split - unlike a RWD you don't know how much power is going to each end so you can't predict exactly what it's going to do near the limit of grip.
My 8v Integrale was better, possibly because it was slower.
I've yet to find a fun 4WD - partly to do with how competent they are and partly because they don't have a fixed power split - unlike a RWD you don't know how much power is going to each end so you can't predict exactly what it's going to do near the limit of grip.
The S2 was never about handling. It would understeer for Britain. Scoobies had the power and handling, but you'd need to modify it to keep up with an S2 in a straight line.
A modded Scooby with 350ish BHP would be a better prospect with both the power and handling.
An S2 could be modified to handle, but still never as well as the Subaru.
A modded Scooby with 350ish BHP would be a better prospect with both the power and handling.
An S2 could be modified to handle, but still never as well as the Subaru.
V8RX7 said:
I've yet to find a fun 4WD - partly to do with how competent they are and partly because they don't have a fixed power split - unlike a RWD you don't know how much power is going to each end so you can't predict exactly what it's going to do near the limit of grip.
I was all set to increase the power on my Forester 2.5 turbo but even as standard I found it difficult to have fun. Ended up having to drive round B roads in bad conditions to really enjoy it. Favourite drive was heading home via the Ochils instead of the M90 with a touch of snow around at the edge of the road.Ended up selling it as a fun drive in it really had to be planned out or a good road lucked into. Ironically it would have been belting on the singletrack road I take to work now...
Doesn't help the OP though!
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