2007 Imprezza 1.5

[Elroy Blue]

Very un-PH like but I'm looking for a second car for my wife. She's self employed and needs a 4x4, but doesn't want anything too big. Thinking about an Imprezza as the ideal solution. I don't know anything about them, so any users on here so can give some pointers of what to look out for. Its at 46000m, but can't find any obvious info on when cam belts should be changed.
Any info from someone who owns one would be welcome

[Goldmember1]

Hi,
Can't help you much .. Off memory it has the same service intervals as the 2.0l n/a petrol ie every 12k miles and I think the same belt-change service at 5yr/ 60k miles

BUT and I know this is isn't very constructive but pls hear me out .....

I lived with a 1.5 Impreza for 6 months ..

Yes I actually bought one on the premise that it made economic sense as I did 30k a year and it would save me money running 1 of these instead of a WRX . I was wrong ..
The car itself is ok , it's just the engine is so bad ... such a small engine (104bhp) turning all 4 wheels at the same time in a car of that size is a no-no. Yes I know it's for your wife but pls .. it couldn't pull the skin off a bowl of custard.
Bluntly .. it is the most awful/hateful/nasty/gutless/thirsty/ POS that should never have been brought out!
Could not wait to get out of it! I lost £1000s getting rid of it and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
The figures on paper don't look too bad saying it gets average ( off memory ) 32/33mpg? That may be all fine well and dandy going downhill with the wind behind you , but try driving it in everyday conditions. It averaged 26mpg if I was lucky , even worse if you switched the air-con on , and had to be thrashed just to get up to speed if you were joining motorway traffic running at 70mph. Honestly it was terrible .

The hilarity / icing on the cake had to be when I parked it in Glasgow city centre.. on the right hand side of here:..



When I went to leave the car could not even get up that hill in 1st gear! I had to change the gearbox to "low ratio" ( or whatever the opposite is of normal is ) to get up the hill revving the nuts off it doing 10mph!

PLEASE , I BEG YOU , DO NOT BUY 1 OF THESE!

Edited by Goldmember1 on Sunday 10th March 23:24

[Elroy Blue]

Well. That's pretty conclusive. it'll also be need a cambelt then, which I'm sure will be at least £4-500 , which doesn't make it a particular bargain. Many thanks

[Truckosaurus]

On a similar note, how are the diesel Imprezas like on a 'low running costs' basis? Does the boxer layout and/or 4x4 also wipe out the fuel economy benefits?

[nunny]

if you want to go without turbo but still want it to get up a hill easy then you would be better off getting the 2.0 sport. little more to run than the 1.5 but it wouldnt leave u in the crap and reving the hell outta your engine.