Thinking about getting an Impreza

Thinking about getting an Impreza

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Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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I'm toying with the idea of getting an Impreza as a daily driver.

We live in a fairly rural area, I do a lot of travelling for work and we're expecting a baby in the middle of January, so I might just have a justification for swapping my Clio Cup for something a bit more Banzai.

I've driven quite a few Scoobies in the past, but I've never lived with one long term (or had to pay any of the bills). What are they like as a daily proposition?

I'm expecting a bit of a step up in running costs relative to the Clio, but just how big a jump are we talking? Has anyone here owned both?

Finally, despite the practical justification I would probably go for one of the sportier models. Budget isn't huge - I honestly don't know how much I'd have to spend yet but it wouldn't be more than about £3k - so what would people recommend? I do quite a few miles with a fair bit of town driving as well as B-roads and I probably wouldn't be able to keep it for too long, so something that would be easy to resell would be advantageous. Reliability is also paramount.

PS Yes, I know I should just MTFU and/or put some winter tyres on my current car, but that's not really the point...

Ennoch

371 posts

137 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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I'm not sure this answers all of your questions but hopefully it'll give you an idea. I'd say go for it, they're great fun. But do budget for doing things. Where some cars you can leave bits to be done later the Impreza doesn't really like that, especially now they're getting on a bit. Regular oil changes with decent oil, good tyres and decent brake parts are worth spending money on. At £3k too you're going to need some time to find a good one as by this stage most have been through quite a few owners and are now being fitted with questionable second hand and pattern parts. I was lucky with mine and got a two owner WRX with brand new Pirelli P-Zero's, full Subaru history, year's warranty etc and for good money. OK, I needed to spend some money to replace the discs and pads, and get a cambelt, but I negotiated the price on this basis and was certainly happy with the deal.

Since then I've done 18938 miles and in that time I have spent £4077 on fuel, averaging about 30mpg. That said, the last four tanks were 24.26mpg/27.73mpg/22.67mpg/28.74 mpg. On average I'm getting about 240-300 miles per tank, with 350ish possible at steady speed on the motorway.

They're not particularly heavy on tyres day to day if you're driving normally but start pushing and they'll get through them. I took about 5mm off the new Pirelli P-Zero's it came with over about 7k miles but since then have run both Pilot Alpin 4's and Eagle F1 Asym 2's. They do tend to chew their outer edges if you're not careful too as they like to push wide unless you tweak your driving to suit the fact they're AWD rather than FWD like a Clio Cup.

Brakes are not the WRX's strongest suit and this is probably what's cost me most, firstly as I replaced discs/pads and then upgraded to AP 4 pots on the front. If you accept the limitations of them then you can get by with running OEM spec discs (£100/set 4 from Camskill) and then run something like Mintex M1155's all round. Don't expect them to be up to the brakes on the clio though; it's got decent sized discs, powerful calipers & weighs less than a gnats fart. My old Mk1 Octavia vRS totally outclassed the Impreza in this regard too even with its piddly little 256mm rear discs. The front calipers also have a habit of seizing pistons which can add to braking woes.

Everything else is usual fare; check rust, suspension & bushes. I'm in the process of replacing all the dampers with KYB Ultra SR's to match STI springs (£400) and I've already fitted both an ALK @ £140 (to replace the knackered bushing on the passenger side) and offset top mounts @ £120 to help increase dynamic camber, add weight to the steering and help prevent that front tyre scrub. I've replaced the oil 4 times at £50 a shot for Millers 5/40 Nanotech and a £5 Blueprint filter.

If you have a budget of £3k you should be looking at good condition bugs and less good condition blob's, relatively speaking of course. The downside is that if you're looking to maximise return of cash when you come to sell you're going to be waiting a while, they just don't seem to be shifting particularly quickly although owners still seem to ask top dollar for them. I'd buy on condition too, rather than automatically ruling out a car because someone's mapped it etc. If it's had anything other than a backbox without a remap I'd probably walk as they don't like to run lean, and if you start messing with the breathing then they do run lean quite easily. That said, it's not too expensive to get c300bhp from them if you so desire.

I always seem to be doing little bits to mine like cleaning the MAF (free), or replacing the NPS (£30), or changing a bush, or finding a rattle, but if you're mechanically able then they're a very easy car to work on. Everything comes apart simply, goes back together easily and, touch wood, pretty reliable too. There certainly isn't a myriad of complex computers or sensors to hunt through and while you may find yourself needing to do something, it's unlikely to leave you stranded. If you're looking to run on a budget there is also a good source of second hand parts from breakers, of varying provenance.

In short I've spent on necessities:
K&N Air Filter: £30
Oil Filters x4: £20
Discs: £150
Pads: £150
Oil x20 lites: £200
ALK: £140
Tyres: £1000
Fuel: £4100
Bulbs: £40
Cambelt at purchase: £450
Total: £6280

Ennoch

371 posts

137 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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Oh, and for subtlety go for a wagon rather than saloon, especially in muted colours. There is no discernible difference in handling between the two but the wagon is far, far better at being discrete. Blobs are probably most subtle in silver or black while the bugeye's are also available in dark mica blue, dark green and metallic red. If I had my time again I'd definitely go wagon, especially as the saloon doesn't have split folds which makes fitting in boards and bouldering mats a bit awkward at times.

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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Wow. Thanks for a very comprehensive response. Plenty of food for thought.

Skyedriver

17,655 posts

281 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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Hi there
I can recognise a Classic but get a bit lost in the blob, bug, hawk dept
Where's the best site to get a feel for the different eras please

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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I do a minimum of 15k a year in my STI and did 44k over two years in my last one. Perfect reliability, bags of everything you need and cheap to run.

Just get one with full history with a 2.0 engine and you'll have a friend for life.

ohtari

805 posts

143 months

Friday 10th October 2014
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I've had a long week and a few beers tonight, so I can't promise to be as thorough or literate as Ennoch.

I got my blob PPP wagon almost exactly one year today. A fairly clean 2 owner example with 74500 miles. The previous owner had the car from it was 9 months old. It was standard until he got it, and the dealer applied the PPP at 9507 miles on 14/07/13 (I have the original docs here in front of me). This was his 3rd consecutive impreza, but a growing family meant that he had to find something with 7 seats, hence the sale.

By the time I got the car, the Prodrive back box had been changed for a very nice Hayward & Scott 3", the head unit had been changed for a decent clarion system with cd changer and nokia bluetooth. Other than a rather hateful alloy gearknob, that was all that had been modified, a great car to start with.

A set of Toyo Proxes C1S were put on the car April 2013. In the 19000 miles I've done since, they've wore down to circa 4.5mm, minus one cheap replacement (read chinese crap) after clipping something hard sticking out from the verge. I plan to fit a set of winters in the next month or so, and probably change the summers next May/June. Bear in mind my daily commute, 26 miles of free flowing motorway with 5 or so slow B roads each way. I'm not hard on tyres when commuting.

On the inital purchase, I tried to fuel on cheap regular. Forget it. My mpg was in the mid 20s at best, swapping to BP Ultimate (best we can get here I'm afraid) has seen that jump up to a current average of 31-32. Again note that I'm mostly on clear motorways, and usually stick to 6o ish.

I have spent a fair chunk of time and money on keeping the car in good condition. The first thing was to refurbish a set of front calipers with stainless pistons, new seals and pagid pads. The set of second hand calipers I got off of ebay (for 80ish + 100ish for refurb + 30ish for pads) came with a decent set of discs, so I used them to replace the worn set that were on the car. These lasted all of about a month before I discovered what a warped disc feels like. A set of plain brembo discs solved that problem (45ish).

The roads are crap here in Ireland, and the winter did it's best to finish off the rear shocks. A Friday night in the garage with some help and 280 later, I had a set of KYB excel-g shocks installed. An easy enough repair only for a seized lower mounting bolt that needed cut off and replaced (5 all in).

A set of powerflex black series steering rack bushes (these are a bh to install btw) and an alignment in the spring sharpened the front end up. About this same time, I started playing about with fuel additives, electing for Millers Eco Pro Max or something like that. There was a slight performance increase right enough, but after a month or so of use a low RPM misfire developed, a real bugger that kicked at idle when rolling up to stop or around a car park. Everything the internet told me said it was the coil packs that needed replaced. 450 quid later rolleyes I had a new set of genuine coil packs mounted over NGK PFR7B spark plugs (by far the most recommended for Imprezas). The misfire didn't go away banghead

A few tanks of clean super and some good hard runs to clear the system cleared it in the end. The latest repair was to rebuild another set of brake calipers, the rears this time (these are really easy btw).

I don't have complete figures for everything that I've done (and I'm glad I don't!) but here's a basic breakdown of what's been done over the past year

4x oil service with shell helix ultra 5w40 and K&N HP1008 filter (every 5k miles)
2 air filters, first blueprint second genuine
Rebuilt brakes front and rear
New rear shocks over the original springs
Poly steering rack bushes and alignment
NGK PFR7B spark plugs with new OEM coil packs
Full timing belt kit, with water pump and all pulleys replaced at 85K miles
Fresh coolant 3 times over
1 leaking radiator replaced last December (90 quid off of ebay)
silicone top and bottom radiator hoses
Brakes bled through at least 3 times with all the brake work
New power steering fluid in July
Headlight bulbs replaced twice
Fuel filter replaced twice
Walbro 255lph fuel pump fitted
1 cheap arrowspeed etc. tyre to do me until the winters
MAF cleaned, Crank postition sensor cleaned
A new battery in December to replace a failing original

And about 3000 to 3500 in fuel

I've done all this (bar the tyre and alignment) by myself, and I have to agree that they're very easy cars to work on. Nothing is more complicated than it needs to be, even the timing belt was easy (one stripped bolt aside).


I don't earn that much, so none of this has come easy. But it frequently reminds me why I put up with it. Like this evening coming home down the back roads in the dusk, flat four burbling away with the torque of the PPP tune throwing you from corner to corner, 4wd drive grip pulling you through and shoving you out the other side...

Worth every penny! driving

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

162 months

Saturday 11th October 2014
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Get a WRX, preferably with the PPP. If without the PPP get it mapped when you have the money.

Stick with the 2.0ltr car as the engine is better, unless you can afford a rebuild.

Great car and ideal for the family. I've had 3 and have twins that are 5. They love a trip out in 'Super Fast'.

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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I did a day with Prodrive a few years back and remember the PPP power delivery being preferable to the 'works' STi.

Out of interest, why no mention of the Classic-shape Impreza?

Sad Weevil

118 posts

147 months

Monday 13th October 2014
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Chris71 said:
I did a day with Prodrive a few years back and remember the PPP power delivery being preferable to the 'works' STi.

Out of interest, why no mention of the Classic-shape Impreza?
For your budget you could get a very good unmolested classic, if you take your time. I bought my bog standard '99 UK turbo2000 wagon a few months ago for less than £3k, under 50,000 miles, one owner, very full history, no rust. I had it about a week before deciding it needed the ppp, which I sourced used relatively easily, at a cost of under £500. They're noticeably lighter than the newage, less refined, and in my opinion, more rewarding to drive. The ppp gives around 260 ft/lbs of torque right where you need it in the midrange, making it very rapid in real world driving. I get around 28mpg on V-Power. I do oil changes every 3000 miles, which is what the car has had all it's life. I just fitted Nokian z-lines at £70 a corner for 205/50x16s. A well looked after classic should be depreciation free, as good unmolested ones are few and far between. Having said that, the guys I bought mine from have this at the moment, well worth a look:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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Sad Weevil said:
Chris71 said:
I did a day with Prodrive a few years back and remember the PPP power delivery being preferable to the 'works' STi.

Out of interest, why no mention of the Classic-shape Impreza?
For your budget you could get a very good unmolested classic, if you take your time. I bought my bog standard '99 UK turbo2000 wagon a few months ago for less than £3k, under 50,000 miles, one owner, very full history, no rust. I had it about a week before deciding it needed the ppp, which I sourced used relatively easily, at a cost of under £500. They're noticeably lighter than the newage, less refined, and in my opinion, more rewarding to drive. The ppp gives around 260 ft/lbs of torque right where you need it in the midrange, making it very rapid in real world driving. I get around 28mpg on V-Power. I do oil changes every 3000 miles, which is what the car has had all it's life. I just fitted Nokian z-lines at £70 a corner for 205/50x16s. A well looked after classic should be depreciation free, as good unmolested ones are few and far between. Having said that, the guys I bought mine from have this at the moment, well worth a look:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
Funnily enough, I think the Classic shape Impreza is the only one I've never driven. I'd be more than happy with one of the newer models, just curious as to why the older cars hadn't really come up.

On a random note, I realise this is a total sheep in wolf's clothing but ... £994 with FSH and MOT?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/subaru/impre...

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

162 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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Don't buy a classic unless you have cash to throw and it, and you can afford something that will hold value. If you want a car that you can use everyday, that doesn't feel 20 years old inside, then buy a new-age car.

A blobye WRX PPP is around 265bhp, reasonable inside, quick (as quick as the standard STi because of the 5 speed) and will be reliable.

NormalWisdom

2,139 posts

158 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
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I've got a 01 Bug.

Bought it just over 3 years ago and have done 55k miles since with no hiccups. This year averaging 33mpg and, because I am currently in Germany, it gets treated with Aral 102 and reacts accordingly.

I am lazy so it has had all its treatment in my local UK Subaru dealership (which is quite costly but then I have no issue with doing the return trip from UK to Munich 4 times this year already!). The trip to Munich is 760 miles for me and approximately 12 hours "in the saddle", seats are not built for my lardy-arse and a 760-mile trip ;-).

Also have a spare set of rims with Winters on (legal requirement in Germany) which really do work.....

Am contemplating going down the "barge" route when I finsh here at the end of the year so may well be parting company....


ETA - It is a WRX PPP Wagon so copes with transporting big objects too


Edited by NormalWisdom on Tuesday 14th October 14:36

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Tuesday 14th October 2014
quotequote all
paulmoonraker said:
Don't buy a classic unless you have cash to throw and it, and you can afford something that will hold value. If you want a car that you can use everyday, that doesn't feel 20 years old inside, then buy a new-age car.

A blobye WRX PPP is around 265bhp, reasonable inside, quick (as quick as the standard STi because of the 5 speed) and will be reliable.
Given the funds I'd be straight into a P1. Like you say, though, I'm thinking daily driver (and a third of the price) currently.

Rob669

12 posts

113 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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I have both! A Ph1 Clio 172 and an Impreza turbo. The first thing to tell you is that Imprezas are like Heinz, they come in 57 varieties (actually it's much more than 57). Then there are the modifications to take into account on these cars. If it was me, I'd try to buy one that's as unmolested/unmodified as possible - expect a new exhaust to have been fitted as that modification brings out the car's deep burble sound.
The first choice to make is between a Japanese version and UK version. If I was buying one again I'd be hunting long and hard for a late Type R from 1999 or 2000 (the two door Japanese versions), but at £3k the budget you have set won't be enough, more like £5 or £6k is required for the best version. An older JDM might be possible to find for less money. The Japanese versions are just better in my view, the UK versions were generally just that bit softer all around. Don't buy a UK 2.5 litre version as they are faulty with a capital F.
I bought a UK classic MY00 (year 2000 or version 6 UK Impreza turbo)for just over £2k and two years ago. It had a FSH from the main dealer, decent bodywork and it even had the original exhaust (a completely unmodified example from a mature gentleman, perfecto!). Incidentally, I was looking for a 172 Cup at the time as I was going to have to carry out some work on my Ph1 172, but I could not find a good unmolested example, and I went all over England and Wales to view very many of them. Since owing my Impreza the dreaded rear arch rust has appeared, I had to have this fixed professionally (expect to pay approx. £500). I have also changed the complete exhaust system, timing belt (a quad cam system but really easy to do compared to the Clio's floating cams), fuel pump, air filter (unlike Clios this does help performance) and had it remapped by someone with a good reputation (Duncan at Racedynamix). I now have a Surrey Rolling Road verified 280 HP and 295 ft-lb, and it goes pretty well. Fuel consumption is high 20s, for comparison I get high 30s/low 40s from my Clio (9 mpg though on track in Clio!). All in all the Subaru is so nice to drive and it's great having two brilliant cars - one that's fast and another that just has something a little special about it.

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

162 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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2.5 being faulty with a capital F rofl

There are a few known faults with the engine, specifically related to piston ring lands and the head studs stretching. If you have the cash to fix them, then it's an excellent car with boat loads of torque.

Pique

1,158 posts

206 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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paulmoonraker said:
2.5 being faulty with a capital F rofl

There are a few known faults with the engine, specifically related to piston ring lands and the head studs stretching. If you have the cash to fix them, then it's an excellent car with boat loads of torque.
I think this is overblown - the 2.5 issues affect the newer hatch models (2008 on) when they are tuned for 300 bhp+.

That said you won't get a Hawkeye WRX within budget anyways.

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Pique said:
I think this is overblown - the 2.5 issues affect the newer hatch models (2008 on) when they are tuned for 300 bhp+.

That said you won't get a Hawkeye WRX within budget anyways.
Not true. The 2.5 has had issues since it was put into the Forester and the UK STIs have had HG and ringlands go since the first Hawkeyes, without tuning. The Hatchbacks were all 300PS but even the WRXs aren't immune. There's a design fault in their components. Hopefully it doesn't continue into the current crop.

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

162 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Ved said:
Not true. The 2.5 has had issues since it was put into the Forester and the UK STIs have had HG and ringlands go since the first Hawkeyes, without tuning. The Hatchbacks were all 300PS but even the WRXs aren't immune. There's a design fault in their components. Hopefully it doesn't continue into the current crop.
I very much doubt they sorted the ringlands, as that's probably new pistons. But the HG issue is fixed with better head studs, so simple and likely fixed. Further, that was the far bigger problem of the two.

BenWRXSEi

2,343 posts

133 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Ved said:
Pique said:
I think this is overblown - the 2.5 issues affect the newer hatch models (2008 on) when they are tuned for 300 bhp+.

That said you won't get a Hawkeye WRX within budget anyways.
Not true. The 2.5 has had issues since it was put into the Forester and the UK STIs have had HG and ringlands go since the first Hawkeyes, without tuning. The Hatchbacks were all 300PS but even the WRXs aren't immune. There's a design fault in their components. Hopefully it doesn't continue into the current crop.
...which is why I went for a 2.5 WRX with PPP. Admittedly out of budget for the OP, but in my experience (and following a lot of research) it's a sound lump if you can stretch to it smile