RE: SOTW: Subaru Impreza Wagon

[951TSE]

Have we had this one?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Barry-ed by the factory they say. Although the name of the dealer may not inspire too much confidence.

[johnpeat]

rallycross said:

I work in the motor trade and we recently took one of these old shape WRX impreza's in p/x with a slight knocking from the bottom end. Thinking it would be easy to fix with a 2nd hand engine (it was a very clean example and worth fixing).

After spending ages talking to various sources we found there is no cheap solution to fixing these engines unless you are a proper mechanic and can rebuild it yourself.

I'm confused - you bought intending to replace the engine and then discovered "there's no cheap solution to fixing these engines" - err - why would you need to fix it when you're going to replace it?

Is the engine superglued in - bluetack gone hard or something?

Edited by johnpeat on Friday 22 July 22:10

[mmcd87]

I'm too young to have been driving in the mid 90's but can only imagine how iconic this car was back then in terms of performance/£ and before it's potential became known to the masses...

The beauty with the Impreza however is that is has been going for years, so like me you can find a 'newage' version and experience it for yourself as a realistic day to day car. The modern turbo diesel has slightly dulled the straight line difference from the average family transport but it's still a very impressive car that can put a serious grin on your face. The wagon is the best one nowadays IMHO if you want to avoid the image, and get the Prodrive Performance Pack and it's almost sleeperish...

[japgt]

mmcd87 said:

I'm too young to have been driving in the mid 90's but can only imagine how iconic this car was back then in terms of performance/£ and before it's potential became known to the masses...

The beauty with the Impreza however is that is has been going for years, so like me you can find a 'newage' version and experience it for yourself as a realistic day to day car. The modern turbo diesel has slightly dulled the straight line difference from the average family transport but it's still a very impressive car that can put a serious grin on your face. The wagon is the best one nowadays IMHO if you want to avoid the image, and get the Prodrive Performance Pack and it's almost sleeperish...

The difference between a classic and newage is light years, totally different drive, newage is to namby pamby and appeals to the softer driver, nowhere near as raw an experience as a classic even when both are totally standard unmodified cars

[muppet42]

The Classic Impreza is certainly on my list in amongst all the other Jap performance cars for around or under the £2k mark. I've always hankered after one and ones in far better condition than this fall easily in my budget thankfully.

I agree with the article that plenty have fallen foul of the dodgy modifier. Seems to be a given with most cars in that price range and performance though - you'll either get the type who sympathetically modify something to improve on what's there or you'll get someone that thinks Lexus lights are the best thing since sliced baked goods and modify the rest accordingly.

I for one though would like an STi, which would guarantee an import in Classic form (and almost certainly outside of what I can afford). I think many (could be all, I haven't read up on it) are meant to have stronger engine internals and obviously other trick parts, so could be a more reliable option. So as long as it's not been ragged and the body/chassis' in good nick I could envisage having a great amount smiles per mile ownership from one

[JB!]

A mate of mine is selling his V-plate classic wagon on eBay! Item: 350478926934

Goes like stink, great fun to drive and under a bag!

Edited by JB! on Saturday 23 July 00:22

[rallycross]

johnpeat said:

rallycross said:

I work in the motor trade and we recently took one of these old shape WRX impreza's in p/x with a slight knocking from the bottom end. Thinking it would be easy to fix with a 2nd hand engine (it was a very clean example and worth fixing).

After spending ages talking to various sources we found there is no cheap solution to fixing these engines unless you are a proper mechanic and can rebuild it yourself.

I'm confused - you bought intending to replace the engine and then discovered "there's no cheap solution to fixing these engines" - err - why would you need to fix it when you're going to replace it?

Is the engine superglued in - bluetack gone hard or something?

Edited by johnpeat on Friday 22 July 22:10

No, we have changed lots of engines on cars, its not a problem if you can source a good second hand engine, for example ones we have done recently eg bmw 328 - £350, Golf Fsi 1.6 BLF - £600, Fiesta 1.25 zetec £150, then just fit it.

But with that old Impreza there was no way of getting a cheap used (but good) engine and there was no way I was going to buy an unknown engine off ebay e.g for £1,000. There is a lot of demand for these engines due to them blowing up due to week bottom end, so its not easy to find a cheap engine.

[SuperHangOn]

johnpeat said:

Good luck with that one - selling parts is never as easy as people make out, end of the day when you've dealt with the timewasters and idiots - the money you have left seldom feels worth it.

+ 1

I broke a BMW a few years back (autobox played up) and it was a huge PITA. Besides the weekends wasted actually taking it apart, I had a toerag trying to pocket bits, one idiot tried to return his broken old part and ebay/paypal fees really ate into the money.

This nail is worth 200 quid scrap tops.

[wigsworld]

Not really sure what this guy is talking about. I don't think Subaru's reputation has been ripped to shreds by the 'modifying set'. What's wrong with making a car faster, or handle better, or stop better. Subaru's tend to be modified better than most tacky BMWs or VW's and Audis. Most Impreza owners tend to spend the money on engine and chassis upgrades not blingy wheels.

[J4CKO]

I am guessing the Impreza isn't one of those cars where you can just drop the sump in situ and bang some new big end bearings in ?

Have heard of this being done, drop oil, remove sump, unbolt mains caps, somehow fit the new bearings, torque it all back up, put it back together and fill with oil type thing ?

[ak301]

That's my old car!

I had it 2006 to 2011, no problems and totally bulletproof.

It was a high miler when I got it, 120k, but it had full dealer and Scoob specialist history.
It was maintained to Subaru dealer standard by Glen and Becky at Carnetix. Any job or work that needed doing was always done, and it was always warmed up/cooled down properly.
Never modded or fettled with either.

But, the piston slap started creeping in a couple of years back. The carnetix guys said it was a common fault with that engine and it car wasn't worth the cost of fixing. It kept passing all it's MOT's and I never got bored of driving it

And it kept on going and going and going.

Eventually though I got something else, but the Scoob would be handy now as I'm moving house and the huge boot on that car would be handy

[Munich]

Jw Vw said:

£650 for that seems a bargain. If it goes bang just scrap for parts.

If you have the time and space, why not. I have always liked the idea of doing this sort of thing with old cars, but my wife would me if I always had a half scrapped car on the driveway.

[lordlee]

I had a classic estate in green with 156k on the clock (V plate) as a snotter it was an excellent car. The standard brakes weren't too hot but it was a great car to have fun in. 18mpg on average wasn't much fun though. Would have another without a doubt.

[Millsy Esq]

Despite the pros and cons of this particular car, does anybody else ever get annoyed with write-ups that go on about the merits of 'unmolested' examples? Prodrive must have been so wrong with the performance packs!

[wigsworld]

Millsy Esq said:

Despite the pros and cons of this particular car, does anybody else ever get annoyed with write-ups that go on about the merits of 'unmolested' examples? Prodrive must have been so wrong with the performance packs!

I agree mate, it does get really annoying the amount of b*llocks they talk on here.

[Riggers]

wolf1 said:

Riggers said:

Can I challenge someone to find me a clean, unmolested one within Shed's budget?

Challenge accepted and won by me What do I get ?

93 WRX paid £400 for it

Edited by wolf1 on Friday 22 July 18:40

To keep and enjoy your obviously very lovely car

Oh, and for those querying my point about 'the modifying set', I mean something like this:

( http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ONE-OFF-SUBARU-IMPREZA-WRX-O...)

I have no problem with modifying cars to make them better, but that is not what a lot of people do...

[otolith]

Riggers said:

I have no problem with modifying cars to make them better, but that is not what a lot of people do...

You mean the sort who buy a car and fit a big spoiler, unusual coloured alloys and bonnet vents and scoops?

[Riggers]

otolith said:

Riggers said:

I have no problem with modifying cars to make them better, but that is not what a lot of people do...

You mean the sort who buy a car and fit a big spoiler, unusual coloured alloys and bonnet vents and scoops?

....and then for some reason it is now 'faster than a Skyline'. Yup, that sort of thing...

[johnpeat]

Riggers said:

Oh, and for those querying my point about 'the modifying set', I mean something like this:

( http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ONE-OFF-SUBARU-IMPREZA-WRX-O...)

I have no problem with modifying cars to make them better, but that is not what a lot of people do...

Better is, of course, subjective - however in that case, the steering wheel gives away the fact that it's been made to LOOK good and not actually drive (as you'd find it pretty hard to actually drive!!)

[wigsworld]

Riggers said:

Oh, and for those querying my point about 'the modifying set', I mean something like this:

( http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ONE-OFF-SUBARU-IMPREZA-WRX-O...)

I have no problem with modifying cars to make them better, but that is not what a lot of people do...

Point taken. Yeah that Impreza is not really my cup of tea I'm not really into modifying cars at all but there's nothing wrong with a few little tweaks to improve things a bit or just to personalize a car, in my opinion.