impreza or a S3????

[Boxer87]

Hello people!

I'm looking to move on from my e46 325, and I'm set on these 2 options!

I'm going to spend 4grand, and I've found many decent examples on autotrader.

I'm quite set on an impreza but I just want to hear some opinions on both:
Pros, cons, daily usability.

For me the most important aspect is the drive and driver involvement, so insurance, mpg etc are low down the list.

Impreza- rally car with superb handling! Made for fun!

S3 - pocket rocket with a subtle look!

Thanks in advance for the responses.

[joerama]

Feel like you might be dissapointed by subaru. never driven an s3 so i would probably go with that.

[bonesX]

S3 is blunt in comparison

[Carl-H]

Impreza all day. 4k won't get you an sti but will get you a nice PPP wrx. I drive a wrx wagon with a few mods (around 270bhp, coil overs, front and back whiteley anti rill bars, anti lift kit and some braking upgrades ) as a daily. Cracking car. I love every single drive. Previous car was a ep3 civic type r. Scooby is better in all ways.

I've been in an rs3 and although blisteringly quick, that's all it did. Felt pretty numb otherwise.

As a drivers car the subaru wins hands down all day!

[Boxer87]

joerama said:

Feel like you might be dissapointed by subaru. never driven an s3 so i would probably go with that.

Dissapointed compared to the 325i??

Surely I won't be dissapointed with the wrx! I've only heard good things about it.

[westtra]

Having owned both. S3 unless you plan to drive like you stole it all the time. S3 is a nuch nicer day to day car and 90% of the time is as quick A to B.

[Boxer87]

westtra said:

Having owned both. S3 unless you plan to drive like you stole it all the time. S3 is a nuch nicer day to day car and 90% of the time is as quick A to B.

I only need it for a commute to and from work once a week otherwise stolen driving it is haha



On a side note, does the s3 have a limited slip differential??
The Subaru has a LSD front and rear

[Ali_T]

If you want handling, buy an Evo, not an Impreza. Had both, Evo was miles better in the corners. Scoob is all about that characterful engine but they all understeer where the Evo is drifting all 4 wheels. S3 is just a white good. Bland and forgettable. Wouldn't bother with that at all.

[bonesX]

Dialing understeer out of an Impreza is extremely easy (as well as cheap). You should really know that

The Evo isn't 'that' different

[Fox-]

I think you will be disappointed by both of these cars coming from a 325i. The S3 will be a bit like stepping back in time as the £4k examples are the prehistoric 1996 shape A3.

[nottyash]

Boxer87 said:

I only need it for a commute to and from work once a week otherwise stolen driving it is haha



On a side note, does the s3 have a limited slip differential??
The Subaru has a LSD front and rear

Its the same as a TT so its an electronic Haldex unit which can transfer up to 50% power to the rear when required otherwise its front wheel drive.
The earlier WRX was 60\ 40 split biast to the rear permanent 4wd.
they have up to 3 diffs on depending on model

[themanwithnoname]

Another somewhat biased vote for the Subaru.

As above the understeer can be dialed out mechanically, or errm, very mechanically.

Either a geo and rear anti roll bar.

Very mechanically involves taking advantage of both of the LSDs and well, you know...

[Boxer87]

Ali_T said:

If you want handling, buy an Evo, not an Impreza. Had both, Evo was miles better in the corners. Scoob is all about that characterful engine but they all understeer where the Evo is drifting all 4 wheels. S3 is just a white good. Bland and forgettable. Wouldn't bother with that at all.

I would love an evo!!!

But they are considerably more expensive! I was quite surprised.

Whereas you can find many models for my price range for an impreza, an evo is minimum 6 7 grand, and that's the cheapest I've found on autotrader.

Evo is definitely one for the future. On my wish list!

[Boxer87]

Fox- said:

I think you will be disappointed by both of these cars coming from a 325i. The S3 will be a bit like stepping back in time as the £4k examples are the prehistoric 1996 shape A3.

Please don't say that!! Lol

I love the 325i, the happy revving and smooth engine, the flat cornering and the feedback through the steering wheel is quality but I'm looking forward to a change and an impreza was my next obvious choice considering the qualities I was looking for with my price range.

Impreza is different- quicker, turbo equipped, 4wd, LSD, and a B road car compared to an A road 325. (And has 4 doors and 5 seats!!)

[JJ55]

Go for the Impreza. So much fun for the money.

[TommoAE86]

another vote for the impreza, been passengers in both, felt far more comfortable in the subaru

[rich85uk]

Impreza for the sheer pace from 0-100 on any road, have only been in an sti or P1 but a wrx with the PPP will still be very quick.

A few mods to the S3 will give you something more discreet but with similar power to an sti, just less raw