What estate / wagon for £10k?

[Janosh]

Hi guys, I've long since considered an Impeza so I'm now looking for some advice about what type / shape / year I should be looking at with a 8-12k budget...

I've been looking at a massive variety from early 2000's registered cars to 2010+ registered cars which fall into my price bracket so obviously they're very different propositions!

I've never owned a car that's less than 6 years old so I'm not necessarily looking for the most modern option.

The only real criteria is that it's an estate that will deliver around 350bhp relatively reliably... so what would people recommend?

[drumsterphil]

Forester STi

[peter8171]

Basically, see above! An Impreza wagon was only 225bhp as standard, and 266bhp with the PPP kit. Same for the run out GB270 which had the PPP kit as standard. To get a WRX wagon to 350bhp will require quite a few mods, including a new turbo.

[Janosh]

Regarding a WRX, I'm not against buying a heavily modified car, but would have to be a reputable build...

Ive also always liked the Forester STI, so glad that you guys have suggested it as an option. Might have to find one local enough to take a closer look.

[drumsterphil]

The thing plus about the Forester STi is that it has the 6 speed box and Brembos as standard. Fuel pump, remap for circa 330bhp and more torque will make a great road car (there is a recent thread on Forester STi's worth searching for)

[vxr2010]

On the FSTI bit I regularly get 32 mpg out of it on a good run at motorway speed , it's had basic mods , rear arb , cat back , remap but no fuel pump , it's around 320 Bhp , a lot of torque straight away and little lag , it's a competent car , Defo needs a remap to get the best out of it , quite a few for sale at the mo , just get a untouched low mileage one

[Janosh]

Thanks chaps, I'll see how I get on with the sale of my Monaro.... if it finds a new home then a FSTI is currently top of the list

[vxr2010]

The Monaros have gone up in money , the only thing I would say about Subarus is it seems most common weak point are the engines , the Monaro is not that sophisticated which is not a bad thing as less to go wrong but still a great car to drive , Subarus more parts which are generally reliable but still more to go wrong

[TEKNOPUG]

For reasons known only to Subaru, they stopped making STi Wagons after the Classic, so you are stuck with a WRX. Caveat - they did make limited run 01-02 Bugeye STi Wagons in Japan but there are probably only half a dozen in the country - so you'd have to import one. However, it's not a massive amount of money/work to get a WRX upto 330+bhp. Exhaust, Injectors, Fuel Pump, Turbo & remap. All the parts can be lifted from an STi, so you are looking at £1k+. OEM parts so reliability isn't an issue, provided the engine is sound. Obviously you don't get the Brembos but they are plentiful from STis and there are better alternatives anyway (AP's etc). Subaru's are well catered for performance parts, breakers and specialists. What you don't get is the 6-speed box. These can be fitted but you are looking at £2k+. The 5-speed WRX box is pushing it's limitation at around 350bhp, so if you want more than that, a WRX starts to become uneconomical. But you won't get past 350bhp with an STi turbo either, so everything starts getting more expensive beyond that figure.

You can save money by finding one already modded but you may prefer to source the parts and get the work done yourself. Bare in mind that the Wagon is not that big. Think of it more like a Focus/Golf estate than a Mondeo/Passat. FSTi is an obvious alternative but cost considerably more (even than an equivalent STi Impreza.) Also, I believe that the FSTi only comes with the troublesome 2.5 engine (?). Finally, there is the Forrester XT - which has WRX running gear - so the same tuning routes apply.

[tonyb1968]

Everyone seems to forget the Legacy, go for the B4 2ltr GT if you can get one, a great car

[arthur t]

i

This was my wagon it was a SL with PPP so about 265BHP.

The SL was/is the one to have as it has leather heated seats, sun roof etc.

I drive it across Europe and went up steep mountain passes.

I bought it for £5k sold it 3yrd later for £4.5k and cost me nothing to run.

Bloody Amazing car.

I would buy one again in a heartbeat if I needed an estate again.

Hope that helps.

[Garynogrip]

Hi J, just a suggestion but the bp5 legacy's are also a hoot!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/152013058992

[PomBstard]

Garynogrip said:

Hi J, just a suggestion but the bp5 legacy's are also a hoot!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/152013058992

Indeed. Cult following over here - here's a sample ad, should you want to import your own - standard with the 2.5T is around 260bhp. AU$16k is around GBP7.5k. STi Libs are around 280bhp - and they come in manual/wagon flavour too!

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Subaru-...