WRX S Hatchback - Good Choice ?

WRX S Hatchback - Good Choice ?

Author
Discussion

benaldo

Original Poster:

393 posts

226 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Hi - My missus is due to change car from her current 52 plate civic type-r and has up to £15k to spend. She wants to keep to a small hatchback with similar performance and handling but with 4WD. And she prefers Jap cars.......

I think the only viable option is a WRX S hatchback which seems to be around the £11k mark? Any other options ?

Can anyone tell me if this is a good choice or will we regret it? I've heard of potential engine issues but seemingly more related to the STi at higher BHP and of course it will have higher mpg but as she only does 6-8k miles pa, that shouldn't be a problem.

Assuming it is a good choice, I have a few other questions!
- We live in Chester - any good dealers / specialists local?
- Any options we should definitely go for / avoid?
- She fancies getting built in sat-nav which seems a bit rare on the cars I have seen - is it easily upgraded? and price ?
- What are the service intervals / £'s?

cheesesliceking

1,571 posts

239 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
I believe the engine issues to be on the STI hatch, to be honest you'll be better looking on scoobynet.

This is the STI thread, havent seen one for the standard WRX, but then haven't really looked.

http://bbs.scoobynet.com/755203-2008-sti-hatch-eng...



Just ignore the multitiude of ar5eholes, chavs and trolls and you'll be fine smile

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
benaldo said:
Hi - My missus is due to change car from her current 52 plate civic type-r and has up to £15k to spend. She wants to keep to a small hatchback with similar performance and handling but with 4WD. And she prefers Jap cars.......

I think the only viable option is a WRX S hatchback which seems to be around the £11k mark? Any other options ?

Can anyone tell me if this is a good choice or will we regret it? I've heard of potential engine issues but seemingly more related to the STi at higher BHP and of course it will have higher mpg but as she only does 6-8k miles pa, that shouldn't be a problem.

Assuming it is a good choice, I have a few other questions!
- We live in Chester - any good dealers / specialists local?
- Any options we should definitely go for / avoid?
- She fancies getting built in sat-nav which seems a bit rare on the cars I have seen - is it easily upgraded? and price ?
- What are the service intervals / £'s?
Go look at this one.

http://www.mangoletsi.com/subaru/used-cars/817/sub...

Good car, great dealership and will no doubt do a good deal for you. Service every 10k, 30MPG+ on these without too much bother. No options available but you can easily get some aftermarket parking sensors or the head unit changed for a satnav if that's what you want.

benaldo

Original Poster:

393 posts

226 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks - looking briefly on Scoobynet, they really don't like the 2.5l engine do they !?!?

I saw the advert for the Mangoletsi and it does look fit what we are looking for.

However, really not sure if I want to risk her wrath if the engine goes kaput!

probably the wrogn forum, but does anyone have any other suggestions for other cars that would fir the bill - I'm struggling ! There aren't many fast, small, 4wd Jap cars out there !

bananaman1

449 posts

196 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Had a wrxs until 6 months ago part ex'ed against a focus st....wrxs was a hoot to drive....but the focus has it licked in all other departments :-(...build quality was poor. ...mpg (average 22)..road tax (nearly 500) not the best brakes...but worst of all was that niggling fear that the engine might just go pop.One Subaru specialists words of....you will probably be ok with that engine was the final nail in its coffin...sad as I really wanted to love that car.

Edited by bananaman1 on Friday 15th August 21:31

bananaman1

449 posts

196 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
P.s...obviously not suggesting a focus to u as no awd :-) torque steer on the focus sucks anyways :-(

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
MK5 Golf R32 would be a much better car and the MPG will be around the 30 mark. I had one for a couple of years and it was faultless and wonderful. A bit over your budget but you would get a much better car.

You could also look at the problem from a different angle and try a Forester XT wink

Edited by Ved on Friday 15th August 22:22

nickofh

603 posts

117 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
I thought the piston ring problem on the 2.5 was related to a bad fuel map on the sti leaving the head gasket as the possible issue. If you do go to try one pretty sure your mrs will like it and if you get one the DIY sat nav upgrade is fairly easy . Just a few clips to carefully pull off the radio enclosure and four screws holding the standard stereo in.

You could always look at a JDM hatch with the 2.0 engine.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...


The top one has been listed for a very long time and have a good look at the seller if it were interesting to you. Bottom one over budget but I would much sooner be in their than another golf. ( I too like Japanese cars )

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Pistons were component failure not a map as it hurt the standard and PPP engines. It's just a bade engine to live with out of warranty as it's hit and miss.

nickofh

603 posts

117 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
quotequote all
Fair enough , not sure why they ever felt the need to change it really. I was pleased with the 2.0 in my old wrx and think there was enough potential to tune it.

Ved

3,825 posts

174 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
The EJ20 can't meet Euro standards where the EJ25 could.

The EJ20 is still going Andy's in the new WRX STI when it goes on sale in Japan. Quite amazing considering some bits can still be traced back to 1992.

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

162 months

Sunday 17th August 2014
quotequote all
Did they sort the head gasket problem out when they made the hatch? That was the main problem with the 2.5ltr - the heads lifting on high boost.

benaldo

Original Poster:

393 posts

226 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
We may be going to have a look at the Mangoletsi WRX S this weekend as it is fairly close to us. I would hope that if it has got to 34k without blowing up, then it might be an 'OK' one - possibly wishful thinking.

I'm seeing a lot of bad stories about the engine but it does seem to be aimed at STi's and I am always wary of these rumours as owners of broken ones tend to talk louder than working ones, so its difficult to work out exactly how many have broken.....

bananaman1

449 posts

196 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Just bear in mind how few of the hatches were sold in the uk...then consider how many have had issues ;-)

benaldo

Original Poster:

393 posts

226 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Agreed - I'm tempted to think of another jap hot hatch and get her to splash out on some winter tyres when needed......

Just don't know which good ones are out there at around £15k

bananaman1

449 posts

196 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
The suggestion above of a r32 sounds good....are audi a3 4wheel drive ? And in budget ?

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

162 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
If I was in your position and didn't want an older Impreza, or indeed needed the hatch, then a Focus or Golf would be a good call.

With the newer Imprezas (2006) onwards, then you are buying because you really like them and probably have plans to do things to it (like fork out thousands on an engine rebuild).

HonestIago

1,719 posts

185 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
Get an immaculate, standard, low mile 2005 (or earlier) WRX wagon for £5-6k instead. They look much better than the later hatches IMO and have the MUCH more reliable 2 litre engine. At least get her to go and drive one, highly doubt she'd be disappointed after a 2002 Civic! Save the extra cash and maybe spend c.£500 on a remap for a safe 270bhp or so smile

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

162 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
HonestIago said:
Get an immaculate, standard, low mile 2005 (or earlier) WRX wagon for £5-6k instead. They look much better than the later hatches IMO and have the MUCH more reliable 2 litre engine. At least get her to go and drive one, highly doubt she'd be disappointed after a 2002 Civic! Save the extra cash and maybe spend c.£500 on a remap for a safe 270bhp or so smile
Or this yes

The interior on the 2005 is much better also.

adingley84

337 posts

161 months

Monday 18th August 2014
quotequote all
I'm 97k miles down the road in my Forester 2.5XT. I give it a hard time but the only thing that's needed replacing in all that time has been the front drop links.

Totally reliable amd a great car to drive too. (Given the obvious shortcomings of higher ride height etc)