Impreza/Focus RS

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Hi all,

posting this on here cos PH members seem to be a little less biased than owners club forums. Basically I have a lovely standard mk1 Focus RS at the minute, but a Scooby has always been the sort of dream car since I started playing Gran Turismo when I was a kid. Anyway, I digress.

I drove a friends WRX last night, 53 plate, and I pretty much fell in love with it. If I were to buy one it would be an STI though, so a bit quicker etc. in the blobeye shape. Obviously though I have no idea of the running costs etc. of a Scoob. I wouldn't be using it everyday as I have a little Saxo diesel to ferry me back and forth to work, so it would be a fun/weekend car. I'm not planning on locking it away and barely using it though - just that where I work is frankly disgusting and I wouldn't want to ruin a nice car there.

If I was to get one it would be a 2003/4 blobeye shape STI, and I'm not fussed on type UK/JAP or wether it has the PPP or not. My RS is quick enough and an STI would be another 80-100 bhp again, which would be plenty. For the money my RS is worth I think I'd easily be able to afford a nice, low miles Impreza of this age, especially if I chip in a little more cash.

My RS is pretty reasonable on long runs, I've even seen nearly 40mpg out of it and the running costs have been minimal. I bought a well maintained example that's never wanted for anything so I haven't had to do a great deal to it. I know with the Impreza comes the complications of 4wd, diffs etc. that all need maintaining. How much would I realistically be looking at running an STI, probably doing no more than 4-5,000 miles per year. And no, I'm not expecting it to see more than 25mpg.

I have the RS serviced by Ford and put the best tyres and things like that on it etc. so costs for all that probably wouldn't change. Any advice on this would be fantastic and much appreciated.

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Is there anything in particular that makes the Jap cars "better"? Yeah I service my cars religiously anyway, and fuel won't be an issue 'cos it won't be a daily. And the 04 blobeye is a 2.0 not a 2.5, so that wouldn't affect me.

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I'm just reading up on the differences now, thanks.

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Think that noise is half the reason I want one lol. Yours really is a beauty. So one with the centre diff is the one to go for?

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Just had a look, there's a fairly large gulf in price for 2005 models. Only ones under £8k are all above 75,000 miles. What is engine reliability like on these?

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I think I'd be happy enough with a 2.0 UK one, and I can't see the DCCD making much of a difference - I have no intention of tracking the car.

Plus I can get a nice low miles 2.0 UK one and I'd have a bit of money left over, as the price difference is pretty large.

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Thanks for the advice but I want a blobeye STI.

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Very nice TX.

Standard will be more than enough for me at 270 ish, I'm going from 212 as it is. Plus insurance probably would be a factor with mods involved.

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Map it is then.

That is incredible ved. How much did the map cost you? A mate has an sti with a duncan remap, running 330-350 and hes lucky if he sees 22mpg average.

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I'm in work atm Paul, can't see your garage on my phone for some reason but what mods needed to accompany the map? Sports cat, air filter etc? Or smaller things? Thanks.

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That doesnt sound excessive.

Id be looking for a quieter backbox tbh, one that only makes the noise when youre pressing on so it can cruise fairly quietly.

Whats reliability like on the engine running that sort of power?

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That average is fine. This car will only be for being driven as it was meant to be. As said, I have a diesel to get me to work and other such boring journeys.