Which Impreza to go for?

[Baryonyx]

Evening all,


I've been looking over a shortlist of interesting cars with which to replace my 106 Rallye next year. I'm toying with the idea of putting the Rallye to one side and using it for fun when the moment takes me, but a more practical and comfortable car beckons - or at least would seem sensible!


I've been looking over Imprezas, but I don't really know where to start. I've owned a blobeye GX in the past, which was very good for commuting in, but this time I ideally want a turbo model. I've been looking over some classifieds with old WRX STi imports, Spec C's, Type R's, Series Mcraes, Catalunyas etc etc...

...these things have nearly as many special editions as the MX5!



I'd be looking to spend about £4000 or so, ideally looking for something that hasn't been mapped and modified. Will this money land me a reasonable Impreza? Age isn't an issue, and I prefer the look of the classics as opposed to the bugeye onward. What would represent the best Impreza bang:buck at that price, and what should I keep on my shortlist?


I did nearly end up with a Series McRae not so long ago. Now there is a dream Impreza. It was for sale in Fort William, I made a call to the owner to see if it was still for sale, but it had sold that morning! Ah well, here is hoping that wasn't the end of my Impreza saga...

[Baryonyx]

I spotted a really nice looking Terzo last night, which very sadly was being broken for parts. Do you have any pictures of yours?

Is it worth going for an import car? I really want an older, classic shape STi so I will have to, as they were all imports, yes? Or are the UK special editions like the Terzo, the Series McRae and the RB5 likely to satisfy my tastes?

[Baryonyx]

Hmm. I definitely don't want a 'new' Impreza, thinking Bugeye onward. Only an old one will do, so it's slightly disheartening to think I could end up having to wade through loads of rusty cars to find a good one. I'm not sure if an old Classic WRX would satisfy, it probably would. But it seems the fuel economy is piss poor in either WRX or STi, so I might as well go for the STi!

The alternative is to be very boring and get something like an Audi TT 225!

[Baryonyx]

plenty said:

OP drives a 106 Rallye - I suspect that "old" cars aren't a problem.

For some of us old>new...(says the proud owner of a MY93 GC8)

Yes, old cars definitely aren't an issue as such. I commuted in my MR2 Turbo when it was 17 years old and it felt tighter than the disastrous Astras I was driving at work at the time! So an older car definitely isn't an issue as long as it's sound and relatively free from rust.

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

Something like this would do me (I'd probably pay a little more for something without a ripped bolster). This guy usually has a few decent Imprezas for sale and it seems others in the UK have bought from him with good experiences.




The matter in hand being that I need a car for every day use, yet I work shifts with funny hours so I rarely drive in any sort of rush hour, and my commute starts in the countryside and takes in a good breadth of B roads before I get to a dual carriageway, so I always like to have something capable for that sort of commute, which the Rallye is great at. I mean, I can drive the doors off the Rallye at 3AM when I'm coming home and it's great fun, but I could do with something bigger. Hence the TT being a viable option, because it is a comfortable place to sit and covers ground capably and quickly, obviously slightly less exciting than an Impreza.

[Baryonyx]

In a roundabout way I've decided on an MR2 Roadster! I kept thinking back to my MR2 Turbo, which was an amazing car. But most of the ones for sale look like shonkas, and I'll probably struggle to find one as good as the one I sold. But I missed that low slung, mid-engined thing so the Roadster seems like a great choice. This has been a very useful learning experience on Imprezas though, and I suspect a top end Wagon will find it's way onto my drive (or at least my list) when a properly sized car is in the offing!

[Baryonyx]

I await to see how I'll work cramming my shopping into it. At least the Turbo had a massive boot behind the engine! And sounded better too (especially since the exhaust manifold was routed right behind the cabin). But as I say, I won't put myself through the heartache of wading through the ste ones, since the last one I bought was nearly mint and only 10 miles from my door! Lots of mk3's to the choose from, at least. Whether or not it will handle better than my 106 Rallye remains to be seen, but I expect it to be at least on par - and I know they have a better seating position for a 6'2" bloke like me!