SOTW: Subaru Impreza Wagon

We've found an unmolested one...

The Subaru Impreza's descent into SOTW territory has been a sad thing to witness. Most of the time a car slides into sight of Shed's £1k budget in a graceful way. Normally, age and miles slowly push the subject motor's value, sometimes a reputation for high running costs or flaky reliability pushes it into Shed's clutches.

Sometimes, however, a car's credibility just gets thoroughly ripped to shreds by the too-often misguided attentions of the 'modifying' set. It's hard to say exactly when this happened with the Impreza, but at some point the car venerated by a generation of rally fans began to attract the attentions of the 'wrong sort of people'.

Nowadays, finding a cheap Impreza turbo that hasn't been made 'faster' by a big exhaust, nasty-looking alloys, stickers or bodykits of dubious quality is a tough ask. This week, however, we reckon we've managed it, alighting upon an entirely original Impreza Turbo wagon - the late first-generation facelift model, no less - nestling among the garish imports and alloyed-to-death nightmares, and up for sale for just £650.

These days, the plethora of super-fast hot hatches has rather overshadowed the Impreza's fast-yet-practical USP, but even back in 2000, when this car was registered, the Impreza's abilities were still pretty special.

It is at this point that we must admit that this Scooby's abilities may not be quite so special anymore, however. It has clocked up a chunky 160,000 miles, which is not too bad, but, to quote the vendor, the engine 'appears to have a knock'. Which is bad. Oh, and the rear brake discs and exhaust backbox are towards the end of their life. Which ain't too good, either.

But it is £650, it does have tax and MOT, and it's an unmolested Impreza. And they don't come along all that often...

Advert is reproduced below:

SUBARU IMPREZA TURBO 2000 W REG AWD ESTATE/WAGON (2000)
160,000 miles £650

THIS ADVERT IS FOR A SUBARU IMPREZA TURBO 2000CC W REG ALL WHEEL DRIVE ESTATE/WAGON.

IT IS FINISHED IN METALLIC GREEN.

16000 MILES.

HAS 11 STAMPS IN SERVICE BOOK. LAST KEEPER 2006 TO 2011. ALSO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF OTHER PAPERWORK/RECEIPTS.

TAXED UNTIL END OF SEPTEMBER 2011.

MOT UNTIL 3 OCTOBER 2011.

THE ENGINE APPEARS TO HAVE A KNOCK. HOWEVER, THE CAR STILL DRIVES AND PULLS WELL.

NO SMOKE.

NO OVER HEATING/MIXING.

OIL AND WATER LEVELS ARE FINE.

THE CAR WILL REQUIRE REAR BRAKE DISCS AND A BACKBOX IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE CAR WILL DRIVE AWAY AND WAS BEING USED REGULARLY UP UNTIL LAST WEEK.

THIS CAR IS CHEAP ENOUGH TO USE OR BREAK AS IT IS ONE OF THE CHEAPEST ABOUT.
THIS IS WHAT I WILL DO IF IT DOESNT SELL BUT SEEMS A SHAME AS ITS A GENUINE ENOUGH CAR

I AM BASED 2 MINUTES AWAY FROM JUNCTION 36 OFF THE M1.

Show all posts

Author

Discussion

andymc

Original Poster