'Bug eye' WRX Impreza Prodrives?

[5paul5]

CoolHands said:

I can't understand the 'deniers' on this thread. There are clearly people in this thread who have owned them, and they've blown up. What other marques can you name where that happens? I can't think of one, TBH. I don't recall Mitsubishi Evo's having this rep for blowing up, so how do you explain it? Even golf GTI's that are similarly 'tuned' by people with no idea and no real money don't experience engine failures. Overall I can see that yes, many are reliable, but that no, it's not that unusual for one to go bang. It does (and has) genuinely put me off getting one.

[SuperVM]

Here's mine:







I bought it a few weeks ago for what I think is quite a good price, especially as it has had a fair bit of maintenance done to it in the last year or so. I was originally after an Evo IV, but this came up locally and it was easier to get past the wife thanks to the perceived practicality. It has done 130k and is still on the original engine, though has had a replacement gearbox. I've certainly had faster cars and more practical cars, but never quite the same level of both in a car. I find it does drink around town though!

[5paul5]

SuperVM said:

Here's mine:







I bought it a few weeks ago for what I think is quite a good price, especially as it has had a fair bit of maintenance done to it in the last year or so. I was originally after an Evo IV, but this came up locally and it was easier to get past the wife thanks to the perceived practicality. It has done 130k and is still on the original engine, though has had a replacement gearbox. I've certainly had faster cars and more practical cars, but never quite the same level of both in a car. I find it does drink around town though!

Very nice that, big fan of the wagons. What original engine? it must have gone pop by now

[JM]

ThePlanner said:

St John Smythe said:

Think I'm having second thoughts. I'm not too keen on driving about in a car wondering if it was about to go pop at any moment tbh.

As long as the car is looked after and not modded to death then there is no reason it can not be reliable.

There does appear to be some issues with un-modded cars though and big end bearings.

And a lot of them seem to be soon after a service, usually a dealer service.

There is debate in the Subaru online communities about priming the oil pump after an oil change, whcih is not a dealer procedure. Lots of tuners and engine builders recommend it though.

I don't think I've read about an engine losing big end bearing after an oil change when the pump has been primed and the engine warmed up correctly before being well used along with using good high ron petrol i.e V-power or Momentum.


So basically if you treat the car properly and have it well serviced by a trusted specialist (possibly not a main dealer) then the car should be just fine.

[SuperVM]

5paul5 said:

Very nice that, big fan of the wagons. What original engine? it must have gone pop by now

Thanks, I can't take any credit for how it looks, though I do like it.

I think that once you get into the budget performance bracket, you can worry about most cars breaking. I've had an Audi S3 that was faultless for the entire 60k I had it, but others complain that their oil pump pick-ups get clogged and the engines fail. I've also had two Pulsars; people complain that the gearboxes go bang, but I never had a problem. I've even had an E36 M3 Evo without VANOS failure. Yep, I must be extremely lucky....

[KB_S1]

My Impreza Turbo is on 125k.
No engine issues in its life so far and it gets used properly.

Hello, who is that? fate oh, hi.

[SuperVM]

doogz said:

Ha! I love it. :-)

[KaraK]

JM said:

There does appear to be some issues with un-modded cars though and big end bearings.

And a lot of them seem to be soon after a service, usually a dealer service.

There is debate in the Subaru online communities about priming the oil pump after an oil change, whcih is not a dealer procedure. Lots of tuners and engine builders recommend it though.

I don't think I've read about an engine losing big end bearing after an oil change when the pump has been primed and the engine warmed up correctly before being well used along with using good high ron petrol i.e V-power or Momentum.


So basically if you treat the car properly and have it well serviced by a trusted specialist (possibly not a main dealer) then the car should be just fine.

My experiences having my original Classic serviced by dealers would suggest that most of their supposed expert technicians wouldn't be able to pick an Impreza out of a line up let alone know how to work on one. I've used an independent specialist for years, it's not only ensured my car is properly looked after but saved me a packet as well.

[JM]

KaraK said:

My experiences having my original Classic serviced by dealers would suggest that most of their supposed expert technicians wouldn't be able to pick an Impreza out of a line up let alone know how to work on one. I've used an independent specialist for years, it's not only ensured my car is properly looked after but saved me a packet as well.

I've spoken to a couple of technicians at a couple of dealers about issues with my car, both were very helpfull and informative and helped my diagnose the problem.
I have had dealings with the parts department at my local dealer and they were very good and helpfull also.

So I suppose dealers differ around the country.




I do most of my own service work and other stuff gets done by a very well respected independant specialist.

[Terzo123]

I had a Classic shape Impreza turbo PPP for just over 10 years.

Had it serviced at Subaru dealers until 97K then independant thereafter.

Most reliable car i've ever had. One of my friends now has the car, nearly 120K and no major issues so far.

[KaraK]

JM said:

KaraK said:

My experiences having my original Classic serviced by dealers would suggest that most of their supposed expert technicians wouldn't be able to pick an Impreza out of a line up let alone know how to work on one. I've used an independent specialist for years, it's not only ensured my car is properly looked after but saved me a packet as well.

I've spoken to a couple of technicians at a couple of dealers about issues with my car, both were very helpfull and informative and helped my diagnose the problem.
I have had dealings with the parts department at my local dealer and they were very good and helpfull also.

So I suppose dealers differ around the country.




I do most of my own service work and other stuff gets done by a very well respected independant specialist.

Probably true.. I am somewhat biased based on the two local dealers to me at the time being especially awful. One of them even stamped my then perfect FSSH service book with a sodding Citreon stamp FFS.

[JFReturns]

Mine was utterly reliable, squeek free and felt suitably robust. Standard, untuned, but most experienced Scooby owners commented on how bullet proof this engine and gearbox was - I believe it, for one.



I do miss it, but ultimately not the car for me.

[ThePlanner]

JM said:

ThePlanner said:

St John Smythe said:

Think I'm having second thoughts. I'm not too keen on driving about in a car wondering if it was about to go pop at any moment tbh.

As long as the car is looked after and not modded to death then there is no reason it can not be reliable.

There does appear to be some issues with un-modded cars though and big end bearings.

And a lot of them seem to be soon after a service, usually a dealer service.

There is debate in the Subaru online communities about priming the oil pump after an oil change, whcih is not a dealer procedure. Lots of tuners and engine builders recommend it though.

I don't think I've read about an engine losing big end bearing after an oil change when the pump has been primed and the engine warmed up correctly before being well used along with using good high ron petrol i.e V-power or Momentum.


So basically if you treat the car properly and have it well serviced by a trusted specialist (possibly not a main dealer) then the car should be just fine.

What absolute bks. My impreza WRX running 300bhp on 95 Ron and serviced at a main dealer for all the time I had it.

My car never broke down, never missed a best and I never warmed it up before driving.... Drive it with respect for the first few miles then the engine, gearbox all wrm up a the same rate. Then I never cooled it down either, I just drove it home and then on the last few miles just drove it calmly.

[Ved]

SuperVM said:

Here's mine:







I bought it a few weeks ago for what I think is quite a good price, especially as it has had a fair bit of maintenance done to it in the last year or so. I was originally after an Evo IV, but this came up locally and it was easier to get past the wife thanks to the perceived practicality. It has done 130k and is still on the original engine, though has had a replacement gearbox. I've certainly had faster cars and more practical cars, but never quite the same level of both in a car. I find it does drink around town though!

Bloody hell that is utterly wonderful! Is it an actual STI as I thought they were only imports. If so I still like the lamp covers Need more info on this please!

Edited by Ved on Thursday 1st December 21:31

[SuperVM]

Ved said:

Bloody hell that is utterly wonderful! Is it an actual STI as I thought they were only imports. If so I still like the lamp covers Need more info on this please!

Edited by Ved on Thursday 1st December 21:31

Thanks! :-) It is only a WRX PPP made to look a bit prettier. I would have bought an STI, but the bug wagons are very rare, with something like 1,000 having been made for the Japanese market (if I've misquoted this figure, someone please correct me). This car came up for sale three miles from my house and after a bit of research (googling his username) I found the owner seemed to really care about his cars, he has a Mexico and a Ford Racing Puma. I have a VF35 turbo, STI pink injectors and a few other bits and pieces to go on this car with a conservative goal of 320-330 bhp. I was also planning on fitting STI Brembo calipers front and rear, but they're very expensive for what they are, so I'll probably find an alternative option. I'm sure people will say I should have gone and bought an STI in the first place, but they really are quite rare in bug wagon form and I love tinkering with my cars. I also intend to keep all of the original parts, so if need be the car can be returned to standard when eventually for sale in years to come and the parts sold on for roughly what I paid for them.

[paulmoonraker]

STi wagons are rare as rocking horse st.... It's a nice car mate... You will benefit from uprated brakes if your pushing north of 300...

[SuperVM]

paulmoonraker said:

STi wagons are rare as rocking horse st.... It's a nice car mate... You will benefit from uprated brakes if your pushing north of 300...

Thanks. Indeed, the initial plan was to tackle the brakes, but then I got distracted by a VF35 in very good condition. I'm not sure whether or not to simply try braided hoses, Motul 660 (I have three sealed containers of it sitting on the shelf) and some better pads or to go for some sort of kit. I know the K-Sports divide opinions, but I had a set of D2 brakes on my Pulsar and thought they were great when used with the right pads.

[paulmoonraker]

Pads made lots of difference on my STi. Noticed mainly on track though... Obviously the pads won't fit new calipers, so maybe try getting somebody local to take you out in an STi and perform an emergency stop

[SuperVM]

paulmoonraker said:

Pads made lots of difference on my STi. Noticed mainly on track though... Obviously the pads won't fit new calipers, so maybe try getting somebody local to take you out in an STi and perform an emergency stop

The car will be seeing the track at some point, so that's good to know. I find the standard WRX brakes aren't even really good enough for heavy B-road use.

[Ved]

SuperVM said:

Thanks! :-) It is only a WRX PPP blah blah blah the owner seemed to really care about his cars blah blah conservative goal of 320-330 bhp blah blah so if need be the car can be returned to standard when eventually for sale in years to come and the parts sold on for roughly what I paid for them.

No, no. When you come to sell it you ask me if I want them. I want first dibs on this as is. Looks wonderful