RE: PH Heroes: Subaru Impreza P1

[Dave_STI]

Skullfudge said:

It's current spec is a little higher than OE but when I collected the car 6 years ago at 300 bhp it was the most solid car I had driven.

Now that's an understatement, saw your car on the rollers at Sumo, one of the highest spec classic impreza's in the country, stunning car that looks completely standard on the outside

Go on Riggers, ask Skullfudge for a test drive, that would make for an interesting read

[AdamPT]

davidcharles said:

if i think of a classic Impreza in my head i always see a P1...great car, will become more collectable as well.

how's about an EVO 6, P1, Uk Spec R33 GTR, Uk Spec Supra and a DC2 Integra for the ultimate Jap garage..!!

You obviously forgot to mention an NSX as well I'm sure......

[wy906]

Alex said:

Hand on heart, it's the best car I have ever owned. I bought her at 77k miles 8 years, countless track days and 125 laps of the 'Ring ago and she is now on 160k having never missed a beat. A superb engine in an astonishing chassis.

Interesting! I own a UKDM DC2; it’s a great road car but do you not find it being a bit underpowered on track days? It’s still tremendously fun on track but I get eaten alive by all the Scoobys / Evos etc on the straights and it can get frustrating at times (then again I’m not the best track driver). Superb A/B road weapon though.

I have never driven a P1 but would love to own one at some point as I’ve always loved them. Guess I’ll have to test drive one and see...

[typezerora]

P1's were (and still are) aimed at the collectors, in the same circle as the WR1, 22B, RB/RB320 etc.

Cars that you can collect and generally keep looking standard to retain their appeal.

But I would always go for the hardcore models like the Impreza Type-R or the stunning Impreza Type R V-Ltd which had all the toys.

DCCD is a handful, many a drivers have killed their scoobies because of it but it does make the Impreza a true weapon once you learn how to use it. Anything like the Spec C, Type R, Type RA etc will be an absolute joy to drive.

[Alex]

wy906 said:

Interesting! I own a UKDM DC2; it’s a great road car but do you not find it being a bit underpowered on track days? It’s still tremendously fun on track but I get eaten alive by all the Scoobys / Evos etc on the straights and it can get frustrating at times (then again I’m not the best track driver). Superb A/B road weapon though.

I have never driven a P1 but would love to own one at some point as I’ve always loved them. Guess I’ll have to test drive one and see...

The DC2 could do with more power, but the turn-in and chassis balance are better than the P1.

[suffolk009]

davidcharles said:

if i think of a classic Impreza in my head i always see a P1...great car, will become more collectable as well.

how's about an EVO 6, P1, Uk Spec R33 GTR, Uk Spec Supra and a DC2 Integra for the ultimate Jap garage..!!

Why no Mk1 eunos?!

[suffolk009]

Jibber Jabber said:

My thread has arrived.

Been looking at a P1 as my next car. Anyone with any knowledge able to tell me if a rebuilt engine is as likely to go pop as an original? Assuming they are run properly (99 Ron, warmed up etc.). Are the rebuilds using improved components etc or are they all different?

I don't fancy buying a one that has been rebuilt once and will go bang later on in it's life with the same issues.

Thanks.

Edited to add...

Why wouldn't a £6k version be a wise option?

Edited by Jibber Jabber on Tuesday 27th March 16:28

I have had two WRX wagons and more recently a pair of Legacy GTB. All died and got sold on when the engines went pop. Three head gaskets and one primary turbo. And yet I expect, true to form, I'll have forgotten all about this by next year and will once again be looking for another one.

[suffolk009]

Just remembered.... I used my first one to tow a caterham to the 'ring once. Got chatting to a GT driver who offered to show me the lines. We took the scoobs, the car was a WRX boggo-standard brakes - hopeless. He'd cooked them by the third corner, before we were even off the new circuit. Had the whole of the old track to do braking mostly on the engine. What a drive.

[Dagnut]

GravelBen said:

Dagnut said:

Never understood why they dropped the DCCD from the TypeR

Because they wanted ABS instead for the UK market I think - it wasn't until the blobeye that they got DCCD to work with ABS, before that you had one or the other.

Good man Ben I knew you'd know the answer!

[Dagnut]

typezerora said:

DCCD is a handful, many a drivers have killed their scoobies because of it but it does make the Impreza a true weapon once you learn how to use it. Anything like the Spec C, Type R, Type RA etc will be an absolute joy to drive.

Considerably harder to collect from any decent angle..As I learned to my cost..it just snaps back..I crashed a V3 type R because of this.

[smiles22]

Alex said:

Hand on heart, it's the best car I have ever owned. I bought her at 77k miles 8 years, countless track days and 125 laps of the 'Ring ago and she is now on 160k having never missed a beat. A superb engine in an astonishing chassis.

So glad it went to a good home-I think you're the chap who bought it off me. Health to enjoy

[allsop83]

Had a P1 and a 22B at the same time and for whatever reason I ALWAYS picked up the keys to the P1 first when the urge came for a blast.....

Sold the 22B and still have the P1.....do the maths

[bazza1000]

I've had two of these in the past, fantastic cars, will always be one of my favourties.

[Alex]

smiles22 said:

So glad it went to a good home-I think you're the chap who bought it off me. Health to enjoy

Giles, is that you?

[ImprezaMuch]

I STILL love my OLD JAP Import. By far the best handling thing I have have driven in terms of being able to slide/drift, and if all else fails accelerate out of corners.

So missed.

[300bhp/ton]

tommy vercetti said:

Lovely cars, but the 22B will always be my favourite scooby

not really comparable in quantity made, price when new or used price though.

[irf]

hope this isn't taken by anyone as trolling but i've never understood the appeal of the P1. isnt it just the same as an sti?

i thought they were different in that the P1 is a uk model but if even a P1 needs their engine rebuilt because of crap petrol why not just stick with an import sti?

i think the classic impreza is an itch that'll never get scratched

[300bhp/ton]

GravelBen said:

Dagnut said:

Never understood why they dropped the DCCD from the TypeR

Because they wanted ABS instead for the UK market I think - it wasn't until the blobeye that they got DCCD to work with ABS, before that you had one or the other.

That's what I've read too. Still can't see the point in massively over paying for a P1 over an STI though, not unless you are a collector or something.

[Alex]

300bhp/ton said:

not really comparable in quantity made, price when new or used price though.

They are not totally incomparable.

Number made - P1: 1000, 22B: 400 (although only 16 Type UK, admittedly)
Price when new - P1: £32k, 22B: £40k

Used price - Agree, not comparable. P1: £5k to £12k, 22B: £25k

Edited by Alex on Wednesday 28th March 15:49

[300bhp/ton]

irf said:

hope this isn't taken by anyone as trolling but i've never understood the appeal of the P1. isnt it just the same as an sti?

i thought they were different in that the P1 is a uk model but if even a P1 needs their engine rebuilt because of crap petrol why not just stick with an import sti?

i think the classic impreza is an itch that'll never get scratched

The P1 is sort of a mashup between a JDM STI and a UK Turbo 2000 in a 2 door body shell.

I see the appeal when new as it'd have been a UK model with a UK warranty, and there was a time when UK Subaru dealerships wouldn't even service an import.

Today I see the appeal as a collectors item, but if you want a fast Subaru you can buy an STI for half the price and get essentially the same or better spec, more so if you go Type R. The P1 does look good though.