2003 Impreza WRX a bad idea?
Discussion
Mine averages about 18-19mpg total. On the motorway at a steady 70-75mph I average about 27mpg.
On a hoon? Don't ask!! It's about 6-7mpg
It's only money, you can't take it with you!
In 18months, mine has needed discs, pads, 2 tyres and a new radiator! Most reliable car I've ever owned
If you want one get a PPP one, and make sure it has full service history!
On a hoon? Don't ask!! It's about 6-7mpg
It's only money, you can't take it with you!
In 18months, mine has needed discs, pads, 2 tyres and a new radiator! Most reliable car I've ever owned
If you want one get a PPP one, and make sure it has full service history!
I had an '03 WRX PPP wagon.
I averaged low 20's mpg over 40k miles and 3 years. I did get single figures on occasion, when it was in it's element on a tight twisty road. The motorway average was about 26mpg.
Mine was very reliable, but I found I was spending more than a grand a year on tyres and brakes. Servicing was every 10k miles, but was surprisingly cheap.
I quite liked it, but with that fuel economy frankly I would rather buy an MG ZT V8 or one of those Australian Vauxhall things with the V8 engine.
I averaged low 20's mpg over 40k miles and 3 years. I did get single figures on occasion, when it was in it's element on a tight twisty road. The motorway average was about 26mpg.
Mine was very reliable, but I found I was spending more than a grand a year on tyres and brakes. Servicing was every 10k miles, but was surprisingly cheap.
I quite liked it, but with that fuel economy frankly I would rather buy an MG ZT V8 or one of those Australian Vauxhall things with the V8 engine.
MissChief said:
rhinochopig said:
And that#s super too.
And that's pretty much nailed that idea! We're not all powerfully built company directors unfortunately.Thinking about Leon Cupra R or Megane 225 with mk.5 Golf GTI and Focus ST getting an occasional look in.
It really was a lovely jack of all trades car and handled very very well apart from an overly intrusive TCS; quick too. I think you can turn it off, but I didn't figure out how in my short loan.
VAG build quality, comfortable, and fun to hustle down a B road. I'd have one today if I did more miles TBH.
Haha I very much wish I was a powerfully built director. In reality I am now a 22 year old Soldier in the Royal Engineers and get paid a pittance. I do about 12k miles a year and can finance the Impreza ok.
At one point I looked at getting a 330d or similar but fitted a 3" exhaust to it, took it on a blast with a few tunnels included and at that point I fell back in love with it!
There aren't many cars that have can do a 0-60mph dash in under 5 secs, have 4wd, ~270bhp and make a noise like the Impreza for sub £5k.
To me, it's worth sacrificing a couple of nights out with the lads each month for!
At one point I looked at getting a 330d or similar but fitted a 3" exhaust to it, took it on a blast with a few tunnels included and at that point I fell back in love with it!
There aren't many cars that have can do a 0-60mph dash in under 5 secs, have 4wd, ~270bhp and make a noise like the Impreza for sub £5k.
To me, it's worth sacrificing a couple of nights out with the lads each month for!
Great cars, no doubt.
Whilst the STi may be the 'halo' model, the WRX is a nice compromise. It might appear that the outright speed a little flat in untuned models (though this isn't really a criticism I would level at it), but it can get that power down all the time it seems! The traction mid corner is superb, and nothing shoots out of a corner like an Impreza (save for maybe a Lancer Evolution). Even the Turbo 2000 models could fire out of corners.
The interiors were much improved post bug-eye model, which is a bonus. Whilst they may like a sip of fuel, they are mechanically pretty simple, robust and cheap to service, so you can offset your fuel bills against smiles:miles and the fact that they shouldn't go wrong too often.
Yes, I do like the Impreza. When I needed a cheap runaround earlier this year I bought an Impreza GX to do the rounds. Of course, that will return 40mpg on a long run, something I've never achieved in a turbo Impreza!
Whilst the STi may be the 'halo' model, the WRX is a nice compromise. It might appear that the outright speed a little flat in untuned models (though this isn't really a criticism I would level at it), but it can get that power down all the time it seems! The traction mid corner is superb, and nothing shoots out of a corner like an Impreza (save for maybe a Lancer Evolution). Even the Turbo 2000 models could fire out of corners.
The interiors were much improved post bug-eye model, which is a bonus. Whilst they may like a sip of fuel, they are mechanically pretty simple, robust and cheap to service, so you can offset your fuel bills against smiles:miles and the fact that they shouldn't go wrong too often.
Yes, I do like the Impreza. When I needed a cheap runaround earlier this year I bought an Impreza GX to do the rounds. Of course, that will return 40mpg on a long run, something I've never achieved in a turbo Impreza!
MissChief said:
15-16MPG? Ouch. Even the 'thirsty' RX-8 or Focus ST gets better. Something else i think!
His second one was a chipped 2.5, and boxers tend to be thirsty to begin with.Mind you, i the guy in question did love pushing and shoving his car around, but then, if you dont, why bother with a WRX?
Urban Sports said:
Really? I mean, really?
I see what you're saying, and you do have a point, in the end it is only a japanese 4 door saloon after all, but the boxer wurble from the exhaust (neighbour dude had a modified one which made awesome noise) and the four-wheel drifting when the street was covered in snow was awesome.I'd personally have an alfa 147/156 GTA before a WRX myself
MissChief said:
this one is local and seems cheap.
Are they thirsty? my GTI-6 gets 30MPG average and are they not as quick as I think and unreliable?
Classics are best, especially JDMs, although Litchfield always provide the best for the UK, whatever iteration.Are they thirsty? my GTI-6 gets 30MPG average and are they not as quick as I think and unreliable?
Go try it and then decide as to how quick.
Reliability?, like anything else, it depends how previous owners have treated it and serviced it.
Basically, standard is best when buying, unless any mods are from a trusted tuner or mapper.
You'll want to be sure the cambelt has been renewed at the appropriate time or mileage.
You'll not get 30mpg average but will get 28 if you try but "seems cheap", so £ left for petrol.
You get the Rally Reps, or you don't.
You can potter along all legal on Motorways and major A roads then turn onto a rural A or B road, or perhaps yellow and it all becomes clear.
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