Steal or no steal | Subaru AWD all-stars
2022 marks 50 years since the first all-wheel drive Subaru; it's been quite the half-century
Subaru Impreza WRX STI (JDM), 2007, 92k, £13,995
Just when you think you’ve found the right Impreza WRX STI, another one comes along to tempt you away. Not only are there an infinite number of special editions, each with their own minor but often significant differences, there are also some major differences between UK and JDM cars. Go for the UK model and you’ll get the distinct Impreza burble, which is lost on the Japanese cars as they use equal-length headers. However, JDM machines get twin-scroll turbos, automatic water spray for the intercooler and tougher engines. Though you may pay a little more for one, JDM cars are typically the way to go if you want the ultimate Impreza WRX experience.
That’s why I was surprised to find this 2007 Hawkeye, with 92,000 miles on the clock, for a little under £14,000. Now, UK Hawkeyes saw the introduction of the punchy 2.5-litre boxer, which wasn’t nearly as sturdy as the 2.0-litre forged motor the JDM version came with. It also earned a higher rev limit, which helps make up for the lack of exhaust burble.
This one’s easy to overlook because it’s covered in rally stickers, which is usually a sign that it’s been tuned beyond recognition, though it appears to be completely standard. And it’s in WR Mica with gold wheels, aka the perfect STI spec. Seriously, if someone doesn’t buy this soon, my house deposit will be taking a bit of a hit…
Subaru Legacy Spec B, 2009, 127k, £3,995
Any Japanese car with ‘Spec’ in its name is going to be expensive. Look at Spec C Imprezas for proof of that. Or V-Spec Skylines. Or even M-Spec ones, for that matter. Everything but the Spec B Legacy, in fact. Which makes it a bargain basement route into all that’s great about all-wheel drive Subarus.
The early cars reserved just for Japan are still affordable, despite plenty of Impreza-donated parts and almost 300hp - this one is still comfortably under £10k. But we can do even better than that for a Spec B bargain. The later Legacy to gain the badge might not have been as hardcore, switching the EJ20 turbo for a 3.0-litre flat six and aimed more at the compact executive class than rally reps, but it had plenty to recommend it as well. That included Bilstein suspension, a rear limited-slip diff for the four-wheel drive and the SI-Drive mode selector. Maybe it wasn’t a Subaru icon with a slightly aloof driving experience, but then the icons don’t cost £3,995 anymore…
Yep, that’s all this Legacy Spec B costs, complete with what’s described as ‘great’ service history for its 127,000 miles and ‘immaculate’ condition - bizarre bonnet ornament and all. A 3.0-litre flat six and automatic gearbox won’t make it cheap to run, but boxer-engined, all-wheel drive Subarus with more than 240hp don’t come cheaper.
Subaru Forester 2.5 XTEn, 2009, 98k, £3,991
While this list could easily have been a lot longer and compiled entirely of Imprezas, we'd have been remiss not to mention the other all-wheel drive Subarus that have been made in the past half a century. Not least because those without WRC heritage are rather more affordable.
Coming in at a few quid less even than the Legacy, this Forester XTEn boasts so much of what has made the Subaru legend: turbocharged flat-four engine, manual gearbox, four driven wheels and the sort of hardy dependability that keeps them farm-friendly to this day. Again the larger 2.5-litre motor used here isn’t quite as tough as the earlier 2.0-litre, though the Forester looks to have survived almost 100,000 miles of use with plenty of life intact. There’s no escape when the original owner has gone for sand leather…
As with all the cars on this list - as with so many Subarus really - old-school turbo power and permanent all-wheel drive mean the Forester will be pricey to run. On the other hand, it’s a lot of performance for the money, which was always fundamental to the Subaru appeal before the famous ones got so expensive. Being the less cool one never looked so tempting.
). Great all-rounder, I miss it most times I have to overtake someone in the Hilux...It's such a pity (and pita) that the rubbish CVT gearbox has dominated new UK models for the last 10 years or so. It puts me off buying another new one, which I would otherwise do in a heartbeat.
Of this list I'd take the Legacy Spec B - expensive to run and a bargain to buy.
It's such a pity (and pita) that the rubbish CVT gearbox has dominated new UK models for the last 10 years or so. It puts me off buying another new one, which I would otherwise do in a heartbeat.
Of this list I'd take the Legacy Spec B - expensive to run and a bargain to buy.
They are a great fit for the bigger, more powerful engines, much like traditional autos. With the flat 6 it makes for a super smooth drive.
It's such a pity (and pita) that the rubbish CVT gearbox has dominated new UK models for the last 10 years or so. It puts me off buying another new one, which I would otherwise do in a heartbeat.
Of this list I'd take the Legacy Spec B - expensive to run and a bargain to buy.
They are a great fit for the bigger, more powerful engines, much like traditional autos. With the flat 6 it makes for a super smooth drive.
I own a now very leggy 3.0RN Outback and I went to view the latest Gen 6 outback really really wanting to like it…however despite an extended test drive the drive train just didn’t impress - not at the c.£40k mark anyways. Granted it is still better than most other CVTs I’ve tried from the Toyota / Lexus stable.
If only they could bring the more powerful 2.4 turbo unit they get in America to the UK - that would likely change my mind.
I haven’t driven the Levorg so the lighter weight relative to the Outback / Forester may give a different experience.
Ours was killed by the rust though
, check under plastic arch & seal covers is my advise or go for a fresh JDM import and have it properly rust proofed yourself. Rust proofing from factory is poor, think marginally better than a Lancia and you’re on the right lines. 
I have own and loved a 2006 WRX hawkeye and after over 100,000 miles it is still going strong. After almost 17 years of ownership I can't see me ever parting with it.
Driving it these days feels so raw compared with more modern cars I have owned and with just under 300hp it can keep up with pretty much anything old or new on a damp B road.
It seems to be climbing in value too so it makes the investment to keep it tip top worth while.
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