Evos and Imprezas

[pbickerd]

Hi

There seem to be countless 'what car' threads on here every day (this isn't one) but I don't remember ever seeing anyone recommending an Evo or Impreza to anyone. I had a WRX in the past and loved it.

I was just wondering why this is? Are they the PH opposite to the MX5?

I was just looking at evo ix and they do look a lot of fun :-)

[paulmoonraker]

Try in the jap chat section

[nottyash]

Most people rule them out straight away due to the high fuel usage and insurance costs.
Great cars though

[Gwagon111]

It's because they are not German, and don't have names made of random letters and numbers. PHers' heads explode if they can't recommend a German car with a name made up of random letters and numbers, or an MX5 .

[Gun]

I was considering an Impreza for my next motor but they're outrageously expensive to insure and I think that puts a lot of people off, I know it did me.

[paulmoonraker]

They are not too bad to insure if you use a specialist broker and have NCB (and are not 18). Put the insurance cost in the context of the power of the car, then it does not seem so unreasonable...

[Fox-]

paulmoonraker said:

Put the insurance cost in the context of the power of the car, then it does not seem so unreasonable...

I did.

Back when I bought my 530 - a 220bhp Impreza Turbo 2000 was literally double the cost to insure than either the 530 or a 330, both more powerful.

So, putting the insurance cost in the context of the power, I had a quick laugh and moved on.

[Thom987]

I had an FQ400 a few years ago. Ridiculously hard on fuel, ridiculously ugly but ridiculously fast. At times it felt like I was just hanging on to the steering wheel it was that quick, I wouldnt fancy owning one in the UK with all those speed cameras.

[Lucas North]

I phoned my broker when I was younger and asked about a quote for an Evo, the second I said that he interrupted me and asked if I had already owned one for a year. I said no.

He said unless you're over 25 or have already insured one for a year, don't even bother thinking about it, insurance companies just don't want to know. This was a few years ago before insurance costs really started ramping up. Unless you're over 30 with good history I should think insurance and running costs make it very prohibitive to own one for anything other than a track/weekend toy with occasional usage.

[paulmoonraker]

Fox- said:

I did.

Back when I bought my 530 - a 220bhp Impreza Turbo 2000 was literally double the cost to insure than either the 530 or a 330, both more powerful.

So, putting the insurance cost in the context of the power, I had a quick laugh and moved on.

My STi is pushing 340bhp and cracks 60 in about 4.2 seconds... That costs me 700 quid a year, which to me is reasonable... What other cars are that capable and what is their rough insurance... Also, consider the purchase price which is low, so that ofsets any insurance cost also...

[Baryonyx]

They are quite popular cars, especially the Impreza as it doesn't require quite the same servicing and parts as the Lancer. Overall, they're not that much to run and insure when you consider what you get; namely the most lauded sports saloons over the past two decades, a couple of top class rally heroes on your drive for surprisingly little money.

Both cars have sold their homologation requirements many times over, simply because they are so magnificent. The insurance is the only real stumbling block, but if you can stomach that I doubt you'll have much more fun anywhere.

[paulw123]

depends what you count as expensive really. They are expensive to insure, and need a service every 4500 miles (Evos) but are so much fun to own. Point to point they are seriously quick. If you can afford it I would deffinatly reccomend one, preferably an Evo

[sparks_E39]

I desperately wanted a Impreza Turbo when I was 21, but insurance would have been £2500, compared to £700 for my E39 528, which I also desperately wanted and ended up buying. As well as a 156, 166, Focus ST170! I think I made the right choice.

[Dan_1981]

I've always lusted after an Evo - preferably a VI.

I got a few quotes and they wern't ridiculous, its more the running costs that put me off.

[Baryonyx]

sparks_E39 said:

I desperately wanted a Impreza Turbo when I was 21, but insurance would have been £2500, compared to £700 for my E39 528, which I also desperately wanted and ended up buying. As well as a 156, 166, Focus ST170! I think I made the right choice.

Those ST170's are a very underrated warm hatch. They pull nicely and benefit from the well sorted chassis of the Focus, I looked at one when I bought my 1.6 petrol Focus Zetec. The insurance quotes on them were beyond ridiculous for a 2.0L car so I swiftly turned away.

[alfa daley]

As an earlier poster alluded don't expect to go from a Fiesta and get a decent quote on an impreza. I shopped around and found both A plan and Gary at Keith Michaels reasonable with all mods declared.

Hard to find an impreza which hasn't been turned into a dogs dinner though. I think that not many people recommend them because the image is very love/hate.

[paulmoonraker]

Baryonyx said:

Those ST170's are a very underrated warm hatch. They pull nicely and benefit from the well sorted chassis of the Focus, I looked at one when I bought my 1.6 petrol Focus Zetec. The insurance quotes on them were beyond ridiculous for a 2.0L car so I swiftly turned away.

ST170 is a great car

[pbickerd]

I must admit. I was just looking at a IX FQ-360 and it was stating 13mpg combined. That is pretty bad. Thats worse that a supercharged range rover :/

I will go back to plan A I think which is keeping my 320d and getting an e46 m3. Thats a much more PH friendly combination lol

[paulmoonraker]

13 MPG! that can not be right... I get about 26MPG... To be honest though, dont get a turbocharged car if your bothered about MPG

[RobCrezz]

I love my evo. But if I wouldn't commute in it, the interiors aren't great, and the fuel economy is terrible. But its so much fun