Impreza WRX GB270
Discussion
Anyone here own one? Care to let me know what it is like?
Are they reliable or expensive to run?
Looking at the wagon specifically, but I know that apart from the looks everything else is the same.
Can't say I am a Subaru fanboy, but I really like the look of these. Understated is better IMO.
Are they reliable or expensive to run?
Looking at the wagon specifically, but I know that apart from the looks everything else is the same.
Can't say I am a Subaru fanboy, but I really like the look of these. Understated is better IMO.
I had one for a year last year. It was the worst Subaru I've ever owned. The standard brakes were 
, the engine flashed up more errors than any car I've ever owned (including some Fords). Out of warranty it was mentally expensive to replace all the bits that broke. the paintwork looked like an afterthought. It wasn't that quick. On the positive side it handled very well. I wouldn't have another one if someone gave it to me.
, the engine flashed up more errors than any car I've ever owned (including some Fords). Out of warranty it was mentally expensive to replace all the bits that broke. the paintwork looked like an afterthought. It wasn't that quick. On the positive side it handled very well. I wouldn't have another one if someone gave it to me.AndySpecD said:
Yep, like the look especially the wagon, but it is 'only' a ppp WRX with fancy wheels and a bit of trim. Personally I struggle to justify the extra price over a normal WRX PPP but like I say, do like the look of them.
What he said. You can save some cash on a standard wagon and make your own changes and probably save some money along the way over the GB270, it was a bit of a sales gimic to clear some old stock before the hatchback came in. As for looks it was just a splitter (£150) although I am not sure that the wagon had one, and wheels (£500) plus some stickers. Power wise I think it had PPP which can be replaced with an exhaust and re-map (around £800-£1000 unless you pick up a used exhaust then it could be less). I think it may have been lowered but Eibach springs are about £250 plus fitting.
As for reliability, costs etc, not sure what happened to the guys car up the page but its the first time I have heard such a horror story in relation to the WRX, perhaps it was a Friday car.
Only common fault really is knocking rear struts, they went on my WRX saloon after 21k. If you are going to drive it hard a brake upgrade may not be a bad idea though as the standard WRX brakes can give up after some short hard punishment.
All comments taken on board. I really like the colour/looks and I realise it is little more than a PPP WRX.
I'm not at all interested in getting a WRX without PPP for insurance reasons. Only one (reputable) company has given me a reasonable quote on the GB270, mention modified and they don't want to know. STI isn't an option because I need the wagon and I hate the look of the newer hatch.
I'm not at all interested in getting a WRX without PPP for insurance reasons. Only one (reputable) company has given me a reasonable quote on the GB270, mention modified and they don't want to know. STI isn't an option because I need the wagon and I hate the look of the newer hatch.
I wanted one when we swapped our 03 wagon for a 06 one a couple of years ago.
Then as now the 270s seem to hold a couple of thousand difference and I couldn't really justify that.
A good one, looked after and kept lowish mileage might be a keeper but with only 100 out there, there won't be many like that even now.
I still quite fancy one especially with the options boxes ticked.
Then as now the 270s seem to hold a couple of thousand difference and I couldn't really justify that.
A good one, looked after and kept lowish mileage might be a keeper but with only 100 out there, there won't be many like that even now.
I still quite fancy one especially with the options boxes ticked.
matt-ITR said:
I'm not at all interested in getting a WRX without PPP for insurance reasons. Only one (reputable) company has given me a reasonable quote on the GB270, mention modified and they don't want to know.
I may be teaching my Granny to suck eggs here but have you tried some of the specialists? A Plan, Keith Michaels etc.My blob wrx has been amazingly reliable in the 2 years that I've owned it. Apart from consumables and servicing I've only had to change the battery. Obviously now that I've said that it will fall to pieces on my way home from work
Its just a WRX with the PPP, plus some other costume jewellery. However, they are quite quick, although not so rev happy as the older 2.0ltr lump.
I went out in a fellow PH'ers a few years back. He had mapped it (over the top of the PPP) and done a few other things and it really did go (~290bhp IIRC).
Check the usual places for insurance - Keith Michaels, A-Plan etc.
The knocking rear strut can be temporarily fixed with some white lithium grease (spray can from Halfords, jack car up, apply liberally to exposed strut, lasts about 4K miles). However, longer term, coilovers or some other aftermarket solution may be better (mine went on my STi and I have coilovers now).
The 2.5ltr engines are not as strong as the older 2.0ltr lumps. So exercise some caution when modifying - i.e. speak to an expert like JGM, James Greenwood etc...
-P
I went out in a fellow PH'ers a few years back. He had mapped it (over the top of the PPP) and done a few other things and it really did go (~290bhp IIRC).
Check the usual places for insurance - Keith Michaels, A-Plan etc.
The knocking rear strut can be temporarily fixed with some white lithium grease (spray can from Halfords, jack car up, apply liberally to exposed strut, lasts about 4K miles). However, longer term, coilovers or some other aftermarket solution may be better (mine went on my STi and I have coilovers now).
The 2.5ltr engines are not as strong as the older 2.0ltr lumps. So exercise some caution when modifying - i.e. speak to an expert like JGM, James Greenwood etc...
-P
I enjoyed my GB270 saloon while I had it but had to replace the standard calipers with brembos as the wrx ones are pap. The problem with getting a wrx is that you then wish you had gone for the sti and people spend lots of money unnecessarily trying to replicate the sti performance.
If you want something understated and an estate check out the Forester sti (see my profile) as they are available at a pretty reasonable price...
If you want something understated and an estate check out the Forester sti (see my profile) as they are available at a pretty reasonable price...
There's nothing wrong with WRX brakes apart from the OEM pads and brake hoses which are s
te. Replace them all round with decent quality aftermarket pads and change the OEM brake hoses for braded HEL or Goodridge stainless steel hoses and the brakes are transformed. £100-£150 for proper pads front and rear, and £50 for hoses all round. Relatively inexpensive fix.
Fitting Brembos, new rotors, hoses, and new pads is an expensive way of improving stopping power especially when your WRX is still only at PPP power levels, and just decent pads and hoses will be plenty good enough.
te. Replace them all round with decent quality aftermarket pads and change the OEM brake hoses for braded HEL or Goodridge stainless steel hoses and the brakes are transformed. £100-£150 for proper pads front and rear, and £50 for hoses all round. Relatively inexpensive fix.Fitting Brembos, new rotors, hoses, and new pads is an expensive way of improving stopping power especially when your WRX is still only at PPP power levels, and just decent pads and hoses will be plenty good enough.
ScoobieWRX said:
There's nothing wrong with WRX brakes apart from the OEM pads and brake hoses which are ste. Replace them all round with decent quality aftermarket pads and change the OEM brake hoses for braded HEL or Goodridge stainless steel hoses and the brakes are transformed. £100-£150 for proper pads front and rear, and £50 for hoses all round. Relatively inexpensive fix.
Fitting Brembos, new rotors, hoses, and new pads is an expensive way of improving stopping power especially when your WRX is still only at PPP power levels, and just decent pads and hoses will be plenty good enough.
I did the full Brembo caliper and disc conversion on mine and it cost me just £450. It takes some shopping around but you can get a full set of brembos and discs for reasonable money. The used ones I had came off a spec-c and covered around 16k before I had them and covered another 20k before I replaced the discs and pads. It really does make for a quicker car too! It doesn't matter if the car is standrad, PPP or Sti PPP as its all about scrubbing off big speed in short distances and being able to brake later, plus of course not getting brake fade after a few hard brakes. That said, even the standard Brembo pads fade quickly, after market ones are far better.te. Replace them all round with decent quality aftermarket pads and change the OEM brake hoses for braded HEL or Goodridge stainless steel hoses and the brakes are transformed. £100-£150 for proper pads front and rear, and £50 for hoses all round. Relatively inexpensive fix.Fitting Brembos, new rotors, hoses, and new pads is an expensive way of improving stopping power especially when your WRX is still only at PPP power levels, and just decent pads and hoses will be plenty good enough.
You did really well to get set up for such a reasonable outlay although often people pay a lot more.
The WRX setup isn't bad, it just needs tweaking. I ran over 360bhp on decent pads, aftermarket rotors, braided brake lines and good quality racing brake fluid with no fade during repeated braking over B roads and on track. Equally very good at scrubbing off speed without fade or drama from silly high leptons on private straight roads.
To have Brembos is nice and they look really good, but not strictly necessary.
The WRX setup isn't bad, it just needs tweaking. I ran over 360bhp on decent pads, aftermarket rotors, braided brake lines and good quality racing brake fluid with no fade during repeated braking over B roads and on track. Equally very good at scrubbing off speed without fade or drama from silly high leptons on private straight roads.
To have Brembos is nice and they look really good, but not strictly necessary.
I kept the lower lip spoiler on the front on mine. Speed humps and 'trenched' car park exits were not my friend . If you take that bit off it looks st. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. . I didn't have the embossed seats and nav in mine, I can honestly say the standard seats were the worst, most uncomfortable seats ever. The seats in my 05 STI were a much better proposition. In fact I could hardly believe that both cars were from the same manufacturer.
. If you take that bit off it looks st. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. . I didn't have the embossed seats and nav in mine, I can honestly say the standard seats were the worst, most uncomfortable seats ever. The seats in my 05 STI were a much better proposition. In fact I could hardly believe that both cars were from the same manufacturer.Had my GB270 wagon for about fifteen months. The price premium above a WRX PPP may be difficult to justify but with hindsight I would still go for the GB270.
Running costs are not too bad for the performance. Be careful of road tax though, mine is about £450 per year which I accept as part of the overall package.
I really like the torque, rarity, quickshift box, relatively discreet looks
Previous car was a modified Subaru, so have tried to keep this one standard.
- replace the resonated centre pipe (no cat in there) with a straight through pipe to release more burble
- different head unit and maybe speakers
- if you like to press on, do something with the brakes. Subaru 4 pots are OK but not great
Running costs are not too bad for the performance. Be careful of road tax though, mine is about £450 per year which I accept as part of the overall package.
I really like the torque, rarity, quickshift box, relatively discreet looks
Previous car was a modified Subaru, so have tried to keep this one standard.
- IF* I was to suggest mods
- replace the resonated centre pipe (no cat in there) with a straight through pipe to release more burble
- different head unit and maybe speakers
- if you like to press on, do something with the brakes. Subaru 4 pots are OK but not great
ScoobieWRX said:
You did really well to get set up for such a reasonable outlay although often people pay a lot more.
The WRX setup isn't bad, it just needs tweaking. I ran over 360bhp on decent pads, aftermarket rotors, braided brake lines and good quality racing brake fluid with no fade during repeated braking over B roads and on track. Equally very good at scrubbing off speed without fade or drama from silly high leptons on private straight roads.
To have Brembos is nice and they look really good, but not strictly necessary.
I did get a great deal. The guy I bought them from was about to sell them to someone in Ireland, it turned out he was only 3 miles up the road from me and it was going to cost him an arm and a leg to send them so sold them cheap to a local out of convenience as much as anything else, right place at the right time for me!!The WRX setup isn't bad, it just needs tweaking. I ran over 360bhp on decent pads, aftermarket rotors, braided brake lines and good quality racing brake fluid with no fade during repeated braking over B roads and on track. Equally very good at scrubbing off speed without fade or drama from silly high leptons on private straight roads.
To have Brembos is nice and they look really good, but not strictly necessary.
Ye I guess the standard set up would have been pretty good if they had a little more bite and little fade which as you said are not difficult to fix, I am a sucker for the look of the Brembo's though!
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