Impreza Import - buy or not to buy?

[mneame]

Only know about the early ones really. the jap cars often have a higher spec. early cars had aircon where early uk didn't. also had rear wash wipe. gear ratios were different. jap ones had alloy bonet and boot. alloy lower front suspension arms. they were lighter overall due to less sound deadening.

downsides - insurance is a bit more but if you go through a specialist such as gary moulson at keith michaels you won't really pay any more. i pay £500 full comp on my 93 type ra and am 28.

parts wise it isn't a problem. like all performance cars parts aren't always cheap. but i've never had a problem getting parts. there are plenty of aftermarket and oe parts available from places like milsport. even subaru garages are now recognising that the parts are the same. just takes them a little longer to come up with the parts.

there are also plenty of specialists around now that will service your import and i personally prefer these specialists to main dealers.

overal i will always go for an import over a uk impreza. they are often in far better condition as the jap version of the mot is far stricker than our mot, and they just don't drive their cars as much as we do.

the only time i will go for a uk impreza is when i can afford a 2.5 hawkeye. even then i'd still be tempted by the jap import 2.0 twin scroll version.

[Evil.soup]

1966marden said:

I am considering the purchase of an Impreza Turbo from a UK Dealer who has done the importation and just requires me to come up with the asking price -

What are the snags/catches of buying imports,which seems to appear cheaper..?
Why is that some advertisers make a point of stating "genuine UK car", etc.?

I would like to know the pitfalls, if any.

Thanks in advance.

All the above advice is sound if you mean a jap import, but many these days are coming from Malta and Cyprus. If it is a Euro car then it is pretty much exactly the same spec as a uk car and classed as such by insurance companies

[NDT]

1966marden said:

I am considering the purchase of an Impreza Turbo from a UK Dealer who has done the importation and just requires me to come up with the asking price -

What are the snags/catches of buying imports,which seems to appear cheaper..?
Why is that some advertisers make a point of stating "genuine UK car", etc.?

I would like to know the pitfalls, if any.

Thanks in advance.

sorry if this is an obvious comment...

Japanese cars are mapped for 100RON fuel - you need to run them on Optimax or add an octane booster to normal SUL, or get them remapped.

[mneame]

NDT said:

1966marden said:

I am considering the purchase of an Impreza Turbo from a UK Dealer who has done the importation and just requires me to come up with the asking price -

What are the snags/catches of buying imports,which seems to appear cheaper..?
Why is that some advertisers make a point of stating "genuine UK car", etc.?

I would like to know the pitfalls, if any.

Thanks in advance.

sorry if this is an obvious comment...

Japanese cars are mapped for 100RON fuel - you need to run them on Optimax or add an octane booster to normal SUL, or get them remapped.

not so for the early cars. they have a learning ecu which can;t be mapped without a piggyback or replacement ecu. so you can if you want to, run them on normal 95. not recommended of course. i've had early imprezas for around 3 1/2 years now and only ever run on sul and octane booster as a precaution.

agree though that it's best to get the newer cars remapped. however with tesco 99 ron available and all the octane booster about you'd be fine without a remap. but tbh who leaves an impreza standard these days?

[_Al_]

mneame said:

but tbh who leaves an impreza standard these days?

Me?

[ScoobieWRX]

You tell em Al

[_Al_]

ScoobieWRX said:

You tell em Al

[smokingbulletholeinfoot]Now that I think about it I've actually got uprated pads, brake brace, STI bits and suspension on there.[/smokingbulletholeinfoot]

[ScoobieWRX]

Yep...thought as much

I know of probably 1 or 2 people that have left their Scooby absolutely bog standard and i think that's absolutely fine.

However......I have a green flat panel air filter, snorkus mod, front/rear uprated ARB end links, and most recently a Zen Performance SS Decat Uppipe (with slip joint), plus DIY mapping

Oh yeah...how could i forget to add the TSL SS GrpN backbox. Shame on me!!

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Saturday 8th December 00:57

[Evil.soup]

I have a large amount of respect for those that are able to keep a car in standard form, there is always something special about a car that is X years old and still as it was when it left the factory.

I would do the same. but the problem for me is, when im out on runs with other PH nuts, i need all the help i can get to keep up with Lambo's and Porkers