Which Impreza?

[Strategic Drift]

Hi, I'm in needing the collective power of PH here.

I've owned a few of cars in my time and found I don't like FWD at all. RWD is great, but sometimes I just want to get somewhere in the wet and still be alive. So it's all wheel drive time and looking around I feel that an Impreza would be best suited for me.

I have about £6000 to spend and looking at the market my choices seem to be:

Classic Shape Impreza: Loads of choice, a lot of imports and modified cars. They are cheap however and I could even potentially get a P1 coupe.

Bug eye Impreza: Mostly higher milage models, only a few with service history. I Can find a few WRX models though.

Blob eye Impreza: Not a lot of selection, one or two WRX models with sporadic service history.

So my question is how do I find a good Impreza? What is the minimum in terms of history I should be looking for? and what are the common problems with each / any model?

Thanks

[paulmoonraker]

You could probably find a decent mid-mileage Bug eye WRX for that money or 04 Blob. If you can, get one with a prodrive pack or set aside some money to make the prodrive modifications, as IMO the WRX is a much better drive with the PPP.

I have bought both my Imprezas off Rich at RRH in Surrey. If I was you, paying a premium to a good specialist dealer is worthwhile as you get some piece of mind. Alternatively, find somebody who knows there stuff to help you out.

I don’t know anything about classics, however, I am sure somebody else will comment on them.

[RobCrezz]

You can get an Evo 6 for that also.

[Strategic Drift]

RobCrezz said:

You can get an Evo 6 for that also.

I thought about an Evo but the thought of finding one with a proper service history and then maintaining is a bit of a worry.

[paulmoonraker]

What kind of milage you going to be doing? That will determine if a high-miler matters, and if the servicing and costs etc of an Evo are a real issue.

[Strategic Drift]

In terms of miles, not that many I do only about 14-15 miles a day (to work and back) and then depending on it I blatt around at the weekend. It would be low miles that I am doing, but my right foot is kinda heavy so tyres, brakes, clutches and the like don't tend to last very long.

[paulmoonraker]

With that kind of mileage a year then a high mileage newer car or a classic should not be a problem (I would be tempted by a pukka classic). Looking on ebay at the classifieds then there seem to be a lot of new age WRX’s at the 6.5 - 7K price point (I know its above what you have suggested), many with the prodrive pack on.

As far as problems go – there is known issue with the rear shocks knocking. I am not sure if this is limited to the STi. My drivers side one has just started I fixed mine temporarily with some white lithium grease (spray can). A longer term fix is to re-grease or replace. However, with the MY05 replacements are still under licence so cost a lot to replace (and even if you do, they will go wrong, hence the numbers of people that go the coilover route).

[CaptainSlow]

I've been looking for a bug/blob. Price wise £4k gets a low mileage bug in a private sale, £6k will get a nice blob.