Help me with car choice!!
Discussion
Hey guys,
Help me pick a car! Bit of background car info. My first true sports car was a TVR S1 as a second car! I went from that to a Corvette C5 (second car). Onto a VX220 Turbo used as a main car. I then traded this in as I was expecting my first child (now 20 months) and I now have a Shogun 3.2 Did! I made the mistake of going too practical and I need a bit of pace/enjoyment back in a car!
I've never had a sporty jap car and I am looking at one now! I would ideally like to trade/part ex my car against another to save selling yet again! The Shogun is worth about 7k and I could put a grand or so towards the next! Are garages happy to do this? Never used trade places before! Its a 2004 SWB Shogun 3.2 Did with 57k miles on the clock, not sure what a garage would offer for it part ex!
I have narrowed it down to 3 cars and I will give my plus and minuses and would love anyone to comment!
RX8 - Best looking of the bunch imo and nice interior. Feel it lacks pace for the fuel economy and not sure if I will be happy with the "go" after the previous cars I have had. They are cheap to buy though and good for the kid(s) in the back.
Mitsubishi Evo 8 - Unsure on running costs if something goes wrong, seem a little complicated with the OYC or whatever. 4 Wheel drive a bonus. Not sure I would get a good one with lowish miles for my budget.
Impreza STI - I would be looking at one 40-65k miles. Are they a reliable car at this sort of mileage? I'm guessing age of around 03-04. They seem to be the better on fuel against the power. 4 wheel drive again. I would prefer STI as everyone asks if its one of them, though I appreciate WRX PPP is a better option. I don't like the look of this or the EVO but prefer the looks of the STI.
I randomly tried insurance on the STI, they didn't list a PPP option. Does that make a big difference? I only used Confused and the best I got was a grand
Are they that expense to insure? I am 31 with 14 years no claims and live in Wakefield. The VX and Vette were only £500. I know you can shop for cheaper but it only knocks a couple of hundred off and I didn't class it as a PPP. Does the PPP heavily damage economy and insurance?
Neither the other half or parents like the look or idea of an Impreza or Evo but they seem to offer the sort of power I would be after and practical at the same time! The Shogun has been a god send in the snow!
Cheers for any pointers!
Help me pick a car! Bit of background car info. My first true sports car was a TVR S1 as a second car! I went from that to a Corvette C5 (second car). Onto a VX220 Turbo used as a main car. I then traded this in as I was expecting my first child (now 20 months) and I now have a Shogun 3.2 Did! I made the mistake of going too practical and I need a bit of pace/enjoyment back in a car!
I've never had a sporty jap car and I am looking at one now! I would ideally like to trade/part ex my car against another to save selling yet again! The Shogun is worth about 7k and I could put a grand or so towards the next! Are garages happy to do this? Never used trade places before! Its a 2004 SWB Shogun 3.2 Did with 57k miles on the clock, not sure what a garage would offer for it part ex!
I have narrowed it down to 3 cars and I will give my plus and minuses and would love anyone to comment!
RX8 - Best looking of the bunch imo and nice interior. Feel it lacks pace for the fuel economy and not sure if I will be happy with the "go" after the previous cars I have had. They are cheap to buy though and good for the kid(s) in the back.
Mitsubishi Evo 8 - Unsure on running costs if something goes wrong, seem a little complicated with the OYC or whatever. 4 Wheel drive a bonus. Not sure I would get a good one with lowish miles for my budget.
Impreza STI - I would be looking at one 40-65k miles. Are they a reliable car at this sort of mileage? I'm guessing age of around 03-04. They seem to be the better on fuel against the power. 4 wheel drive again. I would prefer STI as everyone asks if its one of them, though I appreciate WRX PPP is a better option. I don't like the look of this or the EVO but prefer the looks of the STI.
I randomly tried insurance on the STI, they didn't list a PPP option. Does that make a big difference? I only used Confused and the best I got was a grand
Are they that expense to insure? I am 31 with 14 years no claims and live in Wakefield. The VX and Vette were only £500. I know you can shop for cheaper but it only knocks a couple of hundred off and I didn't class it as a PPP. Does the PPP heavily damage economy and insurance?Neither the other half or parents like the look or idea of an Impreza or Evo but they seem to offer the sort of power I would be after and practical at the same time! The Shogun has been a god send in the snow!
Cheers for any pointers!
Edited by Keta on Saturday 23 April 13:05
Try Keith Michaels for Jap insurance. They saved me hundreds, and they also handle all of the mods properly (so you just declare the PPP components). I am 32, 5 years NCB running a 350bhp Impreza STi and it costs me £700.
I would not worry too much about the PPP as you can do this yourself for 1K easily (with a little help from ebay), and get much better results (see my garage).
STi makes a great family car - you should see mine sporting a roofbox come the summer holidays
Finally, dont underestimate the WRX PPP. They make for a better daily, and are easier on the wallet. However, they dont have the looks
-P
I would not worry too much about the PPP as you can do this yourself for 1K easily (with a little help from ebay), and get much better results (see my garage).
STi makes a great family car - you should see mine sporting a roofbox come the summer holidays
Finally, dont underestimate the WRX PPP. They make for a better daily, and are easier on the wallet. However, they dont have the looks
-P
Thanks for that! I am spending hours searching for details of them and I think I have officially ruled out the RX8 due to rotary engine life and unpredictable failures. My 5.7 V8 Vette did more to the gallon than the owners reported MPG. Very lazy big engine on a run!
My family will hate me for it but I am steering towards the Impreza!
I am right in thinking you can have an STI PPP? Is the WRX PPP the same power output!? And what does the PPP contain other than chip?
Thanks great with the insurance! I was hoping I could get it more like reasonable, I couldn't bring myself to pay so much for any car!
My family will hate me for it but I am steering towards the Impreza!
I am right in thinking you can have an STI PPP? Is the WRX PPP the same power output!? And what does the PPP contain other than chip?
Thanks great with the insurance! I was hoping I could get it more like reasonable, I couldn't bring myself to pay so much for any car!
Thanks! I wonder if the STI PPP changes the fuel economy drastically!
I think it should be on par with my Shogun but I don't really want worse! However half of my commutes are motorway and the Shogun desperately needs a 6th gear as it is high revving at motorway speeds! I can keep out of the boost with a Turbo!
The VX really was fantastic fuel economy if you stayed at low revs!
I'm sold by it I think! Need to find one where I can trade a Shogun and a grand lol! Really don't want to mess about selling again!
Thanks very much for your help!
I think it should be on par with my Shogun but I don't really want worse! However half of my commutes are motorway and the Shogun desperately needs a 6th gear as it is high revving at motorway speeds! I can keep out of the boost with a Turbo!
The VX really was fantastic fuel economy if you stayed at low revs!
I'm sold by it I think! Need to find one where I can trade a Shogun and a grand lol! Really don't want to mess about selling again!
Thanks very much for your help!
Simon Roe (Jolly Green Monster) mapped my car and now it returns better MPG when crusing. However, drive it really hard and then it's worse, but that makes sense...
Don't worry too much about a PPP. Its just a backbox (50 quid on ebay), the 2nd catalyst removed (again, 50 quid), a fuel pump and a remap. The older PPP's used a sports cat, but that's not really required unless you want to push on past 320ish.
Have fun!
Don't worry too much about a PPP. Its just a backbox (50 quid on ebay), the 2nd catalyst removed (again, 50 quid), a fuel pump and a remap. The older PPP's used a sports cat, but that's not really required unless you want to push on past 320ish.
Have fun!
Edited by paulmoonraker on Saturday 23 April 18:21
Keta said:
Thanks! I wonder if the STI PPP changes the fuel economy drastically!
PPP wont make much of a difference on economy over a standard STI as its only lowring springs, exhaust and remap (as far as i know). Given to the right person with appropriate mods economy should go up.Would go imprezza every time, i know a few people with them and for a four door saloon that is practical and with nnormal service intervals, it cannot be beaten, in my opinion.
Get yourself a bog standard and completely unmolested 2001-2002 Bugeye STi. It's a bit lighter than the equivalent Blobeye (2003-2005) STi and a reasonable amount cheaper, and in my opinion the best looking of the lot but i would say that wouldn't i 
There are still some very good low mileage examples around. The money you save over a newer Blobeye can be spent on some exhaust and airbox/airfilter mods coupled with an open source remap, and you should see a very lively 330-350bhp and around 300 miles to a tankful of 99RON fuel on a long steady run. 10K miles servicing (most owners do an interim oil and filter change between full services) and proven solid reliability day in and day out. In the winter you won't want to be driving anything else.
If you want to be really practical try and find an imported 2001 STi sportwagon (5dr estate) which is as rare as hens teeth, but there are one or two about. If you do i'll be extremely jealous!!
There are still some very good low mileage examples around. The money you save over a newer Blobeye can be spent on some exhaust and airbox/airfilter mods coupled with an open source remap, and you should see a very lively 330-350bhp and around 300 miles to a tankful of 99RON fuel on a long steady run. 10K miles servicing (most owners do an interim oil and filter change between full services) and proven solid reliability day in and day out. In the winter you won't want to be driving anything else.
If you want to be really practical try and find an imported 2001 STi sportwagon (5dr estate) which is as rare as hens teeth, but there are one or two about. If you do i'll be extremely jealous!!
Cheers everyone, I will take everything onboard!
I am not so sure I will get anywhere with only a grand to add to a part ex and may have to consider going private with the sale of the Shogun. Problem is I will have to put my private plate on retention and then move it to the car I buy which will add another £180!
Should get an alright one none trade for around 7k though I believe
I am not so sure I will get anywhere with only a grand to add to a part ex and may have to consider going private with the sale of the Shogun. Problem is I will have to put my private plate on retention and then move it to the car I buy which will add another £180!
Should get an alright one none trade for around 7k though I believe
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2755048.htm
Parallel import, but that does not matter. An 05 car too, which is the best of the lot
Parallel import, but that does not matter. An 05 car too, which is the best of the lot
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