Impreza Spec D

[pf555]

Hi, I had an Impreza WRX (2001 MY) from new. Sadly I sold it about 2 years later.

So in 2010 looking to get an Impreza again as a second car so will be used at most a couple of times a week. Budget up to 15K.

Looking for the STi level of performance but not now so keen on the large spoilers etc.

A suggestion has been the Impreza Spec D.

Thoughts/Views on this car?

Thanks.

[Animal]

Spec D for discrete! I had a WRX SL until last month, which came with full leather interior. Was nice to have an Impreza with a bit more luxury.

Suggest that if you're going to buy one you try to get one that's had the PPP already fitted. It's axiomatic that Impreza owners will quickly want for more power!

[Syndrome]

pf555 said:

Hi, I had an Impreza WRX (2001 MY) from new. Sadly I sold it about 2 years later.

So in 2010 looking to get an Impreza again as a second car so will be used at most a couple of times a week. Budget up to 15K.

Looking for the STi level of performance but not now so keen on the large spoilers etc.

A suggestion has been the Impreza Spec D.

Thoughts/Views on this car?

Thanks.

You'll be getting 276 BHP as standard . They are fantastic cars and seriously under rated. You get what is essentialy a tuned STI with leather interior and no big gay spoiler to mess it up. The 2.5 ltr Boxer engine is a real gem as well.

Edited by Syndrome on Sunday 14th February 12:52

[Octoposse]

Yep - I've driven one and it was a great, great car. If I had a choice of any Scoob that would be the one.

[Ved]

I sold my 07 STI in October (saw it Tesco yesterday ) and they are amazingly good cars. I considered the Spec-D too as it has everything the STI has but without the badges and the wings. The seats on the hawkeyes are awful though as they push you out too far but you do get more airbags. They aren't a patch on the older ones though.

However, you do get a DCCD, oodles of torque and with the D, a black dash and nice heated leather seats. The only downside is the rubbish colour which I can only describe as champagne. An SL (mentioned above) does the same thing, has a very tiny lip spoiler and looks great in silver.

Or get an RB320 and enjoy looking like an evil beast.

[Animal]

My WRX SK had the standard WRX spoiler. AFAIK, the lip spoiler was Spec D only?

[Octoposse]

<An SL (mentioned above) does the same thing, has a very tiny lip spoiler and looks great in silver>.

I had a silver (would have preferred blue though!) WRX SL with PPP for 12 months & 12000 miles - 261bhp, heated leather seats, electric sunroof, etc. Yes, a "poor man's" Spec D - 100% reliability, decent luxury interior, fabulous performance.

BUT it wasn't a Spec D and that showed on 'A' roads - it was "floaty" and soft where the Spec D was taught and precise.

[Syndrome]

A WRX with a PPP is just not as good as an STI. I've just chopped my 05 blobeye STI for a GB270 ( essentialy a WRX with a pack and some prodrive springs and bigger wheels). The STI is very different (and much better) in the comfort and handling departments IMHO. Don't try and fool yourself that a WRX with a PPP is just as good as an STI, you'll be dissapointed. The prodrive springs go some way to redressing the balance on the GB270, but it still is lacking the edgyness of the STI. The difference which is immediately obvious, and problematic if you're not expecting it, are the brakes. On the STI they are really effective and fill you with confidence, on the WRX they are no where near as sharp and that's something I've had to adjust to very quickly on the GB270.

Edited by Syndrome on Tuesday 16th February 06:35

[pf555]

Thanks for all the input so far. A small number of Spec D's for sale on Pistonheads.

Did see this one, anyone aware of?

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1463831.htm

[Fire99]

I've had rather alot of Impreza stuff drummed into me of late (since a large number mates are members of the club etc)

The Sti cars are very different from their lesser counterparts. The engine internals are very much uprated even to the extent of castings etc.
It all depends on how far you wish to tune the engine too.

Also note that the 2.5 is the weakest engine Subaru have done.

I'm going with a mate tomorrow to collect an Sti Spec-C, which is quite something to behold!

[Syndrome]

Fire99 said:

Also note that the 2.5 is the weakest engine Subaru have done.

Edited by Syndrome on Thursday 18th February 09:13

[GravelBen]

We know you love yours, but the 2.5 in standard form isn't a patch on the Spec-C EJ20.

[Syndrome]

I seem to have made an interesting discovery. EJ25s have the same effect on chavs that kryptonite has on Superman, and Paraquat has on dandelions.