RE: Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon | Spotted

RE: Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon | Spotted

Tuesday 19th November 2019

Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon | Spotted

As fast as a Cupra Ateca, available for the price of a Cupra Ateca Design Pack...



While it has endured for a good few years now, the Subaru Impreza fanboy worship on PH continues unabated. And for good reason. Obviously there's the romanticism associated with Colin and WRC triumphs, but there's also the fact that this unassuming rally car for the road just worked so well as a fast car in Britain. Even at the end its dimensions were compact enough, its performance punchy enough, and its ride accommodating enough to make a good B-road genuinely good fun. That there were a ton of tuning possibilities, as well as an assortment of JDM nutter specials for the committed, only further cemented the legend.

So much so, in fact, that the Impreza has accrued classic status. That's in both the literal sense of the word, given the first Turbos arrived more than 25 years ago, and also given the rising values of the really special ones. You know, RB5s, 22Bs, P1s and the like. The success of the motorsport cars and the decades of fondness for the road cars, plus the move away from rally reps over the years, kind of guaranteed that. But there are still ways to get all the joy of an Impreza for not much money.


Just look at this one. As a collector's piece, there's not much going for it: it's a WRX rather than the most powerful STI, it has a six-figure mileage and it's an estate, rather than the more famous saloon. But for someone who wants to use it and drive it, to find out what the Subaru thing is about or just for a cheap winter wagon, this Impreza looks spot on. Especially given the last turbocharged, four-wheel drive estate we featured at this money was so popular...

For £3,250, there's a lot on offer. Estates might be less desirable to the purists but there's the added practicality of an easier access boot. It's the 'Blobeye' era car, too, meaning it avoids both the earlier (and still much derided) Bugeye look as well as the later and less desirable 2.5-litre engine. With 225hp, four-wheel and a kerbweight that would surely make anything from 2019 blush, it should still be capable of 62mph in little more than six seconds and more than 140mph. Blue with gold will always work on these cars and, despite an admission of some imperfections in the ad, the old girl seems to scrub up pretty well. Plus the fact that a perfect one would be too good to use properly...


Now, obviously, a 16-year-old performance car with 120,000 miles, part service history and a few fails in its MOT history is not to be taken on lightly. Especially so given that Subarus are known to prefer the more expensive consumable liquids and parts. And one or two costly repairs. But the wealth of knowledge built up around these cars in the UK over the past years is huge, with specialists on hand who will know just how to help.

Moreover, there really is nothing like the Subaru experience, from the way it goes and looks to the way it handles and sounds. There's a reason why they were so popular for so long! Attempt to find any similar cars at similar money - fast, fun, four-wheel drive - and all that's turned up are scabby old Volvos, various TTs and V6 Golfs or.. more Subarus. As an estate there really is nothing like an old Impreza wagon; never the most practical, the most fun or the fastest, but more than good enough across the board to appeal really quite a lot. Especially at just £3k.


SPECIFICATION - SUBARU IMPREZA WRX

Engine: 1,994cc, flat-four turbo
Transmission: 5-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 225@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 221@3,600rpm
MPG: 31
CO2: 219g/km
First registered: 2003
Recorded mileage: 119,000
Price new: c. £25k
Yours for: £3,250

See the original advert here

Search for a Subaru Impreza WRX here

Author
Discussion

HumanSteamroller

Original Poster:

114 posts

76 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
I think if it was a bit cheaper it would be a great winter transport option. But I wouldn't want to get in too deep with it.

Cambs_Stuart

2,834 posts

83 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
I still miss mine. So much fun. Easily the best answer to the fast, reliable and cheap question I've come up with.

sharkattack

56 posts

105 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
I wanted one of these for ages but I gave up looking. All the ones that looked nice online turned out to be absolute sheds in the flesh.

I did get to test drive one in the rain which had 4 mismatched, perished tyres. A good laugh for a few minutes but obviously I didn't buy it.

Zaim

142 posts

204 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Flipping heck these are holding their value. Or is it that the bottom for an OK-ish one is £3k? I sold my 04 WRX in 2014 for £3k with less miles.

Do miss both of the WRX's and FSTi and currently thinking of replacing the family E90 325i with a Legacy/Outback because as nice as the BMW is, it's falling apart.

Fastchas

2,640 posts

120 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
My sister went to look at a WRX at a garage before internet web pages took over. When she got there she was disappointed to see it was the 'estate' model.
The salesman tried to sell it to her by saying 'don't you think it's more practicle than the saloon? Look at the size of the boot for all the shopping!'
She told him to p!ss off and walked out...

Turbobanana

6,160 posts

200 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Controversially, I prefer the wagon to the saloon - especially the really early ones.

jay-kay-em

217 posts

203 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Refreshing to see one with a tasteful exhaust!

rossub

4,400 posts

189 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
I really wanted another one, but rust and high mileage means that properly nice ones no longer exist.

Rhythmeister

58 posts

170 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
One could always opt for the larger, more comfortable, Spec B Legacy (manual with improved STi 6 speed box) for similar money and not have to worry about a turbo and all its pipework and complications, just 6 cylinders and a Porscheesque soundtrack at 7k rpm and its less likely to draw unwanted attention...

fido

16,752 posts

254 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
I had a late '07 model with leather seats .. miss it alot even if it needed a bit more work than expected .. with hindsight I would have got it completely refurbished. frown

wombleh

1,778 posts

121 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Had a hawkeye wagon and loved it, great fun to drive, incredible grip, looked lovely and real nice community with other scooby owners all waving/flashing.

Sadly it was pretty tiny inside, not enough room for rear facing child seats with tall people in the front, I probably should have got a Forrester or Legacy instead. 31mpg seems a bit optimistic, I got 25mpg out of mine driving like a granny and 24 if I drove it like a lunatic, although was the 2.5l.

Hatchoo

211 posts

202 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
I loved my blobeye estate and still miss the car. Fast enough, incredibly reliable, practical and satisfyingly untrendy.

Hatchoo

211 posts

202 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
wombleh said:
I got 25mpg out of mine driving like a granny and 24 if I drove it like a lunatic, although was the 2.5l.
I've owned both 2.0 and 2.5 estates and found the 2.0 much more economic.

sharkattack

56 posts

105 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
The GB270 is by far the best looking wagon available but it's hampered by the 2.5 engine and sky high road tax. I might be an old fart but I don't want to pay more for VED than I do for insurance especially on a car that would get used once a twice a week.

A nice Legacy is cool but they look more like an old Rover than a rally car. Plus they're rare and expensive compared to an Impreza. Nice ones with manual boxes are always 6 or 7K + from import places.

thundercolo

73 posts

171 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
This article couldn't come in better time! I'm in the hunt for one of these but I just can't make up my mind. I'm torn between the pre WRX model (Turbo, GT Turbo, Turbo 2000... depending on the country), the 2001 bugeye and the 2006 hawkeye. Has to be the wagon, it's my only excuse at home.

This blobeye versión is the one I've always liked the least but I wouldn't mind buying one if it's better than the others.

Considering that there is almost no difference in price between them, which should I buy? Please help me out...


Zed Ed

1,103 posts

182 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Bought mine as a pre reg on a 55 back in the day.

Still miss the overall package and not surpassed by anything I have driven since.

I’d say wagon was the best way to take a blob and always regretted not ppp’ing it.

In recent years, I’ve searched high and low for a new car with a completely stty interior only lifted by buckets and and nice steering wheel. It’s Clearly not the done things these days.




borat52

559 posts

207 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Absolutely lovely things. Have had a classic wagon of one form or another for 16 years now...

Water Fairy

5,478 posts

154 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
Am i the only one thinking the price is a bit toppy?

S100HP

12,645 posts

166 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
wombleh said:
Had a hawkeye wagon and loved it, great fun to drive, incredible grip, looked lovely and real nice community with other scooby owners all waving/flashing.

Sadly it was pretty tiny inside, not enough room for rear facing child seats with tall people in the front, I probably should have got a Forrester or Legacy instead. 31mpg seems a bit optimistic, I got 25mpg out of mine driving like a granny and 24 if I drove it like a lunatic, although was the 2.5l.
Nail on the head there. Much smaller inside than you'd imagine.

geoffrey-60maw

1 posts

100 months

Tuesday 19th November 2019
quotequote all
I've had my Subaru WRX wagon for three years now. Bought as a track car, but drive it most weekends now. It's cheap fast motoring, with four wheel drive and very practical. I also own a F10 M5 BMW. Though probably get more enjoyment out the old Subaru. 😉