JDM Impreza WRX Wagon

[Carwyn92]

Evening all,

So I have for a few weeks now been the proud owner of a JDM Hawkeye wagon. I've not yet been able to drive it (other than a very brief test), for boring work related reasons. In fact it may be some time, so I thought I'd do the next best thing and bore people talking about it instead.

Up until last spring, I had a Mk5 GTI. Awesome car. 3 door, obviously, because it looks better and at the time I pretended the extra space wouldn't matter - see how that worked out! In fairness I could fit two bikes in it with the back seats down, but that's another story. Work life balance meant I knew I wouldn't be driving it for at least 9 months, so I made the sensible, rational decision to sell it. Well done me.


The old GTI

Then I got an unexpected two months of leave in the autumn. No problem, got the OH's Suzuki Alto to nip about in. Ah wait, that is a problem. It's arguably the worst small car I've ever driven. Small underpowered cars should be fun (Classic Mini), but the Alto has no steering feel, a gearstick which is definitely connected using rubber bands, and the worst brake feel in the world. So after about 3 weeks of this misery (although I am frequently reminded that I could catch the bus if I wanted to so maybe it's not so bad), I do the inevitable and start shopping.

Now I've wanted an Impreza since before I could see over the steering wheel, a mate had one (I say mate, but at the time I seem to recall seeing him as some kind of demi-god). It was an RB5 and my first ever fast car ride. Epic. Combined with the usual McRae/Burns hero image etc it was bound to happen. However it needed to be an estate (bikes, yes I like lycra).

So some shopping happened, leave ended, Christmas came up and I had the chance to actually look at some. I was ball parking around the £4-5k mark, hoping for a PPP Blobeye. Anyway, the ones I saw I took one look up the rear arches (ooh er) and walked. Well, after a bit of a tyre kick. MoT history put me off others (rot), and I was coming to the conclusion maybe it wasn't to be. However, not far from my folks is Hurst Cars, where they seem to accumulate all sorts of lovely Jap stuff. They happened to have a Hawk wagon in (out of budget), but I decided looking couldn't hurt.

Whoops.


Best looking generation I'd say




Lovely undercarriage

I couldn't believe how clean it was underneath, despite approaching 100k (miles). Obviously it had been horribly pampered in it's previous life and despite it having no history it was fairly apparent just how well it had been looked after. It was stone cold when I went to look and it started as cleanly as anything. Also at the asking price Max at Hurst had already done the belts and oil and a few other bits. Best of all it's the 2.0 not the 2.5, with 250hp in JDM spec. So I begged, borrowed and stole (well not stole) and managed to extend my budget. Then extended it again to have a Cat 1 alarm fitted and a full underseal. No brainer when it's that good underneath and will be a daily when I'm actually around.


All undersealed

So now I'm sat at the other end of the internet, fretting about it being too clean to be true for a nearly 15 year old car, it having no service history, etc etc...

In short: man forced to drive Alto. Man do interneting. Man buy silly overpriced Impreza which will break him when he gets home to it.

Edit to tweak photos.

Edited by carwynd on Thursday 26th March 09:22

[uncleluck]

Wow, that is super clean! I’m assuming at 240bhp they’re on a td04 still?

I love the wagons. Wish they made the sti wagons later on like the classic and bugeye. I had a bug sti wagon years ago and it was nice having the AVCS & 6 speed etc.

My bug WRX wagon is over 140k now and the engine is so smooth even from the coldest start, amazing how great they are when looked after. I stuck a vf29 on mine about 3 years ago. Still got two of the cats and everything else stock though.

[waynedear]

That’s lovely

[cheesesliceking]

Nice!

[carwynd]

Thanks guys, I'm certainly hoping it's as good as it looks! Still another couple of months of frustration before I'll get a chance to have a proper drive. I think a Scottish road trip may be called for...

Yes, it's still a TD04, on the EJ20 which has such a good reputation. How do you find the VF39 with everything else stock? Worth doing?

I'm not too upset about not being able to get an STI wagon, as as I see it it's a 25% step up in power from the GTI for me anyway - however after a year or so I suspect I might be changing my mind on that! This one is so clean I'd love to keep it stock but perhaps some tasteful moves down the STI route wouldn't go amiss...

[sharkattack]

Nice car. I'm still on the look out for a blob eye wagon. Even though I've decided multiple times that it makes no sense. The insurance, VED, fuel consumption etc. is all out of whack relative to the performance.

But as you say, if you've always wanted one then you have to scratch the itch. I'd still love an old school rally wagon that can fit my bike in the boot.

Good luck with it.

[uncleluck]

carwynd said:

Thanks guys, I'm certainly hoping it's as good as it looks! Still another couple of months of frustration before I'll get a chance to have a proper drive. I think a Scottish road trip may be called for...

Yes, it's still a TD04, on the EJ20 which has such a good reputation. How do you find the VF39 with everything else stock? Worth doing?

I'm not too upset about not being able to get an STI wagon, as as I see it it's a 25% step up in power from the GTI for me anyway - however after a year or so I suspect I might be changing my mind on that! This one is so clean I'd love to keep it stock but perhaps some tasteful moves down the STI route wouldn't go amiss...

All the parts are a lot dearer these days, seems gone are the times you could get vf23/24/28/30/35 turbo between £150-£300.

I did some mods on an old td04 wagon years ago and went vf30, sti injectors, exhaust and remap and it’ll give you circa 320bhp and a pretty nippy road car.

Your GTI will probably feel quicker than a 240bhp wagon I’d say. My wagon isn’t that quick but it’s still all stock otherwise & I have a classic sti which is about 330bhp & has exhaust etc. A decent exhaust makes a huge difference on them, I sometimes swap my sti back to std and it loses the eagerness and aggression.

I love my WRX wagon but I only paid £500 for it and there’s no point in going mad with it when the sti I have will always be ahead.

But if I was doing the perfect WRX wagon I’d collect a few bits, sti injectors, sports car down pipe, cat back exhaust system (depends on sound level but mine with pro drive backbox is quiet inside but sounds lovely as it goes past) panel filter and a vf turbo. Then fit and remap. It’s a good power level as I reckon you’ll find std a bit underwhelming. Also, mine was better on fuel when driving normally after the remap.

One thing is the UK WRX has 3 cat’s, pretty sure the JDM version you have has 2? The extra on UK car being in the up pipe before the turbo! (I gutted mine so just have 2 cats but it sails through MOT and runs really clean)

[R12many]

Love it, but then I am a wagon fanatic who thinks they are one of the best/most useful cars ever made. Mine has just fried it's clutch after 106000 miles so time to upgrade

[aaron_2000]

I'd only ever own an Impreza wagon, wouldn't consider a saloon or coupe. That looks mint, Hurst always have some lovely cars in stock.

[supacool1]

Wagons Rule!

I've had a W202 C250 Mercedes Touring in Berlin Taxi cab white with the Tex interior, a classic Impreza Uk Turbo 2000 and now rock this beastie.

[Matty322]

nice forester.

miss ours, went to first person who saw it.

[fizmo100]

Love those Foresters, absolutely iconic looking things. You can't beat a fast estate.

[R12many]

Carwyn, what seats does yours have?

[supacool1]

Matty322 said:

nice forester.

miss ours, went to first person who saw it.

I recall seeing it on the forum or FB group when you sold it. I remember seeing that steering wheel. Looks ace.

[carwynd]

uncleluck said:

But if I was doing the perfect WRX wagon I’d collect a few bits, sti injectors, sports car down pipe, cat back exhaust system (depends on sound level but mine with pro drive backbox is quiet inside but sounds lovely as it goes past) panel filter and a vf turbo. Then fit and remap. It’s a good power level as I reckon you’ll find std a bit underwhelming. Also, mine was better on fuel when driving normally after the remap.

One thing is the UK WRX has 3 cat’s, pretty sure the JDM version you have has 2? The extra on UK car being in the up pipe before the turbo! (I gutted mine so just have 2 cats but it sails through MOT and runs really clean)

I think that will probably be the way I go once the bank balance has recovered a bit! It's in such good condition I'm not keen on modding heavily but I think OEM+ tasteful touches are entirely justified.

99% certain the JDM has no up pipe cat, one less thing to remove.

R12many said:

Carwyn, what seats does yours have?

These ones, not sure quite which models got which ones, was there a change from Bug to Hawk?

Seats by Carwyn Davies, on Flickr

Looking at that picture, I do think the interior is pretty dingy. I knew it would be, but I've seen people do good things with proper white LED interior lamps, might be my first job when I get home (apart from filling up repeatedly and turning money into noise)!

Also loving the Foresters, a bit bigger than what I was after and don't quite have the same draw for me - but I bet they go like stink! Shame there was no STI Impreza wagon.

[carwynd]

sharkattack said:

Even though I've decided multiple times that it makes no sense.

Since when has that been a reason not to buy a ludicrously overpriced car??!!

[Scooobydont]

carwynd said:

These ones, not sure quite which models got which ones, was there a change from Bug to Hawk?

Seats by Carwyn Davies, on Flickr

Looking at that picture, I do think the interior is pretty dingy. I knew it would be, but I've seen people do good things with proper white LED interior lamps, might be my first job when I get home (apart from filling up repeatedly and turning money into noise)!

Also loving the Foresters, a bit bigger than what I was after and don't quite have the same draw for me - but I bet they go like stink! Shame there was no STI Impreza wagon.

The LED interior light upgrade was the first thing I did to mine, doesn't cost much and transforms the interior when they come on (it's the first thing I do to all my cars when I get them). Your car look stunning, IMHO white is the best colour for a subaru, it just looks right.

Mine says hello:

[carwynd]

Scooobydont said:

The LED interior light upgrade was the first thing I did to mine, doesn't cost much and transforms the interior when they come on (it's the first thing I do to all my cars when I get them). Your car look stunning, IMHO white is the best colour for a subaru, it just looks right.

Thanks for the tip, I'll get ebaying... The white has grown on me I've got to say, makes it a little more subtle for a car with a bonnet scoop and wing! Yours looks great in silver. I think the Hawk styling is good generally, possibly the best variant in my eyes.

The only thing I'm not a fan of is the wheels, not sure why but I think the old Blob STI wheels just look better. Twin spokes just work I think!

[carwynd]

Just one thing to throw out there - it will be used to lug mountain bikes about. I'm looking at trying to get hold of some roof rails from a breaker to retro fit, but before I go to the hassle of taking the headlining down, has anyone had experience good or bad with the roof bars (Thule etc) that go straight on. Is damage to paint a problem?

And does anyone have a set of Impreza roof rails in their garage they want to sell me!!

[DanielSan]

Have a look at a SeaSucker bike carrier instead, it sticks to the roof of the car rather than needing rails etc. I used one on my old Blob STI as well as using it for a while on my current car. They work really well, quick and easy to put on and take off and mean you don't have to have horrendous rails on the car all the time.

It takes a leap of faith to convince yourself that just suckers will stay in place but I can confirm they will hold in place into 3 figures on a private test track... Just out of curiosity to see how good it really was.