Impreza STi, bad idea or not?
Discussion
So, thinking of going down the 2.0 Blobeye Impreza STi route.
Tell me, is it a good idea or a bad idea?
It would be a summer car only for trips up the black mountains etc with friends for a good hoon. General consensus, are they reliable? Or will I be taking it to be repaired all the time? If they are unreliable I won't bother.
Realistically I have a budget of around 15k absolute max, I am aware that will get me a very very good example if I want to spend the whole budget. What's the max sort of power people generally run them at on stock internals?
Let me know what you think
Cheers
Tell me, is it a good idea or a bad idea?
It would be a summer car only for trips up the black mountains etc with friends for a good hoon. General consensus, are they reliable? Or will I be taking it to be repaired all the time? If they are unreliable I won't bother.
Realistically I have a budget of around 15k absolute max, I am aware that will get me a very very good example if I want to spend the whole budget. What's the max sort of power people generally run them at on stock internals?
Let me know what you think
Cheers
Very reliable if properly maintained, no stupid mods and bad maps. Easy to work on but will cost if you have to pay someone else to service it all the time. Rot beginning to become apparent on earlier cars. Obviously it's reliability will be down to how it's been driven and looked after previously, as with any secondhand performance cars, caveat emptor....
<400bhp on stock internals is fairly common but you'll need a change of turbo for >360bhp and probably front-mount too. At that point people usually decide to fully forge them for >400bhp anyway.
For £15k you could buy a monster 450+bhp car but running costs and potential bills should be assumed. If it was my £15k for an occasional weekend car, I'd buy a Classic or a proper sports car. If it must be Newage, then consider a JDM Hawkeye or limit your budget to £10k for a Blobeye and bank the rest for preventative maintenance and running costs.
<400bhp on stock internals is fairly common but you'll need a change of turbo for >360bhp and probably front-mount too. At that point people usually decide to fully forge them for >400bhp anyway.
For £15k you could buy a monster 450+bhp car but running costs and potential bills should be assumed. If it was my £15k for an occasional weekend car, I'd buy a Classic or a proper sports car. If it must be Newage, then consider a JDM Hawkeye or limit your budget to £10k for a Blobeye and bank the rest for preventative maintenance and running costs.
Get a 2004 JDM twin scroll.
I had an uber reliable near 400bhp and over 400ibs of torque out of one over 10 years ago and technology has moved on somewhat since then.
Just don't ruin the ride with cheap coilovers and poor tyres.
My 'best ever' buys were:
Lichfield Developed T20/T25 suspension
Strap Drive Front Brakes.
I had an uber reliable near 400bhp and over 400ibs of torque out of one over 10 years ago and technology has moved on somewhat since then.
Just don't ruin the ride with cheap coilovers and poor tyres.
My 'best ever' buys were:
Lichfield Developed T20/T25 suspension
Strap Drive Front Brakes.
I'm on my fourth Impreza and IMO there's little that can touch it for the money, particularly if your weekend driving includes wet weekends.
They are relatively simple cars with little to go wrong. In fact I'd go as far as say that a well-maintained example will be one of the more reliable used cars you can own, especially at 300+ bhp and 10+ years old. You already know that the 2.0 is the one to go for rather than the 2.5. I second the recommendation of a JDM car - the faster steering and twin-scroll power delivery lift the experience massively. Some people find them a little "inert" - but there are many options available to tailor the handling to your liking, ranging from a simple geo to ARBs to uprated control arms and braces of all kinds. There is a good network of respected specialists over the country to help look after your car if you're not the spannering type.
Having had two classics and now a 440/440 JDM hawkeye I 'd say my favourite of the lot was my MY04 (non widetrack) JDM blob. It lacked the top end of my hawk but the OEM VF37 twinscroll and TMIC configuration is such a punchy, drivable setup out of the box - the immediate, lag-free torque and close-ratio JDM box makes for a very enjoyable road car.
PS What are "Strap Drive" brakes?
They are relatively simple cars with little to go wrong. In fact I'd go as far as say that a well-maintained example will be one of the more reliable used cars you can own, especially at 300+ bhp and 10+ years old. You already know that the 2.0 is the one to go for rather than the 2.5. I second the recommendation of a JDM car - the faster steering and twin-scroll power delivery lift the experience massively. Some people find them a little "inert" - but there are many options available to tailor the handling to your liking, ranging from a simple geo to ARBs to uprated control arms and braces of all kinds. There is a good network of respected specialists over the country to help look after your car if you're not the spannering type.
Having had two classics and now a 440/440 JDM hawkeye I 'd say my favourite of the lot was my MY04 (non widetrack) JDM blob. It lacked the top end of my hawk but the OEM VF37 twinscroll and TMIC configuration is such a punchy, drivable setup out of the box - the immediate, lag-free torque and close-ratio JDM box makes for a very enjoyable road car.
PS What are "Strap Drive" brakes?
Had mine for 8 years now and not looked back.
If was in your shoes with that money I would look at a Spec C. The JDM's are notably stronger than the UK motor I have but touch on wood I have only needed to replace the timing belt on mine as a major cost.
I would be cautious of any UK hawkeye due to 2.5 issues and thankfully I did not go down that route, more luck than anything although I was never a fan of the shape until I really got into ownership.
Power wise, in my opinion I would keep below 400bhp. I have been in many examples at this level and all have been great round track. Get on the forums mate, 22b & scoobynet. You'll be able to sift out the bs's from those who know what they are on about and take your time. Mine was a 6 hour round trip and worth it.
Hurst has some nice ones in at present.
http://www.hurstcars.co.uk/used-cars/subaru-imprez...
http://www.hurstcars.co.uk/used-cars/subaru-imprez...
Andy
If was in your shoes with that money I would look at a Spec C. The JDM's are notably stronger than the UK motor I have but touch on wood I have only needed to replace the timing belt on mine as a major cost.
I would be cautious of any UK hawkeye due to 2.5 issues and thankfully I did not go down that route, more luck than anything although I was never a fan of the shape until I really got into ownership.
Power wise, in my opinion I would keep below 400bhp. I have been in many examples at this level and all have been great round track. Get on the forums mate, 22b & scoobynet. You'll be able to sift out the bs's from those who know what they are on about and take your time. Mine was a 6 hour round trip and worth it.
Hurst has some nice ones in at present.
http://www.hurstcars.co.uk/used-cars/subaru-imprez...
http://www.hurstcars.co.uk/used-cars/subaru-imprez...
Andy
Sold the Mrs' WRX STi earlier this year - on circa 120K miles;
Full service history, last 5 years by me.
Did it to the book. Pretty much all of the service you can do in your own garage if you take your time, its not difficult.
Never broke down, never missed a beat in the 10 years she had it.
Only reason we sold it is to buy a baby carrying wagon.
Sold it to a good friend - he's loving it!
(though I'm now looking to buy her another scooby for Xmas - if I can find a decent one for 10K max)
Full service history, last 5 years by me.
Did it to the book. Pretty much all of the service you can do in your own garage if you take your time, its not difficult.
Never broke down, never missed a beat in the 10 years she had it.
Only reason we sold it is to buy a baby carrying wagon.
Sold it to a good friend - he's loving it!
(though I'm now looking to buy her another scooby for Xmas - if I can find a decent one for 10K max)
red997 said:
Sold the Mrs' WRX STi earlier this year - on circa 120K miles;
Full service history, last 5 years by me.
Did it to the book. Pretty much all of the service you can do in your own garage if you take your time, its not difficult.
Never broke down, never missed a beat in the 10 years she had it.
Only reason we sold it is to buy a baby carrying wagon.
Sold it to a good friend - he's loving it!
(though I'm now looking to buy her another scooby for Xmas - if I can find a decent one for 10K max)
I was on Blobeye forum on Faceache. Lots of really good ones around the 6-8k mark.Full service history, last 5 years by me.
Did it to the book. Pretty much all of the service you can do in your own garage if you take your time, its not difficult.
Never broke down, never missed a beat in the 10 years she had it.
Only reason we sold it is to buy a baby carrying wagon.
Sold it to a good friend - he's loving it!
(though I'm now looking to buy her another scooby for Xmas - if I can find a decent one for 10K max)
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