Where have all the Imprezas gone?

[Truckosaurus]

Pupbelly said:

Talking ste there my friend!!

Which bit? That old Imprezas are in the £500 bracket ( Citation Needed ) or that it will put off buyers having to pay £500 tax on a car worth 2 or 3 grand?

[Christmassss]

Classic shape imprezas have either been crashed or taken by the rust. Arches and wings I believe are the common places.

Haven't really had any experience with the bug/blob/hawkeye ones so cant really comment, although looking on ebay there are plenty of cheap ones around.

A mate bought a 2016 one, kept it for around 8 months but the paintwork quality was appalling, really easily damaged, it wasn't actually that quick or well equipped. For the money there are lots of better alternatives. Mostly German.

[Ahbefive]

Christmassss said:

For the money there are lots of better alternatives. Mostly German.

sorry but no there aren't. You clearly haven't driven one.

[Christmassss]

Ahbefive said:

sorry but no there aren't. You clearly haven't driven one.

Yeah, I have. Unimpressed.

[Pupbelly]

Truckosaurus said:

Which bit? That old Imprezas are in the £500 bracket ( Citation Needed ) or that it will put off buyers having to pay £500 tax on a car worth 2 or 3 grand?

Do you know what I apologise!! I run a 2003 WRX Wagon but genuinely did not realise that the 2.5 versions pay £555/year tax. I retract my statement, I'm truly staggered - every day is a school day.

Apart from the stupid road tax, the 2.5 is a chocolate engine anyway so the 2.0 is a safer (and cheaper it would seem) bet.

[Ahbefive]

Christmassss said:

Yeah, I have. Unimpressed.

What model did you drive? And what German car is preferable in your eyes?

[Zetec-S]

Ahbefive said:

Christmassss said:

Yeah, I have. Unimpressed.

What model did you drive? And what German car is preferable in your eyes?

According to their profile a 330d. Or maybe the Passat TDI...?

[Christmassss]

Ahbefive said:

What model did you drive? And what German car is preferable in your eyes?

I drove a classic WRX - 1997 - in white with gold alloys, Variety of mods, suspension, turbo back exhaust, Pretty sure it was a TD04 turbo but was years ago so dont quote me, Andy Forrest Mapped etc etc.

It just wasn't engaging enough, plus it was a daily drive and not that fun for that! Replaced with a 200sx and then RX7's

I have also driven a 2016 WRX STI, As i described above - for the 25k it cost, it was poor and not that quick.

For 25k i would buy:

Audi RS4
Audi RS6
Merc C63/E63
Lexus ISF (not german but in budget)
Golf R - i wouldn't personally buy one as they are fast but sooooo dull also the boot is tiny which is a pain when trying to fit a pram in
BMW M3
BMW m135i
BMW m140i
etc etc

My issue is that they just aren't extreme enough to warrant compromising everything else.

Just my opinion of course

[Christmassss]

Zetec-S said:

According to their profile a 330d. Or maybe the Passat TDI...?

or an RS6? selective reading much!

And to top it off, in the pic of the 330d is the picture of said 2016 impreza

Edited by Christmassss on Wednesday 7th August 10:55

Edited by Christmassss on Wednesday 7th August 10:57

[Zetec-S]

Christmassss said:

Zetec-S said:

According to their profile a 330d. Or maybe the Passat TDI...?

or an RS6? selective reading much!

And to top it off, in the pic of the 330d is the picture of said 2016 impreza

Haha, yeah fair enough, I'll admit I missed the fact you were comparing to a 2016 Impreza, I'd assumed you meant in comparison to something like Ahbefive's older WRX STi.

[vxr2010]

i’ve had fsti for 10 years , plus loads of other subaru’s before , the list of other options of german cars , if any thing goes wrong with them it’s ££££, the bmw have or had timing chain issues , a standard new porsche engine is around 30£ , and yes porches break too , yes a bit of a subaru chocolate 2.5 but still way cheaper than repairing other cars , i get 35 mpg on a long run , it’s 4 wheel drive it’s quick off the mark as an amg 63 found out sitting wheel spinning and i was down the road already , tax on some imports is only 245£ , it’s got a big boot it’s comfy i only miss cruise control , a lot of new cars can be a bit quick but rather boring as there is little driver input , i have a newish ute and a monaro , monaro old school but more fun to drive than a ute , i’m sticking with my scooby as it’s a great all rounder

[InitialDave]

Christmassss said:

My issue is that they just aren't extreme enough to warrant compromising everything else.

Just my opinion of course

That's about in line with my opinion, having owned a hawkeye WRX. It felt compromised in ways that weren't paid back with the performance on offer or how it drove.

If people like them, fair enough, but I've owned/driven a wide variety of cars, and the Impreza just isn't one I rate all that much.

[Ahbefive]

Christmassss said:

Ahbefive said:

What model did you drive? And what German car is preferable in your eyes?

I drove a classic WRX - 1997 - in white with gold alloys, Variety of mods, suspension, turbo back exhaust, Pretty sure it was a TD04 turbo but was years ago so dont quote me, Andy Forrest Mapped etc etc.

It just wasn't engaging enough, plus it was a daily drive and not that fun for that! Replaced with a 200sx and then RX7's

I have also driven a 2016 WRX STI, As i described above - for the 25k it cost, it was poor and not that quick.

For 25k i would buy:

Audi RS4
Audi RS6
Merc C63/E63
Lexus ISF (not german but in budget)
Golf R - i wouldn't personally buy one as they are fast but sooooo dull also the boot is tiny which is a pain when trying to fit a pram in
BMW M3
BMW m135i
BMW m140i
etc etc

My issue is that they just aren't extreme enough to warrant compromising everything else.

Just my opinion of course

The 2016 one for £25k (not an impreza by the way) I agree gives you other options although for that money I still wouldn't necessarily be buying German when I could have a FRS, CTR, I30N etc but the 2016 STi can also be had for £18k and for me would be preferable to most other things including an m135i or Golf R. The other things in your list are not at all comparable in regards to running costs.

The 1997 one your drove is likely a £3k car, what German cars are you saying would offer a more "involving" driving experience?

Mine is a WRX STI Spec C Type RA for sub £20k and with 45k miles. Again I'm not sure any of the cars you suggest would offer anywhere near the driving experience and certainly wouldn't offer the exclusivity or good residuals although they would have a better inferior as a daily car. I don't think many of these older imprezas are being used as dailys.

Edited by Ahbefive on Wednesday 7th August 11:42

[Christmassss]

Ahbefive said:

The 2016 one for £25k I agree gives you other options although for that money I still wouldn't necessarily be buying German when I could have a FRS, CTR, I30N etc but the 2016 STi can also be had for £18k and for me would be preferable to most other things including an m135i or Golf R. The other things in your list are not at all comparable in regards to running costs.

The 1997 one your drove is likely a £3k car, what German cars are you saying would offer a more "involving" driving experience?

Mine is a WRX STI Spec C Type RA for sub £20k and with 45k miles. Again I'm not sure any of the cars you suggest would offer anywhere near the driving experience and certainly wouldn't offer the exclusivity or good residuals.

This is why its my opinion. I do 3-5k miles a year so running costs are irrelevant. Hence why My list provides more suitable cars for me.

The 1997 one was owned around 8 years ago and was mint. I cant remember how much i paid for it but it was replaced by a 200sx then an RX7.

I'm glad you enjoy your car, I guess thats why you own one, I however would have one of the cars from my list or more likely, one of the cars i already own. Particularly the RX7 which offers both exclusivity and good residuals. (I paid 3k for mine...its worth around 18k now)

[Ahbefive]

Christmassss said:

Ahbefive said:

The 2016 one for £25k I agree gives you other options although for that money I still wouldn't necessarily be buying German when I could have a FRS, CTR, I30N etc but the 2016 STi can also be had for £18k and for me would be preferable to most other things including an m135i or Golf R. The other things in your list are not at all comparable in regards to running costs.

The 1997 one your drove is likely a £3k car, what German cars are you saying would offer a more "involving" driving experience?

Mine is a WRX STI Spec C Type RA for sub £20k and with 45k miles. Again I'm not sure any of the cars you suggest would offer anywhere near the driving experience and certainly wouldn't offer the exclusivity or good residuals.

I however would have one of the cars from my list or more likely, one of the cars i already own. Particularly the RX7 which offers both exclusivity and good residuals. (I paid 3k for mine...its worth around 18k now)

I see you dodged the questions like a pro.

Anyway like you say different people like different things, I also love the RX7 (but its not German).

The German stuff is great as a daily if you can live with the extortionate running costs but most of your list is not something to do just a few thousand fun miles/track days a year in which I imagine is what most imprezas do these days.

[ericmcn]

Zetec-S said:

According to their profile a 330d. Or maybe the Passat TDI...?

Typical brain dead comments from TDI lovers, Subaru's have driving characteristics that is not easily matched, certainly in that price range. Anyone slagging them most likely is talking shiite or never driven one.

Another poster enquired about a 350z and usual suspects blabbing on about a 330d, some people actually have a will to live and are not overly concerned about VED and mpg. I spent over 3500GBP on vpower a year give or take plus the VED is at the top end but I'm not crying or looking to get a damn diesel.

[Christmassss]

Ahbefive said:

I see you dodged the questions like a pro.

Anyway like you say different people like different things, I also love the RX7 (but its not German).

The German stuff is great as a daily if you can live with the extortionate running costs but most of your list is not something to do just a few thousand fun miles/track days a year in which I imagine is what most imprezas do these days.

If you re-read my original post, I stated that you could get better alternatives to the newest version. No mention of alternatives to the former models, so no avoidance, you just haven't read my post correctly.

I have mentioned on a previous post, in a world of 300bhp diesels, I would want something that is designed to look purposely sporty to come out of the box with power to match the looks, which then makes up for its lack of comforts in other areas.

As a disclaimer for what you might see as a one sided point of view:

The classic STI-R did 0-60 in 4.4 seconds as standard. I remember being in a highly tuned Pulsar GTI-r and getting blown away from the lights by one. Was super impressed.

And i do love a WR1, the bluey colour looks gorgeous, there is one on ebay with 19k miles for 20k. 342bhp i believe. Now we are talking!

I have rambled and have been distracted by looking at cars on ebay....I cant remember my point?!!

[Zetec-S]

ericmcn said:

Zetec-S said:

According to their profile a 330d. Or maybe the Passat TDI...?

Typical brain dead comments from TDI lovers, Subaru's have driving characteristics that is not easily matched, certainly in that price range. Anyone slagging them most likely is talking shiite or never driven one.

Another poster enquired about a 350z and usual suspects blabbing on about a 330d, some people actually have a will to live and are not overly concerned about VED and mpg. I spent over 3500GBP on vpower a year give or take plus the VED is at the top end but I'm not crying or looking to get a damn diesel.

Congratulations on reading my post properly

[Christmassss]

ericmcn said:

Typical brain dead comments from TDI lovers, Subaru's have driving characteristics that is not easily matched, certainly in that price range. Anyone slagging them most likely is talking shiite or never driven one.

Another poster enquired about a 350z and usual suspects blabbing on about a 330d, some people actually have a will to live and are not overly concerned about VED and mpg. I spent over 3500GBP on vpower a year give or take plus the VED is at the top end but I'm not crying or looking to get a damn diesel.

Hi Eric! How is the dashcamming going?!

Congratulations for chiming in with no useful points.

I do drive a 330d, it is cheap to run and comfortable for when i drive on the motorway to pick my son up. Because its cheap it means i can leave it in a car park with zero fks if something happens to it.

I did also own a Passat TDI, i used to drive from Gloucester to Bury and back 4 days a week. Perfect for the job.

I also own 2x RX7's and an RS6 as well as a 2017 Octavia VRS that i use for work. I did also own a 1997 Impreza and have driven a 2016 WRX STI.

But don't let that get in the way of your pointless posts

[Christmassss]

Zetec-S said:

Haha, yeah fair enough, I'll admit I missed the fact you were comparing to a 2016 Impreza, I'd assumed you meant in comparison to something like Ahbefive's older WRX STi.

Sorry, i missed this. Yeah, i was just referring to the newest version.

Sadly for me i have never driven one of the Hawk eye style ones (which is what i believe Ahbefive's one is) so cant comment on that, so didnt

Although this discussion has led me to looking at WR1's