Where have all the Imprezas gone?

[designforlife]

There's always loads of them at the Jap car shows I attend, so maybe they are all there

[Ahbefive]

Christmassss said:

1) 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.

2) 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!

1) The newest STi is no longer called an impreza, therefore I don't think it is really relevant to this thread as nobody else is discussing it. I agree there are better cars for £25k but at £18k they are still quite hard to beat.

2) I think they look much more purposeful and sporty than anything else you have mentioned of which most are just so common.

Your disclaimer - Then you are praising the imprezas.?..?..
Mine is 90kgs lighter than the WR1 and has 350bhp.

[Christmassss]

Ahbefive said:

1) The newest STi is no longer called an impreza, therefore I don't think it is really relevant to this thread as nobody else is discussing it. I agree there are better cars for £25k but at £18k they are still quite hard to beat.

2) I think they look much more purposeful and sporty than anything else you have mentioned of which most are just so common.

Your disclaimer - Then you are praising the imprezas.?..?..
Mine is 90kgs lighter than the WR1 and has 350bhp.

1) Its still an impreza though isn't it, as any muggle in the street would point at it and say...ohhh impreza. For 18k i would still get a C63

2) I stated that they are sporty looking but the majority of the models don't come with the power to pull away from other non sporty looking cars. Which is a big problem IMO. All imprezas should come with 350+ and 4.5 sec 0-60 times, not just the top of the range models.

Yeah, i praised certain models more for the resident BMW hater to show that it is possible to like and appreciate other brands of car

[TEKNOPUG]

350+ is just a remap on an STi.

[ericmcn]

Truckosaurus said:

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?

That Blue WRX (and my Legacy) are £570 p/a for VED, neither can be got for 3k however. If people are so concerned about VED just buy a bike? other countries have it far far worse for car ownership.

[Ahbefive]

Christmassss said:

1) Its still an impreza though isn't it, as any muggle in the street would point at it and say...ohhh impreza. For 18k i would still get a C63

2) I stated that they are sporty looking but the majority of the models don't come with the power to pull away from other non sporty looking cars. Which is a big problem IMO. All imprezas should come with 350+ and 4.5 sec 0-60 times, not just the top of the range models.

3) Yeah, i praised certain models more for the resident BMW hater to show that it is possible to like and appreciate other brands of car

1) No, not anymore, your average person wouldn't know what it is anyway. A C63 is a totally different proposition, the only similarity being that it is a 4door saloon. The running costs are on a different planet, manual/auto, nimble/barge, awd/rwd, luxurious/basic. These cars at not competitors.

2) Most of the turbocharged cars will so 60mph in approx 5seconds and have nimble handling. Of course they can pull away from plenty of non sporty cars.

3) It doesn't seem like you hate BMWs????
Unless you are suggesting I somehow do? I have owned BMWs and currently own a Ford, a Renault, a Volvo and a Subaru so I'm certain your statement isn't about me. If you don't like BMWs then don't buy one.

[slybunda]

Dont subarus have headgasket problems. Guess by now most of the engines have failed.
With the amount of effort involved many were probably SORNd when it came time to change the sparkplugs.

[ericmcn]

Lollypops said:

I think it's a combination of things. As mentioned above, the age of them will be a factor. Most people don't like driving old cars - just look at the age of most cars you see on the road these days.

Also, Subaru started losing the plot with last versions of the Impreza. The 2.5 engine also had its issues which didn't help.

Things also have moved on in regards to hot hatches. You don't need to turn to an Evo or Scooby for high performance, hot hatches have 300+ bhp now.

Going by this article it seems 'modern' cars are not at all reliable, and not everyone wants to be a sheep driving some white goods, most of which are soulless and as engaging to drive as a wheelbarrow. One thing about Subaru’s is that they have character and the driving feel is evident from the first few minutes and for adverse weather conditions you cannot beat symmetrical AWD.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/cars/article-730...

I will stick with my reliable 11-year-old rust free. flat 6 Subaru for now, thanks.

[yellowstreak]

vxr2010 said:

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

The FSTI is a great all rounder and I have enjoyed mine. However, after a 380 mile day behind the wheel last week I've decided its got to be replaced with something else. Most likely a type R

They may look bland but the type R seems to have a much better engine and its a nicer place to sit.

[Juno]

Second Best said:

I've noticed in the past year or two, that Subaru Imprezas are becoming a very rare sight on our roads. For a while the hatchback versions were relatively common, but now in mid-2019 I can only remember seeing four Impreza WRX/STis this year - and one of them belongs to a colleague of mine.

Evos are still somewhat familiar on the roads, but 90% of them are the new shape Evos. I also haven't seen an Evo 5/6/7/8/9 for a few months.

I mentioned this to a few (petrolhead) friends in the pub earlier. They were of the opinion that a lot of ex-Subaru/Mitsubishi drivers ended up in Focus STs or Golf Rs. I own an Impreza WRX and I do sometimes think - when my car was new 18 years ago, it made a lot of sense. Nowadays, an AWD car with 265bhp isn't exclusive to "rally" cars. Is it simply a sign of the times? Poster cars for millennials, i.e. the Impreza/Evo, are now consigned to legacy only? (pun not intended)

I’ve got all of them

[Ahbefive]

Impressive collection. They all yours?

[Second Best]

Juno said:

I’ve got all of them

Excellent taste sir. I'm guessing you like a car with a spoiler?

[ecksjay]

that's like my collection, only mine are unwashed, and st.

[Juno]

They are rather clean Lol





STI Wide Track





EVO6RS





22B Bodied Impreza All New

[Juno]

Second Best said:

Juno said:

I’ve got all of them

Excellent taste sir. I'm guessing you like a car with a spoiler?

You do need a wing or two

[untakenname]

I think most of them have been scrapped (or sorned which is the same thing for most) they were never made very well in regards to corrosion protection (though better than Evo's).

Kids today don't even know what an Impreza is as it's been twenty years since WRC and although Subaru is still in motorsport it's not that apparent to the layman, if the car was JDM only then it would have gained a massive following (and prices to match) but as they were once so common people just associate them with boy racers in the local car park.

People who once bought Subaru's have moved onto German cars as times have changed both technologically and also in regards to leasing over outright purchase, a top of the range A class Mercedes gets over 200hp per litre stock and as the majority are leased people don't want to start modifying them.

I think most the people who keep them on the roads do so for sentimental value as in the dry Impreza's weren't an exceptionally quick car stock, back in the day I had a 340bhp Saab 9000 with Quaife LSD and used to have fun with the modified classic sti's as were quite evenly matched so when I went to test drive a Newage Prodrive Blobeye back to back when they came out was a disappointment to say the least.

I have a highly modified Newage at the moment so feel qualified to comment on this thread but bought it eyes open for practicality reasons as a daily driver and keep a rotary as a weekend/track car as it feels so much more involving to drive.

[texaxile]

I use my Blob as a daily driver, but I agree with the poster above, even with the PPP, nowadays it is going to struggle to keep pace with a diesel Audi let alone anything slightly breathed on.

Saying that, it feels a well made, robust car that drives nicely, is forgiving and still fun on a B road early in the morning . 95k and regularly serviced, hopefully it'll keep going for many more years to come.

I admit though a few years ago that I would regularly see two or three around the area, but not anymore.

[texaxile]

slybunda said:

Dont subarus have headgasket problems. Guess by now most of the engines have failed.
With the amount of effort involved many were probably SORNd when it came time to change the sparkplugs.

No.

Don't quote me as I may have it wrong, but I think I'm not too far wide of the mark:
2.5 Hatchback STi's had ringland issues due to a poor factory map, plus when you start putting big boost through a 2.5 the heads tended to lift off from the block, easily remedied by better bolts and forged pistons etc.

the 2.0 Engine in both the STi and WRX were pretty reliable , on the whole until people started putting stupid amounts of boost and rubbish remaps, no different from any other car. Spark plugs are not really that hard, just a question of removing the Washer bottle on one side and Air box on the other, I did mine with a 3/4 inch ratchet and extension in under an hour.

Edited by texaxile on Wednesday 21st August 21:01

[Scooobydont]

Still plodding along with mine, 141k now

[untakenname]

Felt a bit bad about my previous disparaging post so after work went for a quick blat across the Isle of Sheppey

On broken tarmac and narrow undulating roads it puts a smile on your face in ways that a more modern car wouldn't be able.