RE: Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type UK: PH Fleet

[Zaim]

On my third Subaru and my first STi. Although a Forester STi I love it to bits and I've done a lot to it, but I'm about to go the other way and scratch a Renault Sport itch...all this positivity and mention of regret isn't helping though.

[Speed Badger]

Ben I swear we are on the same car adventure!


Just sold my 2005 Widetrack STI around 5 weeks ago and bought a Civic FD2 Type R. I miss its 4wd capabilities and how safe & planted it felt in the wet, don't miss the fuel bills! I will say hand on heart the FD2 feels more exciting, but the Impreza is great in different ways. I grew up watching the WRC as a Subaru fan (you were either Subaru or Mitsubishi!) and had two Impreza P1's, but I have to say the '05 STI is the all round better car. Love the P1 more though.

You'll be getting an FD2 Type R next...

[tombstone]

I've not long bought a 2004 WRX SL to add to my garage.. I've had a few Impreza's, but always wanted the 'stealthy' one.. 34,000 miles, was completely standard, but I have fitted a back box to release some burble!
Personally I love the way they drive for what they are, and is more economical than my RX8.

[BenLowden]

cib24 said:

Great article. Really enjoyed reading about your childhood and why the car means so much to you. Car looks great too and I'm glad you are using it as intended.

Thank you, appreciate the comment!

Jon_S_Rally said:

Good article, nice to see someone with a real passion for it. Often more interesting than reading about some new car they have been driving for six months.

Also refreshing to see a journo talking with passion about a 'proper' turbocharged car. I am sick to death of hacks praising a car for feeling linear and responsive. I want my turbo big, laggy and exciting.

Thanks. Linear power delivery might be more efficient, but I find it dull. I buy turbocharged cars to feel the boost!

Speed Badger said:

Ben I swear we are on the same car adventure!

Just sold my 2005 Widetrack STI around 5 weeks ago and bought a Civic FD2 Type R. I miss its 4wd capabilities and how safe & planted it felt in the wet, don't miss the fuel bills! I will say hand on heart the FD2 feels more exciting, but the Impreza is great in different ways. I grew up watching the WRC as a Subaru fan (you were either Subaru or Mitsubishi!) and had two Impreza P1's, but I have to say the '05 STI is the all round better car. Love the P1 more though.

You'll be getting an FD2 Type R next...

What are the odds! I think I recall seeing the ad for that and was very tempted for the DCCD, but I had already set my heart on Tim's car and had done a deal so stayed put. Luckily mine isn't a daily so the fuel economy doesn't really bother me so much.

I wouldn't rule out a Type R, but if I get one it would be an FK8. Have only driven one on track, but it blew me away how capable it was. Good luck with the FD2, looks like it should be a safe purchase for residuals. That's what I'm hoping with the Subaru anyway...

[Fonzey]

Blobeye STI was my dream car which I'm proud to have owned, modified, trackday'd and then sold on again.

It's a car I'd love to go back to, but it just doesn't make sense in my garage at the moment

[ballans]

Great article, more like this please.
Glad I’m not the only the only one who misses old fashioned turbos. Foot down, wait for it, wait for it..............whoosh!

[tahicks2003]

Jon_S_Rally said:

Good article, nice to see someone with a real passion for it. Often more interesting than reading about some new car they have been driving for six months.

Also refreshing to see a journo talking with passion about a 'proper' turbocharged car. I am sick to death of hacks praising a car for feeling linear and responsive. I want my turbo big, laggy and exciting.

I dont think I've met a more passionate enthusiast

[rossub]

tombstone said:

I've not long bought a 2004 WRX SL to add to my garage.. I've had a few Impreza's, but always wanted the 'stealthy' one.. 34,000 miles, was completely standard, but I have fitted a back box to release some burble!
Personally I love the way they drive for what they are, and is more economical than my RX8.

They are fantastic all year round daily drivers - wish I’d kept my SL Wagon for the task.

With that mileage, keep the oil changed regularly and it’ll go on forever.

[macky17]

I own one of the modern cars which have supposedly rendered scoobies obsolete (a mk7 Golf R). Yes it’s just as fast, yes it’s more comfortable and infinitely nicer inside... but it doesn’t have the character or involvement of an Impreza like this one. Very nice. I do too many miles to have one now as a daily so I’ve had to be sensible but I really miss these things (I’ve owned 4 x WRXs, 2 x STIs and a forester STi.) Dont let anyone tell you they are cheap, plastic, thirsty, outdated etc. Who cares? Will be classics one day after the chavs have ruined 95% of them.

Good article. Enjoy.

[obscene]

Bought this off a fellow PH'er last September. Best car I've had the pleasure of owning. Absolutely love it. It's good to see the new JDM models are still using the EJ20 and not the EJ25.

[mattyowen5]

They're great fun, got mine 3 years ago and still no sign of wanting a change.

[G13NVL]

Was my childhood dream car aswel and bought one 3 years ago a lightly tweaked hawk sti running 340bhp. Apsolute hoot to blast down a windy country road I loved it! Did loads of track days/ road trips/ drag strips and daily commuting and it never let me down once not even one minor issue with anything despite all the horror stories of the 2.5. Also had to 2 years 14k miles and sold it for what I paid.

[NotFromSomerset]

I loved my old blobeye STI. Hilariously good fun. After flirting with a couple of fast mercs I had to come back. I'm the proud owner now of a Hawkeye spec c. Everything you love about the UK version but dialed up to 11 in every area, plus no chocolate 2.5 blocks. Have to say I do miss the evocative boxer rumble which I lack because of equal length headers but the motorbike like sound at the raised 8k rpm limit will do just fine......

[JayUK91]

Had my Blob STi as my daily for 5 years now. Love it to bits, but I must admit I do keep getting tempted my something newer and more refined. I know very few cars available in my budget will thrill me or make me smile as much as this one does though - hence we're still inseparable (even after a head gasket failure and deep pockets to repair!)

Have fun!

Edited by JayUK91 on Wednesday 25th July 21:17

[borat52]

Sti V5 wagon owner, can’t ever bring myself to sell it. 8k redline and 350bhp in its current state.
Very special cars all of them.

I did buy a forester Sti facelift earlier in the year and although a much nicer cabin the classic it’ll mich more nimble round the bends.

[rastapasta]

JohnoVR6 said:

article said:

For me it's years of wearing bright blue bobble hats sporting the 555 logo, bedroom wall posters and desktop backgrounds. And I can't be the only one that used to drive along in my first (and maybe second) car making exhaust and dump valve noises...

Nope. Me too. I had this poster above my bed as a kid;



And it's a large part of the reason I have mine...

Its amazing how our formative years influence later decisions, this is the reason I drive a Legacy today

[f1ten]

Big fan of these and always ha vw been although o prefer the original Impreza looks I also recognise it's impossible to find a low miler car that's 20 yrs old. So a blob eye from 2003 or 4 would do nicely

[wab172uk]

lord trumpton said:

It's surprising what people focus on with a driver's car like this.

Stereo and speakers would be the last thing that put me off and arguably one of the easiest and cheapest to remedy.

But when it's your only car, so gets used every day for both short and long trips, things like a nice stereo is a welcome addition in a car.

Just because it's a `Drivers car` doesn't mean you have to drive the wheels off it everywhere, or pretend that listening to the engines drone on a motorway is better than listening to music through a decent sound system.

Weekend toy, yes. Only car, no.

[Fastdruid]

tombstone said:

Personally I love the way they drive for what they are, and is more economical than my RX8.

See, this is why everyone should own an RX-8 at some point...it sets the bar low so that everything that follows seems an improvement.

So we're getting much better mpg out of the Mazda 6 MPS than we did in the RX-8, great news! Lots gloss over that it is still only averaging 18mpg.

[Zaim]

Fastdruid said:

tombstone said:

Personally I love the way they drive for what they are, and is more economical than my RX8.

See, this is why everyone should own an RX-8 at some point...it sets the bar low so that everything that follows seems an improvement.

So we're getting much better mpg out of the Mazda 6 MPS than we did in the RX-8, great news! Lots gloss over that it is still only averaging 18mpg.

Agreed, everything looks economical after owning a RX-8. Moved from an Impreza WRX to a RX-8 and then to the FSTi. Never had range anxiety in a petrol car like I did in that RX-8.