Impreza Sti Wagon alternative

[bonesX]

Is there anything similar I should be looking at? Don't mind too much if its not 4 wheel drive

Sti sportswagon has around 270 bhp

Problem is the 02/03's which were the last ones made are very rare

[SteveS Cup]

Does it have to be that sort of age band?

What budget does that put you in?

Possibly an Audi Estate (S4 / S6 / RS6).

330i Estate?

[CambsBill]

If you want the same but a bit newer, the WRX with a PPP upgrade gave similar power to the STI. Missed some of the more focussed elements of the STi I know but still seriously quick.

[300bhp/ton]

bonesX said:

Is there anything similar I should be looking at? Don't mind too much if its not 4 wheel drive

Sti sportswagon has around 270 bhp

Problem is the 02/03's which were the last ones made are very rare

Guess it depends on a few things really.

Budget

But also what aspects are you wanting similar? As in:

-speed and performance
-driving dynamics
-AWD
-Ability
-Estate space


Are things like mpg an issue?

Most car makers make estates, so I guess BMW, Merc and Audi could all offer something.

Jaguar made the X-Type and with the 3.0 V6 it wasn't too slow. Although post 03 cars had a slightly different centre diff setup I'm lead to believe.

You could always go WRX Impreza and mod, last of the hawk eye Wagons.

Or is a new hatch shape Impreza WRX/STI an option?

I suppose on this theme you could also look at Legacy's and Forrester's, maybe a JDM spec one.


Not vastly newer, but I rather like the look/drive of the MG ZT260 which was available in ZT-T estate variant.

Not sure if available in the UK, but the Chrysler 300C/Dodge Magnum estate could be had in 5.7 R/T trim and maybe 6.1 litre SRT trim.

[bonesX]

Age not really a problem, budget 8k but needs to be fast.

Might have to compromise on a later wrx...

[300bhp/ton]

bonesX said:

Age not really a problem, budget 8k but needs to be fast.

Might have to compromise on a later wrx...

lol, if age isn't an issue, then why not an earlier STI Wagon

When you say fast - care to give some ideas what you mean by it. Also does how it drives have any bearing on it?

[GravelBen]

Legacy GTB is always worth a shout as a bigger, smoother, comfier wagon that still handles very well and has similar pace - 280bhp but carrying a bit more weight.

[anonymous-user]

As above...

Get a GTB...

If you near Brum i can take you for a spin in mine if you need convincing

[redgriff500]

Having looked for ages I don't think there is anything comparable if you need an estate but want something so 'focussed / pointy'

BMW 330 is nothing like the same, feels much heavier and softer as does the A4/A6.

Legacy too is more of a GT car IMO.

Stagea is a possibility (if you are blind)

[anonymous-user]

doogz said:

I couldn't get on with the twin turbos.

Pull off, wait for it, then the little turbo does it's thing, then you get another lull before the big one does it's thing about 4.5/5k rpm.

I found if you were in a hurry, you had to take it right to the redline, or when you shifted you found yourself back in this sort of flat spot, in the middle of the rev range.

That can be fixed very easily...

Use the first turbo for pootling around town and motorways and the second one when you want to play with the big boys.

[GravelBen]

What year was the TT you drove? Later cars are much better, mine doesn't really drop off at all through the turbo changeover, though you can find the flat-spot if you try with a mistimed gearchange on part throttle. Full throttle it just pulls hard and smooth right through from 2000 to 7500 - much more linear power delivery than a single turbo though so you don't feel the same surge in the mid-range.

Changing gear at ~6500 drops you to ~5000 in the next gear which is peak torque and above changeover anyway.


If you want a single turbo then the 4th Gen Legacy GT has the single twinscroll turbo as well as being a nicer car, they just cost more.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 23 February 12:19

[SteveS Cup]

What about the old Mitsi Galant VR4?

Audi S4 Avant? 2.7 twin turbo, 350bhp with a £500 MRC remap.

Possibly get a 4.2 V8 S4 for £8/9k.

[GravelBen]

doogz said:

GravelBen said:

What year was the TT you drove?...

I borrowed a '92 for a week, and my mates was a '96, i found them both to be pretty much the same tbh.

Both GT's, well, the '92 wasn't, but had a GT engine fitted.

'92 would be a 1st-gen Legacy with the same single-turbo engine as early WRX unless it had a TT motor swapped in.

2nd-gen often do have a quite noticeable flat-spot (its known as VOD or Valley Of Death in Sub circles), also the GT of the time was only 260bhp compared to the 280 of the GT-B. (autos are all 260bhp too)so I can see where you're coming from there.

Mine is 2002, the last revision of the 3rd-gen and the final development of the TT system before they swapped back to single turbo in 03. So its faster, smoother, quieter, more comfortable, better handling and more economical.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 23 February 12:29

[omgus]

300bhp/ton said:

bonesX said:

Age not really a problem, budget 8k but needs to be fast.

Might have to compromise on a later wrx...

lol, if age isn't an issue, then why not an earlier STI Wagon

When you say fast - care to give some ideas what you mean by it. Also does how it drives have any bearing on it?

Yep, classic wagon, cheap, still getting a few fresh imports and they are great fun. They also don't attract the chavs as much and as such are better looked after. And they are more than capable of keeping with everybody on a hoon.

But then i am biased.

[mmcd87]

bonesX said:

Age not really a problem, budget 8k but needs to be fast.

Might have to compromise on a later wrx...

I've got a WRX PPP wagon and really like it. Pretty hard to find anything that's not totally different if you like Imprezas.

Something Swedish midght be worth a look (Saab 9-3/9-5 Aero or Volvo V70R (awd...) etc) though they may be a bit comfy.

Legacy Spec B though might be a bit down in outright power, I recon it would be a lot nicer day to day. Forester maybe?

Alfa 156 GTA/2.4JTD?

Skoda Octavia VRS (always a favourite)?

Mondeo ST220?

[redgriff500]

SteveS Cup said:

What about the old Mitsi Galant VR4?

Audi S4 Avant? 2.7 twin turbo, 350bhp with a £500 MRC remap.

Possibly get a 4.2 V8 S4 for £8/9k.

Gallants are cheap - for a reason I can't believe that anyone who has owned one and also driven anything decent, can recommend them.

S4 is very quick and capable but not really 'pointy' like an Impreza is.

[anonymous-user]

A good 92-96 which has been maintained properly (simple as new vac lines and cleaned solenoids) will perform a lot better than a tired TT.

As for the Mitsi VR4 - Please don't swear people... lol

Edit : The sequential TT system is not as good as an old fashioned single turbo though and as soon as funds allow i'm going single too...

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 23 February 13:11

[300bhp/ton]

Sheeda Pistol said:

As for the Mitsi VR4 - Please don't swear people... lol

Edited by Sheeda Pistol on Wednesday 23 February 13:11

What's up with them? I've never been in one, but thought they looked quite good.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 23 February 13:35

[garycat]

This looks like a quick WRX wagon, not sure about the 32 valve engine though.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2428227.htm

[SteveS Cup]

I only suggested the VR4 as I had a Contractor who raved about it... it was on Coilovers and running about 350bhp.

The S4 could be as pointy as an impreza with the right modifications... and they sound flipping awesome!