First Impreza...
Discussion
Hi guys,
Long story short - selling up from my current Honda Civic Type R (FN2) and I used to have a Focus ST before that. Love the Honda don't get me wrong, but it's tied up in finance and I'm about head into property and mortgage territory, so I want a clean slate for those applications to get the best deals there.
Long discussion with the other half and she feels there is no reason to sell on the Honda and settle for a crap car - if I buy a car I want outright, the £200pcm that was on the Honda can just be used to maintain and upkeep something I want to drive, rather than a mundane daily (though I can always get a daily too if my mileage increases).
This is where my knowledge of Subaru hinders me somewhat... I reckon I'll have around £5k to play with and I'm not sure whether to get a WRX... or save some more money perhaps / wait a while and go for an STI. I wonder if by getting a WRX I'll be just 'making do' over an STI and ultimately losing money if I swap up to one later in life? Naturally my comparison here will only really be my Focus ST so maybe the WRX is just as capable / quick as the ST and as good a proposition as a daily driver too? I've seen a thread of the 2.5 WRX Wagon and that really looks like a great all rounder!
I've always had a Subaru itch to scratch despite the jibes and grief people have given me over the years (I'm 26) - but I think this comes from the fact they've never been in / driven one. Running costs I've very much got my eyes open on the fuel / regular servicing requirements.
What do you chaps reckon? Am I looking for some high-mileage trouble on my budget to own a Subaru outright? I realise I won't be getting an STI (say blobeye) for anywhere near that money but a WRX may be what I'm looking for?
Long story short - selling up from my current Honda Civic Type R (FN2) and I used to have a Focus ST before that. Love the Honda don't get me wrong, but it's tied up in finance and I'm about head into property and mortgage territory, so I want a clean slate for those applications to get the best deals there.
Long discussion with the other half and she feels there is no reason to sell on the Honda and settle for a crap car - if I buy a car I want outright, the £200pcm that was on the Honda can just be used to maintain and upkeep something I want to drive, rather than a mundane daily (though I can always get a daily too if my mileage increases).
This is where my knowledge of Subaru hinders me somewhat... I reckon I'll have around £5k to play with and I'm not sure whether to get a WRX... or save some more money perhaps / wait a while and go for an STI. I wonder if by getting a WRX I'll be just 'making do' over an STI and ultimately losing money if I swap up to one later in life? Naturally my comparison here will only really be my Focus ST so maybe the WRX is just as capable / quick as the ST and as good a proposition as a daily driver too? I've seen a thread of the 2.5 WRX Wagon and that really looks like a great all rounder!
I've always had a Subaru itch to scratch despite the jibes and grief people have given me over the years (I'm 26) - but I think this comes from the fact they've never been in / driven one. Running costs I've very much got my eyes open on the fuel / regular servicing requirements.
What do you chaps reckon? Am I looking for some high-mileage trouble on my budget to own a Subaru outright? I realise I won't be getting an STI (say blobeye) for anywhere near that money but a WRX may be what I'm looking for?
You'll pick up a later WRX with reasonable miles for £5K. If you do plump for a WRX get the wagon because if you don't you'll wish you had. Brilliant all rounder, good for long journeys, stick loads in the back and utterly reliable. try and get one either unmolested or minimum mods done properly/remapped.
However, they are infinitely tunable and before long if you have a standard car you'll be wanting more go, i guarantee it!! That's where you will scrimp and scrape and beg and borrow to do the mods and a remap. It's hellish!!
IF you don't want the hassle of having to mod in the short term and you want something more driver focused, quicker, better handling and stops well out of the box, then it's got to be the STi, that's a no brainer!!
c.2003/2004 model. As with everything, maximum service history, lowest mileage, unmolested if possible or mods that have been done properly and remapped for.
There aren't too many niggles with them and once you've test driven one properly you'll love it!!
However, they are infinitely tunable and before long if you have a standard car you'll be wanting more go, i guarantee it!! That's where you will scrimp and scrape and beg and borrow to do the mods and a remap. It's hellish!!
IF you don't want the hassle of having to mod in the short term and you want something more driver focused, quicker, better handling and stops well out of the box, then it's got to be the STi, that's a no brainer!!
c.2003/2004 model. As with everything, maximum service history, lowest mileage, unmolested if possible or mods that have been done properly and remapped for.
There aren't too many niggles with them and once you've test driven one properly you'll love it!!
I had a focus ST and loved it. Love my impreza which cost less than half of the £12K that the focus sold for even more.
So far it has cost me very little to run too and it makes me happy that it can see off an ST when I want it to.
Buy one, enjoy it and show your friends that they are silly.
So far it has cost me very little to run too and it makes me happy that it can see off an ST when I want it to.
Buy one, enjoy it and show your friends that they are silly.
Thanks guys - I've got an evening off tonight (OH working nights this weekend) so I'm just about to start a little browse in the Classifieds and see what's out there for the money.
Great to hear positives about the WRX and STI - I've seen some very one sided stuff about the WRX being terrible, but I can't see it being worse than my Focus ST was... and for less money and more practicality with the wagon!
Hadn't looked at Bugeye STIs... off to the classifieds I go with a beer in hand!
Thanks chaps!
Great to hear positives about the WRX and STI - I've seen some very one sided stuff about the WRX being terrible, but I can't see it being worse than my Focus ST was... and for less money and more practicality with the wagon!
Hadn't looked at Bugeye STIs... off to the classifieds I go with a beer in hand!
Thanks chaps!
There are a few things within price that might be worth looking at... for example for a Bugeye STI - seems to have decent provenance and tracker will be useful as my insurance will want one (want to see out this policy till next Feb 2013 when I can move to a specialist with another years NCB):
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Anatonic said:
There are a few things within price that might be worth looking at... for example for a Bugeye STI - seems to have decent provenance and tracker will be useful as my insurance will want one (want to see out this policy till next Feb 2013 when I can move to a specialist with another years NCB):
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Seems like a good example, and with the prodrive map it will shift. The tracker thing seems crazy on a 5K car, anyway... I have had a WRX PPP and an STi, and can say both are awesome cars. The WRX makes for a better daily, is slightly better on fuel and a bit more subtle. I tried my STi as a daily but got a bit tired of it, however, it was running about 350bhp and had very stiff coilovers http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
Hi, I too had the Impreza itch to scratch - I always wanted an RB5, but had to wait until I was 29 to get it. I had never even driven an Impreza, but I test drove just one and bought it. Thankfully I got a good one.
Definately look around, I bought a specific model off an owners club site pretty much, so I knew a lot about it - full service history, all receipts, and the original sales bumf. A tracker will help with insurance, but can be expensive.
I have kept up with a regular service from a main dealer, and the car it un-modified. I believe that this is why it has never missed a beat, starts first time every time and runs a treat. Fuel is an issue, but that is due to a heavy right foot - I can't help it, it wants to go. It's not actually that bad on a long run, but I do only run it on Super (99).
I hope you get an Impreza, you will not be disappointed. I love mine and never want to sell.
Emma.
Definately look around, I bought a specific model off an owners club site pretty much, so I knew a lot about it - full service history, all receipts, and the original sales bumf. A tracker will help with insurance, but can be expensive.
I have kept up with a regular service from a main dealer, and the car it un-modified. I believe that this is why it has never missed a beat, starts first time every time and runs a treat. Fuel is an issue, but that is due to a heavy right foot - I can't help it, it wants to go. It's not actually that bad on a long run, but I do only run it on Super (99).
I hope you get an Impreza, you will not be disappointed. I love mine and never want to sell.
Emma.
I've had an STi and WRX and I genuinely prefer the WRX. I sold the STi within 6 months. The suspension is too harsh and the gearing is more frantic with the 6 speed.
I also think a tuned WRX is more responsive than the STi and delivers the power lower down in a torquier fashion. The STi is too zingy for my liking and revving to 8k is asking for trouble. The 0-60 is generally better on a like for like power Impreza on the WRX as you don't need to change to third for the 60 sprint..
That said, if you like the saloon then there's no doubt you get a lot of extras for the money with the STi, just try them both. It's always been WRX wagons for me. if you're into modding and you want more than 350-370 bhp then going STi will save you money as the box can cope with much higher outputs and the car has bigger brakes etc as standard.
Good luck and make sure whatever that you buy a good one. Fuel is your biggest expense, I get between 16 on my commute to 21mpg on motorway but my commute is very twisty lanes so it doesn't get a lot worse than this. The best I've seen out of an Impreza is about 25mpg on a run being very sensible.
Rgds
Nito
I also think a tuned WRX is more responsive than the STi and delivers the power lower down in a torquier fashion. The STi is too zingy for my liking and revving to 8k is asking for trouble. The 0-60 is generally better on a like for like power Impreza on the WRX as you don't need to change to third for the 60 sprint..
That said, if you like the saloon then there's no doubt you get a lot of extras for the money with the STi, just try them both. It's always been WRX wagons for me. if you're into modding and you want more than 350-370 bhp then going STi will save you money as the box can cope with much higher outputs and the car has bigger brakes etc as standard.
Good luck and make sure whatever that you buy a good one. Fuel is your biggest expense, I get between 16 on my commute to 21mpg on motorway but my commute is very twisty lanes so it doesn't get a lot worse than this. The best I've seen out of an Impreza is about 25mpg on a run being very sensible.
Rgds
Nito
Well I popped out today to have a poke around a local WRX wagon with the PPP (Blobeye) and despite the higher mileage of nearly 98k miles, I was extremely impressed! I know I haven't yet tried an STI, but as a daily, I could quite easily live with the comfort of the WRX and in particular, this had heated leather seats! It was almost identical to this but with more miles:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
They're practical, still got plenty of go across the revs, and although I'm 'jumping the gun' - could potentially tow a small single seater race car on a trailer + gear in the future should I decide to get back into circuit racing to get my 'thrills'... in the meantime though it would be a comfy steed to travel across the country for karting / photography events and can hold all my gear.
There was something nice about the wagon - I love the saloon, but it's a little less attention attracting and felt much comfier than my FN2 when driving normally. I have to be slightly honest with myself... my money will probably get a better condition and lower mileage WRX wagon than an STI, and with the odd bit of gigging I do carrying amps around and sometimes our Weimaraner coming with us on longer trips, the wagon is a bit more versatile (i.e. I should keep it longer than I have my other cars!)
I think the only downside I can see is fuel... and I keep being told, get an older model diesel A4/A6 wagon or something and I'll be better for it... pah, I'll stick with the petrol with my 10-15k a year thanks! (and less chance of expensive bills being thrown up by a high mileage rep-mobile diesel!)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...
They're practical, still got plenty of go across the revs, and although I'm 'jumping the gun' - could potentially tow a small single seater race car on a trailer + gear in the future should I decide to get back into circuit racing to get my 'thrills'... in the meantime though it would be a comfy steed to travel across the country for karting / photography events and can hold all my gear.
There was something nice about the wagon - I love the saloon, but it's a little less attention attracting and felt much comfier than my FN2 when driving normally. I have to be slightly honest with myself... my money will probably get a better condition and lower mileage WRX wagon than an STI, and with the odd bit of gigging I do carrying amps around and sometimes our Weimaraner coming with us on longer trips, the wagon is a bit more versatile (i.e. I should keep it longer than I have my other cars!)
I think the only downside I can see is fuel... and I keep being told, get an older model diesel A4/A6 wagon or something and I'll be better for it... pah, I'll stick with the petrol with my 10-15k a year thanks! (and less chance of expensive bills being thrown up by a high mileage rep-mobile diesel!)
Yep had a sunroof as well - was really nice!
I must fully admit that I'd originally written off WRX's as being for those that couldn't afford an STI and that they would be a slouch compared... but to be honest, I've had my mis-informed judgement slapped back in my face. They fill different gaps in the market - it was certainly not slow / heavy feeling for a wagon and for those who don't want to squeeze and mod ridiculous power out of them, the WRX is a perfect compromise as a daily car and is more 'useable' from what I felt - the wagon more so for practicality.
The STI saloon I'm sure is mega, better equip as standard and able to be modded and handle the higher power more readily, but in the real world where I sit on A-roads into work and stuck behind lines of cars on the commute, the WRX with SL pack just felt extremely nice. Only thing I'd honestly do other than buy one with a PPP? Put a decent audio system in and that'd be about it!
Time to properly browse the classifieds now and see what cars I could go take a look at!
Thanks again for the advice - really appreciate it... I'll keep you updated on the search and any more silly questions I have!
I must fully admit that I'd originally written off WRX's as being for those that couldn't afford an STI and that they would be a slouch compared... but to be honest, I've had my mis-informed judgement slapped back in my face. They fill different gaps in the market - it was certainly not slow / heavy feeling for a wagon and for those who don't want to squeeze and mod ridiculous power out of them, the WRX is a perfect compromise as a daily car and is more 'useable' from what I felt - the wagon more so for practicality.
The STI saloon I'm sure is mega, better equip as standard and able to be modded and handle the higher power more readily, but in the real world where I sit on A-roads into work and stuck behind lines of cars on the commute, the WRX with SL pack just felt extremely nice. Only thing I'd honestly do other than buy one with a PPP? Put a decent audio system in and that'd be about it!
Time to properly browse the classifieds now and see what cars I could go take a look at!
Thanks again for the advice - really appreciate it... I'll keep you updated on the search and any more silly questions I have!
The good thing about the WRX 4dr or wagon is that with minor inexpensive power mods and a remap you can get decent output generally up to and around 270-280, and better economy over and above an STi out the box.
The difficulty as with any performance vehicle is that once you get well used to the output on a daily basis you start hankering for more. If you can keep those urges and the mod bug in check the WRX will be just fine for your everyday serious and fun needs.
However, if you don't think you can keep those urges under control and only you will know this, and fear that once you start modding the bug will really bite, then get yourself the STi instead because it will cost you considerably less to get an STi up to 330-350 (plenty for most people long term) than it will to get a WRX up to 320-330 bhp.
With the STi it's just exhaust and air filter mods, with the WRX it's exhaust and air filter mods plus turbo and injector upgrades.
Have a think about that.
The difficulty as with any performance vehicle is that once you get well used to the output on a daily basis you start hankering for more. If you can keep those urges and the mod bug in check the WRX will be just fine for your everyday serious and fun needs.
However, if you don't think you can keep those urges under control and only you will know this, and fear that once you start modding the bug will really bite, then get yourself the STi instead because it will cost you considerably less to get an STi up to 330-350 (plenty for most people long term) than it will to get a WRX up to 320-330 bhp.
With the STi it's just exhaust and air filter mods, with the WRX it's exhaust and air filter mods plus turbo and injector upgrades.
Have a think about that.
Thanks Nito!
Annoyingly I'm with Direct Line who require a tracker... even on a WRX! Typically it's not up for renewal till around Feb next year and I paid in full at the start of the term - I've got 6 years NCB...
Do you think it's worth staying with Direct Line and fitting a tracker (or finding a car with one already fitted by a previous owner and just needs a subscription) just to get another years NCB? Or should I just look at moving to a new insurer who may not require a tracker and are also going to be more mod-friendly? Also - a silly question, but if bought a WRX/STI, will Direct Line cover me until such time I get a tracker fitted if that's what I needed to do? I take it they just wouldn't pay out for theft if they're asking for one?
I guess the latter depends on whether I go WRX or STI, but I moved from Elephant to Direct Line due to the policy saving I got with my OH already insuring her MINI with them. Now I wish I'd stuck where I was as it seems they wouldn't have required a tracker and obviously a change in cars wouldn't have affected my accrual of NCB...
I guess I won't see that much of a difference in insurance price anyway with 6 to 7 years NCB...
Annoyingly I'm with Direct Line who require a tracker... even on a WRX! Typically it's not up for renewal till around Feb next year and I paid in full at the start of the term - I've got 6 years NCB...
Do you think it's worth staying with Direct Line and fitting a tracker (or finding a car with one already fitted by a previous owner and just needs a subscription) just to get another years NCB? Or should I just look at moving to a new insurer who may not require a tracker and are also going to be more mod-friendly? Also - a silly question, but if bought a WRX/STI, will Direct Line cover me until such time I get a tracker fitted if that's what I needed to do? I take it they just wouldn't pay out for theft if they're asking for one?
I guess the latter depends on whether I go WRX or STI, but I moved from Elephant to Direct Line due to the policy saving I got with my OH already insuring her MINI with them. Now I wish I'd stuck where I was as it seems they wouldn't have required a tracker and obviously a change in cars wouldn't have affected my accrual of NCB...
I guess I won't see that much of a difference in insurance price anyway with 6 to 7 years NCB...
I moved to Direct Line when I bought mine, they will require a tracker before insuring if they are insuring for a tracker fitted. Moved the following year because their renewal quote was horrendous - and has been every year since from them. I went with A-Plan for a year, but they tried the renewal trick as well. Adrian Flux are poo for me, I mean proper poo.
I shop around every year, and then go to my present insurer who beat my best quote from comparison sites.
Emma.
I shop around every year, and then go to my present insurer who beat my best quote from comparison sites.
Emma.
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