Megane R26 to Impreza WRX STI?
Discussion
I've been thinking about swapping my Megane for a 2004/2005 Impreza WRX STI. Despite the boy racer image I love the look and sound of these cars - I've fancied one since my teenage years and now I'm at an age where insurance is low enough to make running one feasible.
The issue is that I'm not sure whether it's a good idea going from an 08 Megane to a car 3-4 years older. They are worth about the same money (I'd probably have to put a bit of cash in since I'd probably go for a lower mileage scoob), can anyone who has run one before tell me how much it is to run? Are they reliable?
I would imaging MPG is between 20-25 average and I get 30 out a tank in the Megane mixed motorway and b roads so that isn't too much less, tyres are similar size so should be no more expense there and it looks like brakes would be about the same - fronts on the scoob would be more but the rears less so it would even out.
Any advice would be greatly received - especially from anyone who has owned/driven both cars before.
Cheers
The issue is that I'm not sure whether it's a good idea going from an 08 Megane to a car 3-4 years older. They are worth about the same money (I'd probably have to put a bit of cash in since I'd probably go for a lower mileage scoob), can anyone who has run one before tell me how much it is to run? Are they reliable?
I would imaging MPG is between 20-25 average and I get 30 out a tank in the Megane mixed motorway and b roads so that isn't too much less, tyres are similar size so should be no more expense there and it looks like brakes would be about the same - fronts on the scoob would be more but the rears less so it would even out.
Any advice would be greatly received - especially from anyone who has owned/driven both cars before.
Cheers
Edited by ryanthescot on Monday 22 October 14:07
Especially when comparing a French car to a Japanese one Yes I'm living at home so I can afford the added cost of petrol and slightly higher insurance and so long as nothing major goes wrong then I can't see it costing too much more than the Megane does.
I'm hoping someone can put my mind at ease and prove that the Japanese cars really are more reliable than French! There are lots of known faults with the Megane - are there any common faults with the Imprezas of this age?
I'm hoping someone can put my mind at ease and prove that the Japanese cars really are more reliable than French! There are lots of known faults with the Megane - are there any common faults with the Imprezas of this age?
ryanthescot said:
Yes I'm living at home so I can afford the added cost of petrol and slightly higher insurance and so long as nothing major goes wrong then I can't see it costing too much more than the Megane does.
I'm hoping someone can put my mind at ease and prove that the Japanese cars really are more reliable than French! There are lots of known faults with the Megane - are there any common faults with the Imprezas of this age?
save your money and move out I'm hoping someone can put my mind at ease and prove that the Japanese cars really are more reliable than French! There are lots of known faults with the Megane - are there any common faults with the Imprezas of this age?
ryanthescot said:
Yes I'm living at home so I can afford the added cost of petrol and slightly higher insurance and so long as nothing major goes wrong then I can't see it costing too much more than the Megane does.
I'm hoping someone can put my mind at ease and prove that the Japanese cars really are more reliable than French! There are lots of known faults with the Megane - are there any common faults with the Imprezas of this age?
I'd post in the subaru/jap chat section not here. I'm hoping someone can put my mind at ease and prove that the Japanese cars really are more reliable than French! There are lots of known faults with the Megane - are there any common faults with the Imprezas of this age?
Hi
As you can see from my profile I have owned both cars your talking about. I actually did it the other way round and had the Scoob first and went to the Megane as I wanted to cut my outgoings as I was moving house.
I would say if you can afford it do it. The Scoob had so much more of a sense of occasion when I drove it. It got looks (good and bad!) and the noise is great!.
It depends on what age of Scoob your looking at, mine was an 06 very late blobeye with the 2.0l engine. I would say 20mpg was a good, and I didnt always drive it hard. To give you an idea, when V-power was £1.25 a litre it cost me about £65 to fill it up and I would get 210 miles out of a tank. I hear the 2.5l hawkeyes are slightly better.
The other thing to consider is the tax. Mine was an 06 and about 6 months after buying it the government shafted me and the yearly tax went up from about £260 to over £400!! Servicing wasnt to bad at an independent, and tyres and brakes were similar on both cars. I ran Bridgestone Potenza and they lasted well on the car, and performance friction pads. Insurance is far higher on the Scoob.
The other thing I liked about the Scoob was the scene that went with it. There are far more club meets, forums and interest I found compared to the Megane. The potential to modify it is also greater if that is of interest to you.
Overall I would say that having sold my Scoob to save money and buying the Megane, it did do what I needed. On the other hand the Megane just didnt live up to it, and I soon got bored of it. If it is something you want to do, I would say do it now whilst they are still affordable, as you will never look doing it again I would probably look for a decent early (55plate) hawkeye, cheaper tax and nicer looking in my opinion.
Oh and as far a reliably goes, never once had a problem with mine, couldn't say the same for the Megaine!!
Hope that helps
As you can see from my profile I have owned both cars your talking about. I actually did it the other way round and had the Scoob first and went to the Megane as I wanted to cut my outgoings as I was moving house.
I would say if you can afford it do it. The Scoob had so much more of a sense of occasion when I drove it. It got looks (good and bad!) and the noise is great!.
It depends on what age of Scoob your looking at, mine was an 06 very late blobeye with the 2.0l engine. I would say 20mpg was a good, and I didnt always drive it hard. To give you an idea, when V-power was £1.25 a litre it cost me about £65 to fill it up and I would get 210 miles out of a tank. I hear the 2.5l hawkeyes are slightly better.
The other thing to consider is the tax. Mine was an 06 and about 6 months after buying it the government shafted me and the yearly tax went up from about £260 to over £400!! Servicing wasnt to bad at an independent, and tyres and brakes were similar on both cars. I ran Bridgestone Potenza and they lasted well on the car, and performance friction pads. Insurance is far higher on the Scoob.
The other thing I liked about the Scoob was the scene that went with it. There are far more club meets, forums and interest I found compared to the Megane. The potential to modify it is also greater if that is of interest to you.
Overall I would say that having sold my Scoob to save money and buying the Megane, it did do what I needed. On the other hand the Megane just didnt live up to it, and I soon got bored of it. If it is something you want to do, I would say do it now whilst they are still affordable, as you will never look doing it again I would probably look for a decent early (55plate) hawkeye, cheaper tax and nicer looking in my opinion.
Oh and as far a reliably goes, never once had a problem with mine, couldn't say the same for the Megaine!!
Hope that helps
Edited by Thejimreaper on Monday 22 October 20:44
Only usual issue is rear shocks dry up and start knocking. Most STi's have had coil overs fitted which is the common fix. Other than that everyone I know who has Impreza's find them reliable if you service regularly and keep fluids topped up.
Had my WRX wagon now for 6 years and still love it.
Had my WRX wagon now for 6 years and still love it.
MissChief said:
It's a very different car and while some costs may look similar there are many others that will be more expensive such as Road tax and petrol costs.
Also, your GF hates them.
Don't tell her about this thread! She seems to think they are too big but I'm sure she would get used to it. I bet once she drive's one she will love it! Also, your GF hates them.
Thejimreaper said:
Hi
As you can see from my profile I have owned both cars your talking about. I actually did it the other way round and had the Scoob first and went to the Megane as I wanted to cut my outgoings as I was moving house.
I would say if you can afford it do it. The Scoob had so much more of a sense of occasion when I drove it. It got looks (good and bad!) and the noise is great!.
It depends on what age of Scoob your looking at, mine was an 06 very late blobeye with the 2.0l engine. I would say 20mpg was a good, and I didnt always drive it hard. To give you an idea, when V-power was £1.25 a litre it cost me about £65 to fill it up and I would get 210 miles out of a tank. I hear the 2.5l hawkeyes are slightly better.
The other thing to consider is the tax. Mine was an 06 and about 6 months after buying it the government shafted me and the yearly tax went up from about £260 to over £400!! Servicing wasnt to bad at an independent, and tyres and brakes were similar on both cars. I ran Bridgestone Potenza and they lasted well on the car, and performance friction pads. Insurance is far higher on the Scoob.
The other thing I liked about the Scoob was the scene that went with it. There are far more club meets, forums and interest I found compared to the Megane. The potential to modify it is also greater if that is of interest to you.
Overall I would say that having sold my Scoob to save money and buying the Megane, it did do what I needed. On the other hand the Megane just didnt live up to it, and I soon got bored of it. If it is something you want to do, I would say do it now whilst they are still affordable, as you will never look doing it again I would probably look for a decent early (55plate) hawkeye, cheaper tax and nicer looking in my opinion.
Oh and as far a reliably goes, never once had a problem with mine, couldn't say the same for the Megaine!!
Hope that helps
Thanks for your reply, that's very helpful information. I love the Megane and it is a very able car, but I dont think it has anywhere near the character and presence of a blob eye scoob.As you can see from my profile I have owned both cars your talking about. I actually did it the other way round and had the Scoob first and went to the Megane as I wanted to cut my outgoings as I was moving house.
I would say if you can afford it do it. The Scoob had so much more of a sense of occasion when I drove it. It got looks (good and bad!) and the noise is great!.
It depends on what age of Scoob your looking at, mine was an 06 very late blobeye with the 2.0l engine. I would say 20mpg was a good, and I didnt always drive it hard. To give you an idea, when V-power was £1.25 a litre it cost me about £65 to fill it up and I would get 210 miles out of a tank. I hear the 2.5l hawkeyes are slightly better.
The other thing to consider is the tax. Mine was an 06 and about 6 months after buying it the government shafted me and the yearly tax went up from about £260 to over £400!! Servicing wasnt to bad at an independent, and tyres and brakes were similar on both cars. I ran Bridgestone Potenza and they lasted well on the car, and performance friction pads. Insurance is far higher on the Scoob.
The other thing I liked about the Scoob was the scene that went with it. There are far more club meets, forums and interest I found compared to the Megane. The potential to modify it is also greater if that is of interest to you.
Overall I would say that having sold my Scoob to save money and buying the Megane, it did do what I needed. On the other hand the Megane just didnt live up to it, and I soon got bored of it. If it is something you want to do, I would say do it now whilst they are still affordable, as you will never look doing it again I would probably look for a decent early (55plate) hawkeye, cheaper tax and nicer looking in my opinion.
Oh and as far a reliably goes, never once had a problem with mine, couldn't say the same for the Megaine!!
Hope that helps
Edited by Thejimreaper on Monday 22 October 20:44
By the sounds of it the main extra costs will be insurance, tax and petrol. I'm looking for a low mileage blob eye but there's not that many of them about and only 1 within 100 miles
might take a while to find a decent one but I guess I might as well get one now while I can afford to!I only lasted 9 months with my 2003 STI PPP... just cost so much to run I found my heart dropping every time I got into the car, after a while I knew that wasn't right.
Changed for a Renaultsport as it happens but a Clio not Megane. Couldn't be happier! It's so much more 'me'.
Don't get me wrong the Impreza was the most 'awesome' car I've owned, but for me it felt so huge coming from hatches and even with 320bhp it got boring from time to time... figured it just wasn't worth the low mpg in the end. On average, I was getting around 160 miles from £68.
Changed for a Renaultsport as it happens but a Clio not Megane. Couldn't be happier! It's so much more 'me'.
Don't get me wrong the Impreza was the most 'awesome' car I've owned, but for me it felt so huge coming from hatches and even with 320bhp it got boring from time to time... figured it just wasn't worth the low mpg in the end. On average, I was getting around 160 miles from £68.
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