Looking for a classic wagon
Discussion
Hi all,
I've been coming back to a turbo Impreza wagon the last few months.
I currently drive/drove a mx-5 turbo, but I started to do quite a bit more km's(/miles) than I used to do. For multiple reasons (legal, tax, handling), putting that car on LPG is not a good option.
This stuff is not an issue on the Impreza, as it will get classified as a cargo vehicle (very low tax, no lpg tax, car has a turbo as standard, so no legal issues here in Belgium).
So, in short: I am looking for a classic(mainly weight reasons, partialy price) Impreza wagon, planning to convert it to LPG, and (currently) planning to use the car for many years as my daily.
I will be tempted to up the performance, but I am not planning to exceed the limits of the vehicle that I buy, as it gets expensive really fast, and it's my daily after all.
What is the best base car? I've been thinking about STI wagons, but I'm not sure if they are worth the extra cost? Advantage is that they have forged internals/stonger engines (?), and that they have decent suspension/brakes stock (as tuning is quite a hassle in Belgium). The stock engine can handle more power, so there's a bit more room there for possible upgrades without breaking the bank.
On the other hand, a GT Turbo will probably be cheaper, is sold in Europe (important for the importing process to Belgium, it will go a lot faster/easier) and might be enough?
Pricerange would be 1500-3000 pounds, preferably more something between 2000-2500 pounds. A good LPG install (probably Vialle) will cost me around 2000 pounds too.
Since it would be a daily, reliability is important.
I noticed this car: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
It seems (too?) cheap to be issue free?
I've been coming back to a turbo Impreza wagon the last few months.
I currently drive/drove a mx-5 turbo, but I started to do quite a bit more km's(/miles) than I used to do. For multiple reasons (legal, tax, handling), putting that car on LPG is not a good option.
This stuff is not an issue on the Impreza, as it will get classified as a cargo vehicle (very low tax, no lpg tax, car has a turbo as standard, so no legal issues here in Belgium).
So, in short: I am looking for a classic(mainly weight reasons, partialy price) Impreza wagon, planning to convert it to LPG, and (currently) planning to use the car for many years as my daily.
I will be tempted to up the performance, but I am not planning to exceed the limits of the vehicle that I buy, as it gets expensive really fast, and it's my daily after all.
What is the best base car? I've been thinking about STI wagons, but I'm not sure if they are worth the extra cost? Advantage is that they have forged internals/stonger engines (?), and that they have decent suspension/brakes stock (as tuning is quite a hassle in Belgium). The stock engine can handle more power, so there's a bit more room there for possible upgrades without breaking the bank.
On the other hand, a GT Turbo will probably be cheaper, is sold in Europe (important for the importing process to Belgium, it will go a lot faster/easier) and might be enough?
Pricerange would be 1500-3000 pounds, preferably more something between 2000-2500 pounds. A good LPG install (probably Vialle) will cost me around 2000 pounds too.
Since it would be a daily, reliability is important.
I noticed this car: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...
It seems (too?) cheap to be issue free?
One in the autotrader with 45k miles on for 3250 or there abouts
You might find it difficult to register a jap import into Belgium (Sti, WRX) due to many reasons, non eu spec glass for one, not impossible but if its like it is in France it aint easy.
A UK spec one will be easier, a euro import might have the cert of conformity already.
You might find it difficult to register a jap import into Belgium (Sti, WRX) due to many reasons, non eu spec glass for one, not impossible but if its like it is in France it aint easy.
A UK spec one will be easier, a euro import might have the cert of conformity already.
Edited by Lee UK on Saturday 23 February 22:44
IMO a standard UK turbo is intrinsically very reliable if it has been maintained properly and treated with mechanical sympathy. I looked on and off for basically six months to find mine and really couldn't be happier with it! I was fussy though as wanted a standard blue MY99-00 wagon AND PPP! STi wagons seem rather rarer still and you pay a hefty premium for a good one.
Edited by HonestIago on Sunday 24th February 10:57
Edited by HonestIago on Sunday 24th February 10:57
Well, I've bought one on an impulse lol. It's a JDM WRX STI v3 wagon, pretty much stock apart from the exhaust and a front mount IC.
This one: http://bbs.scoobynet.com/subaru-444/964678-wrx-sti...
I noticed a small problem on the drive home: accelerating in high gear (5th) from 2k, it often hesitated for a moment between 3 and 3.5k. A bit like hitting a rev limiter.
I went by a friend to show the car just before I got home. I took him out, and the car hesitated more often in higher gears. At a point, I felt it wasn't making any boost anymore. You can hear air escaping on the drivers side. A quick check next to the road, seems to indicate that the connection between a pipe and the intercooler was ragged.
I also noticed I had a check engine light. At the moment, the car is extremely slow and has a very rough idle (wanting to stall). I coul barely get to ~40mph. Can a broken hose cause a check engine light and those problems?
Also, my immobiliser started acting weird too, when I got to my friend: it keeps beeping when closing the car. The car closes, but the beeping wont stop. It seems to be a cobra type alarm (same fob). Help?
This one: http://bbs.scoobynet.com/subaru-444/964678-wrx-sti...
I noticed a small problem on the drive home: accelerating in high gear (5th) from 2k, it often hesitated for a moment between 3 and 3.5k. A bit like hitting a rev limiter.
I went by a friend to show the car just before I got home. I took him out, and the car hesitated more often in higher gears. At a point, I felt it wasn't making any boost anymore. You can hear air escaping on the drivers side. A quick check next to the road, seems to indicate that the connection between a pipe and the intercooler was ragged.
I also noticed I had a check engine light. At the moment, the car is extremely slow and has a very rough idle (wanting to stall). I coul barely get to ~40mph. Can a broken hose cause a check engine light and those problems?
Also, my immobiliser started acting weird too, when I got to my friend: it keeps beeping when closing the car. The car closes, but the beeping wont stop. It seems to be a cobra type alarm (same fob). Help?
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