Are scoobys alright?
Discussion
I am thinking of getting a scooby wagon about 96 vintage (new baby nees sensible ish car). I am not sure about a 2.0 sport or turbo due to reliablitity and maintence costs. I was told by a dealer that turbo scoobys of this age need regular servicing ie every 7 months? basically any opinions and information on decision would be helpful.
Service Intervals are every 7,500 miles. Some parts are a bit expensive especially clutches (inc fitting) and bodywork bits like headlamps etc, but otherwise they seem pretty bombproof.
I had a 98 Turbo from new, that I did 53,000 miles including trackdays in it in 30 months with absolutely no issues.
davidy
I would say though that if its to carry little people around in (ie very young) they will grow up with neck muscles like Mike Tyson if you use the cornering potential!!
I had a 98 Turbo from new, that I did 53,000 miles including trackdays in it in 30 months with absolutely no issues.
davidy
I would say though that if its to carry little people around in (ie very young) they will grow up with neck muscles like Mike Tyson if you use the cornering potential!!
I had one for a while - not too spacious as family cars. I'm 6'2", and with the seat right back I found the driving position a little cramped. I could have forgiven it though 'cos it was a great car.
Unfortunately even my 4 year old son complained of the rear legroom, never mind the occasional adult - it had to go
. Boot's not all that huge either.
Unfortunately even my 4 year old son complained of the rear legroom, never mind the occasional adult - it had to go
. Boot's not all that huge either.I'm enjoying mine but I think it will have to go if I get the opportunity of a company car.
Reasons:
Fuel......lots of it and I have to buy my own.
Speed.....lots of it and far to easy to achieve.
Handling..now I've had the geometry done it sticks like pooh on a blanket, this leads to more of the above.
Costs.....Resale value is pants, tyres will not last long, servicing is looming etc etc.
Interior..My first one (97 I think)was crap.....my new one is no better! Squeeks + rattles and looks crap.
Quality...So OK it goes very quickly and it sticks well, but in this day and age that is not enough, coming out of a Mk4 Golf this just feels like its 10 years behind the competition.
Ok so I knew all these points even before I parted with my cash.....So why do it?
Because all of above are so bloody addictive that I just had to get another!!! (Except paying for Optimax
) So if someone is willing to pay my running costs I will keep it, in fact give me a fuel card and I will PX it 4 an STi 
Reasons:
Fuel......lots of it and I have to buy my own.
Speed.....lots of it and far to easy to achieve.
Handling..now I've had the geometry done it sticks like pooh on a blanket, this leads to more of the above.
Costs.....Resale value is pants, tyres will not last long, servicing is looming etc etc.
Interior..My first one (97 I think)was crap.....my new one is no better! Squeeks + rattles and looks crap.
Quality...So OK it goes very quickly and it sticks well, but in this day and age that is not enough, coming out of a Mk4 Golf this just feels like its 10 years behind the competition.
Ok so I knew all these points even before I parted with my cash.....So why do it?
Because all of above are so bloody addictive that I just had to get another!!! (Except paying for Optimax
) So if someone is willing to pay my running costs I will keep it, in fact give me a fuel card and I will PX it 4 an STi ooooh Scoobies. Let me eulogise for a while.
Facts:
Early scoobies (pre 2001 I believe) are serviced every 7500 miles, later scoobies are every 10,000.
They are fairly bullet proof - including the turbos - and very little will come back as nasty surprises at service time.
Tyre wear is surprisingly good - although there's always the caveat of how you drive it.
Fuel economy is the Achilles heel of the scooby - in my old '96 turbo I got about 22 mpg. In the P1 I haven't even bothered measuring it.
Handling is excellent. The turbo car has just the right blend of cross country give in the suspension to ride bumps & ridges but is hard enough to give a quick ride. It's easy to drive quickly and the car inspires great confidence although it's difficult to master and get the most out of it. One of the points to be aware of is that when the car/you get it wrong it's usually at very high speed by the time it lets go!
In short they're wonderful cars!!!
If looking to buy one:
-FSH - essential
-Personally I'd avoid an import. If you do go for one research it first.
-Check clutch bite point - being 4wd this is expensive (£500 for straight clutch, £850 with housing)
-Check gearbox - this is probably the one area where scoobiest are weakest. Check all gears engage freely and don't jump out etc. The gearbox isn't the smoothest though and can be difficult when cold.
-Whining from the gearbox/4wd system isn't anything to worry about "they all do that sir"
-Usual HPI checks etc
Do it, go buy one, you'll be grinning your face off this time tomorrow.
Edited to say: Subaru Have won the JD Power survey or scored highly since its inception - not bad with such a performance car in the range.
>> Edited by smifffy on Wednesday 30th April 16:58
Facts:
Early scoobies (pre 2001 I believe) are serviced every 7500 miles, later scoobies are every 10,000.
They are fairly bullet proof - including the turbos - and very little will come back as nasty surprises at service time.
Tyre wear is surprisingly good - although there's always the caveat of how you drive it.
Fuel economy is the Achilles heel of the scooby - in my old '96 turbo I got about 22 mpg. In the P1 I haven't even bothered measuring it.
Handling is excellent. The turbo car has just the right blend of cross country give in the suspension to ride bumps & ridges but is hard enough to give a quick ride. It's easy to drive quickly and the car inspires great confidence although it's difficult to master and get the most out of it. One of the points to be aware of is that when the car/you get it wrong it's usually at very high speed by the time it lets go!
In short they're wonderful cars!!!
If looking to buy one:
-FSH - essential
-Personally I'd avoid an import. If you do go for one research it first.
-Check clutch bite point - being 4wd this is expensive (£500 for straight clutch, £850 with housing)
-Check gearbox - this is probably the one area where scoobiest are weakest. Check all gears engage freely and don't jump out etc. The gearbox isn't the smoothest though and can be difficult when cold.
-Whining from the gearbox/4wd system isn't anything to worry about "they all do that sir"
-Usual HPI checks etc
Do it, go buy one, you'll be grinning your face off this time tomorrow.
Edited to say: Subaru Have won the JD Power survey or scored highly since its inception - not bad with such a performance car in the range.
>> Edited by smifffy on Wednesday 30th April 16:58
tuffer said: Reasons:
tyres will not last long, servicing is looming etc etc.
Hmm, mine last ages - and i drive like a nutter?
Interior..My first one (97 I think)was crap.....my new one is no better! Squeeks + rattles and looks crap.
Hmm again! My first one was ok (60k miles). It had the odd squeek but was build like an absolute tank. It makes a vectra look like it's made out of chocolate
Quality...So OK it goes very quickly and it sticks well, but in this day and age that is not enough, coming out of a Mk4 Golf this just feels like its 10 years behind the competition.
Agreed that the interior is basic. But if you try an Evo you'll think the scooby is luxorious. Scoobies were originally famers cars anyway, so they were built to last and to function with form being further down the list.
Ok so I knew all these points even before I parted with my cash.....So why do it?
Because all of above are so bloody addictive that I just had to get another!!!
OOOh yes. Come down a country lane with me in the P1 and you'll soon know why
My old '96 turbo averaged 17MPG - my P1 does 24MPG - go figure
smifffy said:
Fuel economy is the Achilles heel of the scooby - in my old '96 turbo I got about 22 mpg. In the P1 I haven't even bothered measuring it.
For those of you who do low mileages - servicing is every 6 months or 7500 miles, whichever comes soonest.
New service intervals are 10,000 miles, my first set of front tyres lasted 3k miles (geometry check sorted out the problem, but they still seem to wearing pretty quick).
If they could fit VW/Audi even Seat/Skoda levels of interior then they would be onto a winner. Mechanicals are fine, they just need to go that extra mile with the finishing touches. Saying it started as a farmers car does not wash, VW started life with the beetle but they have come a long way since then. My WRX was £19k, my Golf was £15k.....The Golf excelled in every area except outright speed and acceleration.
Would not swap back mind you!!!! Unless it was for an R32.
If they could fit VW/Audi even Seat/Skoda levels of interior then they would be onto a winner. Mechanicals are fine, they just need to go that extra mile with the finishing touches. Saying it started as a farmers car does not wash, VW started life with the beetle but they have come a long way since then. My WRX was £19k, my Golf was £15k.....The Golf excelled in every area except outright speed and acceleration.
Would not swap back mind you!!!! Unless it was for an R32.
Mine was a 1996 Sport, yes 7500 miles/6 months.
Incidentally mine had 132,000 on the clock when I sold (and 128k when I bought it) and nothing of any significance wrong with it.
I'd had to replace a wheel bearing (£80 for the part though, about the same for labour, and I believe they wear out fairly often) and the previous owner had done the other 3. Never actually had it serviced while I had it.
Incidentally mine had 132,000 on the clock when I sold (and 128k when I bought it) and nothing of any significance wrong with it.
I'd had to replace a wheel bearing (£80 for the part though, about the same for labour, and I believe they wear out fairly often) and the previous owner had done the other 3. Never actually had it serviced while I had it.
Must admit I don't see what everyone complains about in the plastic interiors - it has all of the dials in a fairly logical place, it all works....
dave_s13 said: Must agree about the interiors, my mate had a 2002 WRX and the plastics used are orrid, all rock hard and nasty feeling, like in a Daewoo Nexia
Nearly all cars have cheap plastic interiors nowadays IMHO (including most Mercs, BMWs etc) - if you want something with a gorgeous interior, buy a TVR & get some leather, walnut & aluminium (brass too if you're lucky)!
It's kinda like people from the south of Watford gap complaining that the weather in Manchester is sh*t. Well yes it is, but then so is the weather in any part of the UK. To get good weather, then you need to go abroad - deal with it!
I agree.. who cares what the interior is like, providing the seats are comfy. After all, Im too busy grinning and singing my head off to worry about my black plastic dash!
Ive only had my car since February and the only daily expense is the petrol... guzzles it like an alcaholic! Of course, the mods start fairly early and have already cost me in excess of £2k
Ive only had my car since February and the only daily expense is the petrol... guzzles it like an alcaholic! Of course, the mods start fairly early and have already cost me in excess of £2k
I own a 96 UK Turbo that has got over One Hundred Thousand miles on the clock,and is still running smoothly with no problems at all(touch wood).The most important thing is a full service history so you know the engines been looked after.I have a full Subaru service history with mine,a book full of old reciepts and M.O.T's and have been told the engine should be as good as a fifty thousand mile car.With regards to servicing i have to question what Markda says on the cost of cambelt servicing,£400-£500 ? I've just had the big service done which aswell as changing fuel filter,spark plugs,engine oil,diff oil,gearbox oil,brake fluid,power steering oil,coolant,plus a hell of alot more,it also includes changing the cam belt.The cost for this at a main Subaru dealarship was £500.As for him saying it costs a grand to change the clutch,well i think a change of garage is required.I had a A.P racing clutch fitted plus the fly wheel was lightened and balanced at the same time,and the cost? well under a grand.The engines on these cars are pretty bomb proof if serviced regularly so you shouldn't have any problems.
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