Discussion
I've owned the Impreza for a few months now and it's been virtually flawless. The only problems are a judder on the clutch when cold (I'm assured they all do that) and rattle/squeak when you lift off the throttle. I'm told it's a heat shield but it doesn't really bother me so I haven't looked for it. The car is very, very fast. The brakes are amazing. 4wd grip is everything I hoped it would be. The noise is wonderful. The a/c works perfectly. The stereo isn't perfect but it's better than many I've owned. Fuel economy is far better than I expected.
But I'm a bit bored of it.
The problem started with the trip to the Nurburg Ring. On the track it showed me exactly what it's capable of - and it was simply magnificent. On the road it can't do that. It can't even get close. Anyone who drives an Impreza to 50% of its' capabilities round here deserves everything that's coming to them; which is probably a hedge, a bus or some policemen. I've given up on trying to find a local (i.e. within 40 miles) road where I can enjoy it as they simply don't exist. Instead I've ended up trundling around the place, mostly to the girlfriends' house and back, enjoying the noise. I was happy like this, but one day I made a mistake.
I've kept my old MR2 for two reasons. Firstly I enjoy tinkering with it and secondly no bugger will buy it. One day I showed it to the aforementioned girlfriend. She really likes the Scooby for the speed and the noise, but she was shocked when she saw the MR2. At the time she knew next to nothing about cars, but she took an instant shine to the thing. As a surprise for her I re-insured it and fitted enough new bits to make it move, intending to give her a run around a local car park in it.
Of course, I had to drive it first.
Inside the cab it's noisy, particularly the induction and dump valve, both of which are far louder than the Impreza, even though from the outside the MR2 is much quieter than the Scooby. The ride is far more harsh, the steering is heavier and you feel very low down. It has that 'go kart' thing down to a T. I was only driving through traffic on the A406, but it quickly raised a broad smile.
As the traffic thinned out and gaps opened up I began ducking in and out of lanes, simply to hear the noises it was making. The first time I opened it up I was struck by just how fast it felt. I tried the same thing later in the Impreza - which was effortlessly quicker - but you had to check the speedo to tell. Hmm.
Back in the MR2 I arrived at a rat-run, quickly wound on some lock and gave it a measured boot of throttle. I do this regularly in the Impreza and it simply changes direction. In the MR2 the inside rear wheel picked up and skipped over the surface and only the LSD saved the day, helping me catch the back end as it tried to overtake the front. After all the time in the Impreza this was shocking - and surprisingly good fun. Rush hour London is no place to play, but you get the idea.
The same was true on a family visit to Lincolnshire at the weekend. The hedge rows obscure your vision badly even in winter. In the Impreza you know the brakes are excellent, but at the speed you'd be pressing them there's no such thing as a small accident. Instead you travel at a comfortable speed and the car dozes around you. In the MR2 you travel at the same sort of speed but the car whistles, rasps, rattles and slips slightly under power. Occasionally, if you get it wrong, it slides - and that's terrifying. Overall it's far more involving and exciting.
Ultimately the Impreza has found itself staying at home more and more. It doesn't come when I want to go for an enjoyable drive because the MR2 is more interesting at sane speeds. It doesn't come when I visit the girlfriend because she prefers 'the red one'. It doesn't come shopping because I don't want to risk it in a supermarket car park. It doesn't come to the driving range because my clubs are in the MR2 and I can't think of any good reason to move them. The MR2 is a laugh and a challenge at real world speeds where the Impreza is simply 'effective'.
Will I regret selling it? It's a unique vehicle, extraodinarily good and it did nothing to deserve the reputation it has. It's in good condition, pretty much everything is new or rebuilt. That said, £800 is a lot of insurance to pay for a car that simply isn't getting used any more..
Can someone please tell me if I'm about to make a huge mistake?
But I'm a bit bored of it.
The problem started with the trip to the Nurburg Ring. On the track it showed me exactly what it's capable of - and it was simply magnificent. On the road it can't do that. It can't even get close. Anyone who drives an Impreza to 50% of its' capabilities round here deserves everything that's coming to them; which is probably a hedge, a bus or some policemen. I've given up on trying to find a local (i.e. within 40 miles) road where I can enjoy it as they simply don't exist. Instead I've ended up trundling around the place, mostly to the girlfriends' house and back, enjoying the noise. I was happy like this, but one day I made a mistake.
I've kept my old MR2 for two reasons. Firstly I enjoy tinkering with it and secondly no bugger will buy it. One day I showed it to the aforementioned girlfriend. She really likes the Scooby for the speed and the noise, but she was shocked when she saw the MR2. At the time she knew next to nothing about cars, but she took an instant shine to the thing. As a surprise for her I re-insured it and fitted enough new bits to make it move, intending to give her a run around a local car park in it.
Of course, I had to drive it first.
Inside the cab it's noisy, particularly the induction and dump valve, both of which are far louder than the Impreza, even though from the outside the MR2 is much quieter than the Scooby. The ride is far more harsh, the steering is heavier and you feel very low down. It has that 'go kart' thing down to a T. I was only driving through traffic on the A406, but it quickly raised a broad smile.
As the traffic thinned out and gaps opened up I began ducking in and out of lanes, simply to hear the noises it was making. The first time I opened it up I was struck by just how fast it felt. I tried the same thing later in the Impreza - which was effortlessly quicker - but you had to check the speedo to tell. Hmm.
Back in the MR2 I arrived at a rat-run, quickly wound on some lock and gave it a measured boot of throttle. I do this regularly in the Impreza and it simply changes direction. In the MR2 the inside rear wheel picked up and skipped over the surface and only the LSD saved the day, helping me catch the back end as it tried to overtake the front. After all the time in the Impreza this was shocking - and surprisingly good fun. Rush hour London is no place to play, but you get the idea.
The same was true on a family visit to Lincolnshire at the weekend. The hedge rows obscure your vision badly even in winter. In the Impreza you know the brakes are excellent, but at the speed you'd be pressing them there's no such thing as a small accident. Instead you travel at a comfortable speed and the car dozes around you. In the MR2 you travel at the same sort of speed but the car whistles, rasps, rattles and slips slightly under power. Occasionally, if you get it wrong, it slides - and that's terrifying. Overall it's far more involving and exciting.
Ultimately the Impreza has found itself staying at home more and more. It doesn't come when I want to go for an enjoyable drive because the MR2 is more interesting at sane speeds. It doesn't come when I visit the girlfriend because she prefers 'the red one'. It doesn't come shopping because I don't want to risk it in a supermarket car park. It doesn't come to the driving range because my clubs are in the MR2 and I can't think of any good reason to move them. The MR2 is a laugh and a challenge at real world speeds where the Impreza is simply 'effective'.
Will I regret selling it? It's a unique vehicle, extraodinarily good and it did nothing to deserve the reputation it has. It's in good condition, pretty much everything is new or rebuilt. That said, £800 is a lot of insurance to pay for a car that simply isn't getting used any more..
Can someone please tell me if I'm about to make a huge mistake?
If it doesn't do it for you then it doesn't do it for you. There's no point keeping it if you getting little use or enjoyment from it. If the MR2 is the car that truly calls to you, why not flog the Impreza and get a really nice Mr2? Or spend a bit of the proceeds improving the MR2?
There's no point keeping a car out of a sense of duty to a supposed "icon". There are a million Imprezas out there, they're not that special, and you don't owe a lump of metal anything no matter how many rallies it's second uncle twice removed won....
There's no point keeping a car out of a sense of duty to a supposed "icon". There are a million Imprezas out there, they're not that special, and you don't owe a lump of metal anything no matter how many rallies it's second uncle twice removed won....
I've found pretty much the same thing with my Celica GT4, it's a fantastic everyday car, it grips and goes fantastically well. But, I've got a MK1 MR2 in the garage and I don't drive to work everyday anymore, so the GT4 isn't getting used enough to justify it. It also just doesn't have the feedback that the MR2 does, the GT4 can go everywhere very quickly - I've never once even squeeked the tyres never mind got it to wheel spin, but the MR2 today in the rain I managed to pull out of junction sideways 
Lots of fun! I don't really use the GT4 much anymore, but don't want to get rid of it, but then if I did I could spend a bit of money on the MR2 and make it handle (and stop!) like it should. I just don't know..
Err anyway that was a bit longer than I intended! In conclusion keep the MR2, they're fun
Lots of fun! I don't really use the GT4 much anymore, but don't want to get rid of it, but then if I did I could spend a bit of money on the MR2 and make it handle (and stop!) like it should. I just don't know..Err anyway that was a bit longer than I intended! In conclusion keep the MR2, they're fun
MrFlibbles said:
I believed you up until you said you had a girlfriend 
GIT!!!MrFlibbles said:
More seriously, dont keep the MRT. IT WILL BREAK DOWN AGAIN AND DESTROY YOUR VERY SOUL.
IMO you have 2 options:
a) Keep the Impreza, do more trackdays.
b) Buy something else RWD - perhaps another more reliable MRT or a 200sx?
Or option 3 - which is the plan if I do sell the scooby. Keep (valueless) MR2 as an abusable track slag and buy a sensible car (CTR?) for me and girlfriend to use when we acutally need to reach our intended destination. IMO you have 2 options:
a) Keep the Impreza, do more trackdays.
b) Buy something else RWD - perhaps another more reliable MRT or a 200sx?
Well, I say 'if I sell' I've actually got my heart set on it. I bought the scooby because it's a legend. I've already done the 205 and tried the GT4. Not sure what to get when the MRT finally pops its' clogs. Perhaps a supra. Definitely a 200sx at some point, though I already had a 'YES - I was trying to kill you' moment with the MR2 this week...
Cheers for the input guys. I thought I was going to get slated over this one.
IF the Impreza doesn't do it for you any more (I've had mine nearly 3 years and i still love it) you should try an RX7/8, or like has been suggested try another more up to date MR2. Personally i would do some work on the Impreza to make it that little bit more exciting and involving. Pop a quickrack on it, uprated dampers/springs, add some extra horses by gently fettling the engine and give it some fresh life.
Only thing is...you're hammering it down some country road one day in the MR2 and you think you're going like the clappers, and a scooby overtakes you. If you want excitement, get a V8 micra and chop the roof off...job done!!
As for you weirdneville, i have no idea what you drive but to say a scooby isn't special just because there are a few out there is nonsense really. There are plenty of owners of supercars/sportscars, of which there are plenty of others on the roads, that will say their cars are special because of ABC and D, more power to their elbow i say. Not only does the Scooby do what it says on the tin, but imho it has a great character all of it's own, unlike any other car i have driven or know of and will rarely break down!!
Only thing is...you're hammering it down some country road one day in the MR2 and you think you're going like the clappers, and a scooby overtakes you. If you want excitement, get a V8 micra and chop the roof off...job done!!
As for you weirdneville, i have no idea what you drive but to say a scooby isn't special just because there are a few out there is nonsense really. There are plenty of owners of supercars/sportscars, of which there are plenty of others on the roads, that will say their cars are special because of ABC and D, more power to their elbow i say. Not only does the Scooby do what it says on the tin, but imho it has a great character all of it's own, unlike any other car i have driven or know of and will rarely break down!!
After reading your essay I totally feel the same! Everything you say about your scooby I feel with my GT4. It's awesome but at the same time a bit boring. Personally, if I was in your shoes I would keep the MR2 for the fun element, and either keep the scooby, or get something more sensible/economical for the everyday commute.
I've picked afew things out....
if you want a more visceral experience. Exhaust, de-cat, dump valves, induction kits etc etc. If the noise of the MR2 turns you on then stick to that!
I get the impression you want a more raw experience from your car, but I'd temper this against everyday use and this is where the scoob delivers its killer punch. When you want to streak around with your hair on fire, it will. When you want to potter around after a crap long day, it will.
The compromise would be something like a type RA scoob which has much lower gearing so sprints around like a maniac and involves you much more at lower speed?
However I suspect your decision is already made and the scoob is history.
I think the MR2 and a track slag would be a great idea. The conclusion I've come to with cars is to follow your heart. Forget about the head, it has no business deciding what your pride and joy should be
_Al_ said:
...and rattle/squeak when you lift off the throttle. The noise is wonderful.... The a/c works perfectly. The stereo isn't perfect....mostly to the girlfriends' house and back, enjoying the noise.... She really likes the Scooby for the speed and the noise... Inside the cab it's noisy, particularly the induction and dump valve, both of which are far louder than the Impreza, even though from the outside the MR2 is much quieter than the Scooby.... I began ducking in and out of lanes, simply to hear the noises it was making.
You make soooo many references to noise that I think this is a crucial element in your decision. You can make a scoob sound as noisy as you want if you want a more visceral experience. Exhaust, de-cat, dump valves, induction kits etc etc. If the noise of the MR2 turns you on then stick to that!_Al_ said:
Back in the MR2 I arrived at a rat-run, quickly wound on some lock and gave it a measured boot of throttle. I do this regularly in the Impreza and it simply changes direction.
The scooby will simply change direction unless you set it up not to. Scoobies are set up to understeer heroically out of the box to stop people throwing them into hedges. You can make them drift, oversteer whatever by changing the suspension set up which is not expensive at all. Look at the rear anti roll bar for starters. I did this on the P1 and it remained predictable on the road but far more fun on the track. However it's a 4wd car and so if you want drifty oversteer action at little or no speed then this isn't the right car. Of course you can always upgrade the driver too - A day with Don Palmer and your scoob for instance may show you how to get what you want without changing the machinery. I get the impression you want a more raw experience from your car, but I'd temper this against everyday use and this is where the scoob delivers its killer punch. When you want to streak around with your hair on fire, it will. When you want to potter around after a crap long day, it will.
The compromise would be something like a type RA scoob which has much lower gearing so sprints around like a maniac and involves you much more at lower speed?
However I suspect your decision is already made and the scoob is history.
I think the MR2 and a track slag would be a great idea. The conclusion I've come to with cars is to follow your heart. Forget about the head, it has no business deciding what your pride and joy should be 
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