WRX Hatchback as Daily Driver?
Discussion
We have a 2008 Impreza 1.5R as a runabout. Doing maybe 8000 miles p.a. including plenty of mud and snow up in the Dales.
Although it is a good value car and grips well on all weather tyres, it is slooooow. We knew it would not be fast, or even 'not very fast,' but it is plain slow. I guess it just take too much grunt to overcome the drive train inertia. Once going, it is OK. Just.
So we are thinking of a WRX hatchback, not an STI mind. Seen some for £12k to £15k at dealers.
Are there any threads or experiences of running these regularly. I'd be interested to learn of real life running costs and MPG.
Although it is a good value car and grips well on all weather tyres, it is slooooow. We knew it would not be fast, or even 'not very fast,' but it is plain slow. I guess it just take too much grunt to overcome the drive train inertia. Once going, it is OK. Just.
So we are thinking of a WRX hatchback, not an STI mind. Seen some for £12k to £15k at dealers.
Are there any threads or experiences of running these regularly. I'd be interested to learn of real life running costs and MPG.
Thanks for the advice.
We'll test drive both the WRX and the STI. I guess your comments go towards explaining the premium the STI holds over the WRX.
We certainly need solid suspension as the roads up here are either good or bad with not too much in between.
I know that the Impreza hatch gets bad reviews, but affordable and quick 4x4 cars that really handle bad conditions are few and far between.
I've had an Outback 3.0Rn for years, and frankly it is the best car I've ever owned. Quick and stable. Made it up to the famous Tan Hill Inn in the snow and there was only a tractor and a Landie up there! Never put a foot wrong.
Not looking for quite the same from the Impreza but coping with an inch of snow would be good.
We'll test drive both the WRX and the STI. I guess your comments go towards explaining the premium the STI holds over the WRX.
We certainly need solid suspension as the roads up here are either good or bad with not too much in between.
I know that the Impreza hatch gets bad reviews, but affordable and quick 4x4 cars that really handle bad conditions are few and far between.
I've had an Outback 3.0Rn for years, and frankly it is the best car I've ever owned. Quick and stable. Made it up to the famous Tan Hill Inn in the snow and there was only a tractor and a Landie up there! Never put a foot wrong.
Not looking for quite the same from the Impreza but coping with an inch of snow would be good.
Rufus said:
I would like to throw in a contrary opinion on the WRX. If you aren't after a really really fast car, but want your daily to be a nice quick car, then the WRX is a good in-between I think. I picked up a '57 WRX for £11k with just 20k on the clock, was in perfect condition and I was just driving past the dealership, saw it, liked it, bought it. It isn't my 'daily' as I don't really have a daily but on weekends in Norfolk it's always the first thing I jump into when I just need to pop out and do something. It's very comfortable and the roads around here are becoming beyond a joke, I honestly think that sometimes I would be on smoother roads in down-town Baghdad! It's perfectly quick and when you just happen to hit your favourite road and the coast is clear, is excellent for squirting down at a considerable lick! I would say on a challenging B-road near hear, with some off camber and some gradient changes (yes even in Norfolk!) it is as quick and as planted as anything else in my stable, which includes some pretty rapid stuff!
Couple of negatives, runs out of puff at the top end a bit, but only when compared to seriously faster machinery, and the interior is god awful, but then, that is true of most Subarus!
Just food for thought
(Oh and I like the slightly more subtle styling of it too)
You guys are giving us plenty to consider. Thanks for the input. Couple of negatives, runs out of puff at the top end a bit, but only when compared to seriously faster machinery, and the interior is god awful, but then, that is true of most Subarus!
Just food for thought
(Oh and I like the slightly more subtle styling of it too)
£11k for a 20,000 miler sounds like good value, even without SI Drive.
A quick update here in recognition of the sound advice I received.
I have bought a 2009 WRX with 20k on the clock. £9500 thru a dealer. Drove really well on test. Delivery is in a few days. I know it is not an STI but we were looking for something grippy, pretty fast and practical.
More to follow.
I have bought a 2009 WRX with 20k on the clock. £9500 thru a dealer. Drove really well on test. Delivery is in a few days. I know it is not an STI but we were looking for something grippy, pretty fast and practical.
More to follow.
Picked up the WRX today.
So far, so good. Averaged 31mpg on the Motorways. Then headed into the Dales for a proper thrape.
That turbo really spins in nicely and it feels like there is plenty of power on tap. Handling is excellent too. Glides over the bumps and potholes.
SWMBO then took the keys and announced that a trip to the supermarket was in order. She headed off alone. The supermarket is a mile away.
Upon her return, an hour and a half later, she mentioned that she had "only" taken the WRX up to a number, er.. rather more than 70!
I can now take it that she is content. As it were.
So far, so good. Averaged 31mpg on the Motorways. Then headed into the Dales for a proper thrape.
That turbo really spins in nicely and it feels like there is plenty of power on tap. Handling is excellent too. Glides over the bumps and potholes.
SWMBO then took the keys and announced that a trip to the supermarket was in order. She headed off alone. The supermarket is a mile away.
Upon her return, an hour and a half later, she mentioned that she had "only" taken the WRX up to a number, er.. rather more than 70!
I can now take it that she is content. As it were.
JFReturns said:
Awesome. I've got a huge hankering for a WRX hatch, the looks have really grown on me. Get some pics up man!
Here is my before and after: The 1.5R pulling a U and becoming a WRX. (The scarecrow is a Northern custom. Yesterday the Olympic flame passed by him hence the torch.)
The pic doesn't do justice to the car which looks quite mean from the front. We like it because it is understated and SWMBO can tear about without attracting too much attention.
I'll upload a better photo if it every stops raining. Very happy to have 4 new Yokohamas on. No Chinese ditch-huggers up here in the Dales.
I saw this WRX-S hatch in the classifieds today. 28,000 miles for less than £11k including full leather seats. Worth a look for anyone in the market.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3995166.htm
Edited by NailedOn on Friday 22 June 17:36
CaptainSlow said:
Just looking at the insurance on these, pretty much the same as my Forester not in the sky high prices of the older WRXs.
Maybe they a just a little less hardcore, with an associated lower claims history! I have mine on a family “fleet” policy and it is the fastest car I’ve managed to insure my 27 year old son on.
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