SRSport

Arrr nuts.

Dirk Diggler 75

..........

gazza0175

beauty is in the eye of the beholder, love my bugeye so

running costs are high but its a scoob and i wouldnt change it cos i only do 5k miles a year so its affordable. I do have to agree that build quality doesnt often match the otr price but not many cars do these days

ste_brough

iTrader: (2)

I also thought £30k odd might have been a little on the high side, but then I saw the RRP of the new Citroen DS3 "Racing" ...... £23k!!!!! Makes the Subaru look like a bargain!

pslewis

I think Subaru is a great marque - just they have lost their way lately ..... I've been here for a long time, I am an old fella, I was buying cars 50 years ago - I do know something of Subaru, of life and of what is wrong and right.

ste_brough

iTrader: (2)

Sweet jesus, get your head out of your own behind ....

pslewis

^^ Nice to see that you got my name right, at least ^^

douglasb

You are right in that it is speculation and we'll see what happens in a couple of years, however I'm with Pete on this one.

Up till around 2008, International Motors sold about 8500 Subarus each year in the UK. Since then they have been selling about 3500. Sales for the first quarter of this year are down by 27% on last year against a total market down by just under 9%. (Source - Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders).

How many of these registrations are dealer pre-reg cars rather than "proper" sales? I don't know, but the recent low mileage cars outside Subaru dealers can't all be demonstrators.

I have also heard that International Motors are cutting costs by not stocking anything other than "service" parts and that if anything else goes wrong on a car that is under warranty they will not airfreight the parts to fix the car but will only add it to the next order to be shipped by surface.

These don't sound like the actions of a prospering company. So how long would you keep running such a business if you were in charge of International Motors?

Subaru won't go bust as they are still selling well in other countries such as the USA and Australia, but I think that their presence in the UK is under threat.

Paradoxically, this might not affect older Imprezas for a while yet as there are probably enough specialist suppliers and enough being broken for spares to ensure a supply of parts for some time yet. However, I can see Subaru in the UK having a limited future unless something changes pretty quickly.

mickp

iTrader: (1)

Totally agree with all the above. Subaru is a dying brand here in the U.K. Lots of reasons for this IMHO. Events over recent times and there failure to properly address the engine issues were just commercial suicide.

I am another that has Subaru in my blood but they are like a ship with no rudder and it won't be another new Subaru this time round for me (or a Honda diesel)

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yep, they're dead in the water in the UK. Poor exchanges rates, dark economic times etc. aside the real problem was their move away from all that made the Impreza great in the UK.

They are reaping what they sowed. Good riddance to them!

MaDaSS

In the voice of a Scotsman, " We're all doomed! The end of the world is nigh!" haha. Ffs, c'mon folks, Jeesh. Theyare no more overpriced than any other car in the UK. We get ripped off for any cars. Although I want another car, I could still see me buying another Subaru. Just not a new one this time. Mind you, I have to stop looking on Litchfields website as that second hand GTR is bloody tempting! Lol.

stanmo

iTrader: (1)

Pete, didn't you buy a Turbo 2000 UK model originally ?
I did in Jan '99 for about 20k new.

I don't think the comparable WRX model is that much different now isn't it ?
Shouldn't that be your logical car for comparison ?

I agree the 33k STI is overpriced - Yen FX rate to blame or not, but even 10 years ago JDM STI cars were being imported for 20% or more than the UK turbo.

Perhaps the JDM WRX S-GT would have been a better starting point, with sub 225g emissions, twin scroll turbo, semi-closed deck block, etc.

SRSport

Spot on, this is the only model I am interested as a replacement for my Hawkeye, problem is they are like hens teeth.

pslewis

Yes, I bought my Classic for £22k in 2000 ..... but, alone it seems, Subaru have managed to offer less for more whereas other manufacturers are offering more for less!!

I did look at the WRX-S as it seemed the one which would suit me ... I liked it, but it still had the same Tax bill as a STi - it was also short of equipment AND it just looked like the 'other' Impreza's!! Again, it was low rent quality.

The Honda I bought instead was far better built, far better equiped, far cheaper, cheaper to run, as much fun (probably more fun than a WRX-S), holds it's value better, delivers rapid overtaking ability, returns 55 mpg and looks far better!!! Really, it was a no-brainer ........... I'm very intelligent, I wasn't about to do something stupid.

And, looking at the sales figures, most people aren't stupid enough to feel the urge to pay £33,450 for a 'also-ran' hatchback.

It saddens me, but Subaru in the UK will become an ever smaller player in the market - back to where they were before the Impreza exploded on the scene around 1995.

Did anyone hear know of Subaru before 1992? I certainly didn't!!!! And that's where they will return soon.

Plastikman

Ive loved all the marques of Impreza, not all at first mind you but ive ownerd several of each and would say that I qualify for a valid opinion. I remember taking an older friend out in a Version 2 Sti Ra Vltd I had and he was very inpressed and very quickly bought a wagon, but a sport wagon! I said why the non-turbo, he said he didnt want the 'oldest boy racer in town image!' Prety stupid I thought, just like the otheres who say they are too common etc, firstly my mate shouldnt give a **** about image if he liked my car he should of bought similar and second point theres a reason they are common, theyre good.
To the critical people, I also wonder if people forget what these cars were, the first evo's were horrible horrible shaped and equiped protons! And if you got into one of the first 100 handcrafted STi's you got cheap plastics, sparse safety options, cheap paint, under powered brakes etc etc But what you also got at that time was a rising driving star 'Colin Mcrae' who utilised the other side of the impreza, the handling, the power and the strength.
Lets not forget in the early days, nothing of the same capacity engine could touch one of these, and that remained for a long time, they were light strong and powerfull and therefor they sold.
This remained right upto the new Hatch, ok so the last of the newages were a bit heavier but not much and still very capable and they sold. I have a new Hatch so you wont find pointless bashing here, similar to the bug eye I wasnt a fan at first but after getting past the stigma and actually owning one I loved its difference of apperance, it was less comon I guess and with the right subtle styling mods it looked demon! Still a powerfull limpet handling 2litre. The Hatch I didnt like at first because this was soo much more than just a front end change. Plus it was Focus-esque, but having owned it for six months now I know ive made the right choice. It has issues and still isnt kitted out to the quality of German cars but it goes and it has some comfort and Style. Its still thirsty like the old ones, the interior still lacks quality, the brakes are better though, some engines have had the same teething problems the original engines had often blown out of proportion by scaremongerers.
But for me this model of car still remains pick of the bunch, it ticks all the boxes, I really dont see any other models making anything interesting. That said maybe a ford! This is my achilles because although im mostly diplomatic and balanced in my approach to things, I have a great hate for Fjords! So I cant comment but I know when trying other models of similar money nothing else feels as good as the impreza.
Lewis may be right about Subaru loosing there way, in that they shouldnt of looked at Golfs for inspiration when doing the hatch, they should of improved what they had aready created but they didnt and that also doesnt mean its a bad car.
So to sum up, I still love these cars, all marques and feel all have been worth the money ive ever paid for them.
Happy Christmas everybody

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

Quite depressing reading above but probably correct too
I don't really think the new 2011 modle is too overpriced but 30k is the point to hit ,remember the P1 was 32k in 2000 when I got my turbo

Maybe the day of the performance car in petrol form is going in favour of diesel which I think is the future
My wrxd is great performance ( just need to sort out the handeling ) and 48mpg I think that is the direction Subaru should take ,diesel performance and a price point of 20k to survive

In the meantime I will keep the classic ,use the wrxd every day and save my pennies for one of the last of the new shapes and I guess better stock up on some spare parts .

pslewis

Interesting notes on the WRXd ... a comparison was done here:-

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...c_22_cdti.html

Mark'sWRX

It doesn't change the fact that the CTDi engine in the Civic is bl00dy awful by today's standards. Go and drive their newer engine (DTEC) in the Accord and now the CRV to see how smooth a modern diesel should be.

The Civic VTEC petrol engines are so much nicer to drive and not far off the diesel economy in the real world when you take into account petrol being cheaper than diesel.

The Subaru boxer engine may be 20 years old, but it is still up there with the best petrol engines today.

Littleted

Wait for Stage 2 its coming they just aint released it yet, maybe still not warrent the 33k i paid for my 300bhp, but i think if they hit the 340 350 mark and keep the price the same, the car will become alot more viable for some.

Also if they make the fuel a little better like the cosworth even better

Dont forget Evo is dead that must count for something eventually.

I love mine thats what counts to me

pslewis

Planet Earth Calling Mark'sWRX, come in Mark ... earth calling

Littleted

also the new corsa nurbergring model 23k

for a corsa :/

ste_brough

iTrader: (2)

My point exactly!

Mark'sWRX

What now?

I've done more miles in Civics (both petrol and diesel) than you have, so I think I'm pretty well qualified to comment.

Have you considered trading up to a new Jazz Hybrid? That would be right up your street....

pslewis

Calm Down, Dear .........

rapidly

I've owned pretty much each of the turbo/wrx shapes over the years (since 1997) and even went over to the dark side by buying a legacy version before the current one some years ago (it was actually quite a good car). I now have a wrx hatch - it's actually the best handling, even better than the 'classic' turbo 2000 from the nineties. people seem to forget that the classic's had really bad understeer out the showroom and needed the bump steer mods to make them behave. The bugeye had the strange droning at 120mph+ and wierd config, e.g. wagon had sports seats, saloon didn't!.

I did go into the showroom a couple of weeks ago with the intent of buying a Sti but was pretty shocked at the price. I don't borrow when buying cars so only had enough for the price of an Sti 2 years ago, i.e. 27k.

I'm probably going to run the current WRX for a bit longer and see if they decide to bring out a hotter diesel than the current one (not that you could buy one even if you wanted - there are none left apparently)

Littleted

Save up rapid and wait for this stage 2 sti that's coming I know its an easier punt to swollen if your getting a Subaru warranty and 340 350 bhp and it's 33k

I think it's due in a few months on what Subaru call the marketing campaign

alfamarc

Legacy turbo 1992 = £18k
Impreza turbo 1999 = £20k
Wrx sti 2010 =£32k

Bearing in mind added safety stuff and inflation I'd say the cost comparison isn't that far out? Ok yen is causing a bit ott but still not far off?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Actually you know you're not far wrong. Taking 20K in 2000 and using the inflation figures from each year you get to about 28K, but the 20K in 2000 was for a Turbo 2000 not an STI. Factor in that and the safety extras and the Yen rate and it is about right.

The true comparison though is to look what else 20K bought you in 2000 and what else 33K buys you today. Haven't time for that right now though

Littleted

suppose look at the focus RS and Golf R also 1 is sub 30k just and other is over 30k

30k for a golf is very hard to swallow

Also ive just priced up an Audi RS3 if u add the nice seats phone prep Bose cruise, it was nearly 50k GULP!!!!!

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

I was looking at the STi in Stan palmers when the wrxd was getting serviced on Thursday and at £33500 seems a lot but when I got my green wagon in 2000 it was £22750 11 years ago and the P1 was 32k the WR1 was 30k and the RB320 was 32k 3 years ago so it isn't that bad when you look at it compared to the older modles

Has anyone actually seen a Cosworth yet or know someone who has one as it's nearly a year that the cosworth was anounced and unfortunely we didn't get one in time for last years NBO 8