I'm after car that is fast, handles good, looks good, is really reliable and not too expensive to run. I thought that an Impreza Sport would be all of these but I'm not sure.

Would I be better off with a Focus 2.0 or something?

 

Ok, lets answer some of your questions...

Q. Are sports fast?
A. well they do have either 115bhp or 123bhp depending on year so they are not too bad, just not mega quick.

Q. cheap to run?
A. errrrm well...... they are not quite as costly to run as a turbo but i dont think that they are that far off servicing wise (2 per year or at 7.5k intervals, whichever is first) plus you have to change the belts every 3 yrs which is quite expensive (400+ quid) so..... can be a touch on the high side but worth it IMHO

Q. do they handle well?
A. Yup

Q. should i buy a ford focus 2ltr?
A. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tony

 

I think the new GX ('01/'02 Sport) is 135Bhp, it has 12K miles or 1 year service intervals, does 27-30 to the gallon urban or more on the motorways ... handling wise, you need to put 17" alloys on to get the best results (ie. same as the WRX).

Hope that helps.

 

I Luuuurve my Sport

I had £7k and could have bought a knackered UK spec turbo or a tidy Jap import with big insurance and servicing

I have been driving F**ds for the last seven years and just had to get a Scooby, so the best of both worlds was a Sport. If you are that way inclined, you can make it look like a turbo (bonnet and wing) but I would hold your head up high and be proud of being a Sport

Ps. to all the snobs in turbos - wave back!

PPs. not all turbos are snobs

[Edited by Rusty Festa - 8/13/2002 7:58:11 PM]

 

Are they quick? well it all relative i suppose, my turbo was doing 250bhp and was simply to slow, the handling was ok(ish) i expected more, and was disappointed by it.

Bump steer helped kill the under steer, but never got round to the 17`s and springs, this is supposed to help as well.

I saved my pennies for 5 years or so to afford it, came from a 1.3 escort, and first week was amazed then thought it was just ok.

Recently sold it to get a westy, now that is fast (but that’s another story)

The scooby is a top class motor, and its strength lies in the fact that it can do everything well, (on the opposite side it does not do anything SUPERB, there is always a car that will handle better or go faster etc) but the scooby it one of the best packages you money can buy.



The Scooby is a victim of its own success (well, it’s a dam fine car) and unfortunately all the boy racers around me seem to be knocking about in older scoobys, racing everywhere, seems (to me) its image has lost the performance jap car, and is now a boy racer saxo type car. BUT image should have little to do with buying a car, unless your into max power where style first performance later

Go for it, just dont expect too much from it in terms of speed.
This is just my opinion, and have never driven a fast scoob (sti) i could be signing a different story.

Good luck

 

If you want cheap to run, I'm afraid a Sport isn't the car

Centainly costs close to the turbo to have serviced properly (and regularly - as above), and economy isn't much better either.

But, with a decent set of tyres (Toyo T1-S on 16's here), there is a phenomonal amount of grip and poise about the car. You can ride corners at speeds Focus drivers can only dream of (and it doesn't suffer from as crashy a ride).

The trouble with any Sport is that it juat doesn't have the grunt of a turbo (or STi ). Mind you, it does have plenty to be getting on with, and certainly few enough to avoid getting into trouble (ditches are a particular turbo magnet ).

I love mine - but am on the hunt for more power

 

great cars, buy one.

do not buy a focus. Can anyone say bland and boring!

 

2.0 focus will be cheaper to run, just as reliable and just as quick as the sport...

Its over to you...

 

dont buy a 2stroke ford .. old oil burners .lol

 

It's personal taste - don't let driving a rep mobile put you off buying the F**d

 

My mate has just bought an X reg Sport. Can't get over how much he likes it, mind you, he did have a Xara before hand. Says when he's bored on the motorway he can always watch the petrol gauge going down for entertainment, though!

 

I love my sport.

Ok i have done a bit of work on the sport over the years.

Jon

 

I Like

Have you put a turbo back box on - did not think that worked

Mines on an X and is currently standard

 

yes i have, alot of work from a mate with a welder to change angle of bracket and another mate who works at a tyre and exhaust centre and 2 pipes from Halfords.

Jon

 

surely the first question is 'what do i need from the car?'

You compare to a Focus, well IMO a small family car isn't going to be fast, handle that well etc. It should be frugal and 'nice' to drive with maybe a slightly sportier model in the range (or a special edition high performance model).

If you want a fast car with decent handling you need a sports car.

The sport IMo doesn't fill any critera for a small family saloon, which appears to be what your looking at.

Something like a 306 GTi 6 maybe more what your looking for.

 

I'm after car that is fast - for me coming from a 1.3l something else ... it certainly is!

handles good - oh it does!

looks good - personal choice ... personally I think so!

is really reliable - so I'm led to believe only having mine for about 3 months now

and not too expensive to run - ahh now then. can't vouch for servicing etc costs yet but have seen my petrol use (and cost) per month triple. Although I must say I drive a lot more now, whereas my previous car stood on the road for days on end you just can't resist taking the Sport out for a drive just for the fun of it.

I thought that an Impreza Sport would be all of these but I'm not sure. - it is ... got one and haven't looked back so far

Would I be better off with a Focus 2.0 or something? - yuk

 

Nice - Very nice...

You still need a holiday though !


Discounts for you if you are an SIDC MEMBERS

 

Is the interior (seats etc.) in a Sport the same as in a turbo?

My mate loves my Scoob (MY98 UK Turbo) and would like to buy one but insurance (costing over €9000 for 3rd Party F&T which is about £5800 GBP) and running costs over here are just too expensive for him

I suggested to him that a Sport (i've never driven one) would probably be easier to insure and he wouldn't have too much work to make it look like a Turbo.

Gavin G

 

If you can get over the badge, thought of a Skoda Octavia 4x4?

Comes *with* a turbo, 150bhp as standard, and with a few mods can be made quite brisk, up to UK impreza turbo levels.

 

If you can get over the badge, thought of a Skoda Octavia RS?

Comes *with* a turbo, 180bhp as standard, and with a few mods can be made quite brisk, up to UK impreza turbo levels.

And its cheaper than the 4x4

 

i test drove an octavia rs before buying the scooby turbo. Nice car and quick on acceration.
nearly bought one, just couldn't find an ex demo or 2nd hand one. I never buy brand new, lose too much money as soon as you pick up the keys.

Kevin

 

Agreed, whatever you go for, try nearly new instead of brand new, you'll a) save money and b) see a far better percentage of your outlay when it comes to selling on time.

 

The sport is a difficult car to justify.

Its not fast but it has all the downsides of Scooby ownership namely VERY expensive to run, creaky 80's interior, iffy build quality etc etc.

I think there are many cars out there that will perform better, have better residual values and be cheaper to run.

The Turbo makes its case simply by have an enormous BHP/£ ratio making it extremely good value.

 

How about a Clio Sport Cup? About 180 BHP/ton and £12k IIRC. No ABS or air con. Or a Mini Cooper S. Both would seriously rival a WRX, the latter probably outhandle one too. Choice between Impreza Sport and a Focus 2.0 - I would choose the Focus. A Ford Puma also handles exceptionally well and are holding their values well and are cheap to run.

[Edited by john banks - 8/14/2002 10:11:03 AM]

 

I have even changed the seats !!!!!!!!!!on me sport,

don't care about the turbo not being fitted as another £600 on insurance.

Jon

 

I may be in Canada at the mo but I say go for the Sport!! Mine's not exactly standard but I love the normally aspirated flat four You won't get the distinctive burble out of a Focus.

PHM

 

had 2 in a row before my turbo...

LOVELY. Buy one. Test drive it back to back with a Zetec2.0 Focus and you won't even think about the Ford.


PS - most turbo drivers used to wave to me. I always at sport drivers, I know from whence I came.

 

Sorry, but getting fed up with all the anti ford bollox going on here.

I have had 2 sccobs, and before that had about 4 focus 2.0. They handle very very well, in fact the chassis is much better than the aging scoob chassis (pre '00), and as you will all find out when you admit that the RS is a great car.

Although you lack the sound, I think you will find that a 2.0 focus will comfortably match any sport, and although the 4wd isnt there, I only had 130bhp focus models, the ST170 is certainly the ticket if you want cheap to run and low costs.

 

Ive got a Sport MY 97 and must say I love it. Not super fast but hey, bring on the twisties. Running 17 inches with Eibachs a match for almost anything. Even Turbo boys have to keep an eye on their mirrors. A big up for the Sport.

 

Go for it.

Me and the other half had the choice of a sport over a turbo for insurance purposes and do not regret it at all.
It may not have the acceleration of a turbo but can stay with them in the twisty bits and handles like a dream.
We will be making the transition to a Turbo next year when our insurance should come down due to our ages.
Get one and be proud of it, and don't worry about being the little brother to the turbo. Where I am the Bristol Posse all have turbo's but have made us feel welcome and they all wave when they see the badge of honour.

Cheers

Pj & Olivia