Felt like a 10 year old car (it had covered 10k miles). Rattles, squeeks and the engine sounded rough. Power delivery did not feel as punchy as my STI7 - although you could argue that linear delivery is better. Only things that I liked were the looks (gorgeous) and the cornering ability - less roll than my Type UK.

 

Hi Jooles,

I'm not sure you'll get many people complaining about the 22B on here, but there are a couple of things that aren't quite right about it IMHO.

The steering feel, as with all Imprezas is cr4p. I don't care what people say, whether it be a standard Impreza, RB5, STI5, 22B, they all lack feel. Even the quick racked cars lack feel. Sure, the quick rack is an improvement, but it's far from good. A car like the 22B deserves better.

Secondly the brakes are pathetic. They should carry a Subaru equivalent to an AP 4 or 6 pot with suitable disk and pad combo.But then it is effectively a parts bin special, body work aside, so it's going to use normal Subaru parts.

Agree with your comment on the styling. Certainly still the best ever Impreza shape. Also the suspension is just, and I mean just, the right side of too stiff!

 

MattOz,

Knew it was a controversial post. It was really the interior build quality that dissapointed. I know that this isn't exactly a priority with a car of this nature, but if I'm spending 30K on a car, it would be nice for it to feel like it's been put together well. I don't know, maybe I'm missing the whole point.
I'm not so sure about your comment on steering feel though. What are you drawing a comparison with? I have always thought my Type UK to have excellent feedback. Any difference in grip levels on the steered wheels / tyres results in instant communication.

 

My mate drove one recently
He said it was good fun, but a little slow, but went on to say, they are near;y as slow as the UK subarus. I have been warned off those. Things should go well now. I don't want to buy a subaru that most UK tuned cars can beat....like the focus RS. Sorry, but the UK subaru has let us down ernormously.......I am an anti UK subaru person. My pug walks all over them in in standard form. That is VERY wrong

I did a quick comparison between the P1 and the Jap STI TypeR. Have a read, it explains a few things

[Edited by Gedi - 1/12/2003 7:21:03 AM]

 

I've had many 306's including the GTI-6 and while they are good cars they are no where near as fast as my type UK-in fact the gti-6 is a tyre spinning nightmare away from the lights as someone found out yesterday as they tried to beat me round Porte Maillot (nightmarish complex of roundabouts near the Arc de Triumph) compared to an Sti of course the type UK is pretty slow.

 

slow... mmm.... 'Classic' UK Scoob your Pug must really be something then.

 

Pug walks over an Impreza LOL good one...
Lets see, I drove a 306 GTI-6 and it felt pretty slow, raced an S16 on montain road, hell he didn't know which way I went...
The only Pug to shame an Impreza is an AWD, 2.0L Turbo, 300hp, 206WRC...

 

thats why i got an evo.

 

so that you could beat a Pug

 

lmao no because it was better than the 22b i test drove,looks the dogs danglies but didnt perform as it should have done

 

does anyone want to buy my scooby so i can get myself one of those really fast standard pugs which will kick all uk scoobys.
i hear the new 307 hdi is really something.
WHATEVER

either that or buy an old escort ghia and spend a couple of hundred quid on mods and then go out and kick some scooby ***.
WHATEVER, WHATEVER, WHATEVER.
however i have just found the ultimate pug at the right price.






would this beat a uk scooby, or come a close second.

carl..

 

"the lion goes from strength to strength" or "the drive of your life" catchy don't you think

 

Lets get this right, you mention the rattles, squeeks etc, then after someone replies to your post you say that you were more concerned about the interior. I for one was not impressed with the interior, but you are not paying for that and show me a Japanese car that does have an impressive interior, if you want that go and get an Audi or BMW.

And how many 22B's have you driven?

 

Gedi=Troll

 

and the uk 22b's were quick rack steering

 

All 22Bs have quick rack.

link

 

STI VII quicker than a 22B LOL
Have both and my STI must be fooked then!!!!!!

 

Drove an STi7 and a Evo 7 why are these cars so slow compared to their previous versions. Drove a pug a few years bck very impressed and great chassis and engine, gearbox was a bit notchy. Not particulary quick though but it was a 405 1.9TD estate but a good car. Mate had a 306 GTi-6 yep not bad, it wouldnt live with my MY98 UK. He got fed up with it and brought a BMW 330i, and I got my RA .

 

<Whisper mode on>

Chris you forgot to mention your 220 bhp per ton mate.

<Whisper mode off>

 

LOL thats must be it or the sport ratio box

 

Mark,

it was not the design / layout of the interior that I had an issue with - I am well aware of the limitations (both of this car and other Japanese vehicles), it was the indications of poor interior build that were in evidence i.e. rattles and squeeks. I have only driven one 22B so maybe I drove a dog. But would this not suggest lack of consistency in build quality?

 

Granted gti-6 are a nippy car but not in the same league as a scoob (any of em ) handling not bad apart from massive let off oversteer, ill be keeping the scoob rather than buying a slug (i mean pug)

One time PUg driver

 

Jooles, I think everybody knows that the Impreza internally is pretty poor. Before I purchased my 99, I looked at a 97 and got straight back out, stepped into a new one and changed my mind a little (or maybe it was that new smell).

As for the 22b, well I don't really know about the chassis etc and how it impacts it as a car, you've only driven one and given your comments on that basis, like having a Pizza.

 

but did you really 'DRIVE' it

 

All the GC8 bodyshells that I have been in, owned (only 2)

have creeked and rattled and groaned..

Errm they're Subaru's, ie cheap Jap econo boxes with a turbo, not lifeless, but well built Euro cars



[Edited by rsquire - 1/13/2003 11:09:24 AM]

 

Had a ride in a 22b. I was absolutely blown away. Wish I could have driven it!!!
What a car. I am trying to save and one of these is on my wish list. I get the impression you would need to find a nice one. At the end of the day, they are a rally replica so probably most are nigh on trashed already due to abuse. You must have driven a bad one I reckon. Unless I was taken out in a particularly good one.
I have been driven in 2 P1's and one 22b. I didn't feel the P1's felt much quicker than my own car, however the 22b was just incredible performance wise. No squeeks or rattles either.

On the other thread. I owned a 306 gti-6 before my uk scoob, now with PPP. Don't write these little pugs off folks. Yes, they can't live with a scoob off the line, but I still think I could get down a demanding road as quick in one as I could in the scoob!!!!
Anyone out there reckon they can properly drive a scoob to it's limits and know what it will do all the time?????? Try a gti-6 for a few months. You will know what it is doing before it does it. Any loss in power is more than made up by handling... They really are that good!!!!

I could just never go back though. The sheer performance and all round ability of the scoob is awesome. Just don't mix it with someone pretty useful in a 306!!!! Unless you have plenty of straight bits....

 

Seems like you found a bad un! Mine has the most awesome steering (in the dry) and feels like a go-Kart most of the time. Maybe it had ****e tyres for starters?

Tim

 

Oh... didn't know $hite was a rude word on Scoobynet!

Tim

 

Can't say I have been that impressed by the three I have driven (all more or less standard). But I would still buy one. They still look the hounds rounds and if molested correctly they are a great car. Not sure the premium they used to command justified the wider track and other bits and bobs but they are a better price now that they are getting closer to the low 20's.

 

My last car was a gti-6 which was the best handling and quickest car i had had but when i test drove my MY00 UK Turbo there was
absolutly no comparison. The pug was slipy around the twisties
with no real direction the clutch was realy heavy and had a funny double step to it. wheras the scoob goes exactly where you point it
the clutch is nice and firm but not heavy and when you boot it well
its not even in the same ball park. scoob is by far the supirior
IMHO

Stu.