Can anyone tell me what the average lifespan of a standard 'classic' Impreza clutch should be? I am currently a Honda VTI owner looking to change in the near future and am looking at MY99-MY00 with no more than 40k miles. I have seen one advertised with a new clutch at 33k. Is this normal. Not a problem if it is, I would just like to know when to be ready for it. Also how much to replace. I'm sort of guessing at £400ish? I live in central London so my circumstances might be a bit different to most people but I dont use a car much so it is not too much of an issue, I drove a MY00 5 door to Wales and back in 2000 and was blown away. Now I am out of company cars I have to have one. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Hi mate,

Guess it depends to what abuse it is exposed to.

My previous 97 turbo only had its clutch replaced at 83k miles and that was due to the upgrade in power that I'd gone for. Pretty sure it would have been ok otherwise.

I went for an AP Organic clutch when I replaced it and it was simply fantastic. Cost was 355.00 and was charged £125.00 for fitting.

 

As above - it really depends on the abuse it's had...

IMO, the average lifespan would be about 50 to 60,000

It's feasable that a car that's spent most of it's life on the motorway could exceed 100K on a clutch.

At the other extreme, a few hard launches at Santa Pod could see it off in short order

It's worth factoring in the price of skimming/replacing the flywheel at the same time as changing the clutch.

 

Just bear in mind an "abused" clutch doesn't mean the car has been ragged on loads of standing starts.

Most of the time excessive clutch wear is caused by numpties holding the car on hills using the clutch instead of the handbrake

 

My first Scooby was an X Reg UK Turbo. I had that to 50,000 on the original clutch and it was still tight when I sold it.

My current Scooby is a W Reg UK Turbo with 35,000 miles and and again its still tight.

As with the above advice, it very much depends on the driving style of the previous owners(s) and their types of journeys. Motorways = no clutch use!

Si

 

Thanks, I appreciate the whole type of use scenario, and I expect any of my cars to use up a clutch a bit sooner than most as i live in the city. I was just wondering as I thought the average could be 50-60k. The last clutch I had to change was on a MK1 Golf GTI at 90k and the replacement was still good at 150k when I sold it. (Man I loved that car). I've heard horror stories of EVO's having to replace them at 7-10k but I suppose they're the mega bhp versions.
Anyway, I now know what should be normal.

Cheers
Steve

 

My W reg Turbo has done 52000 and the clutch is fine. I would expect it to last a good while yet, my last car, a Mk2 Golf GTI had done 124000 when I sold it on the original clutch

 

90,000 miles from mine, MY00. Had it changed as soon as the first signs of slip happened. After it was out it still had plenty of life in it. Just a slight mark where it had slipped slightly.

 

One 7k sidestep will obliterate a clutch in one, so it isn't a question of time, it's a question of abuse. Just feel where the bite is - low down is good, anything within an inch of the top means a new clutch is imminent...