Im thinking very hard about replacing my 04 Plate Astra GSI Turbo with a Scooby. It's something I have thought about doing for a while now and with the missus wanting to start a family in the next couple of years it's probably my last chance.

So - I have been looking around and have come across a 51 plate JDM WRX STi Impreza with 38k on the clock. It's got most of it's service history in Japan and all the import docs are present and accounted for. Car is in good nick generally - few nics here and there as to be expected for a car of this age, and the tyres are bordering on needing replacing.

Chap has the car up for £8500 and has offered me a resonable, not brilliant but reasonable price for my Astra GSI.

End of the story is that I am extreamley tempted but know very little about the Jap spec models or what to look for on an imported car. Can anyone fill me in with the advantages of the Jap spec and also what I need to check for in an imported car ?? And what's the general opinion of the car - reasonable price ??

Thanks in advance,

 

Sounds excellent ! JDM's are approx 300 bhp I believe and many folk on here prefer them.

 

Seems a good price

 

jap all the way mate...51 plate, so it must be a bugeye!!

 

They are IMO a better car all round

 

Isn't that a bit cheap for a bugeye JDM STI?

 

He probably only replaced them a couple of thousand miles ago !!

 

I would have thought the Astra was worth more than the £8500 or is the balance in your favour ? having said that the JDM is a lot of car/performance for that money (which is quite cheap imo) and will be far more fun.

 

No balance is not in my favour and I was very supprised by the rapid depreciation of the Mk4 GSI Astra. I have checked myself and even in top condition with my milage I could only hope for a top whack of about 7.7-7.8k. Trader has offered me 7.3k for the Astra and has said he will let me have the Scoob for 8.5k - prices I can live with tbh.

Looking forward to a hike in performance and the general growl of a well spec'd Scoobie