Can anyone tell me how the Impreza performs as a tow vehicle?

I'm thinking about getting a tow bar fitted and towing a vehicle trailer w/ relatively lightweight 4x4 single seat racer (can't remember the exact weight).

For the record, vehicle is a MY98 5-door turbo. Any input gratefully received.

Cheers
Andrew

 

Andrew
I have towed a caravan for two years now with my own Impreza turbo. Having towed for many years I can honestly say the Impreza is the best tow car I have had. My caravan weighs about 17 cwt.

May be sad to tow a caravan but at least I dont hold anyone up.

Hope this helps.

Chip.

 

Tows a folding camper excellent - I beat a BMW 320i from the lights towing!!!! should have seen his face!!! I think the camper was off the ground!!

By the way - a problem I have is if the nose weight is high the wheels scrape the wheel arch NOT good!! has anyone else had this problem?? weak springs?? MY00 - wagon - DBM

Pete

 

I tow a friend Caterham amonst other things (including JohnF's Westie and Simon de Bankes' Sierra) weight of the car is 500kg trailer is about 250ks. Tows fine at that weight, Johns car is a bit heavier and we were using a heavier trailer on the trip to the Ring, so I'd guess the all up weight was about a ton. No problems at all, no snaking, very stable, as proved by the er.... interesting tactics of the person we were following who "knew the way".

Towing the Sierra its gets more tricky, effectively limited to 50mph as snaking gets quite bad, guess towing 1500 kg is too much

Re the nose weight, remember that the specified max nose weight in the owners manual assumes an empty boot, fill it up and you have to lower the nose weight, best bet is light bulky stuff in the boot and heavy stuff on the back seat, or in the trailer.

Performance with the Sti is 0-60 in about 9secs towing the Caterham and race kit for the weekend Top speed is classified

 

I tow a Caterham with my MY00 and its very very easy. Joining motorways or duel carriage ways you can safely accelerate to everyone elses speed with ease. No problem with steering, snaking, steady as a rock up to illegal limits, often overtake slower vehicles without trouble.

I can recommend Brian James if you haven't a trailer.

MY00 (with Link and exhaust/induction)
Cat 7 450kgs + jack/slicks/wheels

 

Go on then Davvers you hit the Ton yet then?

 

Andrew,
No problems with a Brian James Minno and MG Midget - 1050KG all up. Stable at Motorway speeds 70-75 & fine on A roads. This is with an STi3 5DR.

psLewis
I run with a fair bit of nose weight so the rear is low, but never bottomed out or scrubbed the arches.

Cheers, Simon.