Hey everybody, i'm still kinda new to this forum but i'm hoping you can help me out a wee bit here. I will be looking for a replacement for my current car (a Cavalier Turbo) in a few months time, one of the cars on my short list is a Subaru Impreza.

I need to know which version makes the best first buy, i am looking for reliability, reasonanble insurance (i'm 20!) and a reasonably high level of performance (at least 220bhp) - tough to get all three, i know!! I would rather not spend over 15k, but if a new WRX is recomended i could make the exception.

Ideally i'd like one of the new STi's but this is not financially viable. A Type R would also be nice but again i imagine this would be uninsurable. I take it UK car would be better for insurance purposes, yes?

What car would you guys recomend as an introduction into the Scooby brigade?!!

 

Surely Civic or Integra Type R's should be a little cheaper to insure than an even a bog standard UK Impreza turbo?

 

it think he meant the sti type R, anyhoo its actually impossible for me to get insuance on an integra type R here in ireland, but so far so good on the scoobie... IMHO a uk spec scoob is the place to start, lower running costs, insurance friendly and dealer parts... especailly in Ireland where SUL is feckin rare never mind optimax!!!! if its all out power then an import is the best bet... but remeber the car the shook the UK was a standard UK spec machine...

Cheers

 

Get the fastest one and worry about insurance later.

Nah, a UK car would be the one, cos insurance for a import car is crazy. You also know a good place to pick up some fancy bits for it (Glen B).

So go all the way and purchase a Scooby.
The only way to go if you can afford it.

 

Carlos,

Hello from a fellow Cav-web member (i only pop over there to visit the pub now )

Anyhow I you really want a scooby then at your age unless you want to pay the high insurance premiums then i would go for a UK spec, this are still capable of substantial power outputs. Andy Tangs MY99 was pushing out 357BHP (IIRC) and that was on standard internals.

If you want to drop me a line, grab my e-mail from Cav-Web.

Ian

 

I think that the best in your case would be a MY99. This offers the best pre-facelift package and is undoubtedly faster than than the post-facelift cars. I would advise against getting a modified one (Wheel and back box exhaust mods excepted) since this might make insurance unaffordable.

I would get insurance quotes for a few derivatives before looking any further. You'll certainly manage to get a MY99 for well under £15000. Leaving you up to £3000 for the first year's insurance.

D.

 

Hi Ian, thanx for making me feel welcome mate - love your Scooby btw (saw pics in the gallery), gonna post it in the Cavweb gallery so everyone there can drool over it?!

MY99, so this would be one of the last of the line UK Imprezas then? Before the new-style one came out?

 

Carlos, mine is an MY00 (Literally one of the last of the classic shape!). Which has the full facelift, different headlights etc..

I'll post a few pics on the CavWeb gallery when i get in later, just for you!

Ian

 

In my opinion you'd be better off with the Subaru Impreza Sport. With a few mods here and there you can easliy attain Turbo Style performance. Just by chance a friend of mine called 'Scotty'(alias the Milkman) owns a Sport forecourt. He has a very tidy example on a P-reg(like mine infact!!!. Has a FSH, even aircon and is coloured the best colour of em all-white!!! ANyway think he wants around 16 grand for it. Best to wait till the end of the month when I think he gives his customers 200 quid off each car! Sounds fair to me eh?? And he does part exchange-think he mentioned around 1500 quid for yours. anyway give us a shout when you feel the need to move up to a proper mans car.
proud to be of service Pops

 

Why not go for a legacy? cheaper in insure and the same type of power as the early impreza in standard mode

 

am I the only one thinking 16k for a P reg sport is a *little* steep?

Andy

 

Mate

Have a look in the FOR SALE section there are a couple of RB5 WRSports in there, mines up for £15,500

Get an insurance quote and see what you think.

Mike

 

£16k is expensive for a P reg Sport. I picked up my Y reg Sport for 12k!!!

 

Carlos

YHM

Paul

 

16K for a P reg Sport??? And in wedding car white too??

If he gets 16K for that, i'll sell you another three at that price, and then pick them up elsewhere for about 8K.

Agree that the Sport is a good alternative, but let's be realistic about what they're worth!

I say get an import, but then i would cos insurance when you're an old bu88er like me is not an issue...

 

Carlos

I got my MY99 Turbo wagon from Bell & Colvill (17K miles, AC, elecy windows all round, dealer FSH and 1 lady owner from new) for £16750 last September ! that sport is well over the top.

Insurance was my big worry. I'll be 32 this July, and I've just re-newed with Tesco. £528 full comp with £250 excess.

I asked for loads of advice on this BBS before buying my Scoob. I was trying to work out how much of a budget I needed to run one.

Someone (can't remember their name) in a single sentence said ... "don't think you can run a Scoob on a budget, because you can't".

Have to admit, they were right!

J.

 

Can't believe you lot have (yet again) been taken in by PopeyeP1's banter LOL

 

doh!

 

Fair enough. I had assumed it was a wind-up, but you read so many similar BS threads written in complete sincerity it's hard to tell them apart sometimes. Still i guess it makes some people happy...!

 

Before you rule out imports check out tesco's for the insurance (08453004400) who quoted me less than for a uk car...that said cheap uk turbo (96P 115K miles....its mine and still for sale)