Hi, I'm a newbie to the site and I've tried searching for some buying advice on this site but haven't been able to turn up anything so I thought I'd try a post here. Mods please move to the relevant section if this is in the wrong place.
Basically I'm looking to change my Jaguar X type 2.5 V6 sport for a Scooby but would like to hear an opinion from current owners before I take the plunge.
What are the facts & figures for the various models WRX or STi (I will be buying a UK car, NOT Jap import) what is the timing belt interval and are there any known problem areas to look for (full service history will be top of my list)

The only one "must have" on the car is air con. I will be going for something around 2003/2004 so it will be the larger headlight shape rather than the bug eyed one but is aircon standard on cars of this age? and leather would be nice but I notice its very rare but then again I wonder if leather would be a bit slidy on such a performance car?
I didn't realise there were actually so many models available, I thought it was just standard turbo or WRX but when I've been looking I've found WRX type UK, WRX STI etc etc.
The car will be an everyday car so it can't be too hardcore spec so would a WRX be a better choice than the STi which I believe is a bit more powerful?
Final question, I'm based in West Lothian in Scotland. Does anyone know of any Subaru specialists in Central Scotland?

Thanks for any help.

Dean

 

From what you have outlined above I think either a WRX with the PPP or a GB270 would be your best bet depending upon how much cash you have to spend. In both cars you would get power somewhere near an STi but without the more hardcore suspension of the STi, although with the WRX or GB270 you get smaller brakes and the 5 speed gearbox opposed to the 6 speed in an STi.

I have recently purchased a 2007/07 STi 3 weeks ago and can say that I wouldn't want to make any 300 mile journeys in it as its not a comfort car like your Jag is but if you buy an STi, you don't buy it for its comfort although to be fair the seats are excellent and the driving position is spot on. Basically what I am saying is that its not the car to buy if you pound out the miles like its going out of fashion.

I hope this helps you out and I am sure someone will come along shortly with much more info for you.

G

 

Thanks for the response Greg. My budget is somewhere around £12-£13k which from having a quick look in Autotrader is turning up 03/04 WRX's. The car will do about 100 miles a week of varied driving, the longest journey it will do is about a 90 mile round trip and I have a Mondeo for longer journeys.

 

To be brutally honest an impreza is never really going to be a comfortable car, be it a WRX or sti. In my opinion the whole point of the impreza is to have a very quick 4 door saloon/wagon which you can treat as a sports car when you want a bit of fun and a family workhorse when you have people/kit to lug about.

Having been an impreza owner for 3 years now my best advice would be get an sti. The comfort difference will be relatively small compared to a WRX and it is a much better car (ie more powerful stock engine, bigger brakes, much better 6 speed gearbox as oposed to 5 speed in WRX). The sti will cost you more but is a far better car in my opinion. Plus if you ever want to start modding the car you already have brakes/gearbox that will take far more power than the standard engine produces.

I bought a WRX because I bought in without a decent knowledge of impreza's, wish I had bought a sti ever since. My next car will be an impreza, either sti6 wagon or sti blob (2003-2005 i think) from japan.

 

If you had your heart set on a WRX then a new one can be had for well under £15000 from here:New SUBARU Car, Buy IMPREZA SALOON 2.5 WRX 4dr from £14,244.00

it says import but its a european import (ie full uk spec and full warranty)
Far better value than an overpriced 3-4 year old motor in my opinion.