martyrobertsdj

iTrader: (1)

Have been thinking of getting a MY03/04 Sti, but am weighing up the insurance/running costs, etc, etc.

Costs me 800 quid to insure my 1998 Impreza turbo wagon worth about 4500, so god knows what it's going to be for an Sti.

Looked at other motors and have a "short list"

Leon Cupra R 225 with only 2500 miles on
Golf R32....with about 25K a bit more cash, but the quality is tempting
Audi A3 3.2 Quattro....as with the golf....higher miles and maybe a bit boring.

Anyone got any of these motors and can offer a bit of advice?

Cheers.

sulli

Well the LCR has the cheapest running costs of the 3 i'd have thought. Easy to average 30+mpg on long runs, 25+ urban/traffic.
It's all been said about LCRs on here - I am pleased with mine.

scooby_matt

R32 out of the list you've put up.
As you said, quality is good and they are nice to drive, although I didn't find it to be as quick as I was expecting

crazyman1979

How old are you and how many NCD do you have, that 800 seems a bit high depending on your age.
I was shocked at getting insured on a TSL333 03 Sti for only £750, it wasnt much difference to classic turbo worth 4k...

RR

The R32 is a great car but cost a lot to buy and run especially when you consider how slow it is out of the box. They have serious tuning potential though. And i like the way they look inside and they have good build quality. I would not bother with the Audi.

What can i say about the Seat LCR which has not already been said already on Scoobynet. 350-360bhp is there to be had on stnd internals. Prob will give the best fuel economy out of the bunch and is a nice size for a family i guess. Simple remap £400-£500 will take you from the 225bp to the 265bhp region. If money was not in the equation and i had £3000-5000 for tuning i would go R32. But if its going to be a sensible car with respectable fuel economy and a remap is enough then i would go the LCR everytime.

Cupramax

Mate, just get the LCR, the other two may be slightly more luxurious but they both weight as much as a semi detached house and hence are about as much fun to drive as a bus. I still regret getting rid of my LCR even after nearly 18 months. Best fun mota I've ever had by far.

martyrobertsdj

iTrader: (1)

It's looking like a LCR (new moniker for me) so far.

I'm 39 years old, but don't have any NCB as I've had my insurance on a bike. I've been a named driver on my wifes policy for the Scoob for the last three years and MoreThan have given the best quote of 880 or so with a years NCB thrown in due to it being "no fault of my own" that I have none.

I think the LCR is a good few groups lower than an Sti, so it's looking quite likely as a next motor.
Seen a 2006 with 2500 miles at approx 15K of your best pounds. Tempted.....it's basically a new car.

john banks

£15k would also buy you a new Euro import WRX. If taking a B-road apart is important to you, be very careful about your decision. If it isn't, save your running costs and buy a VAG car.

drsuess

Had a 225 cupra r revod to 289 ish bhp loved it to bits but it just missed that little something i thought

plus when you where giving it some beans through the gears it would torque steer all over the place

martyrobertsdj

iTrader: (1)

John,

As soon as you mention "import" of any nature, the insurers rub their greedy little hands together!!

I've actually seen a couple of MY05 Sti's that are basically new cars, but the dealer is asking about 23K for them!! Too much in my opinion when you look at what's available from Litchfields, etc, etc.

The Subaru finance affair is tempting too.....has a "balloon" type payment at the end, but it's tempting to have a MY05 Sti on the drive for the same monthly payment as I'm paying now!! (big deposit of course, but I've got the cash for that).....worry about the 6K in 43 months later on! Not really a problem as the taxman very often gives me lots back each year!

I like the R32 Golf and it does look superb in blue, but I've never really been into the whold Golf thing and although I have no doubt that they are a quality product, they too seem lacking in that bit of excitement that you get from the Scoobs.

Whatever I go for......if it's not a Scoob, I'm going to miss the Scoob camaraderie and banter......although....I do see that there's a Cupranet or something! LOL

Diablo

R32's quality is overrated if its the previous generation car. Expect as many, if not more issues than with the Leon.

Cupramax

Dont pay that much for it, the last few hundred were sold off at £15,500 from SEAT so I wouldn't pay more than £14,000 for a late one.

john banks

I used to pay the same for a Euro import Scooby, depends on insurer.

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

as above. Never had any probs with Euro import. Jap imports are another matter though

Vtec-Abuser

Was that a rolling roaded 289bhp mate??? Or finger in the air job.. Sounds a bit to much for just Revo Remap to me.. Mine's about 265bhp 300lb/ft, which is the norm.. 270-5 is as about as much as i've heard it go to off just remap.. But never 290..

Cupramax

Mine made 289 at Stealth running high boost 6, backed off a bit on low boost 9 it gave a steady 272.

martyrobertsdj

iTrader: (1)

Deposit paid on the Leon!

Pick it up in June when I get back from work overseas.

Roll on torque steer and look forward to popping to the NBO......although......will I be relegated to another car park??

Spankathon

Good lad

Ninnybobs

Marty

You are right........ the other NBO car park....... in Whitby

Did you get it from Jennings?

Martin

SiDHEaD

Good choice ! When i left scoobsville I testdrove one of these, and found it excellent. Unfortunately, it wasn't a droptop so it lost to the S2000 lol

RR

Awesome gti Manchester LCR Apr remap currently £375 all inc.

http://www.goapr.co.uk/remaps.html

EddScott

I'm not sure if its illegal, but it is very bad form for an insurer not to insure an EU car for the same as its UK equivelent (sp). Was one of the directives when they introduced that business about being able to buy a right hand drive car from the EU.

as for the LCR, I really like them. Friend had one and I really did like the interior alot. I'd have to really drive it to make me change my scoob though.

Good luck

martyrobertsdj

iTrader: (1)

Cheers lads.

The quality of the interior is waaaaay better than my 1998 Impreza.....no rattles, squeaks, or anything......yet!

Martin....yes it's from Jennings.....you seen it?

Looking forward to it.....although I've seen a couple of really nice Sti's today and thought "hmmmmmmmmm"!!

MadMark

About the most sensible thing I've ever heard on here!

martyrobertsdj

iTrader: (1)

I have had second thoughs, but the running cost issue has won me over for now.

The car is almost new and still under warranty, so by my reckoning I can keep it a year or so, see if I like it, and if I don't I'll have saved a bit of cash to change back to something like a MY04/05 Sti.

Spankathon

They are £375 + VAT, about £440 all in.

Comment about the fuel economy.... you can get upto 400 miles from a full tank with not too much effort.... so its not all bad.

Spankathon

Yeah, but the option is there (I was surprised how much the fuel economy went up (driving conservatively) after a remap.....

martyrobertsdj

iTrader: (1)

Better than 260 miles to the tank of my Scoob..........and I'm sure an Sti will be more to run than my current steed!!!

Cupra R it is for now me thinks.........I'll keep my options open for any future change.

RR

I went to Oulton Park for the Btcc this weekend with Scn. Round trip was 310miles i put £11 of optimax on the way home just to be safe, before i left i filled up £45. I have inbetween 1/2 and 3/4 of a tank of fuel left. All done at 70-85mph all motorway driving.

Darren 01