Hi Paul

I test drove a demonstrator in aylesbury last weekend and it had just the sport seats. so did all the used 04 WRX's.

The bug eye wrx's they had in stock had what I refer to as the bucket seats! I.E they have an extra lump between your legs... These type seats were much more supportive. looked a bit like the STI seats!

i must admit i had a bugeye wrx with great seats then bought an 03wrx and the seats were not as good !¬!

Well there's obviously a conspiracy going on somewhere as my standard 05WRX (EU granted) came AS STANDARD with the bucket seats (with the extra lump in the middle that are a black version of the STis) The UK 05 WRX's I test drove at 2 dealers had the same 'buckets' in em with the lumps. The UK brochure shows the 'buckets' as standard on the WRX as does the Subaru website (check http://www.subaru.co.uk/IMGGB/WWW/Su...D?Opendocument).... the ONLY 05WRX or WRX derivative that comes with sports seats as standard rather than bucket seats is the SL version (the one with leather seats.)

Just out of interest did the cars you test drove have a big air scoop in the middle of the bonnet? :Whatever_

Paul

It was a WRX with scoop !!

I too have the brochure. 1 picture has the bucket seat and the other the crap seats..

Even rang another dealer to find out what seats they came with. same answer.. crap sport seats...

I looked into the seat thing as well. At the local dealer I sat in a WRX - seat was awful. Although it was buckety it wasn't one that grips your bum, it was wider and less supportive. Still had the bolsters, don't remember the middle bit.

Sat in an STi - seat was a proper bucket seat, similar to what I've got in my MY98.

I asked the salesman about it, and he said the difference was to differentiate the STi from the cheaper WRX, couldn't go putting the nice seats in the WRX could they...

Sounds like maybe the imports have better seats too!

Ah but do UK dealers honour this warranty I wonder?

Just to try and clear things up a little.

the seats.

in bugeyes you could choose between bucket and sports (no cost option). When the 03 "blobeye" was launched the buckets were not available only the sports.

In europe the choice was still available, The superior bucket seats (less airbag) same as sti in different cloth, or the sports seats with airbag the same as the UK, again a NCO.

So on euro import cars you will have a mixture of seats. This is actually one of the main reasosn i went for the euro import as the "sports seats" are pants and are lifted from the GL and trimmed differently.


Warranty.

Each country has their own importer, Subaru UK (IM) subaru benelux, france ect ect. Subaru UK is one of the only ones not owned by Fuji HI (Subaru Japan). And as IM are seperate they dont have to play by the subaru corporate line.

For example, a car from benelux comes with a 3 year factory warranty covered european wide and underwriiten by the factory. No UK dealer should play hardball with this warranty if they do they will and can get their arses kicked by Trading standards and subaru.

a IM car comes with a 1 year factory warranty and then IM's own UK warranty for years 2 & 3. The reason they do this is money, ie they make more of it. It is just a case of ordering what version they want to import. and selling what they want too.

Cars from outside the EU (ie cyrpus malta ect) have no transferrable warranty to the EU so are less desirbale than both EU and UK cars. Many sold by car supermarkets have a 3rd party warranty supplied by them or another company. No UK dealer has to touch this and not many will.

So in short you have a multitude of imports

UK car imported by IM from japan minus alarm ect, 1 year warranty, IM fit alarms (sigma m30/m32) at the docks and wheel nuts. and sell with a warranty covering years 2 & 3.

Eu imports can be the same spec car as UK, but different colours and options available. Alarm and wheel nuts normally fitted by the owner. 3 year Subaru factory warranty.

Grey imports (ie outside EU).

Malta / cyprus ect, again same story as EU BUT the factory warranty is not transferrable to a country outside the region of sale so the subaru factory warranty is VOID, many have 3rd party warranties.

Japan
Cars are very different (higher spec) again no factory warranty outside of japan 3 rd party warranties available. I have seen japan models hold their values better than the UK counterparts being rarer and more desirable than their weaker cousins, hence why Ian litchfield probably has made a lot of money catering for the market that IM wants to ignore.

US, AUS ect ect.


If you dont belive me look at what UK cars sell for and compare them to Jap cars. A UK STI drops like a stone, JAP cars are always more expensive.

As for me. I imported my car nearly 2 years ago after owning it for 6 months I was offered more than what it cost to import. Even if it is worth less than 2k less than a UK car I am still thousands up by importing.

But times change so check out what you are buying. If I could justify to insure a jap sti I would jump at the chance, and I have not regretted buying a Eu import. Allthough between ordering the car and receiving it IM reduced the UK car price and the euro strengthened against the pound so the 6.5k I thought I would be saving did shrink dramatically, but it was still worthwhile.

Just to point out that as Cyprus & Malta etc are part of the EU their warranty position is exactly the same as Holland, Germany etc.

Iain

www.litchfieldimports.co.uk

Didn't Cyprus & Malta join the EU in May last year?

Damn my slow pudgy fingers! :)

Hey i did put "times change" when I imported my car they were not part of the EU, I knew they did join recently, but this person is looking at Used cars as well I believe. I would guess a car bought before the importing country joined the EU would not have a valid subaru warranty.

Thanks for clearing that one up once and for all Iain. ;)

With regards to the seat issue... my EU 05 wrx (Cyprus, with 5 year tranny warranty that has to be honoured..!) has the centre bump, they are the same as the Sti except in colour/material and have no side airbag. Very supportive.

Jason

How do you know if the 5 year tranny warranty will be honoured in the UK if that isn't the norm for UK cars?