Newage to Classic - Am I mad?
 

As many of you probably know, I have been into Impreza's for a good while now, 10 years in fact.

I currently have a low mileage, 2005 WRX with just an uprated exhaust with sports cat.

Now, there is nothing wrong with it and it is in very good condition.

However, I keep hankering back to my 'classic' days. :rolleyes:
I just love how they look to be honest and the fact that they are quite a bit lighter and more raw then the Newage.

I had an STI 3 and STI 4 over the years and absolutely loved them.
My STI 4 was my favourite Impreza of all time and was stupidly quick out of the box.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Photo-0027.jpg

Now, I really don't care what other people think about the Impreza. It's their loss as far as I'm concerned. But considering the age of the late Classic STI's now, am I mad wanting a to sell up and go for another as an everyday car? One part of me says these cars should now be wrapped up in cotton wool and saved for future generations to enjoy. Another part says 'sod it - buy now and enjoy while you still can!'

I know finding a minter is going to be tough, I don't mind waiting. Powerwrx was very kind enough to find me one that is only 60 miles away with only 45k on the clock and in black. :D

I only live 3 miles from work and do around 6000 miles a year. It would be stored in my garage most of the time over night and when not in use.

It's just the fact that it will be a 16 year old car.

Am I crazy?

Yes, you are crazy, you are a petrolhead, & one of the symptoms is that when it comes to cars, you think with your heart, not with your head, the age of the car does not matter if it is a beautiful car.

I missed out completely on classics before I could afford my first impreza.

The first one I bought was an RB320 :luvlove:, & I still have it along with a white hawk sti :luvlove:.

I have never even driven a classic, but when I see a mint one for sale, I am sometimes tempted as well.

I will always choose a classic over newage every day of the week. I've had classics since 2001 and then went over to newage Sti's and I find they lack that something compared to the classics, I wound up getting a P1 which I sold last year as I needed a change and scratched the V8 itch :)


Now looking at getting another GC8 :D

I've been thinking of ditching my classic for a newage, only reason is i kind of fancy a more smoother ride, plus i have low miles on my classic so trying to keep it that way which means i hardly use it, which defeats the purpose of owning the car

A newage with high miles will still be worth something, a classic with high miles won't be worth much, and low miles classic's will only go up in price. I don't know what price the STI is, lets say £3500 with only 45k i'd get it, run it up to 85k then sell, by that stage you will be begging for a newage lol

You'd think I'd grown out if performance cars after 10 years now. :wonder:

And it's not like I am into modifying. I much prefer the stock look and drive of the classic sti's.

They are only going up in value so I guess it's now or never!

go for it mate, maybe in another 5 years or so then a newer one would be the wiser choice given the age of classics by then but right now they are still a great buy with some definite bargains still out there. for me the classic is the iconic impreza, its the one we all grew up with, the one we all wanted as kids and the best for that 'real' impreza feel.. nothing wrong with newage cars as you know ive been looking for both recently but I don't think you can beat the raw all round package of a classic.

Oh the only reason i've not swapped over to newage is looks, i really prefer classic or after 2007 models saloon not hatch. Don't know what happened to the looks after the classic. Think i just found that STI fully forge engine, 1 owner from new. Nice

Not mad at all, one of the saner members, classics are the best Scoobs by a country mile if you want an iconic car that is a hoot to drive. To be honest the later cars may be more refined and all that, but who wants refinement in a Scoob.

My wife's going to kill me! My 3 year old on the other hand will be very excited!

Right, I had better get my car on Gumtree!

Why not go for something like this, its not far from you, engine needs some work, but you can have engine rebuilt to your spec, specially if it goes for starting price

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUBARU-IMP...item3f3d13d190

Just something about the way classics drive, it captures the imagination and something you will never find in a newage :D

This ^^^^ 100% this :thumb:

Well I have done both and appreciate each for what they are, unfortunately I need a car that can cope with long distances as in 1200 miles in one go, I don't hoon about these days much :Suspiciou so the New age suits me better on a day to day basis pootling about, then on the odd occasion that I do fancy a bit of a hoon it's got enough get up and go to be fun, not as much fun as a Classic or as good looking sadly.

However I'd still love to have the white STI wagon at Hurst Cars, :luvlove: just the money is the problem and I know I'd have to spend a few quid on it sooner or later so could become a very expensive swap.:(

The one at Hurst cars is rather tasty. Comes with a good warranty for piece of mind. I would just be thinking 'i wish I had bought a saloon' every time I washed it!

get the black one :)

I have only test driven a few classics briefly and not driven hard. Are they much better than newages?

Out of the 5 imprezas I've owned 1 being classic the rest newage the classic has always been my number one :)

As long as you can afford to fix it if the worst happens mate, go for it. Get a good 'in that's sound underneath.

Had 4 classics and only the last one started on the arches when I sold it.

Well, I don't have a spare £4k to through at an engine rebuild and that's my worry with an older classic. Then again, who has that much spare cash to through at a car these days.

Going to have a good think about it this weekend and see what responses I get on my car.

That's my only fear with a classic import, Chris. Unless you strike gold and get a nicely rebuilt one for a good price? Not necessarily modified.

Classic all the way, unless I could afford a 2005 JDM STI.

Still love my newage but if feels a bit flabbier compared to the classic.

Go for white one, £1250 get engine rebuilt, job done

Trust me, engine builds are never that simple, or cheap. Plus I couldn't be without a car for a couple of months.

I've been thinking I'll do the same soon too.

I bought a Blob as I'm doing 100 miles a day, I can just about tolerate doing that in a Blob WRX. That journey is going to stop at the end of the year and I'll be commuting again by train.

I've been thinking of getting something like a P1....I'll have to search, probably for a long time to find a nice one that hasn't had bits of neon plastic stuck to it.

Scooby drews white one is a bargain at £900 ovno. Just requires engine of choice.
Sti8 motor and sti classic heads and management to suit.'£1500 job done and a strong car.

£1500 and the rest no doubt.

That's upto you depending on your requirements.

You won't regret having a classic

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/s...6f34257c58.jpg

I have bounced from UK Classic, to Newage WRX to JDM Spec B Leggy, to Foggy STi and back to a Classic WRX RA via a V5 STi.

Loving the raw and original iconic Classic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps95e083d5.jpg

Agree with you on that one Banny even tho I went from classic to newage to spec- c and back to a classic with a spec-c engine still don't know about the last one yet tho still waiting for assistance from 2 peeps from across the border now that the no vote has been passed they might have time to sort me out now :)