should i buy an import? - advice please!!
 

Been offered a 1997 4 door import (its been in UK 2 years and just had a new clutch) and would benefit from some advice:

1. Not sure which model it is yet - whats the likely BHP?
2. Whats the parts availability etc?
3. Whats the reliability?
4. What are the weakpoints and areas to check when I go to see it?
5. Any insurance issues?

thanks

1/ i think its 280 bhp, if not then 260bhp
2/ parts arnt too bad, but many main dealers wont touch it
3/ just as reliable as a UK car in my opinion
4/ as 3
5/ its insurance group 20, not 17, as its a jap one.

Also make sure it's run on optimax or sul and preferably mapped for the uk if not use octane booster as it's meant to run on 100 ron fuel. If you can get a knocklink fitted to keep an eye on things. The rest is your usual checks. Don't be put off by an import i have an import STI and i love it.

Thanks guys.

How do I know if its an STI or a normal WRX?

Can anyone link me to a thread or an article on the various types of imports till I do a bit of swotting up?

cheers

get the details of the engine bay plate and do a search on the net, that should tell all ?

Try here sidc.co.uk

A couple of points are, Sti's are normally badged, on the wings, they have sti on the seats and if it's a v2 onwards (1995) it should have a red inlet manifold (the top of the engine is red) and usually cost more. There is a link to all the info you need but i can't remember it, sorry.

more car less price it's madness
if it's an sti u'l know it will be well marked up
but there r different types m8
2nd 1 4 me m8 over 6yrs
and i'l have another import after this m8

The STi is a totally different beast to the WRX!
Red top engine, uprated everything too.
If the car is an STi, the seller will very probably charge you for it compared to a standard WRX

...make sure you get it HPI'd and be damn sure it hasn't been smacked and repaired!...(get it on a ramp and check for jig clamp marks on seals etc)...if at all possible...also remove trim in boot to check for damage repair...

...bitter experiance I'm afraid!...MY97...still love it though!

I sold my STI3 a couple of years ago during the Quentin Wilson BBC import fiasco and had to virtually give it away. I don't know if things have changed, but I don't think you pay an awful lot more for a jap, but you get a lot more car inc aircon as standard, folding mirrors, rear w/w.
Insurance can be a bit of a killer unless your 90 and live on an island with no other cars:)

you shouldn't be put off it has had a crash (well not a major one) if the works been done professionally it will be as near as possible to original - just don't pay the going price ;)


kev :)

...I just found out too late...hence the word of warning!

i've got a my93 wrx import. i've had for nearly 3 years now and she still puts a smile on my face every time i get drive her. i get service parts from my local motor factors, including stuff like brake pads, i.e rear pads where less than £20 aif filter £7 etc etc. i'd get another import.

really? i thought around that year the only real differences were:

* forged pistons
* slightly more aggressive map in the mid-range (which is i guess maybe why more stis than wrx's seem to blow on our petrol)

anything else (such as painted inlet manifolds and badges) were purely for show.

Milo,
I had a V5 STi and sold it due to work commitments, I now have a UK turbo & it's like a slug compared to the STi!
Try here http://www.iwoc.co.uk/jpsti.html for the full info.
The V5 STi is 300PS also.

Dean

oh.. im fully aware that a uk would be a slug compared to an sti.. it would be compared to a wrx too. its 208/215bhp vs. 260/280bhp. thats a MAJOR difference.

it's the jdm sti vs. jdm wrx from '97 i was comparing.. in which the bhp difference is negligable.

looking at those specs in the link.. wrx's have a lot of that too. does the sti REALLY have an uprated gearbox and clutch over the jdm wrx even now, let alone '97?

simple

Buy an import, make sure you have plenty of room on you card or ca$h in the bank, I'm sure you won't regret it, just do what I did... Sod it buy one & start to :D

well worth it, I was messing about for ages, only regret I did'nt get one sooner..

As previous you get more Ooomph & toys for your cash than UK cars which is what I wanted, I bought mind as I wanted it to go fast, I wanted a better base to start tuning with... warranty (void with mods anyway), dealers- I don't care care, plenty of reputable companys to sort you out.. Imports are def more accepted these days, my local Subaru dealer was quite interested in my motor was expecting the cold shoulder but which was nice.

Insurance is more but the jdm cars are faster so justifys the increase

No more excuses ;) just decide WRX or STi....

Milo,

why not sort out a couple of test drives in the jdm cars wrx's & sti's??, the sti is def alot better, better brakes, suspension, seats, clocks, looks, engine internals, turbo etc etc


The power may not be too much different on paper but on the road the delivery, drivability & potential is..

fair point... and i intend to.

ive been thinking of changing for ages... and a v5/6 type r is definitely on my "will test drive" list... :)

Cheers guys.

Sussed some more out now. Its actually a 96 car. Standard 4 door WRX in red with 70K miles. Been in UK 3 years, recent clutch and service, new MOT etc.

High back spoiler, sports seats, 6CD etc.

Whats it worth?

id guess at about 7k

but its down to what people want to pay

agreed, my 97 wrx is pretty dam well specced considering its nothing like a sti

it has these sti parts
intercooler (its painted black)
yellow injectors
ihi turbo
same maf as my mates 97 type r (larger diameter)
clear rear lights
larger rear spoiler

things which i know arnt fitted
decent brakes!! 2 pot fronts on a 280 car wtf!!!!!!
interior trims
nice sti badges
red manifold
pistons

thats all i can think of the top of my head
97+ wrx`s are a complete bargin IMO
i colour coded my skirts and fitted a sti front spoiler and the pink badge, nobodys the wiser is it shifts down the strip far to fast for its own good
stock time was about 13.2 seconds, a few choice mods and im now down to 12.97, and i still havnet decatted it yet!!

sti trim would be nice, but im not that botherd to be honest

on my last rolling road day mine pushed out a lot more torqe then the sti model anyways :D - 259lbft
100% happy with my purchase and at a quality price considering how much extra the sti model is