Import vs UK Buying Advise Needed
 

Hello Guys, some advice for a prospective buyer please........

I'm looking at 99 sti import that's done 55k miles. I've been told by various people (including my subaru dealer unsurprisingly) not to touch the imports as the electrics will go wrong and will be more expensive to fix than the uk equivilant.

Is this true or just salesman BS? Am i letting myself in for a constant financial drain. I know it needs servicing every 6k miles.

For the same money i think i could get a uk 2000 wrx turbo but having test driven both, i'm already in love with the 300bhp of the sti import.

Any advice at all would be gratefully received.

Cheers

Dont Listen the Salesmen. They are told to rubbish imports by Subaru UK. Theres absolutely no truth in any of what you were told. I know as I used to be a Salesman. Alot of Subaru garages now sale and service imports anyway.

I've previously owned a '99 UK Turbo 2000 and now have a WRX STi Type-R Version 5. I would say without a doubt that my import is a much better car than the UK Turbo. Its much faster, revs up to 8000rpm (uk turbo-7000rpm), far more pull through the revs, better exhaust, better brakes, folding mirrors and climate control (which UK model doesn't have). Although I need to do a few things to my car when I take it back to the UK.

I would take an import over a UK model every time, and I think most owners here would agree with me. Insurance will be a wee bit higher for an import though, but I found that its not that much. Imports tend not to come with an alarm eithier, which is a must have in a Scooby. You will need to make sure that if you choose an import, that it has a rear fog light fitted and it has a new fuel filler neck (to accept UK petrol pumps). General consus on here seems to be to get your ecu re-mapped to accept UK fuel as it will be expensive to just use octane boosters all the time (I will have to get this done when I take mine back to the UK) and get a Knocklink fitted. Also make sure it has been recalibrated into mph from kmh and that the speedo clock has mph on it, and that it has been de-restricted (imports are restricted to 112mph). When doing this make sure the speed rating on the tyres is enough for the new speed as imports just tend to have 'V' rated tyres (up to 120mph I think!). You will also have to get an import undersealed.
Dont let all this put you off an import though, as they are far more fun than a UK model, and STis hold their money better.

LOL :D Where on earth do they get that idea from?

Go to any independent specialist and they'll happily fix both UK cars and imports, for less than Subaru dealers will charge. Sure, those parts which are import-specific might be more expensive or take longer to obtain - but there aren't many of those, and most of the bits which tend to fail will be stock items anyway. As for electrics going wrong, that's utter tosh - the cars are just better equipped, so draw your own conclusion.

Do check insurance - that's the biggie with imports. Also make absolutely sure you get the engine remapped for UK fuel or run on a mix of super unleaded + octane booster.

How much and where do you get you car remapped to use uk fuel? I'm i right in saying octane boost is an additive that you add to fuel when you fill up? If you dont get it remapped and you forget to use the octane boost does it just effect performance or does it damage your car?

The possibility exists of engine damage through detonation. My car was remapped by Powerstation in Cheltenham, but there's plenty more places that can do it - try searching for 'Andy F' or 'Bob Rawle'.