The competition get stronger
 

Bought a couple of car mags today. The Ford Focus ST gets a good rating, formidable mid range with a characterful engine/exhaust note. The new Golf R32 looks set to take the crown from its own GTI, also has a tuneful exhaust. Discounting the awful Astra VXR, has the Impreza finally met its match with the current crop of hot hatches? After all, the Focus offers similar thrills for a lot less money....

I was just thinking the same ..........

The Impreza looks VERY expensive now - but, it is as solid as they come (but, the Fords are good these days!)

The field has been leveled and Subaru need to do something a little 'special' to keep the buyers coming. A 5-door hatchback will be enough .....

Pete

Focus ST will be very fast on dry straightish roads, but factor in damp and tight twisties :rolleyes: and 4WD will always be more desirable when trying to get 240+ bhp down to the tarmac. I expect it to be the best FWD sporty car out there, but I'll still settle for a Scoob or Evo as my weapon of choice. As for the R32, Evo mag reckon you should save the money and still get the GTi. The extra weight of the bigger engine pushes it wide into understeer, and the overall extra weight of the 4WD system and engine mean even the extra power won't make it much quicker.

On the price, with EU import WRX's at 16k and STi's IRO 21k I think the Scoob is still a fantastic package.

Strange thing is Wifey's just asked me, if we don't go for another Scooby, what would I be looking at? Tough decision at the moment.

5dr STI would be nice, rather than having to settle for a 5dr WRX with PPP...... pipedream at the moment though

Out of interest Pete, what would you go for next? We're probably in similar situations (me with an MY99 as opposed to your MY00, IIRC).....

Dan

I am hoping that the next Impreza, in 2007, will be a hatchback ............ will do me just fine!! :D

Pete

I'm looking at a 5dr (new labrador kinda made my mind up for me!!:D), but really want to try an STI (just as I've now had 2 UK Turbos, albeit with one lightly-modded) - shame it isn't available!! :D

No matter how hard I try, I can't bring myself to like the new-shape (MY06) :( I hate it with a passion - more than I disliked the Fugly bugeye :( If I wanted an Alfa/Seat, I would buy one and fit in with the rest of the crowd...... still the 06 styling has certainly helped my residuals!! ;) :p

I fear that my next Scoob may be my last until they sort out the styling issues ( I do like the Blob-eye) - my next change further to this one will be around 2008/09 - SORT IT OUT SUBARU!!!! :D

Dan :)

Sorry, to answer your question Yorkie ;), yes, the competition has caught up, but they're still soul-less, run-of-the-mill souped up cars.......

I will have to try them all I suppose ;) :D

Dan

why would any sensible person spend that much on a fricking ford they are sh!t and are worth a bucket of cold p!!s in 2yrs time.

Read a review saying that because they (Focus ST) are tuned for torque lower down the rev range they get out of puff above 4000 rpm.

I had an S3 and it was like this. I much prfer the way the scoob is still on boost right up to 6000 rpm. It feels much quicker and its not that hard to keep the engine spinning above 3000.

2wd sucks to. No way it would stay with scoob on damp roads.

Steve.

errrrrrrrrr so why is the RS focus still worth so much then? whereas a scoob of the same era is worth about 20 quid?

:D:D:D:D:D

I'm a fast ford fan, but in a word, no ;-)

Although subaru may have to think about a few price cuts! :-)

I believe the Scooby WRX and STi came out trumps over he Focus in Evo
The end of the review of the Sti in Evo was telling when the reviewer said that, the scooby may be getting on in its current form, but it provided the best drive he'd ever had up route x, y (Sorry couldn't remember the location) :-)

NS04

Its simple, the RS is an "RS" its limited run (only 4501 road cars ever made) and carries the rallye sport badge.

Not really hard to see why its keeps its money. :)

do some of you guys not like vxl?

i wonder if it had a different badge would opinions change?

2007 concept Impreza pictures i have seen are exactly that...a hatchback:eek:

Another constructive post by Dumpvalve.com ;) :p

What put me off the Focus RS, was the 3drs (got a family) and the apparent hard ride (apparent, as I haven't actually driven one)

Fords are much better than they used to be - Wifey's got a run-of-the-mill 1.8GLX Ghia Mondeo. It'sa great car :) In some respects it's better than our Scoob. Her previous Escort was a total POS.
The Focus is a capable car, but as stated in my previous post, all these cars lack the soul/personality of the Subaru.

Dan

Couldn't agree more Pete. Providing the styling isn't as bad as some of the "scoop" pictures I've seen of the next generation Impreza. Why can't Subaru produce a car with good styling AND formidable performance?

pwebb on here is selling his Forester STi. That's got 5 doors...

http://www.subaruforester.com/viewtopic.php?t=15457

Son-in law is a car mechanic and says the 5 cylinder Volvo engine is very good but is prone to a bit of conrod fragility. Hmmmm, another chink in the armour. The Corolla Compressor gets a right slagging in most mags at the mo to.