Looking to buy a Subaru Impreza
 

Hey, I'm currently thinking about buying a Subaru Impreza, but got a few questions about them first.

At the moment I drive a Fiat Punto...which hasn't been the most reliable car ever, and would like to get something better (doubt it will be hard...xD), are Subaru Impreza reliable in general? I know there is some luck involved when buying cars.

What are the running costs like?

When looking to buy one, is there anything that I need to know about them, known faults or anything?

What would it cost to get a decent one? I'm not too fussed about top spec or anything, but something that is fun to drive. At the moment I'm aiming to save around £4,000 before I start looking around, is this close to getting a decent one? Not too fussed about the age...if possible I would like something newer than my current car, which is 2001, but its not a major thing if they are generally a better car (which I believe they are).

One last question, insurance, I'm currently 19, and getting killed on insurance for my Punto, my aim is to get one around the end of September next year, when I'll be 21...does anyone have any ideas what price I'll be looking at for insurance, if there is anyone around my age with one.

Thanks :)

hey im new here too. i have just bought my p reg wagon version 2ltr non turbo wickedly fun corners great and sounds fab got the full wrx kit and exhaust otherwise standard and bought for £600 just done a insurance and for 0 no claims for me is 73 a month but im 29. you will need an imobiliser so choose one with it unless you get a god deal. i gave mine a general once over got it home and looked again but cant find nothing wrong. found mine on Swaps - swap meet, swap shop, house & home swap, car swaps - swop shop

At 19 you should get some Insurance on a Sport .... I would hate to think what they will want for a Turbo - an Arm and a Leg will certainly come into the equation!

At 19 I would have killed myself in what I have - think twice!

Thanks for the replies :)

Quick question about the swapz site, when it says 'value: £1000+' does that mean they are looking to sell it for around £1000?

What kind of prices would I be looking to pay for a sport? I know insurance is going to be a lot, but hoping that because I'll be 21 or over, it wont be too bad (isn't there a price job at 21 and 25?).

I had a mk2 punto Jtd that I px'd for my 2004 waggon wrx. Punto was really reliable, had it for 4 years and did 80000 miles in it.

With the Impreza though, insurance costs more, fuel costs more, tyres cost more... but what do you expect when buying something like this?

Make sure you have a lot of spare money to keep the car tip top is all I can say...

yes it does mean they are looking for around that price but offers remember. at this point they are desperate for money remember. i agree with sunnysideup too be carefull i know what i was like at 19 you could do some serious damage with one of these to yourself and others. that said fantastic cars glad i bought one

i am 23 and am currently paying £2k for insurance on a wrx

ouch

Ill be amazed if you can find someone to insure you on anything above a subaru sport

mate if you dont think a punto is reliable then a subaru aint gonna be much better

compared to a punto,,,,,, fuel will be twice as much for the same distance,, parts will be more than 3 times as much and finding parts very hard for some stuff and most garages dont understand them so the labour charges will be higher and more parts will need replacing in looking for problems unless taking it to a specialist


mate ive got a 97 sti,,,, last year i was paying 1300 quid fully comp,,, 29 years old, first year owning the car but with a history of fast cars and 4 years no claims, at 19 i was paying that for a 1300 escort

now i pay 535 per year, 5 years no claims and now 30,,,,,,, good luck for a impreza worth owning


i wouldnt bother with a sport,,, they aint nothing like a turbo to drive apart from the shocking fuel bill and running costs

unless you have a extra 3k available for emergency issues i wouldnt bother or it will end in tears

my car stands me in 10k overall including buying it and ive got another 4 tyres to buy for it at 120 quid a corner and ive had it 18months maybe more,,,,,, that dont include insurance or the dreadded fuel bill,,,,,,, i get less than 200 miles to a tank round town and it costs 50 quid to fill up at the min

i LOVE my car though and would never sell it i dont think

ginge

I could have written that myself you sound like me apart from im 35
and only pay 430 for insurance and have 10 years no claims

Not being funny but I think you should consider a hot hatch first.

Don't look at an Impreza under the age of 25 unless you have a lot of spare cash. Even over 25 they cost a small fortune to run, maintain and inevitably modify :)

From a Punto -> An Impreza = A disaster, financially or unthinkably otherwise. Impreza turbos are seriously fast and potentially dangerous cars unless you have experience of performance vehicles.

id recommend a fiesta st if you went down the hot hatch route cheap to insure and fun to drive. but deffinately agree with building upto an impreza gradually

its a piss take as i pay 300 on my bmw and i never even drive my impreza every day,,,,, not to mention im too scared to actually put a claim in as they would just write the car off and give me back **** all for it

when i did write it off the parts come to over 2k for the car,,,,,, i was amazed and what they came too and why

i had to change both headlamps as my car had early facelift and not early or crystal,,, that doubled the bill to 100 quid , the rad cost 80 quid, the second hand fans cost 45 quid, the panels came to 150 quid, bonnet was 650 quid, i bought 3 cambelt covers as 1 was missing the part i needed ( cheers ebay tossers) 1 just didnt fit ( again cheers ebay) and one was spot on,,,,, cheers scoobynet users !!!!! that came to almost 160 quid !!!!, grill was 70 quid, bumpers a scoobynet user looked after me and so cost me 100 quid for everything i needed, theres other stuff i never even added up too AND i got the paint free and paid cheep labour charges

if it was a ford escort the parts would be alot cheeper and sold for tenners on ebay for most stuff

i wont even talk about the tuning costs of parts for these cars !!!

i wanna get mine upto 500bhp,,,,,, the ecu is gonna come to more than a grand with mapping before i buy the parts and then i need a gearbox and clutch

Thanks for the replies :)

At the moment I'm no where near ready to get one (haven't really started saving, going to take around a year before I can think about it, unless I get another job).

I understand that its going to cost more, but, finished college, in a safe job, without a mortgage or debts, so in theory can afford it, as long as nothing changes between now and then.

Anyway, looked online for some quotes...£1700 for a Sport...and nearly £4000 for a WRX xD. But, that was one off ebay, with mods, which I'm not fussed about really).

On the subject of a hot hatch...is there anything that stands out from the rest? I dont want something that everyone has...or one that has the rep of people sticking whatever from Halfords on and thinking it looks better.

mate if its gonna take a year to save 4k,,,, imagine if the engine lets go when your spending 2k a year just for the insurance or should your need a clutch which will cost you 600ish

buy a sport and swap the exhaust so you get that subaru off beat burble! your mates will be jelous lol, keep it standard and your staring reliability in the face...:norty: