2k Budget- Old vs New Impreza
 

Hi everyone! Long time lurker 1st time poster.

after a little advice on my first steps to Subaru ownership.

I've been toying with the idea of an Impreza for ages and have decided to go for it! sadly my budget will only stretch to £2,000 mark, possibly a little more depending on how my car sells first.

as the title says Old vs New

I love the looks of the old gen Impreza, but have been sumwhat put off by the constant threads/talk of rusting here or there and the fact that once you spot the rust, its usually too late for the easy repair of it.
Also struggle to find unmodified cars at this budget. i'd like to keep it as standard as possible for insurance purposes simply.
and all seem to be heading into pretty high mileage teritory.


not a massive fan of the looks of a bug eye, would much much rather a blob, but there seem more bug in my price range. only blobs ive seen are wagons or high milers again.
there seems to be less rust issues with bug/blob.


have had a quick browse about Autotrader/ebay/gumtree and theres plenty of newage stuff there in my price. some with fairly low miles on the clock. quite a few seem to have sketchy history and little details on cam belt changes etc.


one question, are high mileage Impreza's an issue or like any modern engine, as long as its looked after well it should last.
im only concerned as my last 2 cars have been 80k plus cars and have both not lasted too well, despite claims of being well serviced by previous owners.

i'd welcome any advice on choosing a motor. either n/a or wrx. saloon prefered, but open to wagons, and around the £2000 mark, possibly £2300.

quick insurance quotes have had about £100 difference from n/a - wrx so either option is open.

i'd like to keep to standard or slight mods i.e. exhaust upgrade or other minor mods


heres one or two i've seen and would welcome any advice on them. looking for cars in South Wales or not too far away. unless its a very good example then travel may be worth it.

cheers


http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...wrx/1012760821

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...d-2001/1195321

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-car...oc-cars-twt001

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...awd/1012915455

Bugeye deffo for comfort. Classic if you want a more raw driving experience.

Mileage isnt an issue if its been looked after. Mine is on 113k, and it drives like a 60k car, no word of a lie. Still puts out a respectful 268bhp with just a full decat, uprated fuel pump and remap.

Oh yeah, wagons are best all round in every aspect forever :thumb:

That purple wrapped one is horrid man :razz:

travel far and wide for the best example you can get. Drive both beforehand so you know what you are getting. I've never driven a n/a scooby but I can't imagine it is much fun.

Good luck

John

Avoid the purple one like the plague

lol, the purple one is a plastiwrap coating. just peels off apparently. costs almost as much as the car!! but doesnt harm the bodywork like a vinyl wrap does by needing to be cut in places, plastiwrap just sprays on like paint and gets where vinyl wont.
can you tell i've googled it ;) :)

cheers guys, guess its test driving season for me! lol

hope to have one in the next week or so before i have to go back to work.
will post up my findings :)

Purple is a car from a bloke on here. Not wrapped its got plasti dip on it. I would go for a clean facelift classic if I was you. Wouldn't bother with a n/a Subaru

You can get a car done for £300. He was way over charged, used it on a few cars. Good product when used right.

I would save up a bit more and get the best you can. Around 3000ish will buy you one of the best of the last UK turbos. Buying a classic for 2k may result in you spending another 2k trying to make it a half decent car. Save up and buy the best you can as rusty rear arches and gearbox/ clutch issues and suspension will eat up another 2k.

I know it is not what you want to hear but would hate to see you on here in 2 months time looking for advice regarding the above issues. Unless you really lucky and find a good bargain. All the best Ade.

Spot on advice - follow those and you can't go far wrong.

UK turbos are admittedly entry-level Imprezas (non-turbos aside) but they are still very capable vehicles with a few supporting modifications.

They are out there; patience and careful consideration are the key. Oh, and readiness to travel - I live on London/Kent borders, and I bought the car from Stourbridge in the West Midlands.

If it helps, in June last year I paid just over 2.5k for a W-reg (year 2000) MY00 UK turbo with Prodrive performance pack, otherwise completely standard, and just 49000 on the clock. HPI clear, not an insurance write-off, etc. But, high milers should not put you off if the owner has a full folder of receipts and history.

Part of the fun is the search; the rest of the fun starts when you finally drive one home. Good luck.

LOL....
The advert for the purple heap says " doctor owner "..... what ever sort of doctor would drive around in that shed.....
LOL....

Witch doctor!!

That purple one has got OZ wheels and Morette headlights so it would look fine if it didnt have that crazy wrap stuff :wonder:
It might be worth a look if your able to peel off the purple!

:lol1::luxhello:


dr who maybe..

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-car...oc-cars-twt001


a doctor , feck me if you were sick and the doctor turned up in this you would tell him to do one.

i'd go for the red wagon out of that lot.

Is this the same purple wagon that was on pistonheads with the private reg switched over? If it is, I would probably go for it. Looks very tidy without the plastidip!

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1226089

Looks like it, it's got the OZ P1's fitted in one of the photos.

Yeah the red wagon looks the one out of them,not sure about the uprated exhaust looks standard to me which isn't a bad thing.

A plastic surgeon of course..boom boom

I would raise your budget to possibly 3k even if you borrow the extra grand on an interst free credit card for a year

That will get you a nice 99/00 unmolested classic with say 80/110k mileage which is nothing to a classic engine as long as it hasn't been tampered with

Lots of advice coming through on rusty rear arches as they all have them ll
Even my garaged and polished Greenwagon
Don't be put off with slow / entry level comments
A classic can keep up and beat most cars in the twisties

There was a couple of really classics on here a while back
Try to get a club car from one of the many Subaru clubs up and down the country
That's where the best ones hang out

cheers for all the feedback so far everyone!

my car sold! woohoo :banana:
not for what I was holding out for, but close enough. glad its gone now mind as was getting really fed up of time wasters and stupidly low offers!

anyway! on with the search.

unfortunately my top budget is £3k, but that has to include insurance which is averaging £500-650, 650 being a wrx/turbo model Impreza.
cant even consider an import as that's just ridiculous insurance!

there isn't much chance of saving as I'm getting married in the summer so all monies are going there and paying it off.
I'm lucky I get to keep what I just sold the car for! :lol1:


I contacted the seller for this advert earlier,http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...wrx/1012760821
and despite it being immaculate and well looked after he said it will need a cambelt change in the next year!
I've had a quick look and notice they range from £300+. this a close estimate?
so I'm thinking of seeing if I can knock him down to the price of it or at least say 1/2 a price of a change.

only considering an N/A Impreza as the insurance is a fair bit cheaper which will leave more in the pot for repairs/servicing.
but it will also be more usable by the mrs in the poor weather.
I've got my eye on a local 2002 Bug that's had a fair bit spent already and is only on 43k, again no cam, but seller says its not due till 70k. his is slightly more than the wrx and isn't open to offers on it.


i really have to try my best and try a few don't I?!
not rush in as the deal/price seems to be too good!
i also have to try and get my head around not going for ones with the lower miles, and ignore friends telling me its risky going for big milers!

and if only I could get a decent Blob in my price bracket! I'd be a Happy Chappy!

Can you put link up of the bugeye you looking at?

assuming you mean the N/A bug? the wrx is in my last reply

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-m...ort/1013384931


ooooo just spotted this blob for sale!
not sure im fussed on the black bonnet and boot tho
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifie...t-2003/1186632

way to dear:eek: as richard hammond did by a 02 impreza turbo for 1500 quid then use the rest on insurance:D

ohh im considering it! ;)


some reason i keep getting drawn back to the purple wagon! :cuckoo:
seems a fair amount of car for little monies!
and im sure i could make some pretty funky lines taking off the wrap, but leaving it in some places!
may enquire as to the history of it just for curiosity sake :lol1:

If you go for a turbo classic or newer you will save money in the long term as I think you will want to sell on a n/a model sooner rather than later.

Please do not get a sport. The mpg is still crap, underpowered and you will just be thinking every time you see a wrx.......should have go one of them. Hold out for a classic turbo.

have to agree a12.5 fiestawill waste one lol:D

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-SUBAR...item3a7fa5d3e2

well in budget

have you been for a test drive yet? Don't be shy, you are a genuine buyer and you need to have a play before parting with your hard earned.

Also, have you looked into the running costs of owning one of these? Obviously I know nothing about your finances etc and I do not wish to presume or seem rude but it is probably worth a fair warning. I thought I had done my sums before I bought my first classic but it taught me a valuable lesson, it is never as cheap as it seems. Don't want to deliver the bad news but if you are paying for a wedding etc then don't get into debt paying for one of these as you will need the money keeping it in tip top condition.

That said, I don't regret buying these cars at all and it is worth all the moaning from my other half.

Good luck with the hunt.

John