big_rob_sydney

Okay, so I've had a few Imprezas, and am at a point where the family car (Lexus LS) has been utterly reliable, but I still have an itch...

But... when I look at a lot of Imprezas these days, I just think they look like boy racer toys.

I love the performance. I REALLY love the performance, but am thinking I'd like something that looks a bit understated, that I can park somewhere without having some ***** key the car (or steal it), but still have some fun with.

We have two kids (not quite teens), and we like to drive places on holidays, eg we drove close to Barcelona recently.

So maybe I'm getting a bit older, but I still want the fun, dammit! Oh, and my wife will divorce me if I get another Impreza. No, seriously.

What would you people recommend?

b16jonc

Depends really what your budget is and what are your expectations are for running costs

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

bmw m140i

Paben

iTrader: (5)

An Impreza with the rear spoiler removed and debadged. They look bland and understated then, a high powered one is a real wolf in sheep's clothing.

Peedee

iTrader: (4)

Lexus IS-F
M5 (the V10)
Insignia VXR

PT82

Golf R (maybe the estate)

Jon T

Forrester sti.... Well its not an impereza is it so she cant divorce u for that

Vxr2010

i second the fsti comment , lots of go and better mpg , plus a great sleeper

Tidgy

bang vs buck there's not alot of choice when you try to compare it to an impreza.

To get a decent performance step up your going towards skyline territory and your then pretty much double the cost

Wull

Purely down to budget but C6 Rs6

big_rob_sydney

Some good suggestions there. Sorry I probably should have said something about budget; I don't really know the answer. I sold my last one (22B), so have a bit to spend, but by the same token I don't want to spend a lot either. I guess anywhere from 10-20k, but then I'd only go to the higher end if I saw something I really liked.

I've looked at a few s4's because I saw the Chris Harris reviews where they remapped one, and its a great car in a straight line. Comfortable too. But then I worry about the reliability of German cars, and I keep hearing about big bills, and I just think it's a headache I can do without considering I have to take a family around on multiple trips daily, and the last thing I need is to have my family get the hump with me because we're all stuck at the side of the road somewhere waiting for AA.

I've been a fan of Japanese cars for ~20 years, and really think it's hard to beat the value for money. I should probably do some digging on the suggestions so far.

Thanks guys. Please feel free to keep throwing makes / models at me!

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

One of two things:

despair, or,
bankruptcy.

stamina_daddy

iTrader: (3)

Jdm legacy
Job done

Peedee

iTrader: (4)

I genuinely think an IS-F is perfect. Looks good but doesn’t stand out to the untrained eye, very practical, very quick, excellent cruiser, refined, all the toys and you can get a good one in your budget.....

imprezagaz

iTrader: (2)

X3/x5 3.0 sd. Good performance and don’t look like boy racers

Tidgy

going to a dealer and you'll get nailed on prices, indy specialists i wouldn't say are that much more expensive than subaru specialists and other than odd parts the parts arn;t that much dearer.

They do drive very differently though. Im in a similar position and will be looking come summer time, im leaning E93 M3 with DCT

Nezscooby

Maybe BMW 335d xdriver ^^

big_rob_sydney

Really liking the ISF. Been doing a bit of research on them, and they're quick enough despite being a heavy car (1700 kg), and they have the typical reliability of not only Japanese cars, but also of Lexus, which is a real plus.

Thank you guys.

gussy

iTrader: (2)

Rob compromise with the wife and just buy another impreza preferably an import unmodified and just watch the price go up.....its an investment after all....not as good as your old 22b but still an investment....hopefully she will see it that way lol

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Jdm hatch or r205/6 forget the wife she will give in eventually

PT82

You can't register an R205/6 in the U.K until ten years old iirc

Tidgy

That's old thinking mate. You can get a single vehicle inspection done, or what ever the exact name or it is.

PT82

I know what you mean but Torque GT said this plus the R205 at Keighkey Trade Centre can't register the one they have for sale either. Why I'm not sure. I read it on this forum a month or two back iirc.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Is juggers's 205 registered? He's had it for ages?

PT82

I was going off the thread below. I just thought you could import anything following an Iva etc and like you say, there is an R205 over here. Be interested to know exactly what Torque GT said.

https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...coob-soon.html

bonesetter

iTrader: (9)

I tried to buy Motorhub's R205, but they (and others I asked) all said the same - nigh impossible to register for another 2 yrs.

Juggers did his years ago but the situation has now changed

PT82

I wonder why? My Spec C hatch and S204Darren's 20th anniversary were brought in recently no problems but the 'S' cars can't! Weird!

Sorry for the thread redirection OP lol.

big_rob_sydney

Believe me, I wish I could. She's been through this 4 times already, so you'd think she knows me well enough by now?

If I could buy anything, I'd love to get another 22B, but I think they've now gone beyond what I feel like I want to pay for one. Aside from that, there are some great RA and RAR's, also I really like the s202/3/4. I think most if not all of these will do well.

If only...

rob84

iTrader: (5)

+1

Love every minute of mine

David__H

S204s seem to be above 20k when I surfed around. Great car, but a lot of money. A good investment but you wouldn't want to put too many miles on it.

Back to the OP's car search, I was thinking of suggesting M3, but you need to pay 20k ish to avoid something ratty or too old. Plus there's the running costs. How about an M235i? Similar prices but much lower running costs and much newer. Or the 335i MSport is also nice (I used to have one). A post-2009 car has the N55 engine with gets rid of the wastegate issues affecting earlier N54 engines (partly why i sold mine). Otherwise, for Jap, I'd also say Legacy or Fozza STi and stay in the fold.