Scooberman

I'm looking into buying one of the above next summer and was wondering what the comparison is between performance?

Obviously the V70 wins hands down on refinement but I guess that is not the reason you buy an Impreza.

If I go for Subaru is new Impreza Wagon better than the old one?

Please excuse ignorance, I've only just started checking this out.

Flat 4x4

You're looking at two totally different cars - the only similarities are the turbo,4wd and estate !

To be honest you need to drive them both and make your own mind up what is important to you.

I compared my 2000MY A4 quattro Avant with a new'ish WRX wagon before saving a load of cash and going for a 99 model - because I was prepared to accept more noise/less refinement for more fun and chuckability. May be different for you.

Pavlo

Consider a jap import Legacy GT-B twin turbo.

There's a few in the for sale section at about £15k.

275hp as standard, but less tunable than a single turbo without a fair bit of hassle.

Volvo can be tweaked, but limited by turbo which is td04 (similar to 97-> scoob) but I am sure some tuning companies offer something, probably worth 270-290hp modified.

Volvo's have very little lag, due to small turbo and larger (2.3?) displacement.

Legacys are more roomy than impreza, and similar in refinement to new age scoob (better than classic scoob).

paul

JackClark

My friend has had two Volvo Cross Countrys, old shape and new. I've had two Impreza's, old and new. Her's breaks down all the time and she calls it a "piece of ****"! Mine didn't start once from a flat battery - at the airport, no problem - I kick the crap out of it and love it like a pet... or not as the case may be.

Mind you, if I had to ditch Subaru for whatever reason, Volvo would get a visit.

PPower

WRX wagon is excellent, but out of the refinement league of the volvo. Wouldn't V70 R compete better against an S4 Avant? Provided that both were new, I'd probably go with the V70R AWD.