wingco

Help.
I am looking at a late 02 WRX wagon or a 03 WRX wagon. Just sold the classic 4 door. I will be strugling to afford the 03 so has anybody owned both and can pass devine assistance in which route to take.

Cheers

[Edited by wingco - 5/22/2003 9:56:05 PM]

micaAB

i'm impressed with my wrx03 wagon, it's very solid, got good grip and it's quite fast (might need a PPP if i can afford it) but to be honest i've haven't driven any other type. seats let the 03 down a bit.

no-one yet knows what the depreciation is gonna be like on the 03's but it seems that the depreciation on the 02 has been major in the 1st year (i stand to be corrected on this) and not so bad after that.

but i can't offer anything else other than ...... go with what you can afford!

chiark

Neither will disappoint. Not many changes from 02 to 03 on the wagon, short of deadlocking, side airbags, bit of a suspension set-up revision IIRC, different ECU, different exhaust and the lights.

Looks of the 02 are, IMHO, blighted (asbestos underpants on) and the 03 has got that sorted.

I've gone for an 03 wagon and would extoll the joys of it to anyone.

Test drive both, I doubt you'll notice much difference between the two, but I would haggle hard with the dealer and try for the 03 - there's deals to be had.

If you do end up with the 02, it's still a cracking car plus it's already lost the value of driving out the garage. bear in mind Subaru discounted heavily at the end of year (19k-ish new) and you're looking to take VAT off that, and a year's running, so you might just be able to pick up a bargain. but for my money, it would have to be a bargain to make it worthwhile given the deals on new 03s

( R6 CDW )

I have to say, There are a whole heep of changes from 02/03. There is hardly a body panel that has not been alterd.
Slightly more power too.
New seats(cloth changed) rev counter in centre of binnicle, plus lots more.
save yir pennies and get the 03.

bluto22b

Body shell = same as MY02
Doors = same as MY02
Wheels = same as MY02 (except grey coating)
Sills = same as MY02
In summary, only the front wings and bonnet are different


Oh, and the front lights front and rear bumpers

[Edited by bluto22b - 5/21/2003 7:42:09 PM]

GTMR

Driven both, and now own a Dutch 03 wagon, which was ordered before the Euro rose. Obviously don't try this at home, but if you were to blindfold me I honestly don't think I could tell which one I was driving (if you see what I mean).

I agree with Chiark that the 03 looks better, but personally I think the 02 wagon looks OK, and came very close to getting one of the late discounted ones. Let's face it (cough) both look better than the 4 door.

Good luck - I don't think there is a wrong choice here. If you can find an 02 at a good price look hard at it.

( R6 CDW )

Is that the rear door?, looks a hell of a differant to me, rear lights front, lights, fog lights,
alloy bonnet, larger scoop,bumpers front and rear, 5 air bags, ecu , more power,seats, tachometer. and it to boot is a good looking car.

aint our fault you bought a fugly.

pslewis

Do you REALLY need to ask this question??

The FUGLIES are impossible to sell, are one of the ugliest cars EVER to set tyre on tarmac and will be losing money faster than the DOME!!!

Do yourself a BIG favour and buy into the up-to-date one!!

Pete

Itsanicesensibleestatecar

I've just moved up from an 01( same as an 02 ) to an 03, and the difference is huge. The suspension is a lot more supple and absorbs the bumps a lot better. At first this makes you think the body rolls more, but when you start to really push it, you realise that it handles even better and isn't knocked off line by a mid-corner bump like the old one was. The new model also understeers far less than the 01/2, a slight mid-corner correction pulls the back end round nicely. Also if you're going for the PPP the new version gives 260bhp vs 241 on the 01/2. The only bad thing is the bucket seats have been replaced by less grippy sport seats, but these are at more comfortable on long journeys and have side airbags.

wingco

Cheers gents