paulhsti

Wanted to buy something to "replace bike that should be going" I was set on a Mazda RX8 230 with all the bits - test drove the 190 (£20K++) and the 230 (£22K++) and thought them beautiful and fantasticly equiped cars + 4 doors and 4 good size seats so practical(ish) as well. However the engine although screams upto 9000rpm (230) felt dead with constantly increasing but no power kick anywhere. The dealer (Donalds) also sell Scooby's so tryed out a WRX - engine (although lacked a bit of top end) kicked out the torque and the handling felt that much better. The wife would not drive the RX8 but loved the WRX - In the end bought the STI with Prodrive rear box and love looks / image / power and hate (the fuel consumption).
Still wonder about the Mazda particularly now the 05 is out and values of Scooby's seem to be in free fall!

Lum

I test drove a few cars when getting rid of the Company TT.

WRX STI UK was the first thing, but the insurance was prohibitive.
BMW 330d was nearly a goer but they couldn't be arsed getting back to me with lease costs. (though a month later they have sent me some junk mail)
Mazda RX-8 has crappy torque and on the test drive, the back end stepped out really quickly, and the sales rep was an old geezer who insisted that I return it to the test centre right now.
They wouldn't let me test drive an Evo.
Ended up with a Legacy B4 which is much fun, containing the best aspects of the Impreza with the practicality of the Beamer with none of the image problems of either car.

MARK MORRIS

didnt test drive anything before buying my 97 turbo, tried two evo 6 gsr's and an rb5 before buying my p1, tried a civic type r, an focus st170 and a clio 172 as i wanted something cheaper before going for a sti prodrive type uk, later added the ppp but it never really did much for me, regretted selling my p1, chopped the sti in for an evo 6 rsx, knew for sure a couple of minutes into the test drive, strange, when i tried the evo 6 gsr's a few years previous they didnt do much for me
mark

coolangatta

Test drove 1 EVO7 and 3 EVO8's including MR before buying the STi.
The EVO8MR was very good but I don't regret buying the Scoob at all

prelude

I was going to buy an integra type r or a civic , i did look at gts skylines but i thought if i couldnt afford to buy or run the gtr 33 or 34 i shouldnt get one. And i have always loved scoobys i love the sound of the engine and the rally looks , and i love the car i have now, 97 turbo 4 door its great .

pbee

Alfa 156 V6.
BMW 3 series
Volvo t4
Saab 93

Had discounted the impreza as I thought insurance would kill me, Passed the subaru dealers on the way back from the bmw dealers, had a test drive in a 02 model, The dealers where very high pressure and trying to offload 02's and I wanted the 03 model. Ended up importing from Belgium.

Jim_B

iTrader: (1)

Lotus Elise 111s
VX220 Turbo
Nissan 200SX

Liked the Elise & VX but decided on something more practical that didnt leak and bought the scoob.

STI4ME

Also looked at Elise, but didn't fancy having to change into driving shoes every day to drive to work. Tested a CTR but wasn't impressed. VX220 T was over budget. Scoob was what I'd wanted all along but thought I'd test the waters elsewhere while I had the opportunity. Typically, I could have insured a Boxster or a 22b for less than my WRX PPP. :s

SiDHEaD

I didnt try anything, went straight for the scoob, as I'd wanted one since I was in school And I will get another soon

Jamescsti

Before I bought my STi V1 I drove a Mitsubishi GTO twin Turbo and very nearly had that but couldn't get insurance for it which with hindsight i'm pleased about as I do prefer the scooby and i've found out that the gearbox went on the GTO!

automodellistagt

didnt try anything, went straight for the scoob!!!!!

BrynO

Supra TT, Celica GT-4, Civic Type-R. Liked them all, but need the motor for business use and the scoob is the practical choice for a (cough) more mature owner like me. Nice change from the Volvos and Beemers I have driven for the past 5 years!

paulhsti

Interesting selections,
I had a Volvo T4 a while before which was understated but fast fun and gave good MPG, however the grip levels/handling was really bad and made for several understeer/traction control moments.
Got me addicted to the turbo boost of torque, so had to be the Scooby in the end.
Suprised some of you guy's are talking about higher insurance pushed towards the Scooby's of all the cars I looked at the Scooby was the highest. RX8230 was only £420!!

drkuthan

Fiat barchetta
Hyundai accent
Vw bora
Wrx

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Didn't try to many as I kinda had my heart set on a Scooby, but I had a go of:

Evo 6 Wow, but Ouch!
Toyota Celica T sport: Interesting and handsome, but lacked punch. Didn't bother with the test drive of the Civic Type R after that...don't like the lack of torque associated with that genre of car. They are amazing engines though.
Focus TDCI (not really a test drive, actually a hire car) lovely diesel torque, tidy handling, good ride.....but not exciting and no personality.
Astra SRI Nice, but dull.
Astra GSI Very nice, but still a little dull. Needs work on the details.
WRX 04 Wow, but a little quiet!
WRX Sti 04 Double wow. Go, I love that flat four sound! Pity about the insurance! :-(
MY99 I'll take it :-) ....I can even afford the insurance now....just! :-/

Best.

Speedmeister

Tried a Cooper S. Cute looking but dreadful ride on the optional 17 inchers and interior rattles were appalling. This was a 4000 mile demonstrator. I was disappointed as was expecting Beemer quality.
My MX5 I had at the time felt quicker and smoother when I got back in!
Couldn't find a Cupra R available.
Loved the WRX so bought a new one and no regrets a year later- no rattles and I still have my fillings!

jonjo

Bought a WRX and decided I neede a newer car so bought a Golf GTI Turbo and was so dissapointed that I went back to a STI.

Cant beat a scoob


Joe.....

little'un

iTrader: (9)

In the last 3 years been through:


Kawasaki Ninja ZX6 and CBR400 baby fireblade
Golf VR6 with 2.9 corrado engine
Clio up 172 (pony)
Astra Turbo (vauxhall what more can I say! )
Now Classic Turbo with one or two small tweaks...

Scoob is definately more fun with Golf and bikes a vv close second...

Lin

Pastor

Tried a BMW 528i before I bought the Impreza and ended up owning it for 18 months. A really great car but I'd always wanted a scooby.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Hyundai Coupe,
Saxo VTS,
306 GTi6,
Golf GTi,
Volvo T4,
Then arranged a test drive in a 106GTi, but the Pug dealer (Dixon motors: ) walked away when it became clear i wasn't in the market for one there and then, but a few months in the future.

Eventually his sales manager came over and we got talking about performance. He asked if I'd tried a Scoob, and when I said not, advised me to get a test drive, but also to make sure I could afford one before I did, as he said I would think anything else tame after driving a Scoob.
:

Alcazar

S.B.

Yes you can

scoobydog

Nissan 200SX which was really nice but hadn't got the grunt of the standard MY04 WRX.

Followed by Honda Accord Type R - a great car with a cracker of an engine but really wanted something with 4WD and a bit newer.

Tried a friends new BMW Compact 320td. Really nice amazing go for a 2.0L diesel but didn't feel very special.

Then tried a demo WRX followed by a demo STI both fantastic but prefered the WRX on account of lower running costs and the slightly smoother ride (although Prodrive springs are next on the list). And that was it - sold on scoobs

U WOT!

Had a 306 Gti-6, tried to change it for a 206 180, but was told to check my insurance first and that i couldn't have a test drive. Then tried the supra tt, skyline Gts, Celica GT4 and Mitsi GTO, before being hooked on the scoob. Needs to be faster now though.