Hi all,

I'm new and i'm looking for some advice

I current have a 2002 Clio 172, which hopefully should be selling in the next couple of weeks, i'm looking at getting an STI/WRX in some shape or form from a 95 to 97 plate. Its my last attempt at freedom before i bite the bullet and get married in 2008.

I'm a completely newbie to turbo cars and imprezas, and i'm after some advice on what to look out for...common problems and all that jazz, as the last thing i want is to buy a couple wreck that looks mint on the outside. If possible...i'm trying to get a bog standard model or one with very minor mods - exhaust and i/k, that sort of thing.

What can i expect them to be like coming from my little french hatch? mpg, service intervals etc?

Sorry for the bombardment of q's

Friendly advice welcome.

Thanks,
Dan

 

look at the cars for sale on here might save you all the trouble of looking at some of the crap out there

 

Cheers matey

 

I'm not quite clear why you would want to make a backwards step?

 

Sorry, not sure i follow...172 to sti is a backwards step?

 

Yup,unless your Clio isn't chavvy enough for you

 

Chav..moi. I don't think so

Just would like a little more power tbh without shelling out any more coin.

 

You want a car that has obviously been looked after. Even if there are not garage bills there should be receipts showing oil, filters, plugs etc. If the owner uses good quality oil and knows when the next oil change is due, then chances are he/she looks after their motor.
Similarly if all the MOTs are present you can chck the annual useage ties up.
There are good 93-96 cars about, sometimes for not a lot of money, even in very good condition but if you can afford a 97-98 car that will be a better buy provided it is in good condition.
You may want to buy a car with very few or no modifications. If the car has been modified, have these modifications been carried out properly?
Remember a modified car is likely to have been driven harder than a standard car and if the modifications have not been done properly you could be buying a load of trouble.
Lastly, do not be in a hurry or feel you have to buy because you have travelled a long way. The market is flooded with cars at present so do not be stampeeded into a purchase. Take your time and look for something that is clean and shows signs of being cared for.

 

Thanks for your reply mate.

 

So what sort of mpg can i expect to get?

 

I'm lucky if I get 22mpg.. and I mostly do motorway miles! On the upside, I got loads of shell pluspoints. Which I convert into shell gift vouchers. Which go into the petrol tank. Oh, the irony...

 

Cheers. You are welcome.
A lot depends on the type of running you do and your manner of driving.
Lots of cold starts and urban driving will give poor consumption as will driving it hard, often unnecessarily.
A car in standard or semi standard trim, in good condition, on mixed driving should be capable of 25-27 mpg.
I regularly get well over 300 miles to the tank on a 97 STi 3 Wagon 335 bhp/333ft lbs (For Sale) and 280-310mls on a 95 WRX Wagon with 421 bhp/355ft lbs. Taking it easy and both figures are improved.

 

i have had 320 miles from a tank on more than one occasion. That's £45 of optimax at present prices so not that bad really. I expected worse!

5t

 

I can get just over 300 miles if I was to do motorway miles on my MY06. Saying that, I filled up today on empty showing 240 miles - that was town miles and giving it a bit ! I do use shell V-Power though.

 

As harvey said. Look at loads, test drive loads, ask questions, look for history. In my opinion get a standard one or as close to standard as you can get (not many of those around).

Don't let lots of owners put you off either. As someone on here said a while ago - a car thats had 8 careful owners is better than one careless owner.

 

Thanks for the advice

Well i've agreed to buy Shane's (on here) WRX, it was the first one i looked at, but i knew as soon as the cover rolled back in the garage it was the one It just looks absolutely mint, fairly standard and tight as a drum.

All being well, i'll be picking it up on Sunday afternoon

 

NIce one. Hope you've found a good one and i'm sure you will love it!!

 

Well done mate - enjoy it.