m111usy

Hi all,
Just wondering how common engine failure is on the newer bug eye and blobeye wrx/sti uk cars, compared to the classic shape subaru's.

The impreza's ive seen posts about with engines blowing arent that old and dont have mega milage on them. i wouldnt expect an engine to blow/need a rebuild after 70k.... 215bhp isnt alot of power to stress an engine (unless its made of chocolate)

My current car is a vw golf mk4 gti( boring i know). These things are only 1.8 turbo (150bhp) and can be remapped to 220bhp. You never hear of these engines going pop, even after being remapped with 70bhp more than standard and having 150'000+ miles on the clock.

Always fancied a subaru impreza, but cant afford a new one and the horror storys ive heard about engines going bang puts me off a bit. (i cant afford to blow 3k on an engine rebuild should it blow)

The cars i'll be looking at will be around the 9-11k mark with max of 30k miles.

just finding it a bit daunting taking the plunge when i keep seeing posts popping up about engine failures (Addmitidly classic impreza's... )

Torquemada

Actually, I've heard of several golfs going pop after remapping etc. Just depends on which 1.8t engine model it is and how it's been looked after.
I currently run a Golf 25th Anniversary 1.8t 180bhp (stronger internals, better brakes etc.) completely standard and a 1998 UK Impreza with gas flowed exhaust, decat downpipe and a few other little bits. There're loads of different reasons why any engine could blow, badly planned tuning attempts, treating the engine like cack. A well loooked after example with regular oil changes/services etc should see you right.

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Doesn't look too bad for a Golf engine:

This one looks very healthy too:


Have you read any Golf forums?

F

jasonius

iTrader: (1)

Lol, Floyd, you opened a VW scrappers..?

It's like everything, if it's treated right it 'should' last. The problem is that a lot of people buy a car cheap that they can't afford to run properly, throw a manual boost controller in to whack boost up and DV. Combined with crap fuel and none existent servicing it's not surprising they go bang really..!

[Davey]

Good old VAG turbo engines:

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Both my pictures were 1.8T engines that were tuned.

F

Torquemada

Badly tuned/looked after
Just shows that any engine can fail due to various causes.
Touch wood, both the scoob and the GTI are ok

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Of course. Any engine can be badly tuned or just bad luck.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

The vast majority of engine failures are imports that have either

a) a dubious history (badly tuned, thrashed, not looked after etc.
b) Have been run on innappropriate grade fuel.

That's not to say there aren't superb imports, because there most definately are- you just need to know what you're looking for and be a bit better informed.

Get a UK Impreza and you'll be fine, with the following provisos:

a) You get it serviced it in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations
b) You don't drive it like a ****. ie. no thrashing it when cold, bouncing off the limiter at every opportunity etc..
c) If you modfy it, you do it properly, which means £££
d) You don't skimp on consumables e.g. petrol, oil, service parts etc..
e) And you don't buy a dog in the first instance, obviously! Get a professional inspection before parting with any cash!

These cars are ULTRA reliable if looked after properly. They are cheap to buy in terms of performance per pound, but be warned, they are not correspondingly cheap to run! Neglect them and you will get hit hard in the wallet!

Of course there are bad apples in every barrel, as with any car, but there are many more bad owners than bad cars!

Ns04 320bhp MY99 (never given me a single problem....touchwood etc... )

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Ns04 320bhp MY99 (never given me a single problem....touchwood etc... )

You've done it now

Talking about cheap to run; any tuned motor may be more economical if driven very lightly but it will also be more thirsty when driven to it's potential (and you will want to drive it fully). The speed at which the tank empties on 300+BHP will come as a nasty surprise

F

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

After a trip up the M6 I can confirm this! Didn't have the heart to measure the MPG, but something tells me it was about half of what Subaru would suggest the std car can do!!!

Totally worth it though!

Tidgy

i have see a wrx blob eye with a hole in the block cos of abuse, at 3k miles .

like anything look after it and they are pretty reliable unless you get a lemon.


mines 340bhp uk turbo and its going strong as ever (touch wood, pats head, lol) and fuel consumption, i can get from nottingham to bristol on 20.11 litres, or i can get 140 miles out of £50 if i try to lol