wilso122

Hi Guys,

I am looking at getting a 2004 wrx, never owned a scooby before infact this is the first sports car I would have owned but have had plenty of big bikes, for various reasons the bike is going and I want something exciting to own instead.

I want to know honestly what owning one is like, I know they are wicked but am interested in servicing costs, known problems, things to look out for, what are they like on a long journey, good points, bad points, reliability etc I know they are not fuel efficient though ;-)

Please be impartial, if that is at all possible given the nature of the forum ;-)

Cheers,

Wilso

The Dogs B******s

Dont think about it,just get one

Scoobyhatch

Beware performance motoring is bad for your pocket, but once you hear a Scooby with a moded exhaust you will be hooked for life

After 80K of motoring in 3 different models my summary is- Great performance and an easy versatile car to live with. Generally good at most things - not the best, but not too many vices either. Motorway driving is fine but dont expect to be able to talk to your rear seat passengers especially if you have an aftermarket exhaust.

Servicing is no better/worse that other cars, any main dealer major service can hurt. Details of servicing from my old MY02 PPP WRX
1st Service £32.01
10,000 mile Service £146.71
1st Year Body Service £78.20
20,000 mile service £214.52
30,000 mile service £589.24
Oil change + New Clutch £59.07
40000 mile service +MOT + 3rd Year Body Service £341.03
Replace front strut top mounting + mini service £141.56
50000 mile service + MOT + New Cam Belt and New Front Discs & Pads £985.80

Reliability is good provided serviced regularly and not overly modded. Fuel consumption is not great around town, but expect 25-30mpg on a run,. New car depreciation can hurt. Tyres last typically 20K plus depending on driving style etc. Body work warranty lasts 6 years so make sure it has full Subaru service history including the body treatments. Hope this helps. Enjoy

Allan

iTrader: (1)

Welcome to SN

In the 4 years I've owned it, My 03 WRX PPP has cost an average of just over £300/year for main dealer servicing and repairs, this includes the cam belt service. About the same as our old MX5.

Probably average about 24-25 to the gallon, and has been totaly reliable. Their not too bad on a long journey, but don't expect a quite comfortable ride, road noise is quite high on poor surfaces.

Overall I've found the running costs not too bad, and significantly lower than my previous 00 classic.

Allan

wiley

iTrader: (63)

welcome to scoobynet!!!!
the main reason i bought mine is that lovely rumble you can only get with a scooby... the 4 door also suits me as i have a baby on the way

wiley

JonnyUK1980

iTrader: (1)

Welcome mate , i'm new to the subaru world too, i drive a 03 wrx and absolutly love it! I don't use it for work and have already covered 5000 miles in 3 months!!!!

As the 04 plate will be same as mine expect 250 miles to a tank if you're lucky and a lot of that is on the motorway, 230miles is about average but i've seen just 206miles out of a tank before and at todays prices i can get a full tank of vpower in for around £52 just before the petrol light comes on!

I haven't had to service mine yet but i will do within the next month or two as it's coming upto 50'000 miles so that means cambelt too. I got two quote for the service inc camblet just the other week...

Subaru dealers - £399
Scooby clinic - £299

Absolute joy to drive, nice for motorway runs, mine's relativley quiet as it only has a prodrive back box on it and the handling is superb!
Grp19 insurance but it's worth every penny

Jonny

MrJim

yea go for it mate,if you can afford it go for a sti or you will regret it later,i tried evo7,and a skyline but they don,t give you the buzz you get from a scooby. enjoy

cossie-nutter

iTrader: (45)

Welcome.

Got my 1st Subaru and spent 2k on it straight away but all in upgrades!

Got my 2nd Subaru and spent just over £1200 on it so far on ungrades!

Once you buy s Subaru you won't be able to leave it alone as you will always want the best for it!

Allan

iTrader: (1)

Be careful, you will probably recieve lots of comments like "go for the Sti instead".

Given your question about what are they like on a long journey, you are obviously concerned about the refinement. If in any doubt try and drive both, I certainly don't regret buying a WRX over an Sti.

Allan

phil_wrx

iTrader: (2)

i have a wrx and an sti

servicing is miles cheaper than my golf gti and the only downside is fuel consumption, but my wrx does 280-340 a tank and the sti only gets about 180 a tank.

the wrx as an everday driver is just pure **** but the sti is serious hardcore and very difficult to live with as a commuter.

wilso122

Thanks for the welcomes and replies all really helpful. I think the STi is out of the window as I need it for commuting and motorway I found the STi whilst unquestionably better performance no where near as comfy.

Servicing is what I thought then and no more than a civic type r or old porka.

Thanks again, all been really helpful, going to test drive another one in a minute, so all I have to do now is decide which one to buy ;-)

Cheers

Wilso

p.s. Where is scooby clinic?

Jonnys3

Scooby Clinic | The UK's Largest Independent Subaru Specialists | 01246 590 807 - Chesterfield S42 6QX Derbyshire, just off J28 M1. Always take mine there for service and MOT but then again I only live 10 mins drive away. Certainly know their stuff and I would highly recommend!

Btw, welcome to the scooby community and don't forget the scooby wave!

Allan

iTrader: (1)

Keep an eye out for a WRX PPP, no worse on petrol or servicing to the WRX and similar power to the Sti.

Best of both worlds

austinwrx

I bought a 2004 wrx a year ago from subaru. loved every minute of it and I've had cars of all natures and types in 20 yrs of driving.

buying a car is easy- esp now.

what you must do first is ring up and get an insurance quote. - if you can afford that, plus high road tax, plus higher than normal servicing bills go for it.

the car makes me smile everytime I drive it

economy is poor- but I've seen 320 out of a tank on a good run. I specifically bought a wrx sl model-- all leather, all the toys, heated seats etc---as oppose to an STI - tried to be as subtle as possible as I don't want some larey looking, stickered up, spolier clad car----- but thats personal choice.

rear seat room is absolutely rubbish for adults

all in all- great but its going to be one of the first cars I've lost lots of money on I guess when reselling.

austinwrx

oh- had zero reliability problems- everything works perfectly.

can't say that about many cars.

JonnyUK1980

iTrader: (1)

how in the name of god did you get 320 miles out of a tank on a 2004 wrx? did you drive everywhere ta 20mph in 5th gear?

I have a 2003 wrx standard apart from a prodrive back box and at a squeeze taking it pretty steady through a tank mostly motorway miles i've only gotton 260 miles from a tank

Geoteds2002

I once squeezed 360 miles out of my 05 wrx, however that was travelling approximately 55 mph following my mates 1970 VW camper over to France. It is possible

zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

i can beat that, i got 402 miles out of a full tank from yorkshire to cornwall

i have put £40 in the last 3 weeks and driven 240 miles around town and to york and back from hull and the light came on last night

Georgey

I got my 01 WRX a couple of months ago,previous motor was a 306 gti-6.I can get 300ish miles out of a tank but more realisticaly its 250 and probably a fair bit lower if really driven hard.To be honest everytime i get in and start it up the noise instantly reminds me of why i bought mine.All i would say is do it!you wont regret it.

w88chy

iTrader: (2)

Just a few words to help you.....

BUY ONE

But just don't test drive the STi if your wanting a WRX

JonnyUK1980

iTrader: (1)

402 Phil?

You must have a bigger tank lol seriously is there somthing wrong with my car if i can only get 260 on a good run?

Mikkel

If you can stretch to it consider the MY06 STi Spec D. It is a WRX SL with the STi running gear making it comfortable and comfortably faster than the WRX as standard. I am biased though

You could always buy an STi and fit WRX springs as well I suppose. It's difficult to get the best of both worlds as it's what I was looking for a couple of years back when I bought my car. The WRX just didn't cut it as a performance car for me... but then they can be upgraded

IainMilford

iTrader: (15)

all the STi's I saw when I got my car all looked a bit abused so I went with my very tidy WRX. I actually prefer the interior of the WRX, only thing I wish I had was the 6 speed box and dccd.

My car had the PPP which I thought would be enough, however it wasn't long before the modding bug began to creep in ......

but do it!! currently I commute 20 miles each way to work mainly motorway miles and I will use a tank a week. this works out only £10 a week more than my previous car and for all the car I've got its worth it. When I bought the car the garage did a 30k service for me so I avoided a big bill, just had an interim service which cost £200, reasonable IMO. If you thrash the car all the time you'll go through tyres and brakes (and fuel) a lot quicker, but if you drive sensibily most of the time and 'enjoy' yourself every now and again you'll find they will last for ages! I'm coming up to 10,000 miles since I';ve had the car and the pads are only just past half worn.

the only downside I have found are all the chavs who drive right up yer backside and who want to race you, really annoying but you're safe in the knowledge that you could av em if you really wanted to