Ved

Now, this will no doubt get release a few bees in people's bonnets but with all the other special editions that the Impreza has had over the years, why is the 22B held in such high esteem? Aside from it's obvious rarity and unique looks is it so far away from other Imprezas of it's time such as the RB5s and P1s with regard to performance and handling?

Comparing it to the more regular Imprezas does it suffer in any way with reliability etc or is this one with all the benefits and a whole bunch of one-off improvements?

Trust me, I think it looks great and would gladly have one to go with my STI, but having never driven it I'm wondering, in the nicest possible way, what the big deal is

Anyway, discuss!

g7prs

iTrader: (5)

I have never driver one but for sheer looks alone i would part with spare internal organs to own one.

Have you read this?

22B.com

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Hand built by craftsmen....

I'd have one too !

dunx

V5RLTD

iTrader: (5)

I dont know what the fuss is all about either Dont get me wrong i appreciate how rare and exclusive it is, but would i pay £20k + for one? would i f**k! Flame suit on

Ved

Nice read. I knew about the hex naming but it's a good story. If only Subaru where still like that as it seems a little bit of the passion has diluted over the last few years.

g7prs

iTrader: (5)

I had the great pleasure of sitting one of the cars that was numbered 000. It used to belong to the one and only Colin Mcrae but its now owned by somebody else.

I also have a picture of my old wagon parked next to another 22B that had the number plate 22B!

gc8-r

iTrader: (21)

i,ve been in a couple and make my type-r look like a average joe car...
they are the nuts,and feel like they are nailed to the road..
mine feels good,but the torque of them is so raw...!
and pins your head back round bends aswell as the straights..(like cossie does)
just one really special car........
i think the only car(impreza) good enough to wear the pink subaru badge..
chris

SkullFudge

I have often wondered the same. Ok there were just over 400 made and the additional width sets the Impreza body off lovely.

I cannot comment as I have never driven one but I would not have thought they are a great deal better than a P1 regarding the driving aspect.

They would produce more torque as I think they are 2.2 ??
Would love to drive one to find out for myself.

I seriously thought of buying one but now my P1 is at the level it is a 22B would not feel too special

happydude303

iTrader: (1)

the 22b has a wicked gear box in it with treated gears so it stronger they come with far better suspension then any other scooby out there in the classic world and yes they have a nice 2.2 block which i think is a closed deck block the p1 only has sti 6 suspension with different spring i believe well the one i look at did and they look the nuts lol id by that for a dollar

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

STI classic gearboxes have strengthened (hardened) gear sets, no real difference, most of the 22B is an STI 4, the difference is the parts they used, wings for example were one off's, very expensive to replace, the wheels were 800 quid each without the tyres, engine was a 2.2 closed deck block, though still a few went pop and the shell was seam welded, no other classic had this done.
They are a special car but are they a faster/better car? you may be shocked to learn they are not (faster that is )

Tony

+Doc+

Fundamentally it's not 'that' special, the rarity and the body styling make it the ultimate classic hence the price they command.
I have been in one on numerous occasions, it drives similar to the P1, looks twice as fat.
However owning one now a days, the question has to be asked is it worth driving it or storing it as an investment? I know I wouldn't like to buy and body panels that needed repairing!

mak24seven

iTrader: (1)

Funny how some cars become classic and others pale off into the big dark banger pit. Has the 22b ever been a cheap car when it got older or has it allways had a premium? Not all cars that are rare and different become expensive, i bought a clio v6 (mk1 6 months old) and they only made 500, boy did that car lose money, now to be found at the bargain price well below 10k :-( All that is wide and rare is not gold.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

think it is more about the presence of the 22b due to the wrc, that give it such a big following such as the escort cosworth a clean example still fetches 15k+ and the e30 m3 still a similar price.

The 22b be it similar to drive as a p1 it still is a fine car to look at and I would own one Although I don't know if I could have it as an everyday car would be too worried of it getting scratched or stolen.

blu scoob

I suppose its just nice to have 1 or 2

V5RLTD

iTrader: (5)

Nicer to actually drive them!

g7prs

iTrader: (5)

You should be banned





It no differernt to the sierra and escort cosworths.

I wouldnt pay that money for a rusty old ford.

blu scoob

I will be driving them next week,Im putting them in a magazine so Im taking them out there bubles and driving them for the mag,5 miles each,max but there going to the place were they are getting the pics done on a wagon

blu scoob

Ive got an old rusty cossie aswell

g7prs

iTrader: (5)

I am really starting to dislike you

blu scoob

you want to see what the wifes got

drumsterphil

iTrader: (1)

Mine's a daily driver - nothing comes close

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Bluscoob did that come from car plannet Warrington? They had a White one due in but it never seemed to hit the stock section. Also those wheels look the same as a blue one the had in which they still have just with standard alloys now

belliott69

iTrader: (3)

i really love the look of the 22b but 20 odd grand for a impreza is to much in my mind when you can get a rarer sti 1 for next to nothing, which had the engine hand built and tuned in the sti workshop, only 200 made leave it standard and wait a few years will be worth a fortune.

blu scoob

yes thats the car,I and I own the blue one aswell,it was the wifes and when I bought her the white one she wanted the Advans so I took them off for her.

blu scoob

you wont own mine for 20k,more like 30k and there standard apart from 1 has a stainless exhaust and they have different stereos.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

well fair played to you mate, I take it you must own or be a part of the company then, can I ask if you own the blue one which I assume was hers does she really need the White one too lol, she is a lucky lady

How do the two compare, they similar spec? And love it in White looks mint

wrx9181

iTrader: (2)

Do any of you remember how much they were brand new ???? they were expensive and well worth it in my eyes .One day i will have one....The car was that good subaru made colin mcrea pay for it ....and he still bought it and hes scotish! I think Colin knows better than most what a good car is. all imo

Ved

Excuse me, Godfather, but can you have someone off'd for me please?

Seriously, what do you do to get all these lovely cars?

scoobynutta555

I owned one a few years back ( a rare uk version), and have said quite a few times that IMHO they are not worth the money. In fact I sold it as I couldn't justify tying up £24k for something that had the same performance as a £5k Impreza. It's basically a pose car with the added worries of a £6k rebuild etc.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

well fair played to you mate, I take it you must own or be a part of the company then, can I ask if you own the blue one which I assume was hers does she really need the White one too lol, she is a lucky lady

How do the two compare, they similar spec? And love it in White looks mint