scott8629

Hello guys, I am debating getting a Impreza to replace my faithful 306 Rallye.

I have roughly 10K to play with and I was wondering what I would get with that kind of money?

I am 31 with a clean licence so insurance should not be an issue.

It needs to be very reliable as it is my daily driver, look good, not be too loud or chavved up and have a certain degree of comfort. In fact i even want a cup holder.

To put it in a sentence it has to be a good all rounder. I think I would prefer the STI to the WRX, however I would like your advice on what model and the pro's and cons.

A brief search has flagged up Blob Eyes in my price range but I would love a WR1!!

TIA

Cocker

iTrader: (3)

Yes you could get yourself a nice low milage blobeye STI PPP for 10k

BlueBugEye

iTrader: (12)

STI is a better car, both as std and as a base for modifying however the WRX will be a more compliant ride and argueably a better daily driver with better (slightly) fuel economy and lower insurance.

Personally get an STi better still a PPP - try to get one with the wider track and 2.5 if you want a more torquey drive. The JDM cars are better in many ways and servicing etc. really is not a problem insurance might be though.

scott8629

How do you know about the wider track? How does the economy of the 2.5 fare to the 2.0?

What kind of mileage can these cars cope with?

2002 52 SUBARU IMPREZA STI (NEW SHAPE JAP) AJUS DIFF on eBay (end time 26-Dec-09 10:30:12 GMT)

Seen this car. Love the colour not the mileage, what do you guys think?

EddScott

The above car is a JDM import. Not entirely sure on the specifics between UK and JDM 03 STI but the JDM obviously has DCCD. UK cars did not get DCCD until late 54.

However,

With 10K your well within the late UK 54 plate. If your looking at a UK car then STIs ddin't really change from 01 to 54 mechanically - only the front end.

You can tell the cars with wider rear track as they have a little extension to the rear arch.

2005 55 REG SUBARU IMPREZA WRX-STI TYPE UK BLUE 400 BHP on eBay (end time 22-Dec-09 18:48:43 GMT)

This isn't a car recommendation but look at the pics of its rear quarters - the little lip on the rear arch - this shows its got the wider track. If you see this on a car before 54 then its been put on after (which can be done BTW)

Personally, with 10K get an 05 plate UK STI. You might even get a hawkeye with a few miles on it.

scott8629

Looks a nice car that.

SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI TYPE UK 2003 LOW MILES ANY PX on eBay (end time 26-Dec-09 12:31:24 GMT)

I am liking the sliver as its very understated.

DCCD?? Excuse my ignorance.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

PistonHeads.com :: Speed Matters
JDM blob eye cars (MY03 - MY05) are all twin scroll turbo's which are lovely and produce their power across the range far better than their UK counterparts (plus more goodies) and have better engines, servicing is more regular though (6 month/7.5k whichever is first) but you get things like quick rack steering, auto spray and folding mirrors as standard (and rear wiper )

Some bargains to be had, check for crashed/badly repaired examples of either though, parts can be expensive also plus fuel economy (super unleaded only) can be a little drastic

Tony

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

DCCD is driver controlled centre differential, on the MY03 onwards its actually A-DCCD which is auto but switchable to manual
UK cars didnt get this as standard until 2005 (though the wr1 had it in 2004 but not the better and longer track)

Tony

BlueBugEye

iTrader: (12)

Driver Controlled Centre Diff

Allows you to alter the bias of the drive between the front and rea wheels or can be put into auto mode which will adjust according to throttle steering etc.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

UK one though there is a hawk eye at just under 10k in essex
Oh and keep away from anything in keightly, wrc or ktc, not nice cars.

Subaru : Subaru Impreza STI 55 reg PPP 305+ bhp

This may be a good buy if the damage is only limited to the door.

Subaru : MY06 340bhp 2.5 STi Type UK Hawkeye Impreza Blue

Tony

scott8629

Will look into the Japanese ones. How horrendous can the fuel economy be? My current 306 Rallye has a 60L tank and I can get 400 on a long eurotrip motorway run but usually 350ish.

Oh do they have cup holders?

+Doc+

Fuel economy is more than horrendous, if your worried about that buy a UK model and keep it standard.
At the end of the day it's personal choice, some like new age, some like classic, no one likes blob eye.....
Buyers market out there, weigh up all the fors and againsts and get the best you can for your money.
Good luck.

scott8629

I am liking the good luck!

Tidgy

remap will help fuel economy and the size of your grin when you boot it,,, lol

p.s. yes thats true, not only do you get more power, you also improve the mpg off throttle

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

My old blob eye (316bhp) use to do about 28-30mpg tops at around 70-75mph, 16-18mpg in town and low 20's to high teens if I was having a bit of fun though that had a range of about 250 miles taking it easy (50ltr tank though) normal ones have a 60ltr tank and you may get 300 miles out of it

Tony

scott8629

Does not sound too mad

Tidgy

them there is good figures, im down to near single figures when playing or i managed to get to bristol 160 miles on 20L.

admitedly was driving like miss daisy all the way and lost speed up hill i was using that little power lol

bob r

iTrader: (46)

I've been looking recently at 02-05 plate STI's and what a huge price difference.

Some low mileage MY03 STI's are priced at £8500 and some as much as £11000.

I sold an impeccable modified MY03 STI for £11700 nearly 2 years ago so I would imagine the ones priced at £11k now are owned by dreamers.

Tidgy

might be worth 11k but what they sell for is a different story. market is def a buyers market at the min so nowone is maling the money they want

Mus

iTrader: (2)

for that money ill get me a spec C cant go wrong

Wulsey

iTrader: (1)

What about this.

Jdm Sti8 350bhp 45k Miles - Subaru Impreza Drivers Club

EddScott

Silver wouldn't be my first choice but that looks particularly nice. I would seriously consider taking a closer look.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

It would be worth looking at, though it has a vf37 turbo and the quick rack is a 13:1 or 2.25 turns and not 2.5 which is the fast rack.
Better than a UK car in many ways but the uk ones you can get for similar cash will be MY05 cars with the revised geometry etc.

Tony

GazTheHat

Mine's too loud and i've removed the cupholder for the the defi controller.

obey1

iTrader: (24)

what about this and known to the club
it should have cup holders lol
https://www.scoobynet.com/private-sa...300-takes.html

GlesgaKiss

There's so much good advice already in this thread that I'm not going to bother adding anything, except that you shouldn't rush into getting one for the sake of it. There are plenty about, so make sure you find one that has been properly cared for and is preferably standard.

If you get a good one you will not regret it. They are great cars! It will no doubt take you a while to 'get into' driving one after the nimble 306, but you'll love it when you do.

Oh and they are bulletproof when looked after and sensibly modded.