It's my first post on here, so please be gentle! (ive had a good search on here but want a few thing cleared up)
Currently driving a stage 2 spec ibiza fr turbo, but ive had my fun with it and loved impreza's since i was about 10.
Im only 22, so at the moment my thought is a 2003 onwards WRX, as the STi isnt very insurance friendly for me - is this me being impatient or is it a viable alternative realistically? The chances are it will be modified one way or another, so take this into consideration.
Secondly, is mileage an issue with these cars? Obviously i'd look for one with solid history, but is there anything else i should be checking out?
As there are a few cars for sale on here, i think it'd be ideal to buy from an enthusiast, but just need some guidance first!
Sorry for the essay, but any help will be greatly appreciated!
Ben

 

welcome to the site mate
your right on the sti being to much for insurance, im 31 and i pay £800

mileage isnt a problem with these engines as they are good engines provided its been looked after and had cam belt changes,

mods might push your insurance up near sti insurance prices so i would get a standard wrx and drive it for a bit before modding.

good look, im no expert but just a bit of advice through experience.

 

Thanks, it wont be modded right away, want to find limits as standard first, well ill try too!

 

Hi Ben I'm 23 and own an STI it's difficult with insurance but very worth it, the best thing I can say to you is that a WRX will never be as good as an STI and I'm sure others will agree. The WRX is still a very capable car but the money you would spend modding it (plus the extra after declaring on your insurance) would probably be the difference in price between a WRX and an STI, if you can then get yourself the STI as its a much better car.

Whichever you get it will make you very happy mate I'm still smiling nearly 5 months after having mine, I'm only in Dudley mate so if you wanted to come have a look round mine just drop me a pm. Also get yourself to the WMI section on here and get your name down to get along to a few meets

 

thats kinda what i thought id hear! Ive got to wait until around september, so ill readdress the wrx/sti situation.
Thanks for the offer, i know nobody with an impreza so thats kind of you!

 

No problem at all mate just let me know if you wanna look besides I wouldn't mind a look at your motor either (always been a fan of the fast seats) and its better to go in knowing something rather than nothing

 

cool, ill drop you a PM when im back at home in the week!

 

no problem at all pal

 

Are they on the whole reliable if they are looked after? My SEAT has been trouble free (touchwood) in the 2 years that ive had it, and thats the only thing in the back of my head - getting rid of a reliable car for a potential money pit.

 

yeah they're pretty reliable but keeping with the regular service intervals is a must, any car can be a money pit but as long as its been well maintained and not thrashed everywhere all the time or thrashed from cold it should be fine. Looking at what you have currently I would say that you know how to look after something like a scoob though

 

i would say you have 2 good options

option 1 buy a totally standard car thats been well cared for , the only down side is you will have to spend on it if you want to mod it

option 2 buy one thats been modded ,there spend your gain people will spend a fortune never to get it back , but only if you can be 100 percent its been done by a reputable tuner and done properly and i cant stress that enough

there are so many cars out there thats been modded by a mate of a mate
and how long they wiil last is anyones guess

go for it ,you will love em mate, i think mine is great fun , and i,ve had what some folks call supercars

 

good advice. ideally i want one thats for sale on here, but that means shifting the ibiza which is proving to be a task, but i'll get there.
Realistically, what is the fuel useage like? say if you were to put £25 in? in my ibiza i get about 80 miles with a bit of fun. It doesnt bother me, just would like proper owners advice and experience!
If i were to get a wrx, are there bolt on turbo's, or do they need new manifolds too?

 

2003 sti with ppp 22 mpg and thats on the motorway

 

No worse than my ibiza tbh so that erm...ok? Haha!

 

well I went to skegness the other day and averaged 37mpg in my 2003 sti but I was doin 60 the whole time and never really used boost, as with any car the fuel useage is down to how its driven really but as has been said they're not brilliant on fuel