Tractor

Guys, I need opinions urgently.

Which is the best deal:

97 P reg STI3 for 10,350 and approx 2ok miles

or

98 R reg standard UK turbo for 10,250 and 50+k miles?

Help please. I am not sure and need to make a decision fast!

Thanks

RB170

More info required like mods etc and is it going to be used everyday or for fun?

On the face of it I'd go for the STI 3....IMHO

Mike

robski

UK spec, still under warranty (for 10K miles)
although when wa it registered? if it was start of 98 then its about to/has run out.

Sti no manufacturers warranty, are you near a decent garage who can service well?

probably more potential for bills with the Sti, or does it come with a good warranty?
Has the Sti been properly prepped for the UK?

Is the Sti a private sale? if so ask the owner what fuel they use, if normal unleaded, its going to be riskier as they really want super as a minimum, so its more likely (but not definately) going to show some damage internally.

Some parts slightly more difficult to get for the Sti, but majority are quickly available from specialists.

Sti more power, although will normally show less that book, where as UK will normally show more than book.

Insurance normally 2-3 groups higher for Sti and also less companies willng to cover, so less competition for your business, read : more expensive to insure.

Sti better spec for goodies.

98 if later registered may have the 4 pots, but may be 2 pots, which are not as good.

robski

Tractor

Cheers lads

Both are private sale with recent services.

Sti has been worked on by David Hendry cars who did the....wait for it...major engine repairs necessary after the number 3 piston ring failure!!!! They relined the cylinders, replaced the pistons, put in a new timing belt, new main bearing, piston rings and a new turbo - all Sti parts. A lot of work for a big failure, but I am hoping, enough to bring the car back up to tip top spec. Opinions?

Cheers

RB170

Mmmmmmmm

Would I trust it especially seeing as it's only done 20k ???? don't know......what about the UK car anything happened to that?

You have to ask yourself what you want, if it's performance your after then the UK car will do the job but it's not going to be as quick as the STI. Are they the same shape? Cause in 98 the shape changed, became more aggresive.

I know it's bit girly but what coulours are they what wheels do they have etc? Do either of them hane any mods.

Mike

robski

Sounds cheap for the Sti, about right for the UK I would say.

Unless the market has fallen out of the STis more than I thought.

Check Insurance for both.

Test drive both. If you like the STi that much more, maybe risk it? If you think you may want a quicker sale in the future, I would probably go for the UK. Greys continue to get bad press (rightly or wrongly)

But, its your money, youve gotta take you chance.

People will say STi, some will say UK. Normally opinions are biased.

There is no wrong opinion though, welcome to the club

robski

GavinP

Lots of good points so far - the other one is tuning potential.

The STI3 is supposedly the best engine to tune an Impreza from so if you are planning to tweak it a lot, it would be a better start.

I would say insurance and servicing facilities as already mentioned would probably be the deciding factor.

Thanks

Gavin

Tractor

The UK car is green and totally standard, but sounds in good nick with full history. The Sti 3 is white (don't start - my last scoob was white and I rather liked it) and standard apart from 17" Technomagnesios and SO2s (new - yippeee). No history up to 17k or so, at point it was imported to UK in 98 - full history since then.

Has anyone here had the piston failure and repair? Since they are all new parts, I am assuming the engine should be back to full, perhaps even better health. Thoughts?

Miles

1st question I would ask would be about the infamous piston slap issue on 98MYs. Has the short engine or pistons been replaced? Any noise from the engine on cold startup?

polarbearit

I would say on cost alone the STi is a better price, and should have the same bonnet as the 98UK. If you want an STi, then that one is prolly good to go for at £10k or so. I think the UK car probably should be around £9.5k really. Do you do a lot of miles, because a higher mileage scooby can be hard to sell! Just my opinion though but any scooby should be cheap at the moment. You could get the STi inspected to put your mind at rest!