carfan2011

just looking for some advice really now me and my girlfriend want to buy this impreza its a 1994 impreza GL fwd 1.6.
now i know a 1.6 isnt going to be incredibly fast but will it be faster than some other 1.6 cars on the road?

and how well are subarus built as my girlfriend is worried about the age its only done 110k miles which for a 94 car is amazing.
but need some reassurance that these cars are built well.


if anyone can give me some advice today would be very grateful.

Thanx.

also would this car be quicker than our saxo vtr?
Adam

carfan2011

really need advice guys as i might be getting this car tonight lol

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

Impreza 1.6 are very slow chap. Me, personally, if I wanted a 1.6 engined car then it certainly wouldn't be an Impreza.
May be worth trying the Impreza sport owners club. You may find some better answers there.
Also, i think a saxo VTR would be a quicker car than the Impreza.

muttleyturbo

iTrader: (5)

I'd personally opt for something else if only going for a 1.6 Impreza, unless you are dead set on getting one.

Looking at the stats online the 1.6 came with 88bhp according to Parkers, and with it being 17 years maybe lost a few ponies along the way too.

You could buy something quicker and cheaper to insure most likely depending on budget. Subaru's are reliable in general as long as they have been looked after. However I don't know much about the 1.6 models to comment on many aspects.

What is your budget for a car if you don't mind me asking?

chrismyatt82

Here is some info with the performance however 0-60 and top speed isnt listed for the 1.6

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/review...a/saloon-1993/

I had a friend who bought a 1.6 as he just wanted to get an Impreza, he said it was very slow and didnt keep it long

I have just got an Impreza Sport 2.0 (non-turbo), its fairly quick and sounds and looks good too

May be worth looking around for one? They are fairly cheap to pick up too

If not good luck with tonight if you go and buy

carfan2011

Well i was going to straight swap a saxo vtr for the scooby. Now the scooby has a boxer engine i beleive ad a wrx exhaust on it. It definately sounds like a boxer. Only done 110k miles which kinda tells me it hasnt been ragged all over the place. I know it needs a cv gaiter and 2 front tyres but didnt know how fast the car was. My girlfriend test drove it but not fast enough or long enough to know how quick it was. But if its going to be slowet than our vtr then theres not much point really

chrismyatt82

VTR will be quicker

Its smaller, lighter, has more BHP and 0-60 in just under 10

CREWJ

I have a 2000 Sport Special which I may be selling soon to upgrade.

chrismyatt82

I would personally go for an Impreza Sport if your insurance will allow you to

carfan2011

Ugh was hopin i wouldnt be told that but guess i got my answer. Such a shame they didnt make the older ones quicker. The only reason i went for the 1.6 was because of insurance really but to have a scooby wouldve been cool it sounds mental has the proper scooby rumble but im not goin to buy a slower car for the sound

chrismyatt82

Remember speed isnt everything! If you just want the rumble and look of an Impreza then a 1.6 will be fine

chrismyatt82

Found this for you...

1997 Subaru Impreza 1.6 GL
Information Summary
Body: sedan/saloon
Length: 4350 mm
Weight: 1125 kg
Engine Capacity: 1597 cc
Cylinders: F4
Max. Power: 90.2 PS / 89 bhp / 66.4 kW @ 5600 rpm
Max. Torque: 137.0 Nm / 101 ft.lb / 14 kgm @ 4000 rpm
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 12.70 seconds
Fuel Economy: 11.2/6.9/8.5 l/100km urban/extra-urban/combined per 93/116/EC


These specs are for the 1997 model year Subaru Impreza 1.6 GL

Markyscoob

Don't do it! Don't want to disappoint you but you'd reget buying it ever more.

I had a VTS which frankly goes like Stink. The VTR was just the same for everything else except when the revs went up and the 16v motor came on song. I know the VTR feels torquey and smooth and compared to that the Impreza is larger, roomier inside and feels more like a proper car. The sound is appealing too, and a wing and gold wheels makes even a GL like a proper rally car.

However, the 1.6 is a gutless pig of a lump. They made it FWD because it wouldn't have the torque to drive the back as well. The only thing on it's side is better economy than other models.

The Burble is there simply because of the uneven primary exhaust pipes. If you fit a manifold to your VTR with uneven primary pipes it'd sound just like a Scooby.

2.0 sport is the bare minimum you should consider if you want a car that can actually overtake a milk float.

Sorry.

carfan2011

Hmmm interesting point i dont know if it is the speed i mean i could spend money if i wanted to make it faster. But i think it is owning an impreza and the roar of it that appeals to me. Is that just a man thing? Lol. But seriously if they are reliable cars then i may consider it and work on it ovet time to make it wat i want it to be. I mean they arent bad cars just maybe little bit slower than ours. God this decision is too hard.

555sport555

i used to own a saxo vtr 2001, and i can tell you know that it IS alot faster then a 1.6 subaru. at the moment i am useing a 2.0 (non turbo) subaru and the stats say the VTR has 1 BHP more then a 2.0 subaru sport.

what i will say is though the subaru will be nicer to drive and it is a much better built car,.

CREWJ

The sports are surprisingly light too although you lose a lot of power and economy through the 4WD system.

carfan2011

Lol. The thing is. I was looking for a 5 door car because ive got a son and the three door is so bloody annoying for that. So when i get offered a scooby that sounds incredible. Looks nice. Is 5 door not lowered so more comfortable. And so far been told they are well built and reliable. I kinda wanted to take the car there and then. I mean it wont be stupidly slow like a 1.2. I would hope. So im caught in a horrible situation

chrismyatt82

Do what i am doing... get the 2.0 Sport to start with and then go up to a Turbo

carfan2011

If i could afford to insure a 2.0 litre sport then o wouldnt be looking at a 1.6 litre lol. I guess ill stick to the saxo for now until ive got enough money to get a 2.0 litre then i wont have doubts lol.

CREWJ

How old are you then? As the sport is dirt cheap to insure for me.

555sport555

+1 how old are you?

carfan2011

Its for my misses n shes 22 in two weeks

vindaloo

I can see why the Saxo isn't the best solution to wife/GF + young one. Though more from the safety aspect really. Compared to modern stuff the Saxo's a tiny, lightweight little blob.

I think you could look at the likes of Astras and VAG stuff, possibly even a 1998/1999 Focus. The 2.0's go quite well and it's a modern chassis.

J.

chrismyatt82

If you want something fast, family orientated and good on insurance (well the quotes i got anyway) then look for a Ford Mondeo ST24

Brun

ST24 are quick but not fast. Fuel consumption may creep into the low 30's but any sort of foot down action will see that plummet into the teens.
They sound well and look ok but if the op is looking for cheap then this is way wide of the mark.

chrismyatt82

I don't think he mentioned MPG

Just having 5 doors, quick/fast and cheap to insure

Anyways, let us know how the viewing goes if you go and see the 1.6

Brun

Your right

mikef04

iTrader: (7)

Having owned a VTR and a 2 litre sport, the vtr was far superior in many ways. Yet at the time the sport was at the right price right time. VTR was definately quicker aswell.

Mike

stair

If you cannot afford Sport and you really want an Impreza you could look at a 1.8GL, more go, AWD and utterly reliable if looked after (at least mine was for the 120k miles I had it) BUT not cheap to run , 32mpg at best, frequent servicing and relatively high insurance compared with other cars in the class.

The 1.6 and 1.8 were dropped around '97 so any you find will be old, I am sure you can get you can get a far better 4 door ford for the money which will be easier and cheaper to run and certainly in the case of the 1.6 much less disapointing

Stair