f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Need a banger for winter and was wondering about a non turbo Scoob as they are 4WD (live in the hills) and cheap if you go for a bugeye or classic!

Drove one (a Sport) yesterday and what a disappointment. I didn't expect it to drive like a turbo/WRX obviously, but it didn't even feel like one or close to it. Only had 65K on the clock too.

Can't see the point, just felt.... rubbish to be honest!

urban

iTrader: (1)

Sure you already have one


On a more serious note, I know exactly what you mean about the sport and I tend to agree re: what's the point.

I can only assume that the person purchasing the sport couldn't quite afford the turbo version

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

LOL, yeah but it's too rusty to make it through another winter

Yes, I was pretty surprised at how bad it was. As you say... what's the point?

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

The point of a sport is not to be like a turbo Impreza but to be better than a Mondeo, Vectra, Avensis etc when the going gets tough, it is just a 4 door car at the end of the day.

In it's own right there's nothing wrong with a sport, compare it to a turbo and you're never going to be happy.

CREWJ

I quite like my sport although it's far from how it was from the factory.

I am looking to get an STi at some point but this was great for the last 4/5 years I've had it.

Insurance is almost 1/3rd of an STi plus I get 36mpg.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

My wife wanted an Impreza last year to ferry my little girl around and do the shopping etc. I got her a 2.0GX bug wagon. I went on to add WRX wheels and bonnet so she had the looks of a turbo but the go of a non turbo.
Had the car 3 months !!! Was bloody awful.

She loved the look of it but god it was boring to drive. And as I occasional use her car it just had to go.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

Double post...

urban

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, but the sport has to be very thirsty surely.

CREWJ

Well I get 36mpg usually. City driving I might get down to 28 if I'm unfortunate but that's it.

Plus it still works great in the snow.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

My point is that I know it hasn't the go of a turbo, but it doesn't even feel like the same car or close to it. It's shocking to be frank! While a Mondeo, Vectra, Avensis etc. may not have 4WD they are all better than a Sport (out of the box I mean btw) and I think I will look in that direction. At the end of the day I just want something cheap to buy, cheap to run and that I can leave on the main road when the snow comes, but I would like it to drive OK.

LOL ... glad I am avoiding the same decision Cheers

allsop83

iTrader: (9)

Thing is- sports aren't better than Mondeo's, Vectra's or whatever....impreza's are a low rent car at best and we pay for the performance it gives- take that away and you aren't left with much IMO.

That are carrying that 4wd system about and are thirsty, if you can't afford a turbo but want an impreza I would always without fail just suggest saving a bit more cash instead of throwing money away.

Each to their own though.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Agreed

CREWJ

The problem was, when I bought the sport insurance for a turbo (Not Sti or WRX) wouldn't fall below £6k.

I ended paying less than a grand for insurance, that's one hell of a saving.

Arkynsei

I have no problems with my 2006 Hawkeye sport. I'm 20, and the insurance wasn't absolutely pants-on-head mental like the turbo version. Yeah people said "Durp, just get a Corsa VXR or Clio etc." but to me.. they're f*cking boring to look at.

I've made no modifications to mine, 0-60 in roughly 8.5 seconds.. but they are a bit quicker than the classic sports, I think 60 more horses? Not 100% sure on that. I know they're quicker though.

Bit more expensive, mind.

allsop83

iTrader: (9)

So long as you are happy with your own car- that's all that counts.

Personally.....you can go that quick in a diesel astra- I would have got a banger....saved some money, waited until I am 21 (cheaper insurance) and then looked at Bug/Blob STI's

But that's just me and I am purely interested in the driving and not so much on how it looks......that's why I get dogs abuse for my beat up MY2000 1.4 Ibiza! Lol. But 40mpg even when thrashed, costs me nothing and is actually great fun to drive...I love it!

jura11

iTrader: (7)

As above get yourself Turbo WRX or STi are not expensive like has been few years back.
When i last time drive non-turbo Subaru i've been disappointed how it feel..


Jura

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Already got one Jura, just want something real cheap to drive around in for Winter when the weather gets bad and not care where I leave it. Will look at Fords and Toyotas I think!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Drove a Focus yesterday for the same money as the Scoob ... a much better car! Cheaper to run and insure too. No 4wd of course, but I can live without that.

scoobyster

Not sure how you think the Turbo model is so different if you're not talking about power. The Turbo isn't some exotic space frame chassis under the 'cooking' Impreza body - it's the same car principally. Suspension layout is the same, perhaps a bit softer than the Turbo but no major changes. The GL/Sport may be missing a rear ARB too but it's not going to make the massive difference you describe. Maybe the example you drove was just goosed, or on nasty cheap tyres or something?

CREWJ

It's rare to find a sport that hasn't had the turbo brakes and suspension swapped over. I know I have.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

1) OK as standard the Sport (if ever there was a less aptly named model I don't know what it is) does not have turbo power obviously, but also sits a bit higher on softer suspension with less control and on higher profile tyres, then there are the brakes.... or lack of them. The interiror particularly the seats are very low rent (not that much better in the WRX either btw) and overall the car feels poor.

2) Most WRX/turbos including mine aren't in standard trim any longer so the difference between one of these and a standard Sport is amplified.

All that being said I was shocked at how far away from a turbo model it felt and driving the Focus was a revelation in comparison. It was far better to drive.

The classic WRX is not a perfect car by a long way, but as allsop said you put up with its shortcomings for the bang for buck performance..... with the Sport there isn't any of that and that leaves not a right lot really!

CREWJ

My sport special comes with the STi interior as standard.

scoobyster

I think you're comparing apples with pears to some extent.

The classic Impreza was released in the UK in '93 but the mk1 Focus in '99 I think. That difference makes a big impact on your comparison of the interiors - try looking at a '93 Escort and compare that! Granted Subaru didn't do a good job of updating the interiors throughout the classic's life - my MY95 interior is better screwed together than my MY98, but I expect that's true across the model range so it's not really fair to bash the non-turbos on that. Ford made a big deal that they'd focussed(!) on handling for the Focus, and they spent a good bit of the budget on pretty advanced suspension. The suspension layout of the non-turbo Imprezas (which it shares with the Turbos) is more basic, but Subaru blew the budget on the AWD which is the car's niche. Despite that, I expect the non-turbo Imprezas compared favourably with equivalent Foci on list price. I bet the reliability is better on average with the (unmodified!) Subarus too. Similarly, I believe the power and performance of the non-turbo Imprezas is broadly similar to the equivalent Foci.

Your second point about comparing upgraded Turbos with standard non-turbos may be valid in your experience, but the majority of enthusiast owners of non-turbos will have done the upgrades you suggest already, so again you're not comparing like for like.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

But my actual post isn't about comparing like for like. It's about how different a £1300 standard Sport feels to a properly sorted turbo and how woeful it feels in comparison to a simialrly priced Focus which was more of a revelation.

The Impreza has never had the greatest suspension set up and a lot of people confuse massive levels of grip with good handling, the two are not the same.

Anyway the upshot it that my banger will probably be a Ford and definitely won't be an Impreza Sport.

vindaloo

Surely an old Leggy/Outback or Forester then, rather than something sportily dressed?

J.

Galifrey

iTrader: (3)

If you want something for winter, get a Forester

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Max £1500 and must be cheapish to run..... guess that rules them out .... plus the Forester is unbelievably hideous to look at.... not as bad as the 2007 Impreza hatch I grant you, but still pretty hideous.