AdamCrank

Afternoon all, not been on the forum for a while now, probably a few years tbh!

Had a MY99 UK Turbo 2000 back in 06/07 ish and loved it. It wasnt the most luxurious car, or best to look at but was definately the best car to drive that ive ever owned ( and I include an imported MR2 Turbo in that list - that was lethal to drive lol )- and still holds a spot in my heart as the best engine'd car ive had. Cant beat the boxer engine.

Anyway I had a number of minor problems with the car, like failed MAF after a battery swap etc and I spent a bit of money on the car upgrades wise - but eventually it was obvious the headgasket was going - coolant was just disappearing and I had overheating issues.

So got rid sharpish - traded it in for a Ford Fiesta ST - that lasted about 18 / 24 months before I got fed up and the less said about that the better - was a very gutless engine but a nice cheapish run around.

Now I drive a 2009 Vauxhall Insignia CDTi Diesel 2 Litre - very posh looking, luxury car with all the trimmings - sat nav, climate control etc which im still paying off. Its a diesel so fairly cheap to run, tax is relatively cheap and insurance is sub £500 every year. But its no Subaru, and the noise a diesel engine makes!! Horrible.

The car is used as our "holiday" car - my dad sold his saloon car and got a smaller one, whilst i "upgraded" to the bigger car with a bigger boot.

Ive been out of work unfortunately for just over 12 months now after being made redundant but am considering starting up my own business as an internet trader repairing laptops / mobile phones etc so im not a lay-about or a scrounger - just havent found the right job yet.

Anyway my plan was to pay off the Insignia with my redundancy money - and buy outright an older Impreza - probably an 06 or 07 model WRX.

BUT and its a big BUT - ive been on Parkers looking at road tax and insurance costs and im having cold sweats already - over £400 a year for road tax? At least a £200 increase every year on my car insurance! A much smaller boot and less luxurious interior, higher running costs etc and all whilst im unemployed!

Tell me im being daft and should stick with what ive got - or at least wait until ive got my own business up and running!!

How do you guys afford the running costs? What about servicing and road tax? Are all scooby owners all high flying jet setters now - dont remember it being that expensive when I had my own scooby years ago.

Also tried various insurance quotes - and was flabbergasted to find that the difference between insuring an 06 and an 07 plate WRX ( same spec and engine just a newer model ) was nearly £100 more!! for a newer car! Surely you would pay more for an older model? Something that would have more miles on the clock and possibly have more problems?

What's people's opinions? Should I stick with what ive got, or take a punt and see how it works out?

Sorry for the massive first post after being missing for so long!

Cheers

Adam

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Welcome back, now **** off or it's gona cost ya!

logger

Buy my bug eye, its in the cheap tax bracket not your fault you got made redundant, im going in sept and chances of getting a job are slim. So just preapering for it now

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

You've had a Scooby before so you understand the running costs. Only you know the worth to you. I would expect that the newer cars are more comfortable than a classic (I run a classic so can't advise). Insurance is based on the likelihood of you crashing and repair costs, not of the car breaking down. Otherwise 15 year old fiesta's would cost £1000's to insure lol.

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Probably down to how many miles you do. I only do around 6-7k per year or I would have opted for something a bit more sensible.

The trouble is, like you say, everything is going to 2x more expensive than what you're running now.

AdamCrank

ditchmyster - cheers mate lol

It is a bit of a conundrum really - i can really see the appeal of owning another impreza, especially like I said its probably the best car ive had but im just not sure I can justify the expense at the moment with being out of work.

On one hand it might cost me more to run / tax etc but I should be able to buy a scooby outright and not need to pay finance.

Whereas now im paying £130 a month just on finance for the vauxhall, as well as fuel and road tax costs etc. And i do less than 6k miles a year easy.

But it would be an older car.... that MAY cost me money to fix more regularly than my current car - hell ive even got an extended warranty on mine so it doesnt always cost me money to fix stuff.

gpssti4 - i do have an idea of running costs - but thats running costs on a UK turbo model ( not a WRX or STi ) whilst having a paying job. If I go self employed there may be a number of months before I get the ball rolling so to speak.

And road tax NEVER cost me over £400 - for ANY car ive owned. The closest comparison I can think of was paying £1600 a year - every year - to insure the MR2 Turbo, must have been mad!! It was my second car though!

Stumped

Adam

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

I'm assuming that you'll not be running the Vauxhall too, if that's correct you'll not be paying the £130 a month finance so that's around £1500 a year you'll not be paying which you could put towards running an Impreza. Running costs while not cheap are reasonable if you use a good independent specialist garage such a API etc.

However, if I were in your shoes I'd wait until your business is up and running. I think .......!

Gary Tractor boy

If you go for a 2005 scooby the tax is £260 ish which is one of the reasons when I upgraded from my 2001 wrx I went for a 2005 sti

AdamCrank

Oh sweet, didnt realise that. Nice one, at least thats not too bad as ive paid £200+ for road tax in the past.

What's the body work like on the 05's? Does it hold up well, and is it solid paint or a metallic?

Suitcase wise - does anyone use their subaru for holidays? would you get 2 full size suitcases in the boot?

Also with the engine being a 2.0 litre in the 05 range - and later ones - 06/07 onwards seem to be a 2.5 litre engine with the same power output - is the 05 range considered an import or a standard UK model?

If its considered an import that will affect the insurance some.

Adam

Tidgy

06 and 07 insurance for me was the same, although not a standard engine lol

i stayed with 06 to keep the right side of the daft take hike and picked up my nice shiney (well was before i did 400 miles in it) hawkeye wrx.

06 on wrx and sti went to 2.5, but bear in mind thought the 2.5 is a pretty pants engine out of the box and lots have fialed for various reasons, mine was bought with rebuilt engine after previous owner got rid when it shat a piston.

built right though the 2.5 is arguably the better engine for the road, low down torque is great compared to 2.0

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Your welcome.

The 2.5L has engine issues as well as the dreaded £460 tax.

The 2.0L 05 wide track is a UK vehicle and is considered the best of the UK models and if registered before march 06 is in the lower tax band.

There is the JDM twin scroll turbo version, that is considered to be slightly better by those that have them, but you lose the burble due to equal length headers and is has shorter ratios, which some like and some don't.

As regards finances it would seem that it's 6 and two 3's as far as cost is concerned and only you know if it's a bridge too far for your current situation.

Best of luck what ever you decide.

Tidgy

incorrect, early 2.5 cars are exempt of the higher bracket, like mine

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Buy one get one free, or bog off, we both know what i'm talking about and nobody likes a show off.

the op was talking 06 hawks and most are £460.

Scoobydoo Ste

iTrader: (3)

If you don't work why do you need a car especially one that's gonna cost a fair whack to run, You don't buy an Impreza for cheap running costs do you...

theboy

Im in the same position, currently have 2 diesel cars that are bought and paid for. But im missing that going for a drive in a nice motor thing. Ive looking at hawkeyes, hatch & even evo X ive decided that the dreaded tax is just like the season ticket for football that i used to have. If i look at it like that i dont mind paying it

Richy P1984

Its probably advisable not to sink your money into another car, especially one which is considerably more expensive to run in every sense.

Wait until you have a solid income before engaging in, lets face it, a hobby / itch car. Hold on to what you have, and when you can afford it at a later date, you will be able to afford it, and probably get it for a slightly cheaper price.

I would like to upgrade to a Bug, but group 20 insurance and >£400 in tax is a prohibiting factor + I'm also unemployed!