mboon

Hi all,
Right, long story short... I currently own a Escort RS Cosworth and love it to bits. But.... as with anything 20 years old and being a performance car, its not as reliable as I would like. I also look at the car as being a long term investment for my daughter when I am dead and gone. So found storage for her and putting away for the winters and possibly a couple summers.
A couple snaps of the old girl




OK enough of that.
So with her coming off the road its going to leave me needing a car to use daily or in this case, weekends and the occasional trip to work and back...
Now I might get slammed for this but I am looking at either the Evo or the STi/P1.
The STi would be the hawk eye for me or a P1. Not looking for mega power.
So my question really, can these cars be reliable?
I know the score with performance cars and expect nothing over 30MPG on a run and more like 15/20MPG around town.
Is the insurance sensible? do you get stung with the mods etc? Is it expected to have a garage with one of these?
What is the main things to look for?
And the big thing... rust? where do I look?
I want something I can get in, turn the key and go. Drive 300 miles if I have too or rack it around some lanes or a track without the *** falling out of the thing?
Just looking for the main things at the moment as I am looking at different makes and models and trying to shorten the list out.
thanks in advance for your help
Mark

mozzerscoob

iTrader: (1)

First things first superb looking cossie always been a admirer of the escort cosworth and in my opinion still the best looking car on the road today. I own a 2005 blob which I have owned for 4 years and never had a reliability problem with it always starts and takes me where I need to go. Their is a member here on scooby net named moley who works for Keith michaels insurance company and is the man when it comes to quotes especially modified. As for the rust should not have a problem with the hawk eye as their not that old and think I will be right In saying the classics were mainly arch rust but to be honest normally P1's have been wrapped in cotton wool all their life and really looked after that's why they still fetch strong money. Hope this helps a little
All the best searching and think you will not be disappointed with a scooby.

Fudgey

iTrader: (1)

First off, whats your budget?

Get an sti over a wrx. The 2.5 litre engines can be problematic.

Lovely cossie mate, ive been ford all my life and this is my first scooby. Its ok tbh, goes well enough but i dont get over 25mpg

Osimabu

iTrader: (2)

If you're going for a Hawk, as has been said above, there have been problems with the 2.5 litre engine (not all, but some). See here:

https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...-failures.html

I know it says 2008 - 2010, but the earlier ones apparently go too.

If you really like the Hawk, the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) versions have a 2.0 litre engine which is highly regarded.

Even at 47, I got stung for insurance on my first 2005 JDM STi Blob a couple of years ago as I had no experience of a high performance car, but that shouldn't be a problem for you with your (lovely) Escort as long as you live in a reasonable area and aren't 21!

I've no experience of the P1s, but I gather you do have to look at the rear wheelarches on all pre-2000 cars for rust, and a bit showing through on the outside can be the tip of the iceberg. They are getting on a bit though, so would you really want to use it as you've described?

Post-2000, they can go badly:

https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...ame-query.html

but again, a Hawk should be much better as it's newer. That topic will hopefully show you where to look though.

For me, the ultimate Subaru is a Litchfield Type 20 or 25, which is a JDM Blob or Hawk modified (mostly) from new by Litchfield Imports:

http://www.litchfieldimports.co.uk/

There are sometimes some for sale here:

http://www.hurstcars.co.uk/used-cars?page=3

The Type 25 does have the 2.5 litre engine and you'll need to ask other T25 owners on here if they've had any problems. I've got a Blob Type 20 and the only thing I'd consider swapping it for is a Blob Spec C Type 20, which is the lightweight version.

Good luck in your search.

Osimabu

iTrader: (2)

A couple more bits:

http://www.type-25.com/history.asp#1

And just in case you've not already sorted out the various types of Impreza:

'Classic': 1994 - 2000 (with a facelift c1997)

Newage:

'Bugeye': 2000 - 2002
'Blobeye': 2002 - 2005
'Hawkeye': 2005 - 2008
'Hatch': 2008 - 2010
The later cars don't have a nickname that I'm aware of.

Driven like a saint, my Blob returned 23.89 mpg on a 150 mile journey a few months back. And that's on Shell V-Power, which is all you'll want to use.

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

2.5l is a far nicer driving car for daily driving but does have reliability issues in std form, pistons & head gaskets, but being over 5yr old now most have had head gasket done at some point and if pushed to over 350bhp most have had forged pistons

and for anyone quick to mention about 2.5 reliability they all seem to have short term memories of P1 engines which all blew due to the jdm ecu in them. But in general the 2.0 is a stronger engine.

So P1, look for rust free and also one that has been remapped.

2.5 u want one that has had head gasket done, and ideally forged pistons if running big power

P1 alot more raw driving experience. Drive both and decide.

Tax is also an issue, hawkeye are generally 470 a year to tax tho there are some early 06 which fall in the lower 270 bracket

Gambit

iTrader: (6)

And i love your cossie, would love one tucked up in my garage

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Welcome, I think in going for a P1 your headed in the same direction as the cossie.

I'd opt for a 20.L either uk or jdm Blob which are 2003/2005 by far the best of the bunch for what you describe.

If going for a classic weekender/ track toy. STI Type r all the way.

mboon

Cheers guys

Great info.

I do like the 53/54 plate STI cars in blue but that would change if its the high tax band. Fedup with giving tax money to this country but that is another story.

Can anyone give me some more detail on the 4x4 system these cars use... is it the same system through out the range or does it get upgraded with every model?
Where are the weak points of the 4x4?

I binned the 4x4 in the Escort as it limited the power and made it numb to drive.

Thanks again for your help

Mark

blackvenom

Not 4x4 they are awd, weak point on the early cars is the gearbox when power is pushed over 350. It's the torque that kills them tho. The newage sti 6 speed can handle more power, I do newages but I have a classic myself and use it as a daily, never let me down. Shame you didn't leave the cossie oem but it looks a keeper

mboon

what is the difference between All wheel drive and 4x4? essentially the same thing or am I missing something?

So the 4x4 in these is no stronger than the Escort. Not a problem as I do not plan on big power if I go for one but nice to know incase a 400bhp one comes up on standard transmission

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

It's only the 5 speed boxes that are weaker than the 6 speed, but if you exercise a small amount of mechanical sympathy they are fine, ie don't launch it.

The transmission is pretty strong over all models if looked after, plenty running well over 400bhp, The P1 box is supposed to be the stronger of the classic boxes, but I have launched my type r box a few times without issue, but I am gentle, and only running 330bhp.

The 2003/2005 cars fall into the lower tax band.

Do some research on the subaru dccd (driver controllable centre diff), thats the bit that helps get the **** out if thats what you like, the type r is the best for this and is a totally different drive to any of the other subarus in the range, which is one of the reasons I have one, the P1 does not have it.

The new age Blob and cars with out dccd are a lot more forgiving of ham fisted drivers, they also need about another 100bhp to feel anything like as quick as a classic, but in reality are quicker on the road in a lot of situations due to a more stable chassis.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Replied to your thread on the MLR too!!!

Personally if you have a cossie tucked up in the garage and you want something more everyday and pratical then you cant go wrong with a newage blob, You can pick a 55 plate widetrack blob up between £6k-10k depending on mileage and condition, but for a everyday car would be perfect. If your looking at Evo's look what you can pick up for same year and mileage compared to the scooby???

Evo will cost you a lot more to run in the long run, always found parts always cost a lot more on the Evo, and unless you buy a Evo with the RS diff you will be servicing that AYC every 4,5k miles, which can be annoying as it soon comes around if you using the car everyday!!!!

Wouldnt worry about putting 400bhp through a newage STi 6 speed, people on here run 500-600bhp through them!!!