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Do you remember when Imprezas used to turn heads?

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Old 12 July 2013, 09:58 PM
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tony de wonderful
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Wink Do you remember when Imprezas used to turn heads?

I remember back in the mid-90's, there were a few knocking about near me - they must have been Turbo 2000's - I was so impressed with seeing them as an impressionable teen, that I would tell my mates even days later that I had seen an 'Impreza'. They were a kind of mythical type of exotic metal, in the same category as Skylines, of which I think there was one in my area. Who drove these unattainable motors? How did they afford them? Where did they get the sheer moxie to get behind the wheel (we were used to Pandas and novas) and cruise about like it was no big deal to own such a 'hard' car?

Last edited by tony de wonderful; 12 July 2013 at 10:00 PM.
Old 12 July 2013, 10:23 PM
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nyscooby
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WTF....
Old 12 July 2013, 10:27 PM
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chopperman
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Mine still turns plenty of heads. I always get complementary comments while at the petrol station or car parks ect.
Old 12 July 2013, 10:38 PM
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thenewgalaxy
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Might not have the ultimate street cred of the monster power cars and there are a few rice rocket haters but I really don't get that post mate.

I regularly get...

Thumbs up from other drivers, even a flick of the headlights from Evos.

Chats at the pumps when filling up.

People taking pics of my car with camera phones and even putting them up on other websites.

And most recently and annoyingly, parking up on a beach and a large crowd gathering round the car to the point I didn't dare go for my stroll.

Sorry mate haven't got a clue what you're on about and I own a super-uncool hatch!
Old 12 July 2013, 10:46 PM
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tony de wonderful
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Originally Posted by thenewgalaxy
Thumbs up from other drivers, even a flick of the headlights from Evos.
You wouldn't have gotten thumbs up in the mid 90's from other drivers. Either they would be so in awe of your sheer cool and moxie that they would gape open mouthed, or they would pretend to blank you out of envy.
Old 12 July 2013, 10:51 PM
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I still get loads of turned heads and my car is externally pretty standard, not particularly loud but it's always clean!

I love the way these cars divide opinion, I've had plenty of comments when parking up etc - and loads of double takes at junctions etc. Love it or hate it, it definitely gets noticed - alot.
Old 12 July 2013, 11:14 PM
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thenewgalaxy
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I hasten to add, I've also had some comical hate moments.

This one time that really stands out a really geeky guy in a mini Cooper just went nuts at me and started swerving all over the road giving me V's. Still wonder what that was all about.

Got a comment in traffic once with the window open by this really fat woman (who had been giving me evils from quite a distance) about driving an offensive "gas guzzler" car so I replied "think of all the gas wasted cooking all that extra food you don't need!" before I made a hasty getaway, I think she was about to throw something at me lol.
Old 12 July 2013, 11:26 PM
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lordharding
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When they first came out in 98/99 they were real head turners
They were so different to any other car on the market
Noise
Big spoilers
And gold wheels

It took me a year to save up for one and 6 months for delivery
Cult car just like the XR3i and Peugeot 206 was in the hay days

Scoobies still turn heads and many people still say nice motor mate
As they disspaear off the roads and only the enthusuists have them left
They will become collectible like the RS cosworths scene

Not really sure what new car today will have the cult status of the scoobies
Old 13 July 2013, 12:09 AM
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thenewgalaxy
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Originally Posted by lordharding
... Peugeot 206 was in the hay days
I know you mean the 205 matey, the 206 was a pile of ****e and even the GTi one!

As for current cars, I reckon the R35 Skyline will be seen as the "it" performance car of its generation as it blew the competition away and was an upstart to the established supercar establishment, a little like the Impreza was in its heyday and the Escort Cosworth before it. Still leaves me cold though!
Old 13 July 2013, 12:14 AM
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I remember my dad importing a year old type r, it was the coolest thing I had ever seen.
Old 13 July 2013, 12:18 AM
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In 2003 I got my first Subaru (a 1994 JDM WRX Wagon) and went to a meet of Subarus in Blackpool, I rember someone telling me it can't be an Impreza, it's an 'estate', they don't make estates, he was more gobsmacked when I told him it was an auto.
Old 13 July 2013, 12:27 AM
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tony de wonderful
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Originally Posted by lordharding
When they first came out in 98/99 they were real head turners
They were so different to any other car on the market
Noise
Big spoilers
And gold wheels
I remember seeing them in 95/96.
Old 13 July 2013, 08:17 AM
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I was only interested in bikes in the 1990s, but I do remember noticing the arrival of the early Imprezas and occasionally comprisons between them and the big bikes of the day would appear in the bike magazines.

I think I had a slight hankering to own one right from 1994, but there was absolutely no chance of that as they were usually ten times my car buying budget.

I never had the money to even consider affording one until just a few years ago, but I always used to notice them in a way that I didn't with ordinary cars. Even today, I think they still turn heads because they're becoming a lot less commonplace and they look that bit different from the almost uniform shape of most modern cars.

There's no doubt at all that they'll become classic cars because of what they were at the time, and they still look brilliant.
Old 13 July 2013, 08:29 AM
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kevo10
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have to be honest, i used to be a vag fan until my stepson persuaded me to buy a t2000. Absolutely love her . Ive had a few comments ,all good. At 55 thoughm i do getcomments at work for being a boy racer , but then i ask them what else i should drive? they have no idea
Old 13 July 2013, 08:54 AM
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Captain-Sticky
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Still turn my head, especially when walking. You can hear them coming a mile away!
Old 13 July 2013, 09:19 AM
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mine turns heads everywhere,especially at the filling station and people catch a glimpse of the porsche brakes
Old 13 July 2013, 09:24 AM
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I can only vouch for Germany but mine turns heads all over the place. Very rare over here indeed. And I love it!!!
Old 13 July 2013, 09:47 AM
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Mine turns heads, but if I was in a Corsa that loud I would turn heads!!

Haha, and I do get some good comments and also some shaking heads, even an old women held her ears once! Haha

I know what you mean though, it would have like the GTR of now, well maybe not as expensive but as rare no doubt
Old 13 July 2013, 10:27 AM
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I bought my first one new in 1996 and used to have people stop me in petrol stations to talk about it... it was 'the cult car' for about 4 years then came the bugeye....


To be fair the current model turns heads ..................as people stare in disbelief at what an ugly piece of **** it is!
Old 13 July 2013, 10:33 AM
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ant1973
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Subaru's are classic engineering brilliance.
Head turners, and I believe if they look original, the majority of people can appreciate them for what they are
Old 13 July 2013, 10:57 AM
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tony de wonderful
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Originally Posted by f1_fan
To be fair the current model turns heads ..................as people stare in disbelief at what an ugly piece of **** it is!
Shhhh, I think the owners think they are being admired.
Old 13 July 2013, 11:21 AM
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Oldun
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Originally Posted by kevo10
At 55 though i do getcomments at work for being a boy racer , but then i ask them what else i should drive? they have no idea
I let mine go when I turned 61.

I then got the regulation over 60's Honda.

I modified it to give it a bit more power and now it's dearer to insure than my Scooby was.

I need a Legacy H6 to feed the need.
Old 13 July 2013, 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by chopperman
Mine still turns plenty of heads. I always get complementary comments while at the petrol station or car parks ect.
+1
Old 13 July 2013, 12:22 PM
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Mine still gets a bit of attention, I remember looking at an sti RA back in '99...... it was awesome, I can remember like it was yesterday, Went to buy a Saab for my mrs and the guy had just had it imported and it was sat in his garage next to the Saab.
Old 13 July 2013, 12:41 PM
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All love my P1 original
Old 13 July 2013, 02:06 PM
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the first ones i seen was two that had been crashed and they were both at my grandads crash repair business one was a green import and the other was dark blue one with the big spoiler then the first one i ever had chance to go in was a brand new turzo still had its trade plates on as it had been scratched in transport so was having a its front wing painted
loved em since that day

took me till i was 28 to get my first though


Originally Posted by thenewgalaxy
I hasten to add, I've also had some comical hate moments.

This one time that really stands out a really geeky guy in a mini Cooper just went nuts at me and started swerving all over the road giving me V's. Still wonder what that was all about.

Got a comment in traffic once with the window open by this really fat woman (who had been giving me evils from quite a distance) about driving an offensive "gas guzzler" car so I replied "think of all the gas wasted cooking all that extra food you don't need!" before I made a hasty getaway, I think she was about to throw something at me lol.
hahahahahahaha
Old 13 July 2013, 02:39 PM
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My Type r always turns heads and get's a crowed especially out in Croatia, people wanting to sit in it and have photo's taken standing next to it or siting inside, you'd think it was a testarossa, they are iconic, simples.

Even my humble black Blob Wagon with gunmetal ultralights and AP's get's the boy racers pointing at the brakes and smiling/ giving me the nod, as if to say they know there's something special under the bonnet, and it's only PPP
But it shifts where it counts.

Last edited by ditchmyster; 13 July 2013 at 02:40 PM.
Old 13 July 2013, 02:40 PM
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Thumbs up Great post

Great post and I remember seeing my first fully liveried monster.. hmm nostalgia

If you dont' get the post, probably means you are under 33... years that is!

or a bit of a troll

Last edited by grey_boy; 13 July 2013 at 02:43 PM.
Old 13 July 2013, 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by f1_fan


To be fair the current model turns heads ..................as people stare in disbelief at what an ugly piece of **** it is!

5 years on and you still comment the same old sh!te, you've gotta have that on copy and paste by now the amount of times you say it either that or your Alzheimers is playing havoc and you've forgot you said it so many times
Old 13 July 2013, 03:30 PM
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For 8 years I have had nothing but positive things mentioned about my Impreza.

Kids still take photos with there phones, I get nods and thumbs up from other cars (including Evo's).

80 % of the time I take it out something happens.


Quick Reply: Do you remember when Imprezas used to turn heads?



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