Subaru Impreza - Owners / knowledgeable chaps etc

Sam

Sam

Sam

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Subaru Impreza - Owners / knowledgeable chaps etc

Bonjour

Right the VX220 should be sold by mid / end of april and i have selected a subaru to take its place. I know very little about these so would like some advice on

The best model to go for within my budget of £10500
Things to look out for when buying
Whats the fuel situation like, im guessing its going to be rubbish but if im not driving like i stole the thing what kind of mpg will i see ? How big is the fuel tank ? etc

I have been looking at the STI with PPP which i seem to be able to get for around my price range, i also want the blobeye as im not keen on the bugeye or the hawkeye. Am i right in thinking that you still get the famous subaru burble with the blob eye (but not the hawkeye) ?

Im also unsure as to if i should go for a modified example ....

Many Thank You's

Sam

:cool:
 
Better off going over to scoobynet and looking through some past threads.

If you want a blobeye you should try and get a late 54 onwards as they have the diff control, wider track but AFAIK they have an equal length exhaust manifold so some of the burble is lost. Your budget should get you one of these with good mileage and low owners.
 
I just sold my 55 plate STi with PPP and 26k miles for 10500 on the nose!
I was the 1st private owner as well.. the Dealer registered it previous to me.

I did think the DCCD and wider track came in on the 55 plate model though?

I used to get about 20-22mpg realistically and it a 55ltr tank I think?
 
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FakeSnake said:
I just sold my 55 plate STi with PPP and 26k miles for 10500 on the nose!
I was the 1st private owner as well.. the Dealer registered it previous to me.

I did think the DCCD and wider track came in on the 55 plate model though?

I used to get about 20-22mpg realistically and it a 55ltr tank I think?
Click to expand...

I had an 05 plate and had the DCCD, wider track, revised suspension etc...the external clue on these is the stuck-on rear arches.

Headers are unequal so it burbles just fine, the sound was lost somewhat when the 2.5 came in.

The tank is 60 litres, I averaged around 17-20 mpg I reckon.
 
why are you getting rid of the VX220 for this

thought i was due to running costs ? if so isnt the impreza going to be no better than the VX ?
 
No UK model has had equal length headers, so they all still have their burble. They just have a very quiet exhaust as standard, change it and the burble is back once more! This applies for bug/blob/hawk and even the new hatchback. Only the jap models have equal length manifolds to allow the use of their twinscroll turbos..

If you personally plan on modifying it then don't bother with the PPP'd ones, however, if you don't intend to mod it, or mod it much, then a nice PPP'd example, along with the Prodrive lowering springs does make the car a lot more lively - and a much better car than standard.

People have been known to remap the PPP'd cars and get a good 30bhp gain, and the sportscat in the downpipe is quite good at flow, apparently you only lose about 5bhp over not having it there at all.

If you're going to buy a modified example, service history and receipts for the work is vital IMO. But don't buy anything that's had random modifications without remaps, something as simple as a cone air filter will ruin the fueling, making it too lean and causing det, coupled with a more free flowing exhaust running more boost, and you could get engine trouble. So make sure all is backed up with a good remap!

DCCD came in just after the WR1 - as this was the first special model to have it in the UK. Thereafter, (54plate onwards I think??) had the wider track and DCCD. You can tell usually by the externals, as the rears have an arch extension. The wheels are also a different PCD... 114 I believe, and are BBS as standard, whereas pre DCCD models, they weren't.

Personally I'd go for a good DCCD model'd STi with (at least) the prodrive springs, then mod it myself to suit my needs in terms of noise and brutality!
 
if its got standard wheels, the 2005 revision with DCCD has gold multispoke with the revised (much nicer) interior.

If its got the gold 5 spoke affairs its pre 2005 revision.

*edit*

old shape wheels

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/954438.htm

new shape

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/785219.htm

and just to confuse you. Old shape without DCCD (notice the different interior) with 2005 wheels

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/785215.htm

Biggest difference interior wise, is the different heater controls, and the change from the two tone colour of the wheel to the wheel being all the same colour.
 
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Hi All

Thanks for the advice ...

Ioakim you have got me thinking now with the PPP thing .... I would like to think i would just buy a PPP and leave it at that but somehow i think after a few months i would want to tinker

What is the Type UK ? Is that just a special model with ppp

MR LOL thanks for the links, has helped a huge amount. Im thinking along the lines of this - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/785219.htm so need to keep my eyes peeled. a lot of these i have seen for sale seem to have a carbon look front splitter, was that an option or is it aftermarket ?
 
Type UK is just as you read it, the UK market's car. Badged Type UK to differentiate from the imports, had the CAT1 alarm as standard, uncoating on the body etc.

You WILL tinker I promise, but how much so it depends. Like I say, you will really want the lowering springs though, as otherwise, despite the huge grip and huge cornering speeds, the angle the car will take them will scare you until you're used to it. When lowered, there is a LOT less roll and you just feel so much more confident to push !

The splitter is most likely aftermarket, but there are people who have bought the genuine STi items, which came on some jap models. Very expensive if you go real. But somewhere like HTAutos will do, nice and cheap and looks the same.
Places like scoobyworld, scoobyclinic, tsl-motorsport etc all stock styling products, so just have a look on theirs sites and I'm sure you'll find any extras you want for the looks.

The link you've put, it looks great, but I'd be more inclined to go for a personal sale, as that one doesn't mention any SH and it's even got the PPP power wrong lol.
 
i'd love one with a full set of Defi gauges. They are monumentally expensive for what they are. But they hold no value on resale, so try and get one with them already in if they can. I think its near £1000 + for the 3 gages, dash pod, control units and various bits n pieces.

but for £10,500 that one on scoobynet is an absolute bargain. Who cares if its not got genuine Defis for that price considering the mods. About the only thing i'd do different would be to add an aftermarket front splitter V limited style. But they're only £150.
 
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Silly question by the way, but have you run insurance quotes yet Sam.

The insurance on an STI for me (being a naughty boy with a recent Driving ban and a recent fault claim and 1 years ncb) was near £4,000 despite me being 26.

The Vectra was well over half that, and this year will be a much more reasonable £800. If it hadnt been for the insurance, id have had an STI like a shot (hence my posting in this thread as i did a fair bit of research before insurance crushed my dreams)
 
I need to run another quote through BUT last time i looked when i was looking for insurance on the VX i was looking at about £1500 at 21 with 4ncb so i will have to pay another £300 ontop of my current premium. Im at work at the moment but when im home later ill run a few quotes through with admiral to make sure im not wasting my time.
 
Ioakim said:
Now that has had all the right kinds of things done to it !
Click to expand...

Thought so, dont think it will be around when im ready :(

MrLOL said:
i'd love one with a full set of Defi gauges. They are monumentally expensive for what they are. But they hold no value on resale, so try and get one with them already in if they can. I think its near £1000 + for the 3 gages, dash pod, control units and various bits n pieces.

but for £10,500 that one on scoobynet is an absolute bargain. Who cares if its not got genuine Defis for that price considering the mods. About the only thing i'd do different would be to add an aftermarket front splitter V limited style. But they're only £150.
Click to expand...

Those gauges are stunning ! :D
 
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