talk to me about ... "Classic" Impreza's.

JonnyGeee

JonnyGeee

JonnyGeee

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Ok, so having fell in love recently with the sound of a neighbours Impreza, i am interested in getting myself one, have always been a fan and now i see you can pick one up between 2-6k.


My only concern is reliability, i have seen a few for sale with just over 100k miles, but how long is this capable of lasting for? when and where do items need replacing (cam belts, turbos etc) ?

Next point is.. i have seen WRX, 2000 TURBO, Sti version 1,2,3,4,5,6,7... can someone please explain the difference with each? is the Bhp roughly same across the board, and i presume the mpg of around 20 is the same with all?


thanks for any help
 
Last time i asked 100k miles is nearing rebuild territory.

Only buy into it if you've got a couple of grand slush fund to cover the costs that will crop up on a turbo car of this age.

As for models, there used to be UK turbo model, Jap import WRX with bit a more power, but less than the top of the range STI.

jap import WRX power was gradually increased untill about 1998 when it had the same as the STI. UK turbo at this time was about 215bhp.

Then the bugeye came out in 2002 and they ditched the UK turbo, and just offered the WRX and STI. WRX "inbetween" model was dropped and the UK turbo became the WRX.

Any WRX or STI prior to 2002 is a grey import from japan. Only "impreza turbo"s were sold
 
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And the reason for the reputation about engines going pop is because of all the grey imports that were never remapped for UK fuel and wern't run on V-Power. Bonus points if the japanese owner had their car remapped for more power. Extra bonus points if the car is fitted with a Mines ECU.

My biggest concern about buying an older Impreza is the same as I stated in the thread where the guy wanted a 3 grand turbo car. The Impreza is the default choice of every knuckle dragging inbred who wants a fast Japanese car and thus many of them have now been ruined.

MrLOL has covered pretty much everything else.

As for MPG, pretty much every non-diesel Boxer engined Subaru seems to get around 22 - 27mpg depending on how you drive it.
 
my dads owned one for a few years now abseloutley brilliant cars if you`ve a few quid to run one, but you have got to bare in mind they`re knocking on a bit
the turbo 2000 is the uk model early ones were about 215 bhb later ones 225 iirc.
anything advertised as a wrx or sti was an import, the wrx had 260bhp until 1998 when they went up to 280 bhp and the sti was 280 bhp until 1998 when they went uo to 300!

the sti had other bits and pieces such as a dccd, stiffer suspenson etc
 
Had my classic uk for 4-5 years now, never missed a beat. Get an unmodified one with fsh and you should be fine. Usual jap reliability, UK classics are 217hp iirc, STI are around 280hp which as MrLOL has said will be an import in classic shape, 20mpg is about right with mixed driving.
Try to get as low mileage as you can as MrLOL said, you dont see that many around with over 100k on the clocks, having said that I still think a looked after Impreza will be good for a lot more miles.
As an all round package they ae hard to beat imo, especially for the price.
Decent handling, excellent grip, quick, cheap as chips and the noise is pleasing to the ear.
I havent a bad word to say about em and will probably be buying another soon.
 
UK models are almost always good for 120k miles unless driven by complete idiots. Highest verifiable figure I've ever seen is 145k miles, but I'd consider that a fair fluke. So yes, a 100k one is getting on a bit. That said, if the engine does go bang and you can afford to replace/refurb it, then the rest is good for a lot longer.


M
 
Well to give you an idea, if you get it done at API engines, I asked them "how much just to take it out and put it back in again" when trying to get a ballpark figure out of them. That alone was £650.

Then you've got the normal cost of a rebuild on top of that.
 
In my case it was cheaper to replace the engine, 3 grand total, than to repair it, but then I'd managed to hole a piston (yes it was #3) and knacker the bores.

Bear in mind that this was an EJ206 twin turbo legacy engine, it's subtly different to the Impreza ones, and that may affect the prices.
 
MrLOL said:
how much should he budget to keep aside when it does need a rebuild ?
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£3000. It may well come in less, but shouldn't be a lot more. But the engines are in demand, so scrap cars tend to get them removed and it's not just a question of picking an old motor up for a song.


M
 
Spuderoony said:
20mpg is optimistic if you don't like to hang about. A lad up the road has an STI (snigger) and gets about 16/17mpg.
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Is he one of the aforementioned knuckle dragging inbreds I was refering to?

Obviously MPG on any car is going to plummet if you lead foot it everywhere.


As for laughing at the STI name, don't forget that the lastest generation STI has a button in the console labelled "C. Diff"
 
Lum said:
Is he one of the aforementioned knuckle dragging inbreds I was refering to?

Obviously MPG on any car is going to plummet if you lead foot it everywhere.
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What I was thinking: I get about 22mpg and mine isn't exactly standard. And didn't Will Gill have an engine rebuild? Although I don't know what the mileage was at that point.


M
 
I had an MY00 UK turbo and even mapped I could get close to 30mpg on a run.

Mileage - depends entirely on the previous owners. I had a chap buy my front seats from the UK car and his car had done 180K all in his ownership and it looked fine for the mileage. He even claimed it was on its original clutch and his wife backed this up.

Early STIs were partially hand built, later ones (say 4 above) still had to extras but were more badging than anything else. Fastest out of the box STI would be a V3 - shorter gears, bigger turbo and most agressive cams. 5 and 6s were the last and probably the most handsome IMO.

If you can cope without the status of not having an STI then a WRX Type RA is by far the best all rounder. Lower ratio box than the STI, same turbo etc etc. but the bonus is that you can insure them as a WRX. I had a MY00 Type RA WRC edtion and it was cheaper to insure than my UK turbo and far far quicker - proper sinking stomach feeling quick.

You can get several version of Type R (2 doors) which are more expensive as you pay 2 door tax. Most Type Rs have DCCD which may or may not be useful depending if you are a hero behind the wheel. WRX Type RAs get ABS which I would rather over DCCD.

Personally I would offer this guy £5K. He's had it 6 years so has probably looked after it. Its the last of the line classics with the sort after WRC interior. It will be a PITA on long runs due to the gearing but it will probably be the quickest car you've ever driven.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-SUBARU-I...ewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item4a9feafcbf

I found the gearing a chore but most love it.
 
A well looked after UK Turbo will see well passed 100k if treated properly. My Classic had 120k+ on it when I sold it. I drove it like I stole it daily, and it was pushing 350bhp on those 120k standard internals. Never missed a beat.
 
Not a fan of them and dont know to much about them, but as with any turbo car especially 100k + mileage make sure you have a couple of grand saved incase of engine failure and scoobys engines are made of chocolate i think so its pretty inevitable.

Also turbo cars NEED regular oil changes. I service my Skyline every 3500 miles normally just oil and filter, but it needs doing to. With my other Skyline i used to service it every 5000miles as it was only running 300bhp.
 
Lum said:
Is he one of the aforementioned knuckle dragging inbreds I was refering to?

Obviously MPG on any car is going to plummet if you lead foot it everywhere.


As for laughing at the STI name, don't forget that the lastest generation STI has a button in the console labelled "C. Diff"
Click to expand...
Well, he's got possibly the world's loudest exhaust on it. When he pulls up outside you can feel it.
 
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