Scoob WRX Wagon

daveyj27

daveyj27

daveyj27

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
1,227
Location
NH USA (Brit Expat)
Hello all, i'm just after some advice/opinions.

Me and my wife will need to get a second car over here soon, so we can get to work easily and individually. We recently bought a new Yaris, and it's a great little car, but i'm going to be after something a little bigger and more potent.

Now I was thinking about something like a new Mustang but my friends over here have talked me out of it due to how bad the winters can be in this neck of the woods. I've been advised to go for AWD by the locals, and I believe that i'd be a fool if I didn't listen to them.

That being said has anyone here ever owned, or driven, a WRX wagon? The extra space the wagon has over a sedan could be useful to me, and I kind of prefer the look of it too. Any bad experiences out there?
 
Psymonkee said:
No help at all but where is here? NH being New Hampshire at a guess?

just nosey :)
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Yep, New Hampshire. :)

The winters here are usually pretty bad, and every third or fourth vehicle that you see tends to be a Subaru (mostly Outbacks and Foresters).
 
My sister lived in Keene for a year and one of her mates swore by his Evo VII in the winters!
I imagine that a Scoob would be equally as good in the weather, however I would go for something with a bit more ground clearance because when it snows, its really snows there!
 
VBDub said:
My sister lived in Keene for a year and one of her mates swore by his Evo VII in the winters!
I imagine that a Scoob would be equally as good in the weather, however I would go for something with a bit more ground clearance because when it snows, its really snows there!
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I know Keene, it's to the west of me (i'm in the southeast suburbs of Manchester for the time being).

The main roads and motorways are cleared very quickly by the plows, and I don't usually have much reason to go off the beaten track, so i'm hoping the Impreza has enough ground clearance. My friend used to have an Impreza 2.5RS and said that he found it great in the winter. Ironically though he went off the motorway into a ditch after hitting black ice, which goes to show that nothing is infallable!!! :D
 
not had the estate versions but had 2 imprezas both 04 plate, currently got a 2004 wrx awd 221bhp version saloon. nice cars, good value for the money, plenty power and loads of grip in a usable chassis, couldn't ask for much more.

BUT both of the ones i had the current one and the old one have very heavy oil consumption. dunno why, its crazy high though. also car would be better if it had a chain driven camshafts. less running costs in the long term.
 
Cyber-Mav said:
not had the estate versions...
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The thing I really like about the impreza wagons is that they aren't really estate cars, the wagon is no longer than the saloon it just has more loading space from the higher roof/boot line.
 
Don't make the common mistake of thinking the Impreza Wagon is an estate, becuase as bam0 said, it isn't. It is basically just an Impreza Hatchback. It is more practical because of the hatch, but don't expect it to have much more space than the saloon.
 
Personally, for your requirements, I would go for a forrester. Same transmission more or less but better ground clearance and I would assume more space inside.
 
hate the look of the wagon, looks more like a subaru legacy, just looses some of its sporty appeal. although the wagons are cheaper to get than the saloons.

if you want major boot space and a quick car your probably looking at the wrong vehicle.


EDIT: just noticed your in the usa, you shoudl be able to get loads of good cars there. the everday american cars are usually bigger than ford mondeos. :p
 
Drives just like the saloon, very "planted" and plenty of grunt. I must admit the UK car (MY99) I tried felt substantially down on power after trying a Japanese import.
 
this is interesting too, the impreza bro currently has is a same 04 plate wrx awd but uk spec and it deffo feels slower than the last one he had which was a 04 plate which was imported from malta.

both apparently rated at 221bhp as standard. although the last one he had i did stick a dump valve on it so not sure but feels like the current one has more turbo lag. may get a dumb valve for it or probably just sell it on now and get something else.
 
Cyber-Mav said:
EDIT: just noticed your in the usa, you shoudl be able to get loads of good cars there. the everday american cars are usually bigger than ford mondeos. :p
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Yes, but those cars handle poorly in good weather, let alone a blizzard!! :D

Seriously, the guys I know who own average American cars usually garage them in bad weather and switch to old beat-up 4WD pickups and SUVs. I'd rather have just the one all-round vehicle, and Subaru are definately the main flavour up here.
 
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bam0 said:
The thing I really like about the impreza wagons is that they aren't really estate cars, the wagon is no longer than the saloon it just has more loading space from the higher roof/boot line.
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That's exactly my take on the wagon.
 
I have a UK MY00 wagon and tbh the boot space isn't much more than the saloon. It's easier to get stuff in and has split rear seats (something that not all the saloons have i think?) but thats all. If i was buying again though, i think i would have the saloon just on the looks. ALthough saying that, i have been thinking of a GB270 wagon :D
 
drunken fool said:
I have a UK MY00 wagon and tbh the boot space isn't much more than the saloon. It's easier to get stuff in and has split rear seats (something that not all the saloons have i think?) but thats all.
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These are the figures from Subaru (for the 2006 onwards model anyway, which is what i'm after):

Cargo volume.

Wagon: 27.9 cu. ft. (61.6 cu. ft. with rear seat lowered).

Sedan: 11.0 cu. ft.

Source

That seems like a fair bit of difference but in all honesty, I'm not too hung up on the cargo space. It's not absolutely essential to have it, just useful. I genuinely do prefer the look of the wagon though, it's more of a sleeper (unless you know cars and know what you're looking at).
 
drunken fool said:
been thinking of a GB270 wagon :D
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Its quite expensive considering STI price isn't much more.

Plus its being quoted as "The last WRX in the UK" which according to rumour isn't the case.

sorry for the quick hijack.
 
Definately have a look at the Forester, essentially an impreza with a different body and a couple of simple mods make it much better handling plus you have some off road capability as well if that's your bag..

Can be substantially modded as well ;)
 
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EddScott said:
Its quite expensive considering STI price isn't much more.

Plus its being quoted as "The last WRX in the UK" which according to rumour isn't the case.

sorry for the quick hijack.
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Yeah, was reading those rumors as well.

Although it will still be "The last decent looking WRX in the UK" :D
 
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