Talk to me about scoobies

kaptainmarc

kaptainmarc

kaptainmarc

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started another thread a week or so ago looking for a car.

But wanted to get some more information on scoobies. I have always liked them but often put off buying one as always thought they could throw up some massive bills or be troublesome.

let me state that I know nothing about them so any information however small would be great!

Lowered my budget slightly to around 5k if I would need to up my budget I could stretch to 6k if needed but the lower the better

which models are best? I have heard the 2.5 engines have more problems than the 2.0?

what would you guys recommend? please feel free to throw up loads of links so I know what you are on about. I am not against the estate version I actually quite like it. I don't however like the scoobies with the small spoiler I think they look a bit silly.

Your help is much appreciated.

edit: I will be using this to commute in. 12 miles each way everyday so needs to be fairly reliable and not blow up every 5 minutes, If this is not ideal then tell me I am a lunatic
 
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Scooby-Doo is an American animated cartoon franchise, comprising several animated television series produced from 1969 to the present day. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears in 1969. This Saturday-morning cartoon series featured four teenagers—Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Norville "Shaggy" Rogers—and their talking brown Great Dane named Scooby-Doo, who solve mysteries involving supposedly supernatural creatures through a series of antics and missteps.

Oh sorry, wrong Scooby? :p :D

I'd suggest looking on the owner forums, Scoobynet springs to mind if that's still going, as these will be a huge resource in terms of information, what to look out for, common problems etc.
 
Everyone says the 2.0L ones from around 2004-2005 are the ones to get. Before the huge tax hike, best looks, and the best engine.

But yea, bad idea unless your only doing a few miles a day. They are far from cheap to run and maintain.
 
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They're thirsty. Really thirsty. Like 200 miles to a tankful if you use the performance. Thought about a mk5 Golf GTI or if you don't mind less economy a Focus ST?
 
I've had two Imprezas in the last year, 06 Hawk and an 08 Hatch STI.

If I had to do it again, I'd definitely go for the 2.0 pre-06 due to tax and engine reliability, unless it was a fully forged hatch.

The Impreza owners club on Facebook is actually a good place to be and everybody is generally friendly and helpful (my opinion, compared to the civic type r owners club for example).

I didn't think Maintenance was too bad, brakes, discs, general service schedule, all reasonable.
Thirsty though :p Though I was on 330bhp and 400bhp cars.. So I never complained about filling up.

Mine were both used for commuting, around 24 miles a day.

Find one that has service history, isn't making a horrible noise and ask the owner how he warms up/cools-down the turbo etc.
 
Nasher said:
Everyone says the 2.0L ones from around 2004-2005 are the ones to get. Before the huge tax hike, best looks, and the best engine.

But yea, bad idea unless your only doing a few miles a day. They are far from cheap to run and maintain.
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THIS. MY STI was doing 11mpg average. :( plus if it breaks it gets expensive.
 
Hmm. Depends on your viewpoint I guess. I've owned two and found them to be very reasonable to run/service/insure. I'd suggest that at 11mpg something was seriously amiss or you're running a 600bhp monster. At 5k/6k I'd get an 05ish STI or a mint classic of some description. They're becoming harder to find now though. Good luck!
 
My 330bhp STI was ~23mpg on town commutes with a bit of day-off thrashing.
No idea about the 400bhp STI as my gauges replaced the trip/mpg clocks in the centre :p

Insurance wasn't too bad til I wrote one of them off hence my "downgrade" to a 200bhp type r!

6k is a good budget for a nice pre 06 tbh.
 
UltimateBadger said:
Hmm. Depends on your viewpoint I guess. I've owned two and found them to be very reasonable to run/service/insure. I'd suggest that at 11mpg something was seriously amiss or you're running a 600bhp monster. At 5k/6k I'd get an 05ish STI or a mint classic of some description. They're becoming harder to find now though. Good luck!
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You won't get an '04 or '05 STi for 6k.

OP: for your budget id be looking at a WRX.
 
I have been looking at focus ST and type R but looking at my options for something abit more meaty as I have previously had a type r.
Just looking at this as another avenue as I like them and it seems the perfect time to buy something thats a abit fun even if I only keep it a year

bought a house and wedding is paid for so no big things to save for time to have a nice car for a while at least

my commute is 10 miles dual carriage and 1 mile either side of that going through a small town

should I be looking at something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...sedcars&radius=30&postcode=DE21 4DF&logcode=p
 
kaptainmarc said:
should I be looking at something like this:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...sedcars&radius=30&postcode=DE21 4DF&logcode=p
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Bland colour, low power, thirsty engine. That looks like it would bore me fast.

I wouldn't consider a Scooby, personally, unless it was an STI, and even then, I'd be wanting more power for their fuel economy. At least 300 BHP to be honest, otherwise the running costs will get old, quick.

If your only looking at around 200 BHP motors, there is some far more sensible stuff out there at this price.
 
It's a prodrive so what, 260ish? Makes quite a big difference to them and stops them from only feeling quick with a silly launch off the line. Any more than that and youd be wanting more than the wrx brakes can offer imo, then things start to get expensive fast

What really put me off the wrx (pre hatch) was the lack of cruise control - I know it's an incredibly silly little thing but even on my relatively short commute I use it every day, pkus the odd journey down south I simply wouldn't have a car without it.

Need to decide what you want, the likes of the ST/gti and type R are a fairly good middle ground in terms of power, handling and comfort.
 
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Archeum said:
I've had two Imprezas in the last year, 06 Hawk and an 08 Hatch STI.
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How did they compare?

Early hawks on a 55 plate are in the lower tax bracket.

From what I can make out, once forged the 2.5s are better. Never driven one.

Personally I don't dislike the old bugeyes. Always had this idea of having a black Prodrive bugeye STI. Find one with a blown engine and have the Engine Tuner 2.1 fitted. Get the gold brake calipers re-sprayed in Kawasaki green and fit 18" big offset wheels in white. That would do me.
 
EddScott said:
How did they compare?

Early hawks on a 55 plate are in the lower tax bracket.

From what I can make out, once forged the 2.5s are better. Never driven one.

Personally I don't dislike the old bugeyes. Always had this idea of having a black Prodrive bugeye STI. Find one with a blown engine and have the Engine Tuner 2.1 fitted. Get the gold brake calipers re-sprayed in Kawasaki green and fit 18" big offset wheels in white. That would do me.
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Can't really give a great comparison tbh, the 08 Hatch STI was with Prodrive and completely stock whereas the 06 Hawk was forged, bigger turbo, 400bhp with launch control, downshift blipping, coilovers etc

The hatch was a very nice drive, smooth, proper daily car, cruise etc, soft.
With three selectable drive modes - Intelligent, Sport, Sport Sharp etc it was exactly what you wanted it to be when you wanted it. Though mine was in Sport sharp 90% of the time!

Hawk was more of a fast road / track car and it definitely felt that way. No selectable modes, no stability control etc.

If I went for another Impreza it would definitely be the Hatch or new shape.
I'd only consider a pre-06 one if I was going to make it very fast :p

In the beginning I wasn't a fan of bug/blob/hawk shapes etc - went for the hatch initially as they're pretty uncommon - but they grown on me after seeing them properly rather than just pictures or quick glances.
 
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EddScott said:
Personally I don't dislike the old bugeyes. Always had this idea of having a black Prodrive bugeye STI.
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I never really disliked the bugeye but since getting my WRX bug last year I would absolutely love a black bug STi. They're a little more exclusive than the blobs now.

In terms of running costs, I've found mine very reasonable. I'm fortunate enough to be able to do the work myself but parts are reasonable, fluids and service parts aren't too bad and the whole car is like a massive jigsaw and very easy to work on.

I also see between 300-340 miles to a tank pretty consistently.

I've also grown to the WRX spoiler, would love an STi bonnet scoop though.
 
If I only had 6k to spend I would be looking to get a blob/bug eye sti. Wrx isn't really worth it. Get the Sti or do not bother. Try and get Import if you can as they will have DCCD, less rust and a better engine.

I also commute 12 miles each way and in my Celica (340ish bhp) it would cost me £60 a week in petrol at today's prices so bear that in mind.
 
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I'd get an excellent WRX for 3k and pocket the rest. Things may have changed a bit since I was looking but you needed about 8 for a good blob STi.

While I agree the STi is a worthwhile upgrade over a WRX, you still get good performance, handling, grip, reliability, practicality and permanent 4WD system for not a lot of cash.
 
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