Took a "Blobeye" Impreza STI PPP out today

MikeHiow · 19 Oct 2010 at 20:22

Let me clarify a few things. Unless I had a fair bit more money, I would never spend £12k on a car just for fun, and apart from the noise, the MY05 Impreza didn't seem raw enough to justify the other compromises.

Where as a classic is going to cost less than £5k, is going to be more focussed and would be used as a fun/weekend/occasional use car.

Fett's comment got me thinking how many times I've really had a chance to take a 4WD for a proper run, and that's limited to a few quick blasts spread over a Pulsar, a shoddy classic WRX and a MK4 R32. I have the opportunity here to give 4WD a chance, and to give me a chance to properly familiarise with 4WD and what it has to offer.

I don't really see what the issue is here?

MikeHiow · 19 Oct 2010 at 20:36

[TW]Fox;17607717 said:
Or you could not spend £5k on an old Impreza, could have used the money to keep your Focus, and then spent the rest of your time with your new family rather than messing about with old Jap turbos.

That doesn't work.

MikeHiow · 19 Oct 2010 at 20:42

Well, I see what he is saying - an Impreza is bound to be more unreliable than an ST.

That said, the Impreza would do a fraction of the mileage.

MikeHiow · 19 Oct 2010 at 21:16

[FnG]magnolia;17607831 said:
What ... what happened here? The OP is seriously going to buy a version of the car that he was terribly underwhelmed with in his first post? Christ, I thought he was kidding.

Huh? Did you forget the discussion we have this afternoon? What happened to

[FnG]magnolia said:
Fair enough and good luck.

?

Joshy said:
Yes, but it's hardly going to make your wife/girlfriend a widow and your child fatherless, is it?

I'm not saying it's a questionable choice, but I'm not getting the whole "It's a silly idea because you have a family" angle.

Fox is just looking for something to pick at.

MikeHiow · 19 Oct 2010 at 21:45

Why do you think I'd be crazy to go for an RA?

MikeHiow · 19 Oct 2010 at 23:54

MikeHiow said:
Why do you think I'd be crazy to go for an RA?

Can I take that as 'there is no reason', and get on with my life then?

MikeHiow · 20 Oct 2010 at 02:27

It is a completely different car though?

MikeHiow · 20 Oct 2010 at 09:27

[FnG]magnolia;17609664 said:
No, a Ford Focus ST and a Subaru WRX STI are completely different cars.

A Subaru WRX STI and a Subaru WRX STI RA are not completely different cars.

One is a variant of the other and if you didn't like the one you test drove I can't imagine you'll like the one which you haven't test driven. Where are you going to get one to test drive it? These aren't common cars and the few on PH are old.

Why is a Focus ST relevant?

They are not variants of each other. One comes from 1994, the other from 2005 - there is over 10 years between them and most Subaru fanbois will tell you the Classic is more raw and focussed - the only thing these cars have in common is a Subaru badge and 4WD.

What you're saying is like telling me a Ford Escort GTi is a variant of a Focus ST. It's just not true.

I have a friend with a mint one, not sure if I can blag a test drive or not, but I will be seeking his advice when looking at one and will no doubt get a passenger ride. I will get a chance to test drive one when I turn up to view one?

Seriously, I don't see what the problem is here. First of all I'm wrong for dismissing 4WD, and now I'm wrong for listening to people and wanting to give it a chance.

Fox, do you have anything interesting or relevant to add? You haven't managed it since the beginning of page 2 - nearly 6 pages ago.

MikeHiow · 20 Oct 2010 at 10:23

His is a V3 STI RA, IIRC.

I explained a few threads back that the underwhelmed feeling was more from high expectations than it being that bad. I also explained about cost, feel and focus. Essentially an RA would be a car with different uses than the MY05 would be for me.

It may be odd, but that is the only way I can truly experience one. No one is going to lend me one for a few weeks/months. It isn't like they are cars suffering from huge depreciation, so its not even likely to cost me anything.

MikeHiow · 20 Oct 2010 at 11:01

My made up friend said:
Hi Mike, I'm a bit busy today at work to give you a decent reply now so I'll get back to you tonight.

Mine is actually an STI RA, that is what you will need to look for if you want DCCD, the RA never had it.

Insurance is a bitch, I'm 40 and pay £460 and I shopped around big time.

This is a good site to look at

http://www.type-ra.co.uk/

Dave

There are a lot of people into their cars over here, and belonging to a fairly large motoring club over here - I know most of them. It isn't that hard to comprehend, really.

MikeHiow · 20 Oct 2010 at 11:35

There was the RA and then STi RA, this has already been discussed earlier in the thread.

EddScott said:
I can tell you now though that it won't be a comfortable car to drive. Awesome without question but coming from a Focus ST it will be like stepping in go kart.

I'm well aware of this, and you think the Impreza is bad - you should see what my Strada is like on the road

MikeHiow · 20 Oct 2010 at 11:53

Read post #153 and its quote on the previous page.

I believe being an RA it still has the STI red top engine, but isn't technically an STI.

MikeHiow · 20 Oct 2010 at 12:55

[FnG]magnolia;17611148 said:
It does have that engine and is still technically an STI type RA.

Except it isn't by name.

MikeHiow · 21 Oct 2010 at 21:16

Managed to blag a drive in said friend's RA

MikeHiow · 21 Oct 2010 at 21:31

I haven't actually taken it yet, it has simply been offered

MikeHiow · 21 Oct 2010 at 22:41

[TW]Fox;17622916 said:
Who are you insured with, Mike?

You already know the answer to that question, and its irrelevant. Nice try though

MikeHiow · 24 Oct 2010 at 20:06

Because I've got more sense to waste that much money modifying a car that is probably already at its limits of actually usable power.

The only slightly useful suggestion you've made there is the diff.

MikeHiow · 24 Oct 2010 at 21:08

monty166 said:
They do 1 thing well Point to Point

In just about every othere department i hate them.

Day to day id rather have my current focus ST evey day of the week.....So i will LOL

I agree with these three points, as you'll see by reading my original review.

That said, if you'd read the thread, I'm replacing the ST with something that will not be an every day car.