[Closed] Any reason why I shouldn't buy a Subaru Impreza ?

Test drove several. Owned a Legacy GTB.

Pros: Faster than most average cars. Overtakes easily once on boost. Supremely surefooted in shitty conditions, even snow. Fast point to point. Parts are cheap. Relatively cheap to get more power from.

Cons: Cheap horrible interior. Barely room to swing a cat in the boot. Not actually *that* fast unless you look at STI versions. Permanent AWD so very very thirsty. Awkward to work on. Engine will grenade itself [s]if not looked after[/s] inevitably.

Forester XT has basically the same engine and power train but a better interior, useable boot and the added benefit of being less of a scumbag/police magnet than an impreza.

Thanks. Not looking to mod it at all, 220 bhp is quick enough for me, just want to be able to take front wheel off bike and stick it in the back. With my fiesta I have to dismantle it virtually!

I’ve owned two and no, there are no reasons not to own one. You will get a tiny bit tired of filling it with petrol but, so long as you avoid using it for unnecessary journeys, it’s not too bad.

Rachel

Guy I know has one and he ran off with his best friends wife....true story 😀 Also, as already mentioned (and probably more relevant) they are pretty basic inside.

Thanks folks. Yes I gather they're a bit thirsty but commute to work most days on the bike so won't be doing big journeys and yes the interior looks like my missus' old Toyota Rav 4, but they seem to be pretty reliable.

Mrs cd has an impreza wrx estate. It is basic inside but still for a 55 plate with 110k on it it goes pretty well. Much more fun to drive than my boring kia sportage. They are fairly expensive for servicing but that can be patially improved by taking it to a specialist, particulalry for an older car. As said fuel consumption is poor but you won't be expecting anything else and you can just about control it by driving sensibly most of the time. They are noisy on long motorway journeys. Go for it, everybody needs some fun in their life.

The boot isn't that big, you'd need to drop the back seats - may or may not be an issue for you.

I had an 05 plate STI. You couldn't fold the back seats down (not sure if this is STI only?) so was pretty terrible for getting the bike anywhere.

It's a really nice car to drive fast, but it needs to be driven fast to be enjoyable imo.
Driving around town it's laggy, heavy clutch and feels a bit of a pig.

Mine never seemed to manage over 20mpg (305bhp prodrive STI though...)

Someone will try and steal it, I think the days of everybody wanting to race you are over, may be wrong haven't driven one for ages. Very thirsty.

My mate had a couple of the non turbo ones which are normal cars, not chav mobiles. I think he managed 35mpg or so. However he did have to spend £150 on HT leads once 😯

Are you predisposed to drive like a dickhead? Do you think your chances of driving like a dickhead will increase if you have a fast car?

Thanks. Not looking to mod it at all, 220 bhp is quick enough for me, just want to be able to take front wheel off bike and stick it in the back. With my fiesta I have to dismantle it virtually!

You'll get a bike in the back of Forester without taking the wheels off. Flipping the seats down takes 5 seconds.
I'm looking for another one if anyone knows of one. The Outback is nowhere near as much fun...

yorkshire89
I had an 05 plate STI. You couldn't fold the back seats down (not sure if this is STI only?) so was pretty terrible for getting the bike anywhere.

STI one has a rear strut brace doesn't it? Certainly not present on the WRX.

santacruzsi
but they seem to be pretty reliable.

Hmmmmm. NA 2.5 and 3.0 Outbacks, and Legacy's used by farmers have contributed heavily to this reputation and I personally don't think it's deserved. Engine rebuild threads on Subaru forums are like "what tyre" threads on STW.

Jimjam - not in the boot, think there may be one under the floor though?

[i]tax is £290 per year [/i]

That'll be the least of your expense for a 10 y/o turbocharged 4-wheel drive car. And if older than 35 y/o, you'll look like someones Dad borrowed it 🙂

Engine rebuild threads on Subaru forums are like "what tyre" threads on STW.

But is that because they've been tuned and flogged?

They're not massive, but it sounds big enough for your needs, and you don't commute etc. so fuel costs not a massive problem.

I would kind of say though that if you drive it like your pants are on fire you will spend MASSIVE amounts on fuel. If you want to do this, another car may be better, as you may otherwise be tempted to try and coax "the big 3-0" mpg out of it by driving like a granny, which kind of defeats the point of having the thirsty engine in the first place.

Parts are, apparently, quite pricey. Mate had a Forester and a few big bills.

But is that because they've been tuned and flogged?

They like good quality petrol as well if have been played with, mate holed a piston in an Technica sti by using supermarket fuel.

"With my fiesta I have to dismantle it virtually!"
are new fiestas really that small ?

used to get 2 downhill bikes in the back of a mk3 fiesta.

back seat folds down , front wheels out - forks sat behind the frontseats in the footwells bikes upright.

did 4 seasons racing like that.

molgrips

But is that because they've been tuned and flogged?

Some of them yeah for sure but they are a hugely popular car for modifying and the tolerances are well known. In my experience (of owning 3 subarus and two engine rebuilds) the non STI engines are made of cheese. Added to that a decent sized turbo which is just cooking your oil all day long..... and if you don't let it cool down you'll have head issues.

Boxer configuration adds another ball ache on top of that, basically an engine out job to change the spark plugs(or you take the engine off the mounts and tilt it), then you have the awd system which is a whole other layer of complexity on top of that.

I owned one for 11 years and the interior was still as solid and practical at the end as the beginning. I don't get the constant moan about the cheap interior. When I sold it at 13 years of age it had been supremely reliable and had gone places most would think twice about taking a Land Rover Defender. Unfortunately I needed more towing ability or I might still have one. If you enjoy driving for driving sake you will enjoy it and overlook all its' short-comings. If you just want a car to get from A to B then I am guessing there would be better cars out there to suit your needs

Owner of two here. Neither missed a single beat. 2002 bug eye wrx and a 2005 blob with full prodrive kit, that one was good to 60 in 5 secs in all but snow. A little part of me died when I sold it nearly three years ago now. Hold their money really well at the moment and I couldn't buy mine back as we stand for what I chopped it in for.
Who cares what the interior is like, when other cars are disappearing in you mirror, seats are decent too so longs the bolsters haven't been sat on too many times by fat folk.
Main reason I sold was I couldn't bring myself to put a tow bar or roof rack on it....

STI classic had a solid rear bulkhead on the 2 i had. The UK turbo has folding rear seats. Not sure on the newer models though. Fuel economy or the lack of does become tiring after a while. Sub 20 mpg is easily achievable with harsh acceleration.

hold on jim jam .... dont talk shit im reliably informed by the STW massive that you dont need to let turboed cars cool down before turning engine off.......

I grew up on the farm where the only time the tractor was on and not earning money was the warm up and cool down - twas drummed into me from an early age.

run classic turbo diesels still today and still stand by it - let fresh cool oil get through the turbo and circulate it clean before shut down instead of letting the hot oil carbonise in the turbo.

Still see folk bring their cars straight off the main road - pull up and engine off straight away.

its the turbos fault when it dies not the nut holdign the wheel.

But is that because they've been tuned and flogged?

Yes, usually.

Here's my old one. It was about 13 years ago but it was the most fun car I've ever had. I had a Blitz NUR Spec R exhaust on it and it truly sounded like amplified thunder. 330bhp doesn't seem that mad nowadays but it was truly mental back then. Mechanically rock solid.

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I had a 54 plate Blobeye Prodrive-kit wagon up until a couple of years ago. Bombproof in terms of reliability, plenty of room for bikes (got my 21" 29er in without taking any wheels out, which is actually a tight squeeze in my current Octavia estate) and of course ridiculously quick in all weathers.

Yes the interior is cheap (as above, who cares?) and also the stereo was crap but the fun-factor was well worth it. Fuel costs did me in the end when I started to do 5-600 miles per week.

Neighbours son has one - it's very noisy and he parks it 50m up the road - presumably because his parents have banned him from parking it outside the house as it disturbs everybody.

I know several enthusiasts to this day who have turbo timers fitted so the car actually runs on to do whatever it does before switching off.

I had a 52 plate WRX, modified etc..the wife hated it as it was so noisey due to the mad exhaust.
For that reason alone I kept it. 😀

Never managed much more than 21mpg, but it was a brilliant car. I knew a good non franchise garage that did my repairs/servicing which kept bills down (cambelts were expensive) but eventaully sold it due to fuel.

My nephews on his second having had a Mondeo 220 and a Nissan Z350 in between....as others have said treat the turbo with cool down respect and service it accordingly. In my opinion they're not much different from any other performance 4x4 in terms of running costs.....personally I like normally aspirated v6/V8s and non Japanese cars but hey it's a dull world if we all like the same! Do it you'd only regret it if you don't!

Barely room to swing a cat in the boot.

used to get 2 bikes in the the boot of mine and all our kit, nice thing was you couldn't tell they were there.

Klunk

used to get 2 bikes in the the boot of mine and all our kit, nice thing was you couldn't tell they were there.

Smaller boot than a Focus. 356 ltrs vs 385 ltrs according to Parkers.

I've ran a classic UK turbo 2000 for the last 6 years taking it from 60k to 100k miles. It's been a second car for a lot of that time which has mitigated the fuel bills somewhat. Fantastic car but now on it's last legs due to rust.

As already said above: very reliable, very thirsty, very sure-footed, very quick off the line but nothing special once up and running - you need an STI or a modified one for motorway willy waving. Never had any big bills and never been left stranded.

one being hatch back and the other a saloon it's hardly surprising

Never had one, but if it wasn't for the image and the chances of it being stolen, I reckon it'd be a great car. It's not something you buy for the interior and good looks...

Have heard about the catastrophic engine failures, but general consensus seems to be good if they're looked after.

Quite fancy a Forester, though they seem quite expensive to buy. Especially the STIs.

Klunk - Member

one being hatch back and the other a saloon it's hardly surprising

That's the Focus hatchback compared to the Impreza Wagon, as per the OP. It might actually surprise a lot of people since the Wagon looks like a scaled down estate.

I always liked the driving position and the very solid and planted feel it had on the worst of roads a great A-B "cross country" car. Hated it in the snow loads of traction to get you up to speed and but no way of stopping like riding a sledge 🙂 (even with anti lock fuse taken out)

If you want something quick, reliable and will take a bike with the front wheel removed how about a Civic Type R?

That's the Focus hatchback compared to the Impreza Wagon, as per the OP. It might actually surprise a lot of people since the Wagon looks like a scaled down estate.

and I was talking about the saloon, so why quote wagon figures at me 😕

Klunk

and I was talking about the saloon, so why quote wagon figures at me

So you can get two complete bikes and gear in an impreza saloon?

yep and a workstand and a toolbox

At 99p a litre, suddenly they make perfect sense again 😀

At 99p a litre, suddenly they make perfect sense again

It's definitely the time for it. Expect the resale price to plummet when fuel goes back up though!

If you want something quick, reliable and will take a bike with the front wheel removed how about a Civic Type R?

The image? Even with all the wings and scoops, and that silver foil up front, it's still a grandads car. All Hondas are. It's the Rover in the history.

Thanks for the replies...

My current car is a Mk7 fiesta ST. It's nippy and comfortable but have to take both wheels off and lower the saddle , as well as obviously drop the seats to squeeze my zesty in! I've already scuffed the plastic a few times.

I like cars with a bit of poke but don't intend on trying to boy race everyone off the lights or pretend I'm Colin McRae!

I previously had a bmw 320d (57 plate ) and had to drop the seats with that, I'm happy to do with the Impreza just want to make it easier and not have to totally take it apart!

Yes expecting nothing towards 30mpg , if I do a bonus!

Has anyone mentioned the head gaskets? They'll go and it'll cost you 2k to fix. If anybody says they won't, don't believe them. They will and you'll kiss goosbye to the ti build you were planning.

And they eat petrol.

Other than that they're fun.

I did 220k in mine without the head gaskets going, I could be lying though, very few issues really.

santacruzsi
Thanks for the replies...

My current car is a Mk7 fiesta ST. It's nippy and comfortable but have to take both wheels off and lower the saddle , as well as obviously drop the seats to squeeze my zesty in! I've already scuffed the plastic a few times.

Well, it goes without saying but try before you buy. Imo you're taking a step backwards in terms of fun, refinement, economy and reliability with negligible performance gains. I'd get a roof rack for the Fiesta.

The wagon has a pretty rubbish boot for an estate car its size. Better than a Fiesta but if you're upgrading for capacity it's maybe not a great option. Definitely try it first. If you want a quick car first and a boot second then why not.

It's really not the same sort of car but, Legacy? Gets you your badge, your 4x4, your funny shaped engine, hunt down a spec b or quick jdm model and it'll go both forward and around corners like a bastard, and it's got a proper estate boot.

I had two that didn't blow head gaskets. I could also be lying. And 30 mpg is achievable on a good run I did it back from cornwall. Just keep her below 3500rpm... if you can

As long as you enjoy it.

Personally had a few sport cars and now enjoy power but quiet and comfort with fast acceleration to 70.

Go for it and when you want something different or classy - then sell it. Might have a chav image but it's a drivers car.

You're only young once. Just get a good one you can sell on.

Weeping rocker cover gaskets can be an issue but head gaskets unusual. The dngines are good for 350 bhp on a standard internals so the 220/280 standard engines are normally bomb proof.

I started a new job in Ascot back in 99, lived in Chippenham at the time, so a few miles down the M4. Turned up first day at then office where I understood that I could pick up the marketing managers old motor until my passat estate turned up as a company My new peers started swearing at me when I explained the state of the nation to me.

Little did I know, my temporary company car was an impreza turbo.

Ran it for a good few months around the motorways of Southern England.
As above, went like stink, gripped like the proverbial to a blanket, saved me from going through a hedge more than once. It routinely gave me 30mpg when travelling at 80ish on the m4, every car it caught up with just moved out of the way. Probably less effective these days but that was how it worked....

Top fun, would have another

olly2097

Oh well if we're posting [url=

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[i]*some swearing[/i]

Legacy spec b estate is the more elegant solution to your problem. Just as thirsty, but much nicer inside.

Forester XT. Almost as much fun, more space, nicer inside.

Thanks for the heads up regarding the boot,space. I'd like be able to get a bike in with seats down. Not keen on racks personally.

Whatever you do don't go on any owners club rallys

Last year did Snowdon, family in Dyfi met up with mates for early start up and down, there was a fell running race there that day too, so all the crowds were cheering the runners as we scoffed our well earned brunch after smashing the Rangers 😉

There was an imprezza rally driving thru the town too, they seemed to think the crowds were cheering them, so were waving, revving and honking at the bemused crowds

Anyway I had to get back to the family but got stuck behind the procession, thinking that these guys would be hitting the welsh roads like MacRae , unfortunately the road had just been resurfaced and they all crawled along at 5mph to protect their highly polished prized possessions from stone chips, took me twice as lonng to get back to Dyfi as on the way there to my increasingly grumpy wife.

Thats my only interaction with a Subaru so that just had to share

It's a bit of a regional thing really.
If you happen to live somewhere like Newcastle, Bristol or Liverpool ....... buying a ten year old Impreza will instantly single you out in the eyes of the Law as a hoody wearing drug dealer who lives on a rough council estate and is probably "up to something" ....... so expect to get pulled by the Plod on a regular basis !
(I happen to live in Newcastle and I think Inprezas are cracking cars - but I'm just offering an honest opinion)

Mate of mine (ex British class rally champion) has had various cars over the years, including a stripped out blinged up Imprezza.

The Imprezza was the scariest to be a passenger in because it was brutally fast, and stuck to the road like glue. (Apparently when they don't stick like glue, they let go in a big way though)

However on the road it was just that, fast and stuck to the road. He took me out in an old Skoda Fabia, MX5, and old Golf GTI, and he could do amazing things with them.

He said they were all way more fun to drive than the Impreza, and way less dangerous.

So the moral is if you want a fun car there are better options than an Imprezza. If you want a fast car, then fair enough

I've owned three Subaru's. The only time I've been ever scared in a car was in a Impreza STI driven by me. The interior- its a car not a gin palace. I love Subaru's interiors. I love the frameless doors and one day I might own my fourth Subaru. Awesome cars.

I had an Impreza turbo wagon. Quite a narrow boot, limited space for rear passengers. The real downside for me was steering feel, you can't feel anything,

Has anyone mentioned that they are very thirsty and horrible inside and you need to remove the engine every time you top up the washer fluid ?
Other than that they are good,

Buy a VW diesel then.

It's a bit of a regional thing really.
If you happen to live somewhere like Newcastle, Bristol or Liverpool ....... buying a ten year old Impreza will instantly single you out in the eyes of the Law as a hoody wearing drug dealer who lives on a rough council estate and is probably "up to something" ....... so expect to get pulled by the Plod on a regular basis !
(I happen to live in Newcastle and I think Inprezas are cracking cars - but I'm just

Not round here they aren't (Liverpool). I think you'll find that drug dealing yoofs are driving brand new Golf R's, Audi S3's X5's, 335d's etc. A 10 year old Impreza doesn't cut much ice in those circles and the police probably wouldn't look twice at one.

Not round here they aren't (Liverpool). I think you'll find that drug dealing yoofs are driving brand new Golf R's, Audi S3's X5's, 335d's etc. A 10 year old Impreza doesn't cut much ice in those circles and the police probably wouldn't look twice at one.

Yep. The type of utter spanner that originally gave the impreza it's poor reputation will now be driving something VAG. Scoobys just don't give off the 'correct' image.
And traffic pol don't actually seem to exist anymore, can't remember the last time I spotted one.

Reading with interest as I've been thinking about one as a second car for a while now. There's a very clean black Sti Blobeye prowling the street outside my girlfriend's house as we speak.

They have a terrible image but I think the worst of it is over. You can't buy more performance for the money. They're an iconic car with an impressive heritage that people will want to remember. Prices are guaranteed to rocket when a certain generation comes of age and realises how scarce nice original examples are.

Byy one while the prices are bottomed out and get it out of your system.

I had the WRX Sportwagon and it was a hoot to drive.
Of course it's thirsty, but at least when you fill it up you get to have fun with all that unleaded.
It was the most reliable car I've ever had and only sold it because I needed a van for work.
The boot is not that big, but plenty big enough if you take your front wheel off.
Go for it.

Cause u might look like a tit?

Based on a friends ownership, the Impreza is the sensible, refined economical one. Mitsubishi Evos are the ridiculously fast, direct, expensive ones. Evo did have about a 150hp more than the Prodrive though.

Joepose - I [u]may[/u] look a tit, but I'm not bothered about that .

One of my mates has one and seems to like it. Goes like shit off a shovel when he puts his foot down, bit scary at times haha.

I'd rather have a sporty golf or something though. Better image and probably a better car. Mines just a normal one but I'm happy enough with it and only have to take the front wheel off my bike to fit it in the back with the seats down.

_tom : so you can get a bike in with front wheel off? I appreciate the boot isn't the biggest but would like to know real world living with.

The dealer where I'm looking at this particular one is closed until Monday.

When I was looking at a car years ago I took my 2 bikes to see how they would fit. Could you ride down to look at the Impreza?

We are a funny lot about perceived image. I could spend £500 a month on a lease Audi and feel 'superior'.

A few years my old Italian MD was offered a Golf GTI as a stop gap company car. His response was 'I'm not driving around in a woman's car' so it sat in the carpark unloved whilst he took taxi's everywhere.

Most would have said 'give Mr the keys' I imagine. Me included.

It's not just perceived image. 10 years ago I would have been happy to drive around in a car that looks shouty about its bhp. Now I'm in mid 30s I want the power but not shout about it, regardless of how the car drives. Impreza's get attention off boy racers and the older 'classic' shape are on front lawns with 555 stickers on. Despite how good a standard p1/22b/rb5 is it's no longer for me based on image alone. I do like subarus, they are well made and drive well but wouldn't pick one I could ignore the 'muppet motor' comments from peers, the the wings and bonnet scoops and loud 'zorts put me off.

_tom : so you can get a bike in with front wheel off? I appreciate the boot isn't the biggest but would like to know real world living with.

Yeah, mines just a standard 5 door Golf tdi so not sure if the sportier 3 doors will fit. Worth noting my bike is a small framed 26" wheeled one though so if you have a bigger frame with bigger wheels ymmv.