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.
That's why I'm looking at black ones rather than blue with gold wheels. I'd lose the rear wing and the Sti stickers and fly under most peoples radar. Or just buy a Legacy Gtb.
I always liked the phase 1's and the RB5 in particular. It managed a subtle lary appearance and now has a rarity about it. Aye that or a Series McRae.
Either one of those variants has a bit of cache attached and [s]I'm biding my time[/s] Id be looking out for a tidy example of these.
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2005 WRX wagon here. Can get road bike (wheels attached) in the back with seat down but have't tried the mtb yet. Managed 32mpg on a 120 mile run sitting at 70mph most of the time, usually get around 25mpg. £290 a year tax. Insurance surprisingly reasonable (25 with 0 no claims). It's a second car as I have a company van so not too concerned with running costs.
I think the wagons are a tad more subtle than the saloons, but it's still got a bonnet scoop and bright red brake calipers. The standard factory exhaust is silent, I replaced mine with a Hayward and Scott resonated catback and it's still very quiet when pootling around and not very loud when you boot it. Can't say I've had any hassle with people trying to race me, never been pulled by the police (and I live 10 mile from Liverpool). I may look like a tit but I couldn't really care.
Aren`t all the old ones owned by 18 year old council estate drug dealers?
Aren`t all the old ones owned by 18 year old council estate drug dealers?
My point exactly Edric
(Although the I do agree, that as mentioned above, that the more experienced and established dealers do tend to favour newer models from VAG / BMW !!)