I love my 01 wagon. It's faster than I am, comfortable, go anywhere'ish and so far reliable. I had a MY98 for 3 years before hand and just couldn't go back to it as a day to day drive.

 

I dont think anyone is complaining about the weight :

1) Good move to strengthen the car
2) Good move to give the car a more solid feel
3) Good move to increase crash protection
4) Good move to update the interior
5) BAD move not upping the standard power along with the weight

I keep saying this give me 220bhp/ton in STANDARD trim I would would have one tommorrow, but at 158bhp/ton for the WRX and 180bhp/ton for the STI UK it seems unlikely.

 

I must admit that I'm disapointed by my MY02. I test drove a MY99 wagon and it was blisteringly quick - the WRX is only 'quick', and when you're on the Motorway at about 90mph (3k rpm so off-boost) you need to drop it a cog to get anywhere - I didn't expect that. Then I started thinking about a STi UK, but I can't justify spending the extra to swap when a decat and PPP on the standard WRX supposedly gives 270ish bhp for just over £2k (less if you buy your zorst secondhand!).

But I'd really like an classic Sti 5/6 wagon.......

 

I had a long test drive of the '01 WRX
- Got back in my Audi and it felt no different below 70-80mph.
- So, drove a 99MY - less refinement, agreed, but much quicker.
- Bought a 99MY, a soundproofing kit and a better head unit.

I've done 10000 miles in 3.5 months, and find the ride and noise totally acceptable on the motorway. The Subaru cost me £10k, the Audi £24k new.

 

I would have thought you would test drive the car to make sure you liked it first.

Also I thought these threads would have died out by know. The new shape WRX has been around for two years now.

I know mine is fast enough for me, it certainly makes me smile and there are plenty of ways of reducing the weight. Look at reducing the rotational weight as this give much better returns than sprung weight.

 

the reason these threads are not dying down is becouse the old classic is now 2 years old and so people are now trading in there old classic for the bugeye as when they first came out we all didn`t go out and get one straight away but now as our old model is getting older we are looking for something else

these new threads are by people who have just got the new model

 

xscooby unlike your idea of an classic impreza owners I purchased my P1 late last year (2001) and I waited until the wrx and sti were available and well documented. My choice after driving susequent cars still remains the same even the press now do not rate the sti7 that highly anymore let a lone a clio whopping a wrx! The best of the old generation quicker, more rewarding and looks almost hansome (compared to the bug eye) P1.

Seem to remember they (prdrive/ IM) were going to do a power upgrade on the p1. This never happened. I wonder if its a marketing exercise?

The new gens are a good car but not a better car unless they wish to sell them to the same car buyers growing older and wanting more fancy trimmings. Like the poor old golf gti the sti7 is having to get heavier, more powerful,have fancy diffs and more electronics to have the same perfomance as the out going model. Subaru could learn a lesson or two from lotus, power-to-weight is king.

 

I think we are forgeting the market this new WRX was really aimed at!

The USA!

Compared to the 2.5RS the WRX in standard form is a big step forward, it seems to me the UK was the last thing on Subaru's mind when they came up with the overall power/weight package of the WRX.

 

I've read the post here with alot of interest. When my saxo is sold (or should I say if) I'm gonna get an impreza but.....I'm not sure on what model to get old or new?
I'm most likely going to buy from a dealer as I have no knowledge of cars and I would be happier know I have some sort of come back and warranty that you don't get from private.
Should I import a new WRX or go for a 2 year old old shape Impreza? They seem to be the same sort of price!?!? What will hold it's value better etc.
I have veiws on both looks wise and the Bug-eyed version is warming on me. So any advise would be great

MD

 

MD predicting resale is very difficult I was recently offered a pretty fair part ex for my grey import MY00 which goes against everything I have seen posted on here .

I can only tell you what I would do in your position and I am sure this will surprise people . If I was coming to the impreza new I would have a new MY02 euro import from someone like Ian Litchfield. You would get the three year warranty and none of the paperwork hassle (which isnt a lot but I prefer somelese do it) and UK dealer support if thats important to you. Word of caution, you may need to order in advance if you want a particular colour/spec.

As much as like the classics when I brought mine (late 2000) the only MY01s UKs were at the NEC, ie none had actaully hit the streets. IMHO there is also a good reasons for not buying a brand new car - its not been evolved and dealers/specialist/tuners take a while to come upto speed. The MY00 had gone through 8 years worth of upgrades and evolutions and had all the little problems ironed out and was a known quantity and bags of info available. As the MY02 has had a couple of years worth of road use its a much more tried and tested in real life car and there are mods and knowledge out for it now.

Just look at the current STI PPP threads this was 10 fold more when people brought MY01 and couldnt have a PPP the next day .

Its a much safe bet now.

If I brought an MY02 straight away I would have a PPP and do the exhaust, lights, spoiler, wheels and gauges and leave it at that.

Trouble is thats about 4000-5000 on top