dazman

Interesting to read all the various comments, but this forum seems to frequented by some narrow minded stuck up people. Subaru’s are for everyone, if you can afford to buy and maintain your car what’s the problem ? . As for styling, modifying surely that’s down to the individual, I’m a 38 year old male with a semi decent job , when I pulled into the works car park in my Scooby I could feel the air of disapproval
and the usual comments , Boy racer , Midlife crisis, well **** the lot of them I worked hard for that car and enjoy it I shall.

whatsisname

dazman well said
you have a great car and after only eleven posts you have a..
CORNER
Ps its a muppet thing

( R6 CDW )

I'v had many many performance cars in the past years, I'm now on scoob No 2 (03 wrx).
I have never had so many people give me positive comments about any car i'v owned in the past.

IT will be a long day in hell before i would change my marque because of the baseball cap brigade.
I'll just keep driving still flashing and waving " AND LAUGHING".

35 year old none boy racer, scooby lover.

chris

*Sonic*

Whats wrong with wearing yer cap back to front !!!!

I have to when taking pics, or using the vid cam otherwise all I get is the peak of my cap

I bought my car because I could, and the right one came along at the right price

Had a sport for 3 years prior, and anyone who knows me with cars, I eventually after months of deliberations narrowed it down to a Celica 190 or a Scoob

The Scoob won due to previous experience, first time ive ever picked a car twice

I enjoy driving it, which is a lot when you look at todays roads, and driving conditions, and yes I have ever so slightly modded it, but thats my choice, and it isnt a max power car

Clear Indicators a boy racer thing , grow up, almost every car on the road from the factory has clear indicators on these days, and lets face it orange looks pants

wacky.banana

Can someone say why this thread was resurected? It last saw daylight in October 2002.

whatsisname

The guy canuck who started the thread reopened it. ????/
Bit of a windup merchant

matt d

Who cares - if it's fun to drive, then drive it. Otherwise sell up and get something else. Driving a scoob on a good B road is fun regardless of how many rally victories it had last year, or how many IT contractors or "muppets" own one. Just get stuck in and love the car for what it is, sod the image.

dba

I'm 37 and having a mid-life crisis

Buying a Scoob and driving like a **** every day has helped my condition and when a muppet pulls and stares at the car i feel nothing but immature gratification-I then muller his shopping trolley for further psychological reasons.


I have also started putting decals on the car.

All the above puts a huge smile on my face EVERY morning.Who cares what everyone else thinks.Mid lifers are great if this is the medicine

KungFuMonkey

I'm 24, and i get disaproving looks in the car park too (And no its not due to the way i drive). I dont think its due to people assuming your having a midlife crissis, its due to them seeing you own a car thats built to go fast.

Most people who own quick cars get it.

Jono

scooby L

mid life crisis at 24!!

I must be a coffin dodger

KaraK

I'm in the process of purchasing an MY98 Turbo 2000, and thats because I much prefer it to the bug-eye - hope my personal opinion on car looks doesnt make me scum in anyone's eyes.

Let me explain why I'm buying the scoob and then you guys can tell me wether I'm a boy racer or not...

My first car (whose passing I still mourn) was a MY90 Micra 988cc, it was a fabulous handling car, bag loads of grip and feedback from the wheel. True it didn't have much grunt but it was a joy to drive. After some b*tch in an Almera pulled out of side road in front of me the Micra went to the the motorway in the sky and I had to get another car quickly, so I bought an MY94 Fiesta 1.6 Ghia. The Fiesta was luxurious compared to the Micra, comfy seats, central locking, electric windows - oh and it had nearly double the power. But its handling sucks monkey. It is truly, truly awful so over the past 10months of owning it I'd had no joy from driving it round the twisties - you just worry about it deciding it suddenly doesn't want to hold that corner at the same speed it always has done and chucking you into a hedge, it's that kind of car.

So it had to go.

I've been shortlisting cars for my next purchase for sometime now. The cars that I test-drove are:

Skoda Octavia 1.6

I drove the Octavia and was impressed, it seemed to have a nice balance between comfort and handling.


Seat Ibiza 1.4

The Ibiza (this was a T-plate not a new one) was sh*te. To be honest it was the worst car I'd ever driven, it was blamnongy on sooo many levels and I seriously doubt it would have outdragged the Micra.

Skoda Fabia 1.9TDI

The Fabia had damn nice handling - shame that the TDI was an awful engine - the boost was so erratic it just wasn't funny. And the biggest petrol they offered was a 1.4 and on paper it just didnt seem powerful enough for the car.

Vauxhall Astra SXi

They were doing an offer on the Astra so I thought I'd check it out and boy was it a nice drive handling wise, it cornered like it was on rails! Unfourtunately the engine was limp, there is no other word for it, thre was just no responsiveness at all.

Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000

The scoob has been on my "dream" car list since I was like 16 and was playing things like Network Q Rally on my PC and seeing it go great guns in the WRC. I'd never thought I could seriously buy one though. Hoever I was down at my local scoob dealer and was feeling adventourous so I blagged a test drive in an MY98 (while my dad was in the process of buying a Legacy). Man it blew my MIND. The grin that appeared on my face was huge and it just didnt go away for the entire time I was behind the wheel. The handling (this was in the wet on the same roads I drove the Astra on) was incredible, the grip seemed never ending. And the power. Damn I always thought that the power was going to be banzai and uncontrollable by a lowly 21yr old like me, I thought it would be ripping my neck off all the time. Nope, it was very powerful, but it was so driveable! It was like having a brain-engine connection while bypassing the usual means - it seemed to know just how much power I wanted to apply and gave it me. This changed the ball game, I really started thinking that yeah this was the car for me, and low and behold I could afford the car! The insurance however would murder me so I started desperately seeking something else more insurable that would give me that grin factor.

Audi A3 1.8T

This was a nice car, it was quick (180BHP in a car that size makes it quick), it handled well, it sure as hell was comfy all trimmed out in daisy and ementrude. I had fun driving it, I could see myself being happyy driving one and enjoying all the mod cons that came with it, it was alot cheaper to insure than a scoob.... but..... it didnt have the same intoxicating grin factor.

Mercedes-Benz CLK 230 Kompressor

Sitting in this car was like driving around in the a really comfy leather armchair, with all the mod cons you needed close at hand, last time I had been that relaxed I had been asleep. The supercharger made sure that I had 190BHP under my right foot and the insurance group was 3 lower than the Impreza.However it didnt feel like I had 190BHP, yeah it was quick - I was about to put my foot down and saw that I was already doing 80 - but thats the point, I SAW that I was doing 80, I didn't FEEL it. So again no grin factor.

Now at this point I was also looking at the MG ZS, Octavia vRS, and the Leon Cupra but the test drives were still in the pipeline. Then on Easter Monday I was bored and going to the Morrisons opposite my local scoob garage for some supplies and thought "why not" and went to wander around the dealership and just window shop. I saw a very nicely priced MY98 Turbo and before I knew it I was running some preliminary figures with the sales guy and leaving a "no obligation, get it back if you change your mind" deposit. Two days of heavy financial wrangling and frustrating phone calls to insurance compainies later and I decided that I'm having that car. I test drive it just to make sure and yes the grin was back, even bigger than before! Its costing me a fourtune in insurance (not to mention a tracker so I could GET insurance!) but I'm collecting it next thursday and I can't wait!

Someone made an interesting point earlier about the Advanced Driving test - I would love to take it if I can ever find the money/time!

So whats the verdict boys and gals? Am I a boy racer? Or am I just someone who enjoys driving and wants a car to suit?

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

Thats a bizarre shopping list

If you can afford it a MY99 is a much better choice than the MY98 in terms of brakes, front bumper is later style and ECU is easier to modify if thats your bag.

A lot has been said on here that cars are bought for the image, but I must be in the minority since I don't subscribe to it. I mean I couldn't since I've owned a 309 GTI and a Charade GTti These cars suited me then and the impreza suits me now. I mod my car. Purely for performance. And I use it on track. And I use it for work. And going to the shops. 3 years ago not many 5 year old cars with 250+ bhp and less than 40k on the clock could do that for the money I could afford .

Boy racers modify anything. From Novas to Subarus to MKV pipe and slipper Golfs Get over it.

KaraK

I'll admit I would have preferred an MY99, but not really seen any come available recently.There was one a month or so back but it was priced over the odds (about £4K more then the MY98 I'm no buying).

Pogue

<rant>

Why do people keep banging on about a MY99 being sooo much better than a MY98 ??

Ok, the brakes are better on a 99, so what, get a set of 4 pots, discs and pads like me = cost £225, 45 mins work.

Front bumper is different ? Wohoo, big deal, is it worth another 2k ?? I think not.

Ecu is easier? Whats wrong with a link Ecu ? I have also heard many people with 97/98's who get around 270-280 bhp with no Ecu change. A decat/dawes/induction should see to knocking on the door of 270 ish.

Stop putting down '98's or I'll bite you
</rant>

NACRO

Piston Slap is more of an issue with the 97/98 cars though isn't it?

TVR Gary

If we all buy these cars coz of their rally pedigree why aint we all trading them in for 206 GTI's at the moment?

Pogue

BTW I love my scoob, drove an '03 Sti last week, found it a bit bland, I'm sure PPP would be a different case altogether though

I'm 37 and must also going thru a mid-life crisis, but who cares ??

Not me, I'm enjoying every minute of scoob ownership, I should have bought one years ago.

I'm still at the stage of getting up at night and going for a drive at 2-3 am because I can't wait till morning to drive it again

Sad ?? Me ?? You bet

Pogue

Piston slap was sorted by Subaru 10k miles ago by fitting a new engine No probs for me

George W Bush

Buy an EVO instead.

NACRO

do you think they will still fix the piston slap problem when the cars are out of warranty, with it being a manufacturing fault?

Or will a lot of MY97+98 owners be paying a few grand for a new engine?

I ask as mine is out of warranty now!

KaraK

piston slap? can anyone translate this into english for me?

Oh and I have a 12month Subaru warranty coming with my MY98

Pogue

I would have thought most if not all '98's would have been done by now. It was never a show-stopping problem anyway, it was more just a case of an annoying noise than anything else.

If you have a Subaru warranty you should be ok.

Jay m A

iTrader: (2)

All I was saying was that if I had the money for a 98 then I'd save a little harder and go for the 99. Bumper? yep no major issues with it but the 99 had the 2nd phase of the full facelift,inc the mid spoiler - to most the 99 and 00's are the best looking classic. I personally hav'nt got a problem with that, but for resale issues it might factor.

You could get a link, but with all the deltadash stuff and ECUtek flying about IMO its a great way to go in terms of cost effective laptop toys for the money.

If you can get a 98 for a good deal like above then go for it, all models are good cars a 99 isn't 4k better than a 98 as mentioned above, thats for sure. Anyway, what do I know? I'm a member of the great unwashed with my crappy MY95 I'd I'd go STIV if I ever changed

tittiecarcar

Canuck
it seem's to me your a snoob. i bet you get your weekly food shop in m&s food halls & worry about what the jone's will say. if you wanted a 4wheel drive that your friends would aprove of why didnt you get a audi? im sorry if i seem a bit harsh but im so sick of hearing this kind of thing about boyracers & modding if someone has gone to trouble of making there car into what they think is nice than i dont see what right you have to rubbish it or them for doing it ,& just because you have stickers on your pride & joy or a big wing it dont meen your a boyracer. if you like your scoob then who cares what anyone thinks

Pogue

Jay m a

I won't bite you then

bros2

I've always held off buying an Impreza because of the image. Partly because I have no desire to be seen as a sad middle-aged git who needs to prove his masculinity (although I am middle-aged and have a large throbbing bike to prove this), but mainly because I think scoops, skirts, pimp tints, neons etc look terrible unless they have a purpose.

If I could have an STI8 with no spoilers, no bodykit, no badges or stickers, without that stupid scoop and finished in black I'd get one tomorrow. As it is, I'll stick with discretion and speed - when you have 11 point on your licence it's best not to stand out too much.

Mrx

bros2
I am a (very old) sad git : and felt the same as you, but I do like a car with a bit of go.
A mate at work brought a new Impreza turbo I was admiring his car and said if I was 30 years younger I would love it. He then told me about the Wagon, This was 5 years ago, I have a black wagon its very discreet, no one really notices it and have been asked as it is debadged (whats that mate) on a few occasions. not flash enough for a meet, but ideal Q car.I enjoy it.
John

joop!

i think there is a few people in here who should get a life
and as for the lad who said people where scum i dont think he would say that to someones face it's easy when sat behind a pc
people should just get on with it whatever you drive life to short
a impreza is an impreza whatever year and some people will have worked harder to get one on the road than others yes it might be older but most have worked there sacks of for it and to keep running it
so lets just get on with

NACRO

I bought my UK 5 door for about 6K with a FSH etc etc. It runs like a dream, carries all my crap with ease and returns nearly 28mpg on a run.

What other practical all weather 200BHP+ car could I have bought for peanuts?

Subaru Impreza ownership has never looked so good to me as it is allowing me to save plenty of cash for the (other) finer things in life.

techtigger

I have a MY98 impreza - Got it because we measure winter snowfalls here in FEET, not inches :P Wanted something that would get me home, not stuck in a ditch. The fact that it looks good as well was selling point though. Not particularly having a mid-life crisis, just don't want to look like a soccer-mom in their obnoxious gas-guzzling SUV's. (and scooby's don't roll over in tight corners like SUV's!)

As for rallying - Scooby's have been consistently good, but if you must have THE rally champ, there are still a few Lancia Integrale's & Stratos' floating about... heheheh