Impreza Cosworth on Top Gear!
6 months old and subaru voided mine so, I let the fun begin back then 
06 February 2011, 11:25 PM
#66
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Way I see it, the test was loaded towards Ford.
Focus was left miles behind in the drag race - no mention of that by Clarkson.
There was nothing in it between the Subaru and the Volvo. In any case the Volvo is smaller = lighter, so it should be quicker.
Subaru was 3 secs quicker than the Ford. Passed of as 'probably because it was damp'
Wonder how many cheaper cars have been around that track quicker? Not many I'd suggest.
According to Top Gear, all the cars are sold?
Reminds me very much of when the RS was launched - on smooth European roads. 'no torque steer' all the journalists said. When UK model was launched on bumpy UK roads, they all went very quiet.
Top gear is stupid now anyway. No 'test' resembles anything half way usefull to a normal buyer.
Focus was left miles behind in the drag race - no mention of that by Clarkson.
There was nothing in it between the Subaru and the Volvo. In any case the Volvo is smaller = lighter, so it should be quicker.
Subaru was 3 secs quicker than the Ford. Passed of as 'probably because it was damp'
Wonder how many cheaper cars have been around that track quicker? Not many I'd suggest.
According to Top Gear, all the cars are sold?
Reminds me very much of when the RS was launched - on smooth European roads. 'no torque steer' all the journalists said. When UK model was launched on bumpy UK roads, they all went very quiet.
Top gear is stupid now anyway. No 'test' resembles anything half way usefull to a normal buyer.
06 February 2011, 11:42 PM
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Way I see it, the test was loaded towards Ford.
Focus was left miles behind in the drag race - no mention of that by Clarkson.
There was nothing in it between the Subaru and the Volvo. In any case the Volvo is smaller = lighter, so it should be quicker.
Subaru was 3 secs quicker than the Ford. Passed of as 'probably because it was damp'
Wonder how many cheaper cars have been around that track quicker? Not many I'd suggest.
According to Top Gear, all the cars are sold?
Reminds me very much of when the RS was launched - on smooth European roads. 'no torque steer' all the journalists said. When UK model was launched on bumpy UK roads, they all went very quiet.
Top gear is stupid now anyway. No 'test' resembles anything half way usefull to a normal buyer.
Focus was left miles behind in the drag race - no mention of that by Clarkson.
There was nothing in it between the Subaru and the Volvo. In any case the Volvo is smaller = lighter, so it should be quicker.
Subaru was 3 secs quicker than the Ford. Passed of as 'probably because it was damp'
Wonder how many cheaper cars have been around that track quicker? Not many I'd suggest.
According to Top Gear, all the cars are sold?
Reminds me very much of when the RS was launched - on smooth European roads. 'no torque steer' all the journalists said. When UK model was launched on bumpy UK roads, they all went very quiet.
Top gear is stupid now anyway. No 'test' resembles anything half way usefull to a normal buyer.
07 February 2011, 07:57 AM
#71
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We have one in my garage being finished off which was "fixed" once by the dealers then thrown out the second time after they'd stripped it. That wouldn't have been quite so bad if they hadn't broken and lost parts as well!
I bet that Volvo cost more than £50,000 to build, and I'd be happy to put the Hatch we're building up against it.
I've owned high perforrmance Fords for decades, and still have the use of a fabulous 3 door Sierra. The RS Focus isn't for me. It has the drive at the wrong end, and I can't get over that.
Would I buy a front wheel drive Impreza?
No.
07 February 2011, 08:03 AM
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No getting around it, the Cosworth showed the Focus RS350 a clean pair of heels in a straight line and around the track.
BUT as has been said all along
A 50k Impreza is pointless to anyone other than those who want the prestige of owning a ultra rare limited edition.
Subaru should be able to produce something that will best the Ford at the 35k price tag.
I'm sure the Cossie is a cracking car, but ironically, the special edition Subaru that should become the most fondly remembered is very likely to become the one people would probably most like to forget!
Ns04
BUT as has been said all along
A 50k Impreza is pointless to anyone other than those who want the prestige of owning a ultra rare limited edition.
Subaru should be able to produce something that will best the Ford at the 35k price tag.
I'm sure the Cossie is a cracking car, but ironically, the special edition Subaru that should become the most fondly remembered is very likely to become the one people would probably most like to forget!
Ns04
07 February 2011, 10:04 AM
#74
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ive always loved the cosworth name and the cars it was put on and when subaru said thay was building a cosworth impreza i almost wet my pants in excitment but i keep hearing how bad the impreza is.cosworth took a plain escort and made it a monster (in its day) with looks that still get people excited today. the hatch was probably the wrong scoob for cosworth to play with as not meny like the scoob without the boot.the hawk or the brand new one would make a great cosworth model. as for top gear,we watch it becuse its funny and sometimes rude and although the tests are not based on real world driving its about cars that some of us cant afford to buy but would love to take sideways around a track
07 February 2011, 10:21 AM
#75
07 February 2011, 10:32 AM
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2) How can you say it handles better? Yes in the hands of an expert it was faster on a wet track but whereas thre Ford was composed the Subaru was a right handful. In the hands of a layman the Ford would probably be the the quicker car especially in the dry.
3) You cannot ignore price. It is £50K - you can get a nearly new 911 for that. One is a thoroughbred, the other is a donkey on speed.
4) It is still f**king hideous!!!
07 February 2011, 10:36 AM
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The "warranty" never covered it in the first place unfortunately, all they were doing was shove the odd piston in.
We have one in my garage being finished off which was "fixed" once by the dealers then thrown out the second time after they'd stripped it. That wouldn't have been quite so bad if they hadn't broken and lost parts as well!
We have one in my garage being finished off which was "fixed" once by the dealers then thrown out the second time after they'd stripped it. That wouldn't have been quite so bad if they hadn't broken and lost parts as well!
07 February 2011, 10:40 AM
#79
I've spoken to people who have driven both, and i trust their opinion over yours (enless you've driven both aswell?)
Yes £50k is too much, but name another 400bhp car that you can but new for less than £50k.
Yes £50k is too much, but name another 400bhp car that you can but new for less than £50k.
07 February 2011, 10:40 AM
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Sorry, but I have owned 5 Scoobs since buying my first in 1996 and I am sad to see the brand wrecked and the cars become unreliable, overpriced and mundane. If that irks you then tough ****!
07 February 2011, 10:46 AM
#82
About the third thread in 6 months that I have made any comment on. Hardly harping on.
Sorry, but I have owned 5 Scoobs since buying my first in 1996 and I am sad to see the brand wrecked and the cars become unreliable, overpriced and mundane. If that irks you then tough ****!
Sorry, but I have owned 5 Scoobs since buying my first in 1996 and I am sad to see the brand wrecked and the cars become unreliable, overpriced and mundane. If that irks you then tough ****!
1996 - first car
1997
1998
1998
2000 - fifth car
07 February 2011, 10:47 AM
#83
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Of course I haven't driven both... as well you know, but I can see what the car looks like in the hands of an expert driver on TV and the Ford was definitely the more composed. Look at the in car shots, there were way more steering corrections in the Scoob than the Ford. Anyway it's all horses for course, but if I wanted a 400bhp Scoob (and coould afford one LOL) my money would be going to someone like Litchfield not to this PR exercise.
07 February 2011, 10:52 AM
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96 - hatch (new Classic) - uber rleiable
99 - saloon (new Classic) - uber reliable
00 - saloon (new Classic) - uber reliable - did nearly 150K in this one
03 - UK STI (new Blob) - most unreliable car I have ever owned
08 - saloon (old rusty shed of a 2000MY classic) - uber reliable
Drive something else day to day now though, just bring the rust heap out on dry weekend days (twice a year in lancashire
).
07 February 2011, 11:29 AM
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07 February 2011, 11:59 AM
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