Your talking to someone that has a sti v3 type r and a blob wrx wagon ppp i think i am pretty well qualified to have a balanced opinion, and having had an impreza of some sort for the past 8 years i think i might have some idea of what i am talking about.

 

m8 that is so true my99 wagon now drives like new - no blooming wonder - it is !!

 

Lol that is so true, and is exactly my point, for sure there are good ones still out there but it is a mine field even for those that know subarus well.

Take a look at paulo p's recent threads to get some idea of what you are up against.

 

There is some great advice there for people that are reLly in the know. Here is some from a newbie, had my blob 3 months ish and never owned a classic.
I think what ever you buy, newage or classic you will love it and will spend money on it. What ever HP it had it's never enough. but that the fun of it all. Learning what to do and what good and what's not, and you will get all the help you even need from here, I HAVE. Not only that, when you mod it yourself you can do it slow time and when money allows.
What ever you decide, good luck mate.

 

Then you should know by now that a well looked after classic is no more costly to run than a newage.

 

Slice it how you like, the older the car the more will go wrong with it, time takes it's toll on everything, bushes,bearings, suspension, brake pipes all need replacing because of age,it's normal.

I had a front drop link break on my type r today for no other reason than age and metal fatigue, now it's nothing major but there is always something when running older cars, granted the same can happen to a newer car,but mine will be 15yrs old next year and it goes with the territory, that won't be happening with my 7 year old blob anytime soon

 

I have had 3 scoobs now. First was a classic 2000awd wagon. Lovely car, I had a 51 plate Saxo VTR that I swapped it for. I took the max power air filter off of it and replaced it with a standard box and the lumpy ride was sorted straight away. I had the VTR for 5 years and had more probs with that than the wagon which was a "94" model. I then swapped the wagon for an imported "93" WRX saloon. No real probs with that apart from being told it had sports springs, only to find out that they had been cut and a cople of bush's needing to be changed.
The one I have now I bought through Ebay. Good buy, infact a great buy tbh what with all the parts I got for it aswell And the only probs with it has been a knock sensor and the maf. Its a "94" 2000 4wd UK wagon. It has some rust on it like front wings, boot and the near-side rear quarter (Usual places). Wings and boot can be replaced, no problem.
Engine wise I have heard thatthere a good engine and tbh I couldn't agree more. Like with most cars though, you look after them and they will see you right. I totally agree with if your going to play about with up the power etc, then get it re-mapped. Its a lot of money to start with but it is cheaper than buying another engine Mine has already been mapped and is running around 287bhp. Would be nice to up it some more, but then its the extra costs to try and make it last longer. And its a nightmare trying to up the boost with the in-car electronic boost controller lol

Lovely cars in all. Buyers market, petrol price and fuel consumption isn't good though. Probably the biggest pain tbh

Considering that I have swapped mine and bought cheap through Ebay, I have been lucky and there are lots of others that haven't been so lucky knowing more about their cars before they buy them. Treat it right and you should be ok

 

So have you seen any cars that take your fancy.