As a family of four, we need a new daily and I'm thinking of getting a Impreza Blobeye Wrx Wagon

Funds are tight and I'm looking at the cheaper/higher mileage end of the market @ £2000 - 2500 ish...

Anyone done the same and regretted it?

I can't afford to buy a money pit, but expect to be replacing some parts and I have OCD when it comes to cars, so some preventative maintenance/budget upgrades will be done when funds allow

I've seen a cracker(on paper) just advertised - but, and it's a big but - It's done 152k

I've always bought cars on condition, over mileage in the past but I have zero experience with Imprezas

Thanks in advance...

 

ive had 2 and still got 2nd,i dont know how tall you are but with the drivers seat right back there isnt much room in the back for legs and knees etc.
i would check the room you need want before buying.
ive also got a toyota avensis estate which is massive inside compared to impreza.
my 1st one a 2001 bug wagon was very reliable with no major expense but only had 72k.
my 2nd a an 05 blob wagon has cost me a lot more but thats down to me modifying it.
ive had loads of cars.propably over 20 and i would say there no different than most of the other makes in terms of things going wrong.just luck of the draw.
my best car so far though for completely non expensive motoring has been my toyota avensis estate.it just keeps going with no money spent on it apart from servicing and ill definatly be getting another when it does die.

 

I know this it's proberly not what you want but have you thought of a non turbo? If your after power then it's not the way, but if your just after a bullet proof 4 wheel drive then, non turbo is the way. I have a non turbo as a daily driver and had no problems.

If your after a high mile turbo, then it would have to have full service history and no mods for me.

 

It`s a great family/dog all weather run around, but if you are ocd, a higher mileage will not only come with all the little knocks and chips, but unless a previous owner has replaced everything, lots of jobs re bushes, shocks, rads, coil packs, dirty injectors etc, so as above, look for 1 which has tons of paperwork and history, to show it was well cared for. Wagons tend to be used for practical purposes, often not thrashed, and if it`s for the family, the way the roads are these days, the power is fine with a stage 1 and remap.
If you are fussy about cars, you will want to improve it, same as any 10 year + car, with high mileage, plus of course the fuel and insurance. Still my favourite car, all the same !

 

Not for 2 teenagers though... too small in back; had lots of moaning from 17yr old yesterday for 6 mile journey ( 6ft)

 

This exactly. Even with a baby seat in the back I have to slide the passenger seat forward otherwise the babies feet hit the seat. Boot size is great though.

 

I'm wondering though at that sort of miles, will the majority of that have already been replaced at least once - or is the parts/build quality good enough to last and the next owner gets to do it all...!

I haven't found one of those yet, but am still looking

I'm a short ****, and so is the Mrs so that shouldn't be a issue and my two kids are not even 2 years old yet

 

Hi,
If you need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.

 

at 172k I would have to have a good test drive and a thorough look around it.

like you say, a lot of parts will have been replaced by other previous owners, so there could be quite a few new parts on it.

I bought my first blob in 2008, it was 05 reg with 40k on the clock (only 3 years old). It had rattles and squeeks but I was told it was a Subaru thing. I had that 4 years and had a bump and wrote it off. I went to have a look at another one the week after, 05 reg with 100k (so was 7 years old), took it for a thorough test drive and I couldn't believe how quiet it was, no rattles or squeeks, pulled very well through the gears. I found out the previous owner was a multi millionaire and no expense was spared with service and replacing parts. I put it on a rolling road and it made 242bhp, not bad for a standard 100k car

so with my first impressions on 2 cars - I was happier and would choose a 100k 7 year old car with extensive history over a 40k car with minimum cash spent on it

 

Dave, mine made 239 standard at about 35 000 miles, which surprised me.

 

My wagon is coming up to 122k it's cambelt is almost 2yrs out of date and 2k over on milage, only thing I do is change the oil regularly every 6k or 6months and use the best Motul 300V.

I have had it 4yrs and got it on 92k in that time it's cost nothing but oil, plugs and tyres, done a couple of mods like prodrive springs and roll bar, beyond that I have changed a few tired bushes to polly ones and just discovered I have one leaky rear shock, so need to do something about that.

They can be very reliable and quite cheap to run, I'm not fussed about the cambelt because it's an old car with 122k on it and I can't be arsed doing the cambelt until something else needs doing, then I'll take the engine out and refresh and replace everything, but I wouldn't recommend this approach for those that don't know how to diy or already have a load of parts sat in the garage.

 

I was in a similar position to you when I was buying an Impreza (saloon) and I ended up buying one that was the SL model with 137k on the clock.

My one I bought from the Subaru specialists API and had:

1 owner from new (older dude)
Full Subaru service history including reciepts from other garages
Cambelt change just done
Clutch change just done
All fluids changed (engine oil, brake fluid etc)
New front discs/pads
Dropgear bearing
New rear drop links

The car felt and still feels as solid as a rock to drive. I test drove one with 60k on the clock and my one now at 140k feels equally as tight to drive. It just needed a detailing to bring it to life. I've cleaned the leather thoroughly and it looks new considering it's done 140k. No suspension knocks etc either.

Long story short, I'd buy dependent on the vehicles life history. If like mines it's been well cared for, then the miles aren't so important (my opinion). Condition over miles.

 

As much as it pains me to say, i dont think an impreza, even in wagon form is suitable for a family of 4.

I have a hawkeye wagon, all the newage wagons have the same space inside. With just a baby seat, cabin space feels cramped. The boot is great and very practical though.

But, i put up with it, because i'm completely and utterly in love with scooby's. Even when things go wrong, like a rusty bolt snapped in the wishbone arm when changing a warn ball joint, its annoying, but i still put up with it. I love driving it!

I also have a BMW 5 series 530d, and as a family car, its miles and miles ahead. With a 2-3k budget, i personally would look at a Zafirah as a family car. I may even sell the BMW and buy a Zafirah as a practical family car, and the scooby as a daily commute car with occasional family use.

I guess, ultimately it comes down to what you are prepared to put up with.

Either way, good luck with whichever option you choose :-)

 

What bout a forester?? Or are they e pensive?