Are there any major differences between a japanese import and the UK model? I know the uk model has less bhp but does this mean I will be missing out on more fun?

 

One word: insurance...

You will get a better spec car with more power (which is a debatable subject anyhow when running on our 95 RON or 97 RON stuff) BUT you will need to find someone other than a Subaru dealer to service it, and stump up a bit more for insurance every year.

 

What sort of price hike are we talking about? I know something like a wrx will be more than a uk turbo but how much more?

 

if we are talking insurance then uk spec are around group 17 and imports, even a lowly WRX (the jap one) is usually a 19 or 20, you talk STi and you're talking 20 at least.

As to how much, well, my 94 WRX Wagon costs 1100 a year, but that's mainly coz I'm yong (27) with 3yrs ncb and the car is modified somewhat (by jap owner, not me) so I've got the worse combination really.

 

The quote that I had for an STI (admittedly this should be more than a wrx) was just short of two grand. This rather put me off, given that I'm paying 755 quid for a UK spec (27, 7 years NCB, ...)

 

loads of money!!! i'm paying just over 1k for an sti4...full no claims....30yrs

 

Perhaps it's time for me to start looking again at the costs of insuring an STI then

STI VII wagon? Ohhh yes.

 

with you on that one chiark! would love a bugyed Sti wagon, yummy.

 

I was getting quoted just over 50% more for an Sti V4 over a UK MY00 of same value last summer, there was no way I could afford over £2k on insurance, so UK car it was for me.