HankScorpio

Guys,
I've been looking for a sti 7 or 8 but this weekend I stumbled over a nice 2000 classic.

I know the figures will be a lower but this is a nice looking low mileage car with all the extras that I think would do the job nicely and is half the price (and the insurance!).
I would probably keep it for a year to add another year NCB.
I'm aware of the major differences but will I regret buying it? Will I keep saying "wish I'd waited for an Sti"?

Are there any tips about what should look out for?

Ta.

Jim_B

iTrader: (1)

I have a MY00 which I have had from new - I thought about changing it for the latest WRX STi so took one for a test drive. The car was nice but I think I prefered my car overall - you can feel the extra weight of the new car and with the car as standard - performance was probably not as good as my mildly modded MY00. So decided not to spend all that extra cash and just keep the car I've got !

Impret-Sir

iTrader: (1)

In my opinion, a nice, UK market, dark blue, MY2000 classic is the best model to have.
Yes, there are faster scoobs, but this model is a good base to begin any mods you might like, its already quite quick in standard form, and it is reasonable to buy and insure. As I said, not the ultimate, but a realistic choice that I doubt you would regret.

IN THE STICKS

The classic is a good place to start , not as refined inside as the later models , but have a drive of it and see that smile grow , all for a fraction of the price

Dave

HankScorpio

Thanks for the opinions guys, I'll go and have a test I think.

This is actually a MY99, apart from the colour-coded bits and the alloys, what are the key differences between this and an MY00..?

IN THE STICKS

IIRC , The differences are an adjustable timer delay on the intermittent wipers, plus the ones you have listed (alloys, colour-coding), map reading lights , and perhaps a different gear **** !

Dave

olliecampbell

iTrader: (3)

Do you think it would be possible to retro fit the wiper timer delay?

Should be easy enough i would have thougt, change the stalk over.


Wol

IN THE STICKS

Can't see why not , I'ld go for colour coding first though if it hasn't been done already. Another difference with the classic vs the later shapes is that A/C doesn't come as standard , so if the one you're looking at has it , all the better !

Dave

HankScorpio

Mmmmhhhhh......
Just been checking insurance, see if you can figure this out....

1999, 2.0 AWD Turbo - £925
2003, 2.0 STi Type UK - £768

It's never easy is it...

IN THE STICKS

Worth shopping around , if your an old fart like me (36 ) Churchill are good (£560 last year with protected ncb) Elephant wanted over a grand !!!
On a MY99 Uk turbo .

Dave

take a peek in the insurance section on here for some good names to try

HankScorpio

It's not so much the price (I'm looking at 1200+ renewal end of March) but the fact that a 20 grand STi is less to insure than a 10 grand 99!!

misty

Oh you are so right, I sold my 9 month old WRX to get this.
But at the end of the day it's all down to personal choice.
BTW welcome to the forum mate.
dave

Rammy2

That's a very nice Classic Misty. I have had a blue MY00 since August, and I haven't regretted a minute, and that's been some 18K miles so far. Had a Magnex fitted this weekend, and now have an even bigger grin.

That said I have not driven a new STI yet, so what you've never had you never miss.

Rammy

cdco

Rammy, were all know your just a big girl anyway, u should have gone for the full system not just the back box.... Wont be long before ur back in the comfort of the lex!

Joking aside having parked mine next to rammys there appear to be differences in cars registered as Sept 00 . For one mine like misties has the black plastic side guards with the impreza logo were as rammys' doesnt. The colour on rammie's is slightly lighter than mine and his interior has been treated to some 'silver' bits similar to the bugly ones. Any one any idea why there's these diffs even on cars from the same month?

Carl

chiark

The full list of changes MY99->MY00:
- Variable speed intermittent wash wipe
- new look metal effect trim/centre console
- colour coded door handles and door mirrors (skirts etc optional)
- ISOFIX rear seat belts (not ISOFIX mounting points) - pull the belts out fully, and they cannot be further pulled out until they have been returned to fully retracted, IYSWIM
- Different style alloy wheels (16")
- Change in service interval for cam belt change (60k/4 years for 00, 45K/3 years for 99)

The giveaways are the rear seat belts and intermittent wash wipe. Other bits are easy to change on a 99 if people are bothered.

The side protection strips were optional extras. Aircon is worth looking for too, as that was a dealer fit option for about a grand (price was reduced in 2000 - it used to be about 1500 quid).

I sold my MY00 DBM with a few sensible mods and bought an 03 WRX wagon last March. I needed the wagon space due to expanding family . The 00 was the faster car, but the 03 is still a rapid car and is overall a more polished, finished package. I find the handling on the 03 a lot better than the 00 too - others disagree. To me, the 00 saloon in DBM still looks stunning whereas the 03 is not an attractive car. Still, that's not what I bought it for

Both old and new are incredible cars. With used values being what they are, a good classic with only a few light mods will trouble a standard STI. 300bhp/300lbft can be achieved fairly economically on the classics (or new shape for that matter). With the weight advantage of the classic, they will be the quicker 0-60, but handling may mean the new shape claws something back. Either way, that's not the point of the thread.

If I was buying used, I wouldn't consider an 01/02 but I'd go for a classic, pocket the change, and start looking to make the car into a weapon of choice

Cheers,
Nick.

SidewaysMatt

Now I'm confused. Mine is a DBM MY2000. Agree with everything else but wouldn't have said that my centre console is metal effect.

Anyone got any pics??

chiark

"Metal effect" is admittedly rather pushing the description, but its how the change was described by dealers. The centre trim is a dark colour with a metallic finish. There's pics of the interior of mine in the ICE FAQ somewhere - http://www.chiark.com/scooby/icetoc.asp .

HankScorpio

Thanks Nick! (and everyone else)

Just the info/opinions I've been looking for.

Now, where's that Autotrader.....