bigun007

Hey guys, i am new here but i wanted to post to see if anyone had made the jump from an MR2 MK3 or something similar?

I am only 21 and finding insurance to be quite expensive (1 year NCB). I have been driving 3.5 years.

This may sound daft but are there any "Impreza" specialist insurers apart from Subaru Insrance?

Think i was quoted £2500 from Elephant where as i am only paying about £1400 on the MR2.

I see that the WRX is much quicker than the MR2 but how "Nimble" and or light/chuckable does it feel on the road.

Thanks in advance.

James

http://www.japkits.com

chiark

Welcome to scoobynet !

I assume a MK3 is one of the new convertibles? Sorry for the ignorance

Insurance will be bad. To be honest, I doubt you'll find better than 2.5k, especially on a brand new group 19 car which is what you're looking at.

The MR2 handles well. The WRX handling out of the box is good but not as good as the MR2. Remember that you're comparing a 4 door family car with a more specialist bit of kit, and that the WRX is carrying a fair bit more weight too. The suspension is more compliant, and possibly a bit too soft IMHO - I'll probably be going for the prodrive springs sometime.

You can chuck the car if you want to, but it isn't the most effective way of driving it - smooth is the order of the day. If you do chuck, you need to be aware of the car's characteristics and in particular lift off oversteer which can still bite on the 03. it can be a lot of fun, but in the dry the levels of grip mean that you'll be doing silly things to explore the handling - and making expensive mistakes if you get it wrong. In the wet you can have more fun chucking without quite the same level of punishment

The level of grip will surprise you in a very nice way. The handling may disappoint slightly until you're used to it.

Completely different animals really, but both can be a lot of fun

Cheers,
Nick.

bigun007

Hey mate,

Thanks for the reply, just what i was looking for (it is the convertible)

Maybe i should explain a little more "why" i am changing the MR2.

I am only 20 and the MR2 was my "Dream Car" as you can well imagine, i saved and saved and evetually with a little help was able to afford the top of range manual 6 months ago (Not SMT because that's crap IMHO).

Quick question (Puts flame proof suit on) How much better is the WRX than a "Legacy", i know it sounds daft but the insurance is MUCH cheaper.

I was happy with the car and loving it but there are several problems.

1. Scuttle Shake, i can't judge the MR2 against other convertibles but its quite bad.
2. Rattles, the car rattles over every bump
3. Build Quality, its falling apart, having paid £18700 i wasn't expecting this.
4. Space - it has NONE
5. Wet Driving, you can't do it literally EVERY corner is a 30mph corner or you are spinning. (Dry grip is awesome tho having said that)
6. The MR2 has no damping, you "feel" every bump you go over

The Insurance i have managed to find for £2500 with elephant so that's not too bad, altho still a little high.

If i bought the impreza i'd be doing some driver training days like i did in the MR2, not because i am a bad driver but because i reckon there is ALWAYS room for improvement and its best to pratice and fail in a safe wide open environment.

The car will be BOTH a b-road Blaster and a Motorway cruiser, i just thought the WRX wuold be ideal for this, what you reckon?

James

http://www.japkits.com

Speedmeister

Hi Bigun
I chopped in my MX5 1.8is in for a new WRX in September.
The Scoob is not quite as sharp and pointy as the MX5 which had superb handling but still corners v. well. I nearly killed myself a couple of times soon after changing with lift off oversteer, mainly I think because I'm always going much faster in the Scoob which is v. deceptively quick and surprisingly quiet and refined.
I think that, like me, you'll appreciate the lack of noise, rattles and much more comfortable ride in the Scoob and the fact that it's miles quicker!! It also has a boot!
Try Privilege for insurance- less than £600 for me but I'm an old git at 36!
Overall I think you'll prefer the Subaru.
get a test drive!

chiark

The legacy is a bigger car with a different market. I can't really comment as I've never tried one, but the "good" version is yet to make it to the UK marketplace...

One thing to bear in mind is that you will take a hell of a hit selling a car after 6 months. Be prepared for a shock, then prepare yourself again for a bigger shock. That isn't specific to the MR2, it's just that selling a new car after 6 months will hurt big time.

I use the car as both a blaster and a cruiser. It's superb - almost Jekyll and Hyde . The motorway is easy - the ride is good, the noise is not huge, and providing you change the stereo it'll do many many miles without tiring you. The B-roads are where the fun really comes in tho

Scuttle shake isn't an issue - the chassis is phoenomenally stiff in itself (as you'd expect). Rattles on the new cars aren't an issue either - the trim quality is an order of magnitude better than the classic shape. Build quality is good. I've got the wagon which has lots of space. Wet driving is a great laugh as you can find the car's limits at sane speeds. The car has variable rate dampers which make a pretty good job of things without getting uncomfortable.

All in all, it's a fantastic practical car.

What else is on your shortlist? Clio 182? Type R? There's a lot of good cars out there at the moment, so check everything else out before you buy - but I wouldn't choose anything else right now as nothing quite meets my needs

Cheers,
Nick.

scooby66

Just get one then you can take your mam & dad to the airport with five seats and all that extra space in the boot, you can fit three suit cases. May swing an intress free lone from the next of kin maybe????

Hanslow

1. Scuttle Shake, i can't judge the MR2 against other convertibles but its quite bad.

Shouldn't be an issue as it's not a soft top

2. Rattles, the car rattles over every bump

Hmmmm, sounds like a Scoob

3. Build Quality, its falling apart, having paid £18700 i wasn't expecting this.

Later cars seem better built, early cars interior is functional, best part are the seats.

4. Space - it has NONE

Guess the Scoob wins hands down here

5. Wet Driving, you can't do it literally EVERY corner is a 30mph corner or you are spinning. (Dry grip is awesome tho having said that)

And the Scoob wins again

6. The MR2 has no damping, you "feel" every bump you go over

Mine felt a lot of bumps and tramlined badly. However, once the stock tyres were changed the tramlining stopped, and the bumps were partly to do with the eibach springs, but the standard setup isn't soft.


Interestingly, I'm thinking of going the other way

Speedmeister

My MY03 really doesn't rattle at all, and although it's a bit of a typical Jap interior it's well put together. The ride is quite reasonable in standard form. I realise I'm a poof for not adding a Carlos Fandango lowering kit that shakes me fillings out, right boys?!!

Hanslow

Each to their own Speedmeister My comments were based on the car I had which was a MY00 classic, so not exactly in the same build quality (allegedly) of the later models

Dream Weaver

That must be your driving mate

My previous steed was a 94 MR2 mk2 and wet driving was great - just have to respect it and change your driving style.

Re insurance you should never pay over £1k a year on insurance, that has always been my golden rule and has not been broken, though I do feel for you young chaps these days. If i were you, and only being 20/21 I would go for a Clio Cup or something - just as much fun but cheaper to buy/insure.

bigun007

The other cars i am looking at did infact include a Renault Sport Clio 182, think they look nice but are only £400 cheaper than the WRX to insure.

The CTR is "Apparently"" (i've not driven one) a good car but i think it looks like a mini-bus.

Here is an example of the wet driving. Last night i was driving home from meeting a mate in town, it was drizzling, i was going uphill, car in front pulled off road, i accelorated slowly, changed into 2nd apllied a LITTLE more throttle, before i knew what was going on the car was at 45 Degrees and spinning, i managed to bring it back and so all was fine.

I expect to lose about 20% on the MR2 so am still hoping for approx high 15's low 16K mark as i have only done 7000 Miles in 8 months.

The cars i am going to drive this weekend are:

CTR
Clio 182
WRX
RX-8
Celica

Any others you can suggest - I am hoping the WRX comes out top tho

SiDHEaD

I'm 21, with 2yrs ncb, 3points, 2 non-fault accidents - my insurance is £1800 with Tesco - give them a go.

bigun007

I am 20 (soon to be 21 so backdating quotes).

1Yr NCB

No Points

1 Fault accident £3k (M25, diesel, Astra don;t mix :s)

Lowest Crime rated area and they said "call us"

Dream Weaver

Oh the joys of now being 30 and having a garage - been quoted £800 fully comp for a P1, and £1100 for a 911 GT2

Still sticking with my 205 though - much prefer cheap fun motoring.

Bigun - the Clio may be only slightly cheaper to insure but 40mpg average vs the WRX 17mpg average will give you more pleasure at your age.

carl

Indeed. Just £740 for me to insure the Cerbera this year. Cheaper than the Scoob was

Dream Weaver

Mind you, I've had to work hard at getting the 7 years NCB by avoiding accidents and not driving too stupidly.

Tis funny, cos I haven't had a quote for a serious motor for about 2 years now, so it was a nice surprise yesterday to get those quotes - missus has OK'd a P1 for next year as well, so its possible. Just need to justify the expense now

Bigun - 205 GTi - smiles of fun

Pete Croney

My wife has one of these and I think its one of the best handling cars I have ever driven. As for country lanes in the wet, they are an absolute hoot. Tail out, power on action the whole way.

Its an EVO 5 star car and I agree with that rating.