RSWilson

Hello to everyone.
I am new to Scoobynet and I've been reading through the posts.
I am looking to buy a scooby to have some weekend fun in and I've heard plenty of wives tales about imports and horror stories about costly engines.

As such I'm looking for some general advice - if I can post some questions...

I'm told engines are a real mare to work on DIY and mega money for parts, is this true?

Should I look for an import or specifically for a UK car.
I'm told the Jap cars have more power but they have different cylinders and you have to import all the bits?

Do Estates have the same power as saloons?

Is it "engine out" for most jobs?

Any other comments or things to watch for ??

Best Regards
Richard

ade_sti

iTrader: (2)

Engines are fine as long as they are looked after and not had boost turned up too much. I would get a UK car if I were you if reliability is an issue.

You can find many standardish impreza's around and as long as they have full service history they should be fine. There are a lot of horror stories - however in my opinion this is due to people buying cars and then turning boost up stupid amounts witha bleed valve or dawes boost controller.

Also people running import cars that are not mapped properly and then running them on low octane fuel.

Many people also put induction kits on them - which impreza's hate and this seems to mess up the MAF sensor.


The only thing I think that costs loads is the clutch, flywheel (which 90% of cars need a new one every time a clutch is fitted. Gearboxes also get hammered due to silly power increases and the fact that the 5 speed is not that strong.

Sorry I am going on a bit but the only reason that Impreza's get a bad name is that people buy them, rag the hell out of them, turn the boost up and don't uprate any other internal parts.

Imports have more power yes - and the estates have the same power as the saloons- Sorry to bore you all to death Ade

PS - Just get it - look after it and it will be cool.

RSWilson

You aren't going on fella - this is just the sort of stuff I am looking for.

If power is all the same I wouldn't be adversed to getting an estate.

What about age and spec? Are all the WRX cars imports? I was thinking of a L, M or N reg car - what is the standard BHP of such a UK car? Are they just called an Impreza Turbo?

Cheers
Richard

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

up until a certain year all wrxs i believe were imports (i got a 95 import with a 93 engine ecu.) they went up in gradual bhp increases from 240ps to 260ps to 280ps for the wrxs. same engine different ecu's. early estates have the smaller tdo4 turbo which was about 220ps to 250ps (again imports) not sure on brit car ps however... whereas the saloons had the tdo5 turbo, bit bigger and more power. about as much as i know.

get a later classic and play with 280ps over 240ps unless your after modifying etc

andy

pslewis

Engines are as tough as old boots - IF treated properly!!!

Too many people on here cannot drive and cannot up the power without wrecking the thing!!

Avoid Imports, no need to buy second best these days as proper UK cars are as cheap as chips.

Buy a Wagon and scare the hell out of most exotic metal - you may not beat them off the lights, but they will start to wonder if their Ferrari is firing on all 12 cylinders as they see your dog squashed against the rear window and the mother-in-law looking out the side window the fact that your topbox doesn't seem to be slowing you down will make them think!!!

Don't **** about with these cars and they will reward you with 100% reliability and an outstanding ability to cover the miles with minimum of fuss!!

Buy from a mature owner who isn't chav enough to want to modify it and all will be well for years of great motoring!

Pete

Jonty

When the wife was looking to replace her Celica, I had my eye on the Impreza and found the next couple of links very useful. Referred to them again when I bought my own about a year later.

Subaru Impreza FAQ - http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm

Impreza Web Owners Club site - http://www.iwoc.co.uk/

For me, I wanted to replace my MR2 Turbo with something more sensible, practical, and that Subaru UK would touch. I was patient and when I found a single owner, low-mileage, totally standard UK Classic turbo... it was mine!

Happy hunting.

Jonts.

Jonty

Oops, forgot to add... the 'WRX' in Classic form will always be an import as it only became a UK flavour in 2000/2001 when the bug-eye was released.

Jonts.

ade_sti

iTrader: (2)

L, M N reg UK cars I think have 208 bhp - I would not get one of these if it was me buyin it. Get at least a T plate so you will have 215 bhp, face lift front bumper and interior and more importantly 4 pot calipers and bigger brakes. The standard brakes on the earlier cars are shocking mate.

You could pick up a nice standardish 99/00 plate for between 6 - 7 grade easy if that is within your budget.

The older plate cars will have been driven very hard as due to there cheap price they are bought by young lads who thrash them to death. Standard one is the one to have as it wont have been owened by Mr Chav as his car would have an after marker dump valve, huge exhaust and boost turned up etc.

Good luck with your hunting mate

RSWilson

Thanks to everyone for your advice, i've learnt a lot from your coments.
I'll click on those links now and keep an eye on ebay and the autotrader for a decent example (if ebay can provide such a thing...)

Many thanks folks!

Regards
Richard

Jonty

If your budget and thinking allows, don't forget the Subaru approved used cars that are available nationwide. Granted you'll pay a premium but you'll get 12 months warranty thrown in and the cars have to meet certain criteria. Worth a sniff and they've got a small selection of 4 and 5 door examples at the moment.

http://www.subaru.co.uk -> Approved Used Cars

Jonts.

WRX1996

Hi there,

I think youll find alot of negative comments on here about imports as I remember getting put off myself when I was in the market. I was on a budget (in scoob terms) and went for a 96 WRX import - Ive had it for well over a year now and I can honestly it has been completely faultless. I dont want to tempt fate but the only cash I have had to outlay on it was a service last year (touch wood). Completely standard and is run on Optimax and Millers when poss. (May have something to do with it.)

Plus with an import you get 260bhp, Air Con, Sports seats and a rear wiper (oooooh!) - most of this didnt hit UK cars until 98 onwards i believe. Im obviously biased as I bought one but I couldnt recommend an import highly enough going on my experience. Maybe im just lucky! Ive owned several jap cars and this has been by far the most painless to own.

You will hear horror stories about all models, I was down the Subaru dealer last week checking out the new STI and was chatting to one of their mechanics.He was saying hed worked on loads of late model UK spec scoobs recently whos engines have let go. Like the wise Scoobynet folk say, i suppose it all depends on how its been treated.

Whatever one you go for good luck - you wont regret it

All the best

pslewis

That has EVERYTHING to do with it ..... congratulations!!

So many Imports have been fooked about with that it's best to avoid them though!

Better chance of getting an unmolested UK Wagon ...... is what the message is.

Pete

Sizer

My neighbour bought an uprated clutch off ebay for £140 delivered and fitted it himself, so they can be quite cheap. (in fact he's doing mine for me in the near future!) and will fit them for a reasonable fee....

mr fix it

I use to have a UK V5 estate MY99 before getting an import type R MY99. The UK cars generally have less power than their equivalent Jap imports. The UK wagon in the earlier models was also only available as the WRX ie about 220 bhp. The Jap import wagons could be had in STI trim, so had 280 or so bhp. The wagon is great for lugging loads around and more practical than the saloon. Its worth noting that the type R has fixed rear seats so even less good than a standard car which I think will have the split folding rear seats.

The Jap cars also tend to have electric retracting mirrors and air-con / climate as standard which the UK cars generally dont have.

My import has run well and I have not had any problems with it, as people say, run it well and it will be ok. Only problem I have is that my local Subaru dealler that is just down the road will not touch it because its an import, but then again there are plenty of good specialists around to work on it for less cash.

Bat-Fink

This is alot of sensitive **** on here about Imprezas.

EVOLUTION

i believe the only UK saloon to have the split folding rears was the TERZO and maybe late classic facelifts.

My MY98 didnt have them


john

terzo204

Terzo did'nt!

Bloody seats.

EVOLUTION

doh.......


might be the RB then lol