I have noticed that a 53 or 54 plate impreza wrx can be had for reasonable prices these days.

Just wondering how expensive are they to run? Has anyone had experience of running one? How bad is the MPG and what is servicing like? Is it something i could do myself?

My current MX5 averages 30mpg at best during my daily commute of 15 miles and i was wondering what the Subaru would be like in comparison on the mainly b-roads that i use.

Cheers

Rob

You can get some great deals nowadays. I nearly bought one last month. It was a 07 plate with 607miles on the clock, never owned but used as a demo car. 2.5ltr PPP and STI bumper and wing. Mint. 12000 quid. Bargain. think you'd be lucky to average 25mpg. But the fun you could have. I think life is too short to worry about how much fuel cost and how much tax etc etc.......

presuming you have the cash that is.

Our classic shaped lightly-fettled Scooby turbo managed around 28mpg on average which included chugging along the motorway, A and B road blasts and the odd trip around town. If you're going to be using the performance all the time, you'll be looking at low 20's.

Servicing can be DIY'd but personally I'd take it to a reputable specialist. They're dotted around everywhere now and use better quality fluids than main dealers and charge a lot less. Service intervals are 10k miles IIRC and cambelt is either due at 40k or 50k service (it was 45k miles on the classic Scooby which had 7.5k mile intervals) and was an engine out job so getting one that's just had this done will save you a few hundred quid.

I'd also recommend getting it 4-wheel aligned after you buy it as some of the settings people run with are prone to scrubbing the front tyres.

Chris

I am seriously thinking of chopping in my 5 this year. Especially with car prices as they are. I know i won't get a lot for my mazda but for my budget (7-9k ish) i can get just about anything i would want.

I also fancy an RX-8, Merc C-class, Octy vRS. Obviously the merc would be a slightly older one for my budget.

The only thing about the RX-8 is how bad is the fuel economy? I can live with 20's but don't really want anything that is going to average in the teens.

my brother has just bought a wrx '52' plate for £3k, Full Subaru service history and with the optional Recaro interior, other than that it's boggo standard and he seem pleased with it. apparently he's getting around 25mpg which is all I could manage from my old Octi vrs so they're not too bad on fuel.

There was a thread the other day about these aswell.

I loved both of mine.

Mods depending, i was getting anything from 17mpg upwards on daily driving.

my mate had a classic import sti and with 4 adults in driven very sedately it would struggle to see 25mpg :eek: my octavia got over 30mpg coming back from scotland and we weren't hanging around and kept booting it seeing as i had a new biggerer turbo. servicing wasn't too expensive but fairly often and laods of spares around

Talking to SWMBO, she doesn't like impreza's so that may put a dent in it anyway as she will use it too.

I keep finding myself drawn back to looking at MK2 Octy vRS too. Some good prices at the moment, even at dealers.

Thats the upside nowadays.

Spares are aplenty for them.

If i didn't have the commute i have, i would be switching back to one.

As most know, the downside is the cheap interiors...you'd be aswell sitting in an old Micra !

Depending on your area, add a good alarm and tracker for WHEN it goes walkies or thugs take it from you whilst you're in bed

Group 20 Insurance.

Talking to SWMBO, she doesn't like impreza's so that may put a dent in it anyway as she will use it too.

:bullwhip:

I managed 32mpg from my 03 WRX PPP on a run from Devon to Yorkshire, but it was the most dull drive of my life, keeping it at about 68mph just below boost. Average was probably more like 22-24, with it dropping to about 15-17 on a Dales blast, and as low as 10mpg on track.

Basic servicing is just like any car apart from the boxer layout putting some things in strange places. I did my interim oil and fluid changes, but paid a specialist to do the proper services and stamp the book. Scoobyclinic used to quote £25/hr for all workshop time, but they also had Adams magic calculator which saw the bills rise inexplicably come payment time.

Insurance isn't too bad depending on you and your location. I paid IRO £500 FC protected with mods declared and covered at a Leeds address.

Reliability is superb on them, although the age of what you get, as with all cars, may increase troubles. I had mine 3 years and had replaced 2x exhaust sensors and a wheel bearing.

Look for cars for sale on enthusiast forums like Scoobynet, SIDC etc and use the forums search tools to check out the car and owners background. Don't be put off by mods, almost all Scoobs are mod'd. The ones sold as standard have probably been returned to that state and the bits sold to mates, so why not pay the same money for one with the good stuff already on ? Avoid dump valves, induction kits and body kits. Don't be scared of quality suspension and chassis mods, or anything Prodrive. If you really want a special car, consider the JDM spec cars which had better engines, turbo's, exhausts, gearbox, steering, interiors and headlights. The Litchfield Imports cars are amongst the best, such as the Type 20 or Type 25.

As for security, the OE alarm and immobilizer backed up by a Clifford BlackJax and a Disklok is enough. Leave the keys downstairs and easily found and expect to find it 1/2 a mile away after the BlackJax has stopped it.

i never saw over 20mpg in my mildly modded classic sti,and driven hard it would do about 100 miles on a tankful,insurance was quite steep too,but they are resonably easy to maintain yourself and parts are not that expensive for them.

My Dad has a MY99 no serious engine MODS, runs a Turbosmart Dump valve, Prodrive B/Box, Eibachs and 17inch's, he gets around 120mpg to £20, and regular oil changes. Had it 9 years done 70,000 miles and 3 wheel bearings and rear damper, still pushing 240bhp and 231 torque,