1997 Subaru Impreza UK Turbo Wagon 2.0 turbo
Summary:
A flawed diamond
Faults:
Front brake discs warped.
All brake calipers seized requiring rebuild.
Gearbox failed.
Exhaust cat melted.
Corrosion of suspension components compromised structural integrity.
Engine suffered "piston slap" when cold, finally suffered big end failure @ 165,000 miles.
General Comments:
I had the car for 3 years and 52,000 miles; because of its cult status I paid over the odds to buy it. With its thirst for fuel (16 mpg was the norm), frequent service intervals (3000 miles), and appetite for repairs, it bled me dry financially. And if I had the choice to relive my life, I would do it all again!
If you have a list of 100 things to do before you die, the Impreza Turbo must be on it. For anyone with even a hint of petrol in their veins, it is a must. I thought I had driven some capable cars, but nothing prepared me for the Impreza; in performance and handling it defies the laws of physics. I would go for a drive just for fun, 2 seconds of throttle was sufficient to relegate most cars to second place, and from a standstill even motorbikes were no match. The noise sends cold shivers, kids worship it, it's a crowd puller.
I drag raced it @ 13.9 seconds and 100mph, and drove it to work every day for 3 years.
I'm sure plenty of people will say their car is faster, or more satisfying, or handles better, but as a packaged all rounder at (now) a bargain price, it's unbeatable.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 25th February, 2008
24th Apr 2005, 01:22
Regarding grey Imprezas, having owned an STi manual, two WRX autos and a 1.8 HX (Japanese model designation), it's my view that there's really no point having anything much under 200bhp. With the 1.6-, 1.8 and cooking 2.0-litre engines, the handling far exceeds engine performance, so unless you are on snow much of the year, it's hardly worth it. The extra weight and transmission drag of 4WD gives unjustified poor fuel economy and borderline mediocre straight-line performance with a 100~150bhp engine. The smaller ones even have drum rear brakes, which may explain why it's the only Subaru I could fade out the brakes. However, changing the plugs is far easier. In Japan, Subaru have a 220bhp (from memory) non-turbo version, which would be perfect for keeping UK insurance cost down. Female insurance clerks obviously don't spend their free time reading "Hot Chicks and Hot Metal" type auto magazines, so non-turbo would make the difference between insurable and non-insurable. Be advised, if you touch the electrics it's liable to bring the warning lights on. But believe your senses and the dipstick. Try switching off and on with the central locking key to clear it. Also, it's easy to get tyres up to 16-inch, above that and you are paying retail. At auction in Japan, it's not unusual for the car to come with a spare set of wheels and tyres. No, straight up. Ideal: Japanese performance cars at Japanese prices, low population density, no speed cameras and the plods in Rovers.