1998 Subaru Impreza GT 555 review from UK and Ireland

Front toe arm badly worn on purchase.

Handbrake shoe worn on purchase.

Rear seat belt not reclining on purchase.

Headlight washer not working.

A few other small things nothing major.

Speedo not working (happened yesterday)

I have a GT555, which I bought in January of this year, it’s a 98 model. I have been waiting for one of these cars for a very long time, and was not disappointed. The car is to be serviced every 5000 miles, serviced mine as soon as I got it, and its going in next week for another one.

The handles like a dream, but can suffer from some wicked understeer when really pushed in a bend.

As for top speed, the clock goes up to 160 mph, and I have cracked 145mph in it. At that stage I was shouting at the other people in the car, one in the front and one in the back, because the windows seals cannot keep that amount of noise out. And at that speed the car kept going so I have no doubt in my mind that it will hit the 160 mark.

The ride is rough on the back roads to say the least (car sitting on 17” low profiles which does not help), but sitting in the drivers seat you don’t really notice as the bends come up on you at a very quick pace.

As far as fuel consumption goes, avoid firing up the turbo and it's quite decent. Went nearly 300 miles on one tank, but seeing that the fuel tank is the size of a zippo lighter and the turbo is like an alcoholic at a free bar, get to know the people in your local petrol station as you will soon become very good friends.

The car certainly does give ya some looks, and is a magnet for the “Saxo” brigade and the police, so watching the speeds is a must at all times. And where you park it.

This car has so much going for it when you take in the looks, that bonnet scoop is a thing of pure beauty, and a joy to look out over. Nothing sounds quite like the flat 4 rumble slowly going down the road, and add in dump valves and induction kits, and you have something that scares young children.

This is a car that demands respect - certainly not for the faint hearted.

Word of advice - if you do get one of these cars, take your time get to know the car, don’t just sit in it and think “hey, I have a rally car, so now I am a rally driver”. If you do it will probably kill you. And never let anyone other than another Scooby driver sit behind the drivers wheel.

Enough of the boring stuff, this car does rock, to hell with MPG and all that, GET ONE …….