Thinking of getting a 03+ Blob eye WRX Impreza

M

Minotar

Sunday Drivers
In the next month or two I'll be looking at getting a blobeye wrx and I've a few questions

First it will be my daily drive,I only do about 240kms a week but I'd like to know the expected MPG. I've owned a fair amount of cars including 2 MR2's turbos and I consistently seem to get better MPG than most (28-30 in the MR2) which I think is down to my driving style. Basically I only floor it for passing or the very odd time accelerating. It might not be the way performance cars are meant to be driven but its just how I drive,I can afford to drive harder more often just choose not too.

I was hoping I could average similar to what I could in the MR2 taking it very handy (shifting early etc) ?

Next is power. I understand they maker much less than an STI but can anyone compare it to a Rev2 MR2 Turbo? (220-240hp)

Handling compared to a DC5? Ride comfort?

Space, boot and backseat wise?

The big one, reliability? I was hoping the blob eye would have gotten past all the horror stories I've heard about previous generations. Now I know probably 60%+ percent of that was someone driving it like a honda but could the engine suddenly blow (not sure exactly what goes wrong,comp failure?) after a quick blast in between normal driving?

Im not planning to go mad, mightn't change anything, but how well do they handle breathing (catback/induction) mods and boost increase's?

Suspension,diff etc weak or..?

Thanks for reading this far.

Dan
 
Minotar I think you'll be very happy with a WRX.
Yes you will get similar mpg (25 / 28) with normal driving .

I've never driven an MR2 or DC5 :dontknow:

Plenty of Boot & back seat space , you would have no prob with
4 lads in the car .

Subaru suspension is good , no probs with the diffs , engine wise.......
regular service every 7,000 miles ...............as you mentioned don't
drive it like a honda ...( all the power is lower down in the rev's anyway)
and you should have no worries .

AS for mod's anything like a bigger turbo etc will need a re.map

:subaru:

Niall.
 
Thats good to hear on the MPG,I was reading mixed reviews (obviously different driving styles) and some as low as 15 taking it handy :ponder2:

I think the MR2 would be faster being the lighter with similar power but I'd imagine the WRX would get off the line and up to a certain speed much quicker. Just be nice to know

Ah well it would be shopping and baby seats in a few years I'd be worried about lol

Yeah the reliability is a big thing with it for me but if its just inattention and bad driving there shouldn't be a problem.

What kind of power is achievable with some breathing mods and a remap?
I see theres a pro drive on Donedeal claiming 300hp and seems to have minor things changed to a stock wrx or am I just not seeing something?

The other thing is it doesn't have the big brembo's,how good are the stock WRX brakes?

Sorry for the mountain of questions lol
 
MPG would be similar to the mr2. Power would be the same more or less but the impreza will be heavier.

STI wouldn't be far off the mpg if driven as you describe and you'd have much more power on tap for when you do use it. Also suspension would be better and generally everything would be upgraged including the 6 speed dccd, etc.

Standard versus standard, handling of a dc5 would would way outperform a wrx, but the wrx would be a much better everyday driver.

Boot space is good, about the same as a similar sized saloon car, could probably squeeze a set of golf clubs in. Rear leg room is dependent on how tall you are but even with the seat all the way back you'd still get a good size adult in there.

Reliability will depend on previous owners care of the car, same as any other second hand car. Look for a car that someones obviously taken car of, but also get it checked by someone who knows Subarus and you'll give yourself that best chance. If you service it regularly and look after it, then it will look after you. I'm in my 6th year driving Subaru's now so can vouch for that.

Catback is ok but I wouldn't bother with induction unless you are going to map it. Even then induction would only be if you like the noise, as a performance panel filter will do the same job.

What sort of budget are you looking at for a car?
 
Plenty of room in back for 3 kids and all there bits and pieces in the boot.

Haven't seen the dd one but could easily be 300 if it has the pro drive power pack should have cert if inn not mistaken.

Don't think there's much difference insurance wise between WRX and Sti might be worth looking at. But could be just for pensioners like myself.

Enjoy the hunt might be worth getting someone to have a look At before you buy.

:smokin:
 
That prodrive is not 300bhp, quoted figures I believe are 265bhp with the Prodrive performance pack. Realistically looking at 250bhp here though.

Obviously not as good as brembos but the newage wrx's come with subaru 4 pots as standard which are good in their own right, and with the right pads ad disks will perform very well. Front brembos and disks are a straight swap if you ever wanted to upgrade.
 
Rob Spec C said:
MPG would be similar to the mr2. Power would be the same more or less but the impreza will be heavier.

STI wouldn't be far off the mpg if driven as you describe and you'd have much more power on tap for when you do use it. Also suspension would be better and generally everything would be upgraged including the 6 speed dccd, etc.

Standard versus standard, handling of a dc5 would would way outperform a wrx, but the wrx would be a much better everyday driver.

Boot space is good, about the same as a similar sized saloon car, could probably squeeze a set of golf clubs in. Rear leg room is dependent on how tall you are but even with the seat all the way back you'd still get a good size adult in there.

Reliability will depend on previous owners care of the car, same as any other second hand car. Look for a car that someones obviously taken car of, but also get it checked by someone who knows Subarus and you'll give yourself that best chance. If you service it regularly and look after it, then it will look after you. I'm in my 6th year driving Subaru's now so can vouch for that.

Catback is ok but I wouldn't bother with induction unless you are going to map it. Even then induction would only be if you like the noise, as a performance panel filter will do the same job.

What sort of budget are you looking at for a car?
Click to expand...

Good to hear again. I know its a 2ltr so I won't be getting superb mpg but when I'm not driving it on I'd like to make it to the next station lol.

Generally myself and brother look at the cars but I've never had a Subaru,plenty of honda's,toyota's and a few mitsi's so I think your right it would be worth bringing someone,i'd still read up on what to look for. Generally I don't buy a car without giving it a comp test.

If I was to do anything it would be a panel filter/induction kit,exhaust and a remap. Not into spending balls of money modding cars for the last few years. The scooby rumble is 50% why im considering it over a DC5 lol,so thats all the sound I care about.

I'd like to spend €6,000 and wouldn't stretch above €8k. Even at 6k its the most I've spent on a car and that was 5,500 on my first glanza S years back lol. At that I think any good STI's are out and I'm really not a fan of the look of the bugeye's.
 
CARLO said:
Plenty of room in back for 3 kids and all there bits and pieces in the boot.

Haven't seen the dd one but could easily be 300 if it has the pro drive power pack should have cert if inn not mistaken.

Don't think there's much difference insurance wise between WRX and Sti might be worth looking at. But could be just for pensioners like myself.

Enjoy the hunt might be worth getting someone to have a look At before you buy.

:smokin:
Click to expand...

Great,miss not having a big boot.

Well when I'll be getting a new car it will be at renewal I'll have 4 years NCB,few years Named driving (thought it would run out by now) and the full since 08. Insurance was 600 flat on a 92 MR2 turbo about a year and a half ago and the current is a starlet GT for 520 ish.

I'm expecting a jump lol
 
Rob Spec C said:
That prodrive is not 300bhp, quoted figures I believe are 265bhp with the Prodrive performance pack. Realistically looking at 250bhp here though.

Obviously not as good as brembos but the newage wrx's come with subaru 4 pots as standard which are good in their own right, and with the right pads ad disks will perform very well. Front brembos and disks are a straight swap if you ever wanted to upgrade.
Click to expand...

I guessed it was a bit optimistic but still a nice boost I'd guess.

Well thats nothing to be sniffed at,IIRC the MR2 had twinpots and stopped it fairly well.
 
wrx and sti insurance are about the same I believe. If you go to €8k, you'd get a good sti but you may have to have patience in waiting for it, I think you'd nearly get up to a widetrack 05 sti for €8k.
 
Rob Spec C said:
wrx and sti insurance are about the same I believe. If you go to €8k, you'd get a good sti but you may have to have patience in waiting for it, I think you'd nearly get up to a widetrack 05 sti for €8k.
Click to expand...

Really?
I didnt think I'd get one under 9,500 to be honest. I was looking at the one the member on here just bought but Im still 6-8 weeks away for buying and seeing a 9 with zero's scares me lol
 
Yep I bought that, didnt pay what previous owner was looking for for it either, rob is spot on with his price guess
 
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