Faults:

Clutch replaced at around 82000 miles.

Cam belts (both sides on the side mounted boxer engine) and pulleys and tensioners for the cambelts, replaced due to flood damage, although the cam belts were due to be replaced anyway.

Filler for the radiator water. The plastic pipe on this goes brittle anyway after 10 years or so, but they are only about £20 for a replacement filler.

Nothing else really apart from the usual serving needs.

General Comments:

After researching thoroughly on this site, as I now do with any car I plan to buy, I decided on a 1995 (facelift model) UK Impreza Turbo 2000 Wagon (estate).

I bought it from an independent dealer with only one previous owner and full Subaru dealer service history for £3500. It had well over £10,000 worth of old receipts with it. The guy even had his windscreen wipers replaced at the dealer!

What a car! For the money you pay for these, and remember mine (220 BHP) wasn't even the WRX (270 BHP) or WRX STi (300 BHP) models from Japan, you will get a car that will blow a Porsche Boxter into the weeds!

Similar aged or even newer model BMW M3's will wilt in your exhaust heat.

If you are concerned about fuel prices or want an economical car, don't bother even thinking of purchasing one of these fuel-guzzling monsters. Reliability-wise I never had any real problems with mine, but beware - buy one with no or a sketchy service history and you will pay dearly. The engines are strong, but only if you maintain them correctly. Servicing should be around every 8000 miles.

The interior may be drab and boring, but like I always say, you are paying for the engine on this car. For around £400 I had a full stainless steel Powerflow exhaust and Dump Valve put on mine, and the difference in acceleration was unbelievable.

This is a car you will always remember, and will probably, like myself, buy another one in the future.

Faults:

Faulty coolant temp sensor failed.

Part was £25 from a main dealer.

They fixed it for 1 hours labour.

Nothing seems to go wrong with these cars, and the dealers seem very knowledgeable and helpful.

General Comments:

As standard the car has a fair bit of turbo lag.

Very good performance once on boost and excellent traction in all weather conditions.

Handles like a much smaller car too.

All the controls are still tight and not sloppy, this is a sign of a well made car.

Bodywork is immaculate, but on the tinny side.

Beware of expensive running costs, insurance, petrol and consumables (brakes and tyres) Also 2 services a year (cheap at around £100 each time)

I use it everyday to work and see 20 ish mpg, it doesn't use much more when pressing on a bit.

I used the car for a camping trip to Cornwall last year. It swallowed all our camping gear, clothes and 2 mountain bikes attached to the rear.

It drove faultlessly and was perfect for the trip.

I took it easy all the way (over 700 mile round trip) at 60mph on the motorways.

I managed a superb 31mpg!!!

I can't think of another car for the money I would replace it with.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car as yet.

General Comments:

After my last car a Toyota GT4WRC I thought that I wouldn't get any better, but boy was I wrong!

The Subaru Impreza is an awesome machine, very fast and sticks to the road like glue.

Best car I have ever had.

The sound of the flat four is brill.

Faults:

A small water leak from front screen into passenger compartment, Passengers side. Fixed with screen sealant.

Rear wheels on car are to wide, scuff inside of arches when car is fully loaded and turning hard into corners.

General Comments:

Mind blowing acceleration and top class grip.

Drinks fuel like an alcoholic if driven hard.

Insurance is expensive.

Faults:

Needs new brake discs all round - £700+ ouch!

General Comments:

1995 5 door Impreza - possibly the world's ugliest car and the interior is even worse (mine has the non-sporty tweed seats). Shut your eyes, turn the key and listen to the engine note though and suddenly things seem better. Find your favourite country lane or even a good roundabout an feel the adrenalin.

Get on a slip road onto a motorway and see how you leave other cars behind - you'd swear they were stopped.

What else could give this much fun for £5500 and it will start every day, even in the wet - try that in a Lotus!

Faults:

Sychromesh on 1st and 2nd gear replaced at 40k miles under warranty.

General Comments:

Brilliant handling and performance for the money. I owned the car for a year and servicing and repairs came to £890.

Faults:

Tailgate jammed, lightbulbs, headrest catch broke.

General Comments:

Considering it's done nearly 70k miles in 3 years, the list of breakdowns is trivial. A bit boring compared to its predecessor (MX5) but goes from A to B safely, smoothly and fast enough.