9th Dec 2003, 06:11

Engine V8 note? I thought all Impreza's had a 2.0 litre flat 4? I've been thinking about buying an Impreza for a couple of years and most reviews praise the Impreza. Very interesting comments here and I'll make sure the example I buy hasn't been abused and has a full SSH. As for the fuel consumption, you don't really, but an Impreza for economy, you buy it for the shear thrill of driving one of the most capable road cars ever made. If you want economy, but a diesel!!

18th Dec 2003, 17:50

I like you to note, having owned 2 Scoobys, a 95 WRX wagon and currently a 94 WRX (heavily modified) saloon, the Scoob is a far superior car than a rusted out old Ford Cosworth. Cossies were good in their day (when flat top haircuts were cool!), but the Scoobs and Evos are the champions, that's why I import them. How many Cossies have been exported to other countries? Most fell apart at the docks!

Kev.

14th Aug 2004, 01:33

I have a 1999 WRX Impreza (turbo) down here in Australia,and while fuel is considerably cheaper than in the UK I can get quite good fuel economy 520 km from the 60 lt tank when driven off boost (below 3000 rpm). If you have a heavy foot like all turbos they will GUZZLE petrol.

My Brother has a v8 XR8 Falcon and he considers the Impreza to get amazing economy for a performance vehicle unlike his 19 lt/100 km v8. As for reliability you have to cool them down and use a good synthetic oil and don't drive at 7000 rpm as no car is bullet proof when thrashed.

27th Dec 2005, 16:01

Hey.

Right, listen.

I have owned a 1996 Subaru Impreza 2000 5 door Sportwagon for almost 3 years, and not once has anything gone wrong.

Not once have I even imagined or even dreamt of thinking about changing this car.

Insurance: group 17

Performance: 0-60 6.4 (superb)

Fuel consumption: 24/42 (can drop to 18 and 30)

Practicality: 9/10

Reliability: 9/10

Modifiability 10/10

Exterior looks: 3/5

Interior looks: 2/5

Amazing all rounder for the man with a wife and 3 children, who would like sports car performance.

Beautiful engine note (helped by a 4 inch slash cut exit).

I have blown away a Honda Integra Type-R.

Anyway, don't listen to the review that I'm commenting on. People love to pick fault with things LOL. I would recommend one of these cars to anyone above 30.

Anyway, I better go.

Good luck.

16th Apr 2006, 09:20

I drive 98 WRX. It's an excellent car, very quick and reliable. I drove Honda Integra. I don't like it, it is not quick, it's not good in curves, doesn't have a grip that subaru has. I use 98 octane premium unleaded in Australia.

Runs very smoothly with that sort of petrol. Uses 11l per 100km approx. Nothing ever went wrong with it. I just service it every 6 months. It's a great car inside-out. Very roomy for a sports car that is the quickest affordable rally car on the road. The parts and the insurance are expensive. But the car itself is a rocket.

3rd May 2006, 16:45

Further to this debate about which is quicker between a Subaru Impreza Turbo and a Honda Integra Type R, I can tell you very definitely as I am fortunate to have both in standard form. The Subaru has a slight edge in the dry, but in the wet then its by a mile the Scooby.

I have owned my Subaru, which is a 1998 UK Spec, for 3 years and its reliability is 100%. Yes fuel consumption is sore, but expect this with any turbo car (the new Focus ST expects 20mpg). I service mine once a year and its from a Subaru dealer, and it costs under £100. I cannot believe so many people have slagged the Scooby off, but you really must of bought dogs or dodgy grey imports.

Remember, always lets your turbo warm up before going on boost, and also very important, after hard use, let it sit for at least a minute, so the turbo blades are not starved of oil.

To sum up, the Subaru Impreza Turbo is fantastic and a UK spec car was tested by Top Gear in Nov 1997 and hit 0 - 60 in 5.2 seconds. Supercar performance by anyones standards.

Chris (Northern Ireland)

16th May 2006, 07:20

I'm from Australia, and I work with cars. I've driven a variety of cars over the time, and I have seen these two cars go, and also driven them. Now let's break them down into two.

Quarter Mile performance: Subaru WRX will do low 15's standard with no boost, no mods, and the Honda Integra Type R will do a low 15 with no turbo. If you drive these cars right, meaning with a good reaction time, which would have to be 0.4, and also having perfect shifting, so really it's up to the driver, but if you have two professional drivers, they both can do low 15's.

If you put on a bigger intercooler and also an air filter pod, the WRX will do a low 14's, which would be its best without the boost being raised. The WRX STi will pull off a high 13 standard. The WRX will have a better take off, but the Integra will have better top end speed, since the WRX loses it with its all-wheel drive, but when it comes to a circuit race, the WRX will leave it behind, but not by much.

In Australia we currently own the fastest WRX in the world, which can pull off 8 seconds down the 1/4 mile, but see if you do the same to the Integra, the Integra would be quicker because of what it does stock standard. See, Honda has been praised for producing, and this is the Japanese spec version, the Integra with 185kw, while the Australian spec has 165kw, and that's without the turbo.

The Evo 7, which is the fastest Japanese 4 cylinder in the world, as standard only has 280hp, which is around about 200kw at the wheels, and that's with a turbo, so imagine what a Honda Integra could do if it had a turbo.

I don't hate any import, I love them all, but see it depends what you want out of the car, and also where you're going with it, and also how much you're willing to spend.

For a 1/4 mile car, the Integra, for circuit, the WRX, if you want a circuit/drag car, the Evo, but again because it's all-wheel drive, it will lose top end speed. Also the Integra with a turbo will be a big rival.

In fuel consumption, the Integra is the way to go. Insurance, if you're keen for the expenses, go for the turboed cars, but overall, just for a normal daily driver, the Integra.

Yes, I said I work with cars, I know my own car club, plus I'm also sponsored by many brands like HKS, Apexi and many other companies. I dunno what is like in the UK, but that's how it is here in Australia. So depends how big your wallet is..??

Any more questions, just leave any other comments or email me at jvwijtenburg@hotmail.com...