Selling the S3 for a WRX STI
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S3 NIK
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I went the other way, STI to S3 and am glad i did.
I owned an 2003 STI for a year and it cost a packet to run.
Given the slightest bit of stick it would struggle to get 20mpg and bearing in mind the price of fuel these days filling up will be expensive.
Build quality is ***** in comparison to the Audi, Impreza interiors are crap.
On the outside things aren't much bettter, panels and paint are really thin.
Brembo brakes will cost a fortune to replace, and if its due a 30K service this will cost 350-400 quid at a main dealer.
One more negative, they are twats to sell.
On the positive side they sound good and are quick.
Nik.
Oh one last thing, every nob and his granny want to race them, saxo's and the likes are constantly up your ****.
I owned an 2003 STI for a year and it cost a packet to run.
Given the slightest bit of stick it would struggle to get 20mpg and bearing in mind the price of fuel these days filling up will be expensive.
Build quality is ***** in comparison to the Audi, Impreza interiors are crap.
On the outside things aren't much bettter, panels and paint are really thin.
Brembo brakes will cost a fortune to replace, and if its due a 30K service this will cost 350-400 quid at a main dealer.
One more negative, they are twats to sell.
On the positive side they sound good and are quick.
Nik.
Oh one last thing, every nob and his granny want to race them, saxo's and the likes are constantly up your ****.
Have been looking for a few days and theres loads of cheap sub 40k models, not too fussed about the interior as i know its not going to match the S3. Its the 300 bhp and excellent handling that is putting me towards them.
S3 NIK
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Standard STi's are 260bhp, 305bhp came with the prodrive performance pack which incidently i had fitted after 6 months because the standard STI didn't feel that quick. PPP guarantees less than 20mpg and you must run super unleaded so your local Shell garage pump attendant will become your new best friend.
One thing to bear in mind there are a lot of hatch backs out there now that will give an impreza a run for its money so dont be disappointed when you think you should easily blow them away and they are still in your rear view mirror.
Cam belts need replacing at 50k i think, so would be worth checking.
Nik.
One thing to bear in mind there are a lot of hatch backs out there now that will give an impreza a run for its money so dont be disappointed when you think you should easily blow them away and they are still in your rear view mirror.
Cam belts need replacing at 50k i think, so would be worth checking.
Nik.
***** build quality, expensive to run, not very reliable when messed about with, not very strong engines. basicly a poor mans evo... oh and common as muck!
From what i see and understand the cheaper WRX's are common same as A3's are common, not gonna play with mine as stated i like things standard unless paying big money for the pro's to mod things. What is unrelible about them?
Aky
Aky
ash_s3
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My Dad had a 53 plate WRX STi Prodrive with the PPP
Awesome car, really quick, ***** on fuel, very expensive to run
Clutch changed at 22k £600 - service every few thousand miles £250-£400
Cost him a fortune but he loved it, was nice to say he owned one.
Brakes are expensive to replace too.
Interior build quality is awful, they rattle like hell, seats are nice though but on long journeys make your back ache.
As above, panels are thin and dent and ding very easy, paint isnt very good either.
A nice car in its own little ways but the build quality from S3 to scoob would really **** me off
Awesome car, really quick, ***** on fuel, very expensive to run
Clutch changed at 22k £600 - service every few thousand miles £250-£400
Cost him a fortune but he loved it, was nice to say he owned one.
Brakes are expensive to replace too.
Interior build quality is awful, they rattle like hell, seats are nice though but on long journeys make your back ache.
As above, panels are thin and dent and ding very easy, paint isnt very good either.
A nice car in its own little ways but the build quality from S3 to scoob would really **** me off
Dont do it!!!!!!
Cheap to buy, extortionate to own.....oh, and they go BANG a lot!!!
Blob eyes dont handle as well as an early classic and certainly dont bother with a bug eye cos they're **** and no one wants them!!
And this is coming from someone that owns a classic shape scooby and all my mates own them too....
stick to zee german car, it looks a damn sight better, wont get nicked and everyone loves it!
Cheap to buy, extortionate to own.....oh, and they go BANG a lot!!!
Blob eyes dont handle as well as an early classic and certainly dont bother with a bug eye cos they're **** and no one wants them!!
And this is coming from someone that owns a classic shape scooby and all my mates own them too....
stick to zee german car, it looks a damn sight better, wont get nicked and everyone loves it!
i know around my way (london) i see alot more subaru's than s3's. new or old they are common. most cars arent fast from factory unless you buy something like a rs4 or porsche which are designed to be fast and not eco friendly.... subaru's dont feel fast when standard, even if the stats on paper say otherwise. they do go well when played with, but then you get reliability issues, clutch would be the first thing to go no doubt.
the one to get is the p1, as they have the red top engine which has stronger ribbed block, forged pistons, piston oil squirters, strengthened close ratio box, and the much lighter 3 door motorsports shell.
if your set on getting a wrx, i would suggest paying abit more and getting an evo, as they are built alot better
the one to get is the p1, as they have the red top engine which has stronger ribbed block, forged pistons, piston oil squirters, strengthened close ratio box, and the much lighter 3 door motorsports shell.
if your set on getting a wrx, i would suggest paying abit more and getting an evo, as they are built alot better
jimbobery
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When I was looking at getting a wrx I found that the wrx with the ppp (prodive performance package) brings the power to the same as the wrx sti but has more torque. You do miss out on a better gearbox and suspension I think but they are cheaper and a litle less subtle than the sti.
I don't remember the wrx ppp I test drove feeling any quicker than my S3 and my girlfirend said I looked like a **** driving it so that helped with the decision!
I've had my S3 for about 6 weeks now and I've only seen two other S3's (one parked), but I'm always seeing imprezas?
I don't remember the wrx ppp I test drove feeling any quicker than my S3 and my girlfirend said I looked like a **** driving it so that helped with the decision!
I've had my S3 for about 6 weeks now and I've only seen two other S3's (one parked), but I'm always seeing imprezas?
Its not a problem of seeing other S3's it's more a problem of them being under powered and needing alot of work to make it go round corners fast, the STI should be pretty good at both of these as standard, don't really care what people think of me driving it!
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Go for it mate, you won't be disappointed, and I'm sure once you prod the throttle all the way to the redline in 2nd in a PPP'd STI, you wouldn't give a damn about the low rent interior. If it was my money, I'd try and find a nice Evo8 if it has to be 2002+, they are both going to cost the earth to run and insure, but you will have a grin everytime you drive it. 
jimbobery
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Fair play jacko, everyone wants different things from a car, and I was very impressed with how the impreza drove so I'm sure you wont be disapointed.
I have heard fairly bad things about running costs, but its surely relative to the power and performance you're benfitting from. Take a few for a test drive, that might make up your mind anyway!
I have heard fairly bad things about running costs, but its surely relative to the power and performance you're benfitting from. Take a few for a test drive, that might make up your mind anyway!
S3 NIK
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Forgot to mention that rear shockers on STI's fail due to a design fault. Mine failed at 17k, tell tale sign is knocking from the rear. If replaced with un modified shockers they will continue to fail.
As for P1's visit any Subaru forum and you will find plenty blow their engines around the 60k mark costing £1000's to fix.
As you mention you dont want a modified car the assuming you are looking at Type UK's and not JDM cars you will only have 260bhp not 300.
If you can take the financial hit and are not too bothered about it taking ages to sell when you move on, go for it.
Nik.
As for P1's visit any Subaru forum and you will find plenty blow their engines around the 60k mark costing £1000's to fix.
As you mention you dont want a modified car the assuming you are looking at Type UK's and not JDM cars you will only have 260bhp not 300.
If you can take the financial hit and are not too bothered about it taking ages to sell when you move on, go for it.
Nik.
scott_johnson
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Well said AKY!!! always wanted a p1!!! my best mates dads just sold his for a bentley gt!! he said nothing else hes driven compares to the thrill and handling of his p1!!! deffinately something to consider (only down side is there pretty old)
Aky
Aky
james0808
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Well said.
This is something that appealled to me when i brought my GT4,was a bit worried at first but i havent driven a car for ages that puts a smile on my face as much as that does.
smitch
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I drive what i like.
The S4 doesn't look like much and really is rather bland if you think about it but ultimately it will blow away most things in a straight line and when it comes to the corners it's even better.
If you want a Scooby go for it. I wouldn't even ask anyones opinion on what car to buy. When i bought my old 911 i just surprised my mates by turning up in it one day.
Buy a car for yourself, sod everyone else, they don't have to drive it!
The S4 doesn't look like much and really is rather bland if you think about it but ultimately it will blow away most things in a straight line and when it comes to the corners it's even better.
If you want a Scooby go for it. I wouldn't even ask anyones opinion on what car to buy. When i bought my old 911 i just surprised my mates by turning up in it one day.
Buy a car for yourself, sod everyone else, they don't have to drive it!
I'd go for an Evo 8 over a Scooby if I were looking for that genre of car. But like the S3, they both need a good remap to make them what they should be. I haven't driven the STI, but the UK300s don't seem that much quicker than a remapped S3 (although they're much nicer to drive). They can seem quite laggy if you're coming from an S3 and you have to push them pretty hard to get the most out of them.
s3Tormaline
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I bought a 2003 sti new and owned it for 3 1/2 years, the only mod i did was a full decat exhaust which made it sound awsome(not very subtle though).
It was a great everyday family car but made you feel like a rally driver when you wanted too, i got 20 mpg around town, 30 mpg on a run and around 25mpg overall.
Bad points were the constant problems with knocking rear shocks, battery going dead if left for more than a few days, the terrible stereo and not being able to lose big turbo diesels when overtaking!
Tyres lasted 20,000miles and i sold it just before the expensive Brembos needed replacing.
Would i have another? Definatley and maybe i will but for now the s3 is just as good 80% of the time, better for 10% and not quite as good for the rest.
It was a great everyday family car but made you feel like a rally driver when you wanted too, i got 20 mpg around town, 30 mpg on a run and around 25mpg overall.
Bad points were the constant problems with knocking rear shocks, battery going dead if left for more than a few days, the terrible stereo and not being able to lose big turbo diesels when overtaking!
Tyres lasted 20,000miles and i sold it just before the expensive Brembos needed replacing.
Would i have another? Definatley and maybe i will but for now the s3 is just as good 80% of the time, better for 10% and not quite as good for the rest.
dont wana really give my opiion on this cos im gonna get shot down and most of what i think has been said.....
main part is that you enjoy it mate, if your not bothered about the image, then you will have lots of fun......
only consideration id make is the resale.....your going to lose a lot more than just the price to change your current car..... think Simch has picked this up, although id take it a step further and say that if you have a further vehicle in mind thats not quite in your price bracket..... then the impreza will not help that goal what so ever, really would consider an Evo instead...better all round car and age really isnt a factor if its been looked after
All things considered, good luck mate
main part is that you enjoy it mate, if your not bothered about the image, then you will have lots of fun......
only consideration id make is the resale.....your going to lose a lot more than just the price to change your current car..... think Simch has picked this up, although id take it a step further and say that if you have a further vehicle in mind thats not quite in your price bracket..... then the impreza will not help that goal what so ever, really would consider an Evo instead...better all round car and age really isnt a factor if its been looked after
All things considered, good luck mate
If you change your cars as often as me,you'll enjoy it.
Had a 53 plate STI with PPP and loved it for what it was,fuel was the major issue,servicing was annual or 10,000 so not really a problem.
Had an EVO 7 before the subaru and the Evo's I found are really highly strung and are more suited to the track-also servicing is 6000 miles of 6 monthly!
Scoob's a nice easy drive with plenty of grin factor.
Just bought a 51 plate S3 so I'm liking this for the next 6 months or so.
Just go with what you feel-I always do.
Had a 53 plate STI with PPP and loved it for what it was,fuel was the major issue,servicing was annual or 10,000 so not really a problem.
Had an EVO 7 before the subaru and the Evo's I found are really highly strung and are more suited to the track-also servicing is 6000 miles of 6 monthly!
Scoob's a nice easy drive with plenty of grin factor.
Just bought a 51 plate S3 so I'm liking this for the next 6 months or so.
Just go with what you feel-I always do.
Best bet is reading the Scooby forums, you'll do better at finding info on there than here
