Are the 2.5 impreza's as bad as you hear?

[xxxmike]

Obviously every car has its own issues.
I am looking at a scoob for £10k ish. needs to be 5 door low(ish) miles really needs to be an STI to be honest as i need the power.
Wanted a UK spec as the insurance is half the price.

In a real world i would just go and buy a nice JDM STI bug as they are the most beautiful cars ever but my head is saying get something newer...... And i do want a newer car.
I looked at the Focus ST but i just keep finding myself walking away and coming back to subaru. i like the FSTI but again cant deal with import insurance costs and it really is that much of a difference. £700 for a uk STI and over £2k for an import everywhere i have looked.

So back to the question, is the 2.5 hawk sti really that bad...... or shall i just try and find a nice 2.0L STI PPP blob?

Thanks

[Lucky]

There's no right or wrong. The 2.5 has its issues and the fact a fair few of them have gone, there is obviously more of an issue than with the 2.0. However, having owned a 2006 hawk STI for 7 years and also owning a 2005 Blob STI (2.0), personally I preferred the 2.5. Mine was standard for a couple of years and then gradually increase and when I sold it it was running about 350bhp/380lbsft with absolutely no issues whatsoever. I was fairly sympathetic with it (warming up and cooling down etc), but maybe I was lucky. I would have another in a shot, but have to accept it could go pop, but then so could any engine. Just a good excuse to rebuild it!.

I would keep an open mind and look for the cleanest, low mile car with a complete history. That's what I'll be doing at the end of the year

Steve

[MIDLIFE]

Who have you tried for your insurance? I did not think import/UK prices were that that much different. Have you had quotes from Keith Michaels, A-plan and Sky? I think the 2.5 engines need forging and uprated head studs to ensure peace of mind. 2.0 sti jdm engines do not seem to have these problems.

[Steve_PPP]

10k is strong money for a newage scoob so i'd be looking around at insurance options and trying to find a 2.0 JDM blob or hawk personally. Have you spoken to Gary @ Keith Michaels?

Difficult one, there's a lot of other options out there for that kind of money too.

[iPond]

Had a similar choice to make last year. The guys above are better placed to comment on the 2.5 vs 2.0 debate but I found that the hawk definitely feels like a newer car if that's what ur after.

I opted for the blob in the end because a Hawk sti was slightly over budget an i felt I was getting more for my money with the blob sti. I definitely don't regret it! Either way, 10k should get you a pretty decent car. Comes down to which ever ticks all the boxes on the day I spose?

[Scott.T]

It's not so much the engine on some of the 2.5 but the knock control in the ECU.
The ECU has the ability to control knock well, but for some reason someone chose to monitor a very narrow engine rpm band. A good mapper will widen this band giving you more knock control protection for your pistons/crank/big ends.

[Banstead Stig]

^^^ The 2.5 reputation seems exaggerated because of some bad experiences caused by maps/ECUs.

Then with some pushing cars too far and not having any mechanical sympathy, the folklore was born.

Mine will probably blow up tomorrow now just to spite me!

[xxxmike]

Cheers for the comments. Tried all the normal compare sites for insurance. As soon as I tick import it doubles.
Not tried the one you mentioned I will call tomorrow. Thanks

[xxxmike]

Option wise like I said I looked at the ST and a bmw 330 but keep owing back to the impreza something about it that just draws me in lol

[Steve_PPP]

Originally Posted by xxxmike

Cheers for the comments. Tried all the normal compare sites for insurance. As soon as I tick import it doubles.
Not tried the one you mentioned I will call tomorrow. Thanks

Keith Michaels are a broker that specialise in performance cars like ours and imports. Make sure you speak to Gary rather than one of his colleagues, but pretty sure they only works Mon-Fri.

Definitely worth speaking to (he's on the forum as Moley_WRX) as i reckon he'll smash that £2k quote you had

Details here - he's even got his own forum section
http://www.southeastscoobies.co.uk/v...splay.php?f=90

[munk]

wouldnt even bother using a normal comparison site unless your planning on a bog standard uk car with no modifications... i was insured with tesco on my wr1 for £340 a year fully comp.. when i switched to p1 it went to over a grand... and that was before i even mentioned modifications...obviously didnt pay that but,if you have experience of driving these sort of vehicles, theres a few specialists out there who will sort you out!! gary @keith micheals being one of them..

[Banstead Stig]

There used to be two Garys at KM and may still be. For the avoidance of doubt, you want Moulson.

[xxxmike]

Think i am going to look for a nice blob STI, i begrudge paying £490 on car tax! lol

[bigh221]

Originally Posted by Lucky

There's no right or wrong. The 2.5 has its issues and the fact a fair few of them have gone, there is obviously more of an issue than with the 2.0. However, having owned a 2006 hawk STI for 7 years and also owning a 2005 Blob STI (2.0), personally I preferred the 2.5. Mine was standard for a couple of years and then gradually increase and when I sold it it was running about 350bhp/380lbsft with absolutely no issues whatsoever. I was fairly sympathetic with it (warming up and cooling down etc), but maybe I was lucky. I would have another in a shot, but have to accept it could go pop, but then so could any engine. Just a good excuse to rebuild it!.

I would keep an open mind and look for the cleanest, low mile car with a complete history. That's what I'll be doing at the end of the year

Steve

Hello mate,

Never had an issue now on my 4th 2.5 a MY11 STI, maybe I'm just lucky. Just been down to Mission motorsport in Gosport and they have a pristine 2.0 JDM Forester STI in polar white believe they are looking for around 8.5K well worth a look 👍😎

[Scott.T]

Originally Posted by xxxmike

Think i am going to look for a nice blob STI, i begrudge paying £490 on car tax! lol

In the grand scheme of things £490 Vs £280 (or whatever the tax is for a blob) is small money and it should not be an issue.

However it surprisingly is, as it was when I had the 2007 Hawk STI.
But the new Direct Debit system does help to alleviate the pain (I didn't have that luxury)

[Banstead Stig]

I can't believe anyone buying a Subaru gives a toss about an extra couple of hundred quid on VED.

It didn't even enter my mind when I bought mine and that was before the direct debit scheme.

[xxxmike]

Im a tight git thought. I dont mind paying for crap mpg but something in my head just clicks when i see a higher tax bracket. And i have no idea why!
Probably just my head letting out a warning as to what excuse/reason i have to give the mrs to justify more money on another car lol

[xxxmike]

Would update you and say how good Keith Michaels are but I'm awaiting a call back since Tuesday lol.

[Banstead Stig]

Originally Posted by xxxmike

Would update you and say how good Keith Michaels are but I'm awaiting a call back since Tuesday lol.

You need to just keep trying to contact Gary Moulson. He's busy for a reason! Worth persevering with.

[Security_Paul]

I've had 3 2.5's and done over 70k miles in them and my current one has only just gone pop with 73k miles on it.

Gave me an excuse to forge it for more power though, so not all bad.