Cheers mark, and thanks for the offer of assistance with pre 00 cars

So is highish mileage a big problem on wrx's?

By the sound of it a UK car is going to be the easiest start. I am thinking wrx rather than an sti but I am not at all certain on that.

I don't think he would go for a bug eye so it probably has to be an 04 or a pre 2000 model.

The RB5 was amazingly well reviewed in evo this month!

 

Earrings yes, chewing gum



Just Burberry socks... and scarf.... and baseball cap..... all at the same time of course

 

If its a UK car then you can go for:

Classic shape 94-00. I would only go for MY99/00 as they have phase 2 engines and the 97/98 suffere from piston slap.

The one to go for is the RB5 or a WR Sport model, if you can find one. A P1 is available at the top end of your budget but they have a bit of an issue with fuelling.

The UK WRX came out in 01 and was the bugeye, which ran until MY03 when it changed to "blobeye"

The MY03 is a great car, and the wagon is quite cheap but looks quite tough IMO. They can all be remapped to 270 bhp with some supporting exhaust mods.

High miles is ok if its been looked after - the WRX is largely understressed as standard.

MB

 

Mark - if I can opt out of the co car I'd go for an 03 WRX wagon (or Focus ST)
Would you be able to give me some advice on tweaking the WRX for reasonable economy but MORE power

 

Be glad to Mikey.

Ecutek is great.

For example, my Evo now has an extra 60 bhp yet uses the same if not slightly less fuel - and safely

Same with my STi!

MB

 

Horrible price range to be honest. Too much for classics and too little for a good new shape STI IMHO. It sort of leaves you in no mans land with bugeye WRX's which are utterly sh*t slow. I could pass them effortlessly in the S2000 with the roof down - my 406 V6 would take them!

If it was me I'd stretch the budget some more for a reasonable UK STI or I'd drop it and get a good classic with lots of change or I'd get an EVO

The P1 is overpriced and the RB5 is overpriced and over-rated! Its just an MY99 with some badges and PPP. You can pick up mid-mileage 99s for

 

Only thing with STI-6's is that they have massive spoilers Trust me though, in the flesh the car pulls it off (in a chav sort of way)

 

Agree on the price range. 13k opens you up to decent 03 STi's now though.

I think to buy an import (classic) STi you really need to know your onions though, Kenny.

Its a bloody nightmare finding a straight one, and one that hasn't been dicked around with.

For 1st scoob I would tend to stick with a UK car, or read up on STi's and get someone in the know to go looking with you.

MB

 

Very true Case and point, mines. A few issues that I'm having to address with it at my expense and at the moment its not clear if it'll be a money pit or if my investment will produce a fine car The scary thing is that spec wise and apparant condition wise NOTHING on PH has come close to mines for the money since I bought it suggesting that picking up a truely mint classic sti is fooking hard!

 

well he has had another look and doesn't think the bugeye looks bad
Are any of them any good? The prices are great presumably because everyone other than my brother has eyes that function in the blue part of the spectrum!

Saxo boy, bugeye wrx's are not an option because they are slow? How about a bugeye sti?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/127024.htm

The budget is a bit flexible (as always) so we could go a bit higher; especially as he lives opposite me and we will be sharing my s and his new car between us.

of the latest shape 03 onwards is there a huge difference between:

WRX
WRX PPP
WRX Sti
Or any of the above with an Ecutec or similar tune?

In terms of fuel consumption, running costs and performance.

I am thinking A WRX PPP with the option to remap later for more power is looking like a good direction.

Thanks so much for all your help