I need another Scooby

Hello gents, some of you may remember me, some may not.....non of you? oh well.

Anyway, I had an 05 WRX from 2006 to 2008, which i sold to buy a TVR Cerbera (amazing car), than a classic wagon in 2010 and after that I tried to be sensible to save some money, I bought a VW Bora TDi 150

After 9 months of the Boring, I was sick of my life and started looking for a new car again Scoobies were back on the list, but my lass doesn't like them so I thought "OK, I'll be the decent guy and buy a car that we both like".

Many days later, I ended up with an Audi TT Quattro Sport. Thinking that this could be a good replacement for a Subaru. AWD, 245 BHP, 0-60 in 5.9, 155 MPH, not bad. How wrong could I be? It was dull as dishwater, no character, being quick was questionable, weighed the same as a small battleship and it's performance on anything other than dry roads was laughable for and AWD car. And I never thought I'd say this, as much as I love Subarus, the build quality isn't exactly to Rolls Royce standard, but, compared to the Subaru (even my classic) the build quality of the Audi was shite. Plain and simple.

After less than 2 months I was on the search again, this time I picked up a Nissan 350Z. Quick, nimble, well built, big engine, RWD (I love RWD too) what's not to like? Well, any sort of snow. over an inch and the 20 mile journey to work is done going sideways rather than straight forward. This recent downfall of gods dandruff has brought me to the conclusion - I NEED ANOTHER SUBARU IN MY LIFE!

So I've decided, I'm going to chop in the Nissan for a WRX and build the car that I had before flogging it for the TVR. Here we go again.

What car to have as a base car though? the 2.0l turbo or a 2.5l turbo?

I had the 2.0 as my first Scooby and loved it, I've found an 06 reg (yes, it's correct, I've checked) one for £5,500 with 40k miles on. However there are also a couple of good 2.5's for sale for the same price.

However, I'm undecided, I would have gone for the 2.5 but for one thing which is bugging me, is the engine in the 2.5 really made from chocolate? I've heard of a lot of failures in the 2.5, should I just stick to what I know? I did love the 2.0l, but have never tried the 2.5. The 2.0l just seems like it's the right engine for the car, Imprezzas are 2.0l turbo's.

What's the opinion of users?

yes I remember you
I'd stick with the 2.0l as the 2.5l have weak internals, so for peace of mine I'll get a 2.0l
but if your planning on big power and want to put a stronger engine in anyway I'll get the more torque 2.5l

keffer wrote:

yes I remember you
I'd stick with the 2.0l as the 2.5l have weak internals, so for peace of mine I'll get a 2.0l
but if your planning on big power and want to put a stronger engine in anyway I'll get the more torque 2.5l

I'm not going to be chasing big figures, I do enough willy waving in the house, never mind the pub, I'd be looking at 300/300 ish this time around. had 270/270 last time on 95 ron fuel.

then you'll be more than ok with a 2.0l buddy
my bug wrx had 330 bhp and ran fine for years

Fair enough then, I'll get on looking for a 2.0l Cheers

Do t bother with just a plain old wrx get yourself a 2.0 STi if you get on with Prodrive performance package it will be about the power level your after.. it will also have a 6speed box and a stronger engine better handling and much better interior

The 2.5 myth makes me laugh, they are fine in standard form up to 380bhp with the correct supporting mods and a mapper that knows what he is doing.

Best thing to do is go and drive one, think you will like the extra torque and better fuel economy.

I did and that's why I bought one, oh and I remember you too welcome back, they all come back eventually

natski wrote:

Don't bother with just a plain old wrx get yourself a 2.0 STi if you get on with Prodrive performance package it will be about the power level your after.. it will also have a 6speed box and a stronger engine better handling and much better interior

I can't justify the extra fuel consumption plus I'd like to do my own thing to the car as I did with my first one. I was getting 30-35mpg easily, I know it's not why you buy them but I have a 40+ mile commute every day so I do have to try and be sensible (a bit)

Jonny Gav wrote:

The 2.5 myth makes me laugh, they are fine in standard form up to 380bhp with the correct supporting mods and a mapper that knows what he is doing.

Best thing to do is go and drive one, think you will like the extra torque and better fuel economy.

I did and that's why I bought one, oh and I remember you too welcome back, they all come back eventually

So do the 2.5 have a decent engine then? I think I would like the extra torque tbh. Was just worried as I heard about a lot of engine failures.

Do they really get better mpg than the 2.0? Autotrader reckons the 2.0 gets about 4-5mpg more? Would be good base for the extra torque. Plus I do prefer the more aggressive look of the hawke.
Having said that, I have found this which is looking tasty and getting my wallet twitching. Just need the UK300 spoiler on it.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201301074816688?atmobcid=soc3

My hawk gets better fuel consumption than my 2.0 sport did never mind a 2.0 turbo, we are talking real world not auto trader figures.

Best thing to do is drive one, the 2.5 got bad press for piston failure when taking them over 400hp, that and the hatch 2.5 had a map issue that caused piston issues, ask all the guys on here running the WRX and STI 2.5's in the 300's and they will tell you how good they are.

Cheers JG, I love this site for useful info. I've seen some cracking deals on the 2.5's and I love the looks.

I do like that 300 with the prodrive upgrade tho

i remeber you, that TVR was awesome

and 350z

as jonny said the 2.5 is spot on if mapped correctly.

the biggest kick in the balls with the 2.5 (hawkeye) is the road tax cost, unless you get one registered before march 06

Hello bud, certainly remember you. I bought your strut brace back in the TTSdays and we stood in the pissing rain conversing in a ponteland supermarket car park if I remember rightly. Glad you got yor mid life crisis out of the way and found your way back to the light

if you get sorted with a car and still want a uk300 spoiler on it, ive got one in the for sale section right now

shameless plug over.

Mike.

FINN wrote:

i remeber you, that TVR was awesome

and 350z

as jonny said the 2.5 is spot on if mapped correctly.

the biggest kick in the balls with the 2.5 (hawkeye) is the road tax cost, unless you get one registered before march 06

Alright Finn? Yeah the TVR was awesome, loved every second of ownership, but it cost a lot, not that I had many problems (apart from the gearbox shedding its internals on the A1), but everything was specialist, so cost a fortune to have anything done, even a service. I tried to do as much as possible myself, but couldn't so more than 25% myself.

The Nissan is great, huge fun, great handling, but it's just not a Subaru, just can't get through to my lass how good scoobys are. The only reason she doesn't like them (apart from looks, they are fugly) is because "they're associated with charvers", no idea where she's got that info from to be honest.

The tax doesn't bother me, I know it's a lot of dough, but I pay £270 a year, it's only £3 a week extra, people make far too much of a song and dance about it.

kgt wrote:

Hello bud, certainly remember you. I bought your strut brace back in the TTSdays and we stood in the pissing rain conversing in a ponteland supermarket car park if I remember rightly. Glad you got yor mid life crisis out of the way and found your way back to the light

Hello dude, yes, sainsburys carpark, the perfect place to do business

Be back soon.

What would you lot day to a 53 reg STi, with PPP, 73k miles for £5.5k? Good buy?

Will the engine be good for a while longer? I'm just a bit sceptical as my Nissan has only got 29k on the clock

If its got full service history by reputable places and you keep up the service and treat it right you shouldn't have a problem at all, when kept standard subarus are very reliable.