Imprezas are awesome

[dbizzle]

...well, obviously.
Here are my three favourite iterations of the car that inspired unexpected twitchy feelings in the Gran Turismo generation.

The 22B. It was a factory-built widebody two-door, built to commemorate both Subaru's 40th anniversary and a third consecutive WRC win. There were 399 built, around 50-ish of which were privately imported to the UK. We also received 16 of an extra 25 export models, designated '22B Type UK'. The name '22B' is commonly held to designate the 2.2-litre engine (rather than the standard 2.0-litre) and the Bilstein suspension.







The RB5. Built to mark Richard Burns' return to the WRC in car number 5 in '99, 444 Impreza RB5s were built in Steel Blue. Differences from the standard Impreza Turbo were largely cosmetic, but the addition of the WR Sport Performance Pack and the Prodrive Suspension Pack resulted in what the experts reckon is one of the best Imprezas ever.









The WRX STi Spec C Type RA-R. I just like it because it has a ridiculous name.






What's your favourite Impreza...?

[ruishy1]

a crashed one......

[vaughant]

Dec 6, 2010 12:48:45 GMT ruishy1 said:

a crashed one......

Is that because you don't like them or your after one for bits?if the latter, i`ve just been offered one for a VERY reasonable price.

[stealthstylz]

I love driving them, but wouldn't own another after blowing the last one up 30 mins after buying it. At least I got my money back, of course the problem wasn't due to pinning it on the limiter for 10 miles down the M1.

My favourite shape are these



but need mods to work.



Matt

[MrBen]

I always thought the P1 the best looking, the same 2 door shell but a bit more subtle than the 22B without the big arches.

[ruishy1]

just don't like them, overrated IMO

[skinnylew]

There are a couple of P1's locally, very nice.
The RB5 is lovely, always one of my favourites especially since Richard Burns passed away.
22b is a monster, i tuned one to the hilt on Forza (i think) and it was brutal!

Unfortunatley alot of early shape inpreza's are in the hands of less desirable members of society who hoon them round thinking they are invicible. For this reason i'd rather have the controversial 'bug eye' model.....

probably in black or blue though....

[daver555]

Allways loved Imprezas until they became chav-chariots. Such a shame as they are brilliant cars. I prefer them in stadard guise. MY favourites are the Catalunya, Series McRae, RB5 and P1.

[dbizzle]

A friend of mine drives this red bug-eye WRX with the smaller rear spoiler - it's almost anonymous among Mica Blue Imprezas with big wings and gold wheels... depends how subtle you want to be, really!

[useless inc]

A series McRae for me please. I like the early one's because of their plain jane looks plus I like the CMC association.
Would Subaru have sold cars to anyone other than Farmers if he hadn't won the WRC in that impreza?

[Gilesy]

Dec 6, 2010 13:35:12 GMT skinnylew said:

Unfortunatley alot of early shape inpreza's are in the hands of less desirable members of society who hoon them round thinking they are invicible. For this reason i'd rather have the controversial 'bug eye' model.....

probably in black or blue though....

x2

[Dom]

Dec 6, 2010 13:35:12 GMT skinnylew said:

There are a couple of P1's locally, very nice.
The RB5 is lovely, always one of my favourites especially since Richard Burns passed away.
22b is a monster, I tuned one to the hilt on Forza (i think) and it was brutal!

Unfortunatley alot of early shape inpreza's are in the hands of less desirable members of society who hoon them round thinking they are invicible. For this reason i'd rather have the controversial 'bug eye' model.....

probably in black or blue though....

Me too. But with Morettes.

The 5-door is a good compromise between the saloons with a spoiler that's too big or looking weird with no spoiler.

I also like this model.

But I find the newest saloon really bland from the back.

If I bought one, I think I'd have to make a Burns/McRae shrine in the glovebox.

[accord83]

I always liked the Gravel Express, 1, for the mad name, 2, because it was useful in a muddy field, and 3, it was an auto so made imprezas available to us less able raspberry ripples! (No pics as I'm curse word at pic loading)

[dbizzle]

Dec 6, 2010 14:15:36 GMT accord83 said:

I always liked the Gravel Express

I'd never heard of that before! Every day's a schoolday...

[akku]

I don't care who else might own one. Chavs used to own Capris, Mantas, etc. Every dog has his day. Take the snobby blinkers off you will see these are remarkable performance cars and on a reasonable budget.

I imagine a previously thrashed one could be a.world of pain...

Early models look the neatest. IMO. Not sure id actually own one but o do keep price checking to see how cheap they have become...

[popuptoaster]

I got given a 2 litre sport as a company car and bloody hated it, i will allow that the turbo would be much faster, but mine was actually slower and handled worse than my 4x4 sierra estate. funny looking cars as well i think, most of the imprezzas, you cant argue with the success though.

[vaughant]

Dec 6, 2010 13:02:35 GMT ruishy1 said:

just don't like them, overrated IMO

Clearly never owned one then,fantastic cars. I used mine as a daily for 3 years solid and aside from an alternator and regular servicing spent nothing on it.

It got used in anger nearly everyday and although not brilliant on petrol always started bang on the button,gripped the road like sh1t on a blanket,quick as you like and really comfy as well.

It was the less hooligan estate version which apparently handled a touch better than the saloon. Awesome in the snow as well,the 4wd system is quality,still gives rear end action if pushed hard but for the average driver you`ll never experience it if you don't want to.

Be honest,4wd,240bhp,turbo,enough toys to keep you happy for under £1500,whats to compare it too?

[ruishy1]

Ive driven one, it went ok, handled well enough, but i just wasnt keen.

Ive owned an R33gts-t auto, with nismo suspension, r32 gtr alloys, 3 ich turbo back exhaust, ARC FMIC and BOV, gtr spoiler etc for 1500 quid, and it out accelerated every subaru i met, and handled better than anything ive ever driven.

Then there was a 300zx TT i bought for 700 quid, spent a few hundred quid and it was an out and out animal, ive never felt such brutal acceleration, was a bit too tail happy in the wet but in the dry it would bring miles of smiles

Il go with what i prefer

[akku]

You did well on those prices going by what I see round here.

[Davenger]

Used to live next door to a guy with an RB5.
He bought it brand new and sent it straight to prodrive to be tuned.
Used it as a track day toy