I'd imagine this is going to incite some opinions, but if I were considering swapping the Megane for a WRX, am I likely to be disappointed? Don't get me wrong, I love the Megane but I do have a habit of getting bored and I've never owned a turbo'd Japanese 4x4. I'd only be considering something like a WR1 or STI with the PPP pack, so 300bhp upwards. But what about handling? The Megane is utterly brilliant, but with my limited ability I do get the feeling that it would try to kill me if I ever get near the limits. Might a 4x4 be ultimately less rewarding, but more suitable for a less skilled driver? Any opinions welcome!
Interested to hear peoples experiences, as a jap 4x4 nutter-mobile is about the only type of car I haven't had a lot of chances to try out.
Had a few Jap cars down the years including Impreza's. Twin Turbo BPU'd Supra on Hybrid turbos Twin Turbo Aero Supra (roof removes and import only very rare) My GT-R 660bhp Blobeye Impreza WRX STI this was 340bhp Hawkeye Impreza STI with DCCD this was 364bhp Firstly with the Impreza whats your driving style? I loved the look of the Hawkeye STI but with the 2.5l lump it was very 'low down' power and effortless and I didn't enjoy that. I didn't like the Blobeye STI as much but the 2.0l lump needed its head kicking it, high rev's pulling through the range and it gave me a much more enjoyment because it felt like needing to be driven hard and on the edge. What I would say with any of the Impreza's is 'IF' they do go and snap, good luck getting it back around. I remember the first time my Silver one let go, didn't really see what input I put in was going to make much difference it was a hold on and see where it goes moment. As it was I wasn't going that quick and simply left those strange pirouette skidmarks you sometimes see in the road and think.... how did that happen! Probably a Impreza owner shit himself on that spot. The noise from them very nice, I loved the tone they can be tuned to 360 without to much issue although I always seemed to have small minor issues generally fueling side. This will give you an idea on performance of the Blue one which was 360bhp although wasn't pulling full rev's gives an idea. Nice cars and totally different to the Megane, certainly something to try and I don't think you'd be disappointed. But I wouldn't swap my track Megane for one and generally top end they're gutless.
I've had both sti and wrx if I was you I wouldn't bother with a wrx as the bits you get in a sti are worth the extra cash but as said above two very diffrent cars
Thanks for the replies all. I think the most important question that'd been asked of me is "what's your driving style?". I think the reason the Megane terrifies me so much is the fact that for years I used to drive and race RWD in a few forms and therefore when the Meg lets the arse go, my instinct is to balance the throttle or heaven forbid, lift off! Having to put my foot down a bit to pull the car round is just alien to me. It's fine if this happens on a low speed corner on a track say, I'd even provoke it for some fun, but at high speed it needs to be instinctive or round and round you go and end up in the scenery! As for power delivery, I'm in the middle. I'd love the revs of an N/A Civic but the lack of low down would just annoy the hell out of me. But low down grunt and no top end would drive me mad too. I'd end up spending my life on the limiter. Really, if comes down to me not being very adaptable I think
Don't even consider a WRX, an STI is a different story though. The 1997-2000 are the ones to buy as they got too heavy after that (same with EVO's). Australia was I think the only country outside of Japan lucky enough to get the early hardcore JDM stuff, we got new WRX's from 1996 & STI's from 1998. My 1999 version 5 STI type R Coupe was 1230kgs & had 206kw when I purchased it brand new. Within a couple of years they were 1400+kgs & never had quite the same raw appeal ever again. I think the UK version of that car was called the P1, if it were me i'd try & find an unmolested one of them. The mods are endless for them & they can be built into incredible cars but they do become a major money pit (like modded Evo's & modded GTR's) Mine ended up with a reliable 300+kw (400+hp), sequential 6 speed box, KAAZ locker diffs front & rear, etc etc etc. The early2.0L ones also had the forged internals & readily spun to 8000+rpm all day long unlike the later 2.5L USA spec versions which made good low-mid torque but had inferior internals & didn't like to rev near as much. The later 6 speed gearbox however is much more desirable than the early 5 speed which can be fragile. When driven well they are virtually unbeatable in tarmac rally & on track, however ive seen plenty crashed by inexperienced drivers. On road they make poor drivers look/feel like pro's but don't overstep the mark as once you lose one you aren't catching it. If you havn't experienced late 90's Japanese AWD performance you missed out on a great time in motor vehicles. Modern day versions are much better equipped but for power to weight performance (which is what these cars are all about) the 99 STI version 5 & the 99 EVO 6 tommi makinen & 1998 STI 22B were the pinnacle & are still the best versions they built imo. I've owned several of them but this was the pick;-
It depends on the Impreza you're buying. My dad's had every Impreza shape (with the exception of the Hawkeye) since the 2000 Turbo. We've done loads of trackdays together in the 330S (the hatch), WRX STI Saloon (2011) and he's just bought the new shape too. The 330S was a quick car, but as others have said, the 2.5l lump isn't as exciting as the old 2l, and it has some serious problems in STI tune that cause it to drink a lot of oil and eventually cause engine failure. Speed wise, it ever so slightly had the legs over my 250 on the straights, but the Megane felt more planted through the corners, even though the four wheel drive does feel brilliant when you get on the power. The 2011 car felt noticeably down on power compared to the 330S, and my dad's not happy with the new one at all, it just doesn't feel as quick to him. The best of the lot for sheer excitement was the WR1. Fantastic car, stupid power and the delivery was just hilarious. I'm not sure how well it would hold up to a modern Megane though. It would certainly have the legs in a straight line, but the Megane is again probably more nimble through the corners and as an everyday car it was quite loud and awful on fuel. As TargaRS says, the older ones are where the fun is to be found as they're much much lighter than the more modern ones (the likes of P1 weighing a similar amount to a new Clio RS), but at their age they will take some maintaining.
I knew a guy who worked on the air ambulance and he had some stories about impreza's in crashes. They are an old chassis design and in a crash they tend to crumple pretty badly. The Megane is a much, much newer design and is a far safer car to be in a crash. Worth thinking about if what your worried about is what happens when you go beyond your or the cars limits.
bent my uk impreza turbo PPP year 2000 model in half ,after a snap oversteer moment on a shitty hairpin next to a farmers gate..and as others have said..even with armfuls of opposite lock..it just wouldn't come back. The door came in so far,it pinned my hand to the steering wheel..just managed to free it,and climb out the passengers window. I couldn't believe the damage for such a low speed impact..possibly 30mph when it hit the wall. The frameless doors in particular always sounded like they would fall off when you shut it!
I've always toyed with the idea of one but then when I was closer to being able to do it realised I didn't want to. The only one's I like really as a package are the RB5 and the RB320 but for very different reasons.
Interesting opinions, much appreciated. I have yet to get the best from this Megane and I feel it would be outright dangerous to come anywhere near an as yet undiscovered limit (in both chassis and talent!) on the road, so I am going to take it on some track days and see what all the fuss is really about
I loved my Blobeye The new STI looks a nice bit of kit, sat in one at the Geneva Motorshow really nice interior as far as Subaru goes however I think Subaru missed a trick sticking with the 2.5 lump. High tax, poor mpg will put people off as you can now buy a german hothatch with equal power that also does good mpg.
