Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2.0 The Practical Dream?

[@dadcars]

CarVertical 20% off Code: DADCARS www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?a=Dadcars&b=38b26e3a&voucher=dadcars

[@henryjohn2218]

Next is mitsubishi evo with anti-lag mod

[@Seiyomedia]

Glad you enjoyed my car Ben! Was a pleasure :). Hope to see one in your fleet soon!

[@dadcars]

Thank you so much for letting us feature it! 🙌❤️

[@GRfourfun]

Had 7 Imprezas over 15 years from a P1, Hawkeye STI with 554bhp to a 300bhp 1100kg GC8 RA, the JDM with its quick rack steering was such a great drivers car. I now own what I consider is a modern day version, a Toyota GR Yaris.

[@dadcars]

We reviewed a GR Yaris last year, absolutely loved it 🙌

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

How do they compare?

[@Def2ual]

Which scooby did you like the most and why,

[@GRfourfun]

@@Def2ual It has to be the 98 GC8 WRX RA, I fitted it with a 2001 Bugeye STI Spec C RA block (due to piston slap on the OEM block) with V4 STI heads and then mapped it to a conservative 300bhp. It had a S202 Titanium back box which sounded incredible with the short shifts of the box. The steering was a quick rack so it felt alive when you were on it and in the twisties. It was just such a raw and undiluted drivers car.

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

@@Def2ual I second that

[@ian7617]

I daily drive a 2004 JDM Impreza "blobeye" WRX wagon which also has isofix (my two previous "classic" Imprezas did not). I had it imported in 2019 by Torque GT as a completely standard grade 4B example. I have changed the exhaust, panel filter, fuel pump etc and had it mapped - makes for a very capable, cost effective and reliable commuter, even at 20 years old with over 100k miles on it.

[@dadcars]

Wagons are very cool 🤙

[@mikehiggins3791]

This is my dream car. A subaru impreza. I went to Wales to watch Richard Burns go flying passed me a full chat. Always wanted one. One day I will own one.

[@dadcars]

Do it!! 🙌

[@mikehiggins3791]

@dadcars I've been looking at the 55 plate blobeye scoobys as they are the cheaper tax bracket. 06 onwards, uk scoobys are stupid expensive on tax

[@FRFRANKIE]

Thanks!

[@dadcars]

Thank you Frank!!! 🙌😊

[@FRFRANKIE]

@@dadcars Your welcome Ben.

[@phucnguyen0110]

Once I saw the title, I immediately remembered Jeremy Clarkson saying on Top Gear many moons ago that the Impreza will become a classic car 🤣🤣

[@dadcars]

Classic for sure

[@A2KLAU]

I’ve driven the blob eye and so much fun to drive! If I hadn’t bought the ST back then this was on the shortlist but I’ve has a long string of JDM prior including Civic EG6, Starlet Turbo EP82, Nissan Stagea and Accord Euro R CL1 to name just the imported cars. The Stagea and Accord defo reach Dadcar status, except no Isofix 😅

[@dadcars]

I really want to review a Stagea 🙌 thank you Albert. Your ST has a lot more turbo drama than this 😅

[@A2KLAU]

@@dadcars that would be because of the open cone filter letting all the noises out. Not great for hot weather and heat soak, but on the move is fine. There are so many JDM legends that make awesome Dadcars, Toyota Chaser (Adam C?), Caldina, Celsior, Century, Nissan Cedric, Skyline 4 door, Gloria, Ceciro, President. All are dad spec in my eyes 😬 just need some generous owners to let you try them out!

[@nedkelly4999]

I have a blobeye wrx300, had it over 10 years and it’s never missed a beat, and no rust either. Quality car👌🏻

[@dadcars]

You’ve obviously looked after it well 👏 it really does come down to the previous owners I think

[@402car_kid4]

ive dreamed of owning a blob eye sti for a very long time. Finally got an 05 sti recently and im in love. already spent well over 10k in mods and dont plan on stopping there lol. In terms of safety Subaru has always had some of the safest cars. And idk if youve noticed how heavy and tight the doors feel when you close them but they feel really sturdy and how the b and c pillars are i have no doubt theyre safe. and you can look and see how many peopke have rolled them and walked away.

[@Dmac-7558]

The channel gets better and better

[@dadcars]

Thanks man glad you’re enjoying it :)

[@Danielmartin-h8i]

I own my dream car a subaru impreza gc8 turbo (2000) its used daily as a family car with a child seat in the back (no isofix) and dose around 15mpg but i love it and my 3 year old loves it she always wants to go out in daddys race car

[@dadcars]

👏👏

[@roderickjones7479]

3 videos in 7 days...duuuude! You're spoiling us. If Samcrac reads these comments...Sam, whenever you can be bothered isn't the way to go!

[@dadcars]

I think rebuild videos are harder to plan in routinely but yeah… we need to grow the channel!! 🙌 got to get out play button!

[@AndyQuinton]

I actually own one of these (well, mine's a JDM facelifted 'blobeye' sometimes referred to as a 'widetrack'), I love mine, I've had it a long time now and it's sort of like an old, rattly, noisy, thirsty friend. I will say it is absolutely not my daily and nor would I want it to be - they're quite small, particularly in the back (with the car seat in for our 2 year-old son, my wife who is quite short doesn't get a lot of leg room in the passenger seat) and the NVH is terrible - though I consider that last point a bit of a plus if you're mainly using it as a weekend car.

[@YuichiTamaki]

What a great review man! As a relatively new dad and car lover this info was great!

[@dadcars]

You’ve found the right channel!!

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

LOVE LOVE = SUBARU ! so i bought a old forester = spent $40k now super sleeper with top range go goodies . ej207 - sti - jdm RA short block direct from JAPAN !

[@golfingCitizen]

I've got a 2006 2.5 UK with Prodrive pixie dust sprinkled over it....its my daily and I love it..very basic..no heated seats, satnav etc but still.practicle... love it!

[@machidaman]

Great cars and totally practical. My 'daily' is a V5 STi RA. Over the years it has taken me from Tokyo to every corner of Japan, and now I am back home all over the UK.with 2 adults, 3 dogs and plenty of luggage. Bit noisy, bit rough and ready, but so much fun once you arrive and has never let me down. MPG is shocking, single digits easily achieved but over 30 possible on runs, if you are very careful. We have 2 other cars now so the STi gets less abuse in her old age, but in general she is still my go to for most solo journeys. Only upgrade is a lightened RCM flywheel which makes it rev out mad fast.all the way to the 8K red line 😎

[@kashifanwar4632]

Great review...contents improving all the time

[@dadcars]

2 years in now! 🙌

[@chloedeschamps8918]

My favourite car!! Love the video

[@dadcars]

Glad you liked it! 🙌😊

[@FRFRANKIE]

Hi Ben. Hope your doing well. Thats one cool Subaru. I love that it's a 4 door saloon. I love how quick it moves. Stay safe and take care.

[@sammustoe7553]

I daily drove my 485bhp Impreza for years. Gutted I had to sell it to purchase my first house. Recently bought a Impreza wagon to have fun in at the weekends great cars

[@MarcusRussell-g7m]

Nice car mush!!! 😂 morning Ben, interesting video mate, what a blast from the past, never even been in a scoops, Marcus

[@dadcars]

Cheers geez 🤙

[@arniesmancave8504]

I have a 2002 STI Bugeye and that has ISOFIX. Main reason I bought the car was for me and my now 5 year old son to enjoy (he was 3 when I bought it). The wife was not keen on me putting the baby seat in the MK1 escort, Subaru is a great car for the family and it's on classic insurance!

[@dadcars]

Awesome 👏👏

[@scott-wright]

I drive the 2006 WRX wagon and my 2 kids love it. Isofix ftw

[@dadcars]

👏👏

[@rev-you1975]

I bought a Forester Sti as my daily driver 6 years ago. I’m significantly poorer but infinitely happier. She’s just gone off for paint. Cannot wait to get her back.

[@dadcars]

Awesome 👏

[@bobbywilson7101]

I was running a 2005 blobeye WRX wagon SL 270ish bhp as a daily family car until we had the 1st year of nursery fees to pay.. Its been off the road for over a year now, putting it back on soon... Needs a bloody good service... I've also got a set of whiteline arbs waiting to go on it for it's return. I've had it for 9yrs... It has a sunroof and heated leathers as well.

[@olisnell1287]

I did a track day and drove and impreza, evo and Ferrari. I was quickest in the impreza. Blooming great cars.

[@dadcars]

Incredibly capable

[@djmichie]

Great video. I bought an Evo 9 (same age as the tested sti) for use as a fun dad car when my little girl was born. Nothing like the loud exhaust to put kids to keep sleep in the back. And the boot space in the Evo is the same. Massive compared to modern larger cars.

[@harrybrown4626]

Superb. I have the use case that you describe.. we have a Golf GTE for family/school runs, but in the garage I have a 2003 WRX STI JDM import (blue with gold wheels of course), and I use it on nice weekends/days and the kids absolutely love it! You’re right - they’re tiny! I always thought they were huge cars, but it’s like a modern day fiesta. Oh and it has isofix 👍 I’d avoid UK ones really, the rust will be an issue. Mine has been in the UK for 5 years and it’s immaculate underneath. Great video Ben.

[@kieranjohnson869]

Absolutely love to see some Japanese cars feature on the chanel bring on more !!

[@OldDadDiary]

That’s an interesting looking car seat. Great video as always. Scooby looks like one of the old unmarked cop cars.

[@dadcars]

Yeah it has a built in airbag

[@martinlaurie1971]

Really nice Scoob, I’ve had two Impreza’s and they are great fun! A couple of points, that clutch is specific to that car so can’t really be attributed to cars with a standard clutch which is very light and your stereotype of owners is 10/15yrs out of date as Scoob are now more likely owned by enthusiasts who care for them. This would be a quality Dad car, I used an 02 STi as a dad car for four years.👍🏻

[@chrisparr7476]

Before my. RS megane. I had a modified 07 WRX wagon. Great fun little car. With 4d and Big wagon boot.

[@dadcars]

Nice! How’s the RS?

[@chrisparr7476]

@@dadcars love the. Rs265. Proven to be much more reliable and bulletproof. Compared with. WRX. lol.

[@TonyBassett-xp8wo]

Agree with the NCAP & the grip Ben I had a type uk 2004 & 2002 type uk excellent cars but very thin metal with a gearbox very mechanical

[@haslerdesigns]

Loved this one Ben. I had a 2005 Blobeye WRX PPP back in the day and miss it loads. Sledgehammer power delivery when the boost hit. Manufacturers work so hard to smooth out turbo delivery but I miss older turbos with the lag and then the wallop when it kicked in. I don't mind low MPG etc for a weekend/fun car but other costs on these add up. Most of these are in the mega tax bands now aren't they? I went from my WRX to an EP3 Type R and insurance halved (10 years ago now).

[@dadcars]

Awesome! Yeah UK cars are high tax

[@junaid7647]

Great video but that ding at the 5:20 ish mark rang my ear like mad

[@MKfoil]

I was just looking at them yesterday! 😂❤

[@dadcars]

🤙😎

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

Should get a legacy gtb or an Impreza wagon on the channel, to compare. Saw one gtb once, e tune, blue sitting on eniki wheels, and it looked beautiful 😍

[@dadcars]

Yeah for sure!

[@monstarwrx]

Had a 2002 300bhp WRX as a daily for years. Fuel and insurance killed it off😢 Had a Recaro baby seat for my son👍

[@dadcars]

You’ll always have those precious memories though :)

[@AI-Records24]

Had 3 of them, 1 was a wagon. Properly nice cars but I still prefer the Evo. And yes they are tiny inside I was surprised by that first time I got in one😅few mods needed for them because they’re so much better with than without, I got about 12mpg iirc that was 480bhp (drove it on 400 low boost mostly). Obviously that’s terrible but made a really good sound, nothing like a boxer sound coming down the road.

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

What evo you got?

[@dadcars]

Yeah maybe at 480bhp the daily credentials are gone 😂

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

@@dadcars too much power for a scooby both for reliability and how they drive. Too much power spoils a car like that

[@przemeknowak2905]

Nah 480-520 is perfect in jdm sti,370 is not enough sometimes

[@7804t1]

Great video, check out a forester or legacy estate next ! Imported forester cross sport xt are quite cool for the 10k price range

[@jjperera3389]

Yesterday I bought legacy wagon 3 r spec b, manual, not a sti but I love it

[@dadcars]

Awesome I love a legacy 🙌

[@chrisparr7476]

I used to have a sedan version. Loved the smoooth revvy boxer 6. Matched to the short ratio sti 6sp. Great car to Drive

[@danisageeza]

Found your channel at 555 likes!

[@dadcars]

👏

[@CorejitsuSTI]

Mine was a 08-14 STI hatch. Just bought a 2010 STI hatch.

[@christophermisiano5769]

I just bought an 02 Bugeye WRX as a father son project.

[@tomdwyer5695]

I love these so much but mate had one and blew up due to the oil starvation issues 😢

[@dadcars]

Was it a modified one?

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

Immediately clicked onto the video once I saw “Subaru” 😅😅

[@dadcars]

🙌😅

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

@@dadcars dream car of mine

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

I believe you got this on the channel for me 😂

[@dadcars]

I did 😉

[@Scoob-93]

I sold my bugeye impreza in June and wish i hadnt, i miss the car so much. Nothing replicates the overall experience of driving a scooby, especially the sound.

[@matthewedwards1089]

I had a WRX prodrive wagon, blobeye. The best car I've ever had. Inside 50k in 5 years, took it too 169k before I broke it. I want another.

[@andrewf7822]

I had a 2010 Impreza STi 2.5ltr. I blew the engine twice. Fixed once under warranty and once I had to pay. Cost £7k. 2.0ltr engine much tougher.

[@dadcars]

Oh no 🙈

[@rtt987]

Were they modified before they blew?

[@andrewf7822]

@@rtt987 The car had been de catted by the previous owner. I bought it at only 18 months old and only found out when I took it for first MOT.

[@DaveNibu]

you should check out the volvo v70r or the v70 t5, they're the ultimate family wagons with enough grunt to be able to still have fun in.

[@dadcars]

Absolutely, I have done a V70 :)

[@Itsbobinnitx]

Be interesting to see you do a evo review in comparison as i prefer evo 😂👍

[@dadcars]

I’d love to!

[@chrishall4926]

I had a friend that had an Sti , she was good fun

[@zxssded]

I daily a 325kw to the wheel 09 STI hatch.

[@adampahh]

If you're willing to import one yourself, you can get a tidy, rust free 03-04 example for around your £10k budget in the current market.

[@dadcars]

It would be fun to import a car at some point

[@rj.reliable]

I remember that a lot of fathers loved that there were no pillars for the child seat but the mothers would always be worried 😅

[@David-xc4us]

Nice to see a Scooby on the channel, I love them but they are expensive to run and car tax is killing the modern classic cars as the U.K. version is £735 p/y tax and it’s ULEZ compliant but a Golf TDi of the same year is £20 a year tax but it isn’t ULEZ compliant??

[@dadcars]

ULEZ logic 🫠

[@Birmingham_racing]

Been waiting for a review on one but I prefer the previous 2 litre model

[@KeyserSoze5421]

The JDM spec ones also came with equal length headers so you don’t get the usual burble sound. I’ve had 5 Impreza’s over the years in various states of tune and my favourite by far was the Norris spec Evo 8 that I owned 😂 far superior to the Impreza.

[@gcosmos960]

Damn I was looking one of these today. They still look amazing. Luckily I can afford the insurance and fuel bills now 😂

[@dadcars]

Do it :)

[@gcosmos960]

@@dadcars looking at Subarus all day in auto trader :)

[@scoobysean555]

Yes yes you can 👍

[@dadcars]

👏😎

[@gottliebdee263]

Subaru have accomplished the impossible. They somehow managed to make a 4 pot with character.

[@stuartmillsom3509]

Back roads round Portsmouth ?

[@couplebike4579]

Please make video like ghis for mitsubishi lancer evo

[@dadcars]

I will for sure! Just need someone to offer me one :)

[@ruk2023--]

There are other Impreza's but the STI is the only reason to put up with the wheelie bin plastic interior IMO.

[@przemeknowak2905]

dash is rubber and looks ok, alcantara on seats ,red stiching,what more You need?some versions have carbon seats etc

[@ruk2023--]

@@przemeknowak2905 Each to their own but even back when it was new most reviewers and owners agreed the interior was poor and that's because it's a 90's Japanese economy car with a big engine.

[@mathewleadbitter3975]

Had the sti type Uk and was a little disappointed with it being honest after being around other performance cars for years it left me underwhelmed. It was stock other than exhaust so had the noise and plenty of grip but I honestly preferred the forester turbo I had 🤷‍♂️ a friend ran the import sti version for years and loved it and he’s a motoring journalist.

[@Birmingham_racing]

Running cost is what put me off buying a Subaru as much as I love the noise

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

For me, if I was to get a Jdm Impreza, I’d have to have unequal length headers, as a must have, other wise they sound like a civic (like this one does)

[@dadcars]

Yeah you do lose that idle rumble, isn’t it better for the engine having equal though?

[@przemeknowak2905]

​​@@dadcarsYes it is for cylinder 4 temps,lower with equal headers

[@DjNikGnashers]

I think unmodified, standard, versions of these are definately only going up in value. They seemed to drop into chav territory, and get ruined for a few years, and as such, clean, standard cars, are quite rare, and their values are rising. I'm not a massive fan, but that is a personal thing, I'm not into AWD cars, and prefer larger engine, RWD coupes, but I can see the appeal. People my age (50's) look back at the Colin McRae era and can afford to buy the best examples of these now, unless you're looking for a 22B or P1, and then they are waaaaay overpriced for the average person.

[@jchalmers28jc]

Best daily ever love mines get some looks from Karen’s lol but most people love a Subaru

[@deaks25]

Hard to believe that the stereotypical Modern Yob-Mobile is now old enough to get classic car status... I think I might be getting old...

[@benpexman7335]

My 2002 legacy gtb has isofix.

[@dadcars]

Oh I love a legacy 🙌

[@chkhd]

I would lose my mind thanks to that rattle

[@dannyjayke8695]

I’d love a Hawkeye sti but the £700+ road tax and the fact they need servicing every 4-5k miles is such a put off for me and they aren’t exactly economical in the slightest I mean not that they are meant to be but still

[@nicklloyd7987]

My 2002 WRX still has isofix

[@dadcars]

That’s cool! Good to know :)

[@nicklloyd7987]

@@dadcarsit used to be my dad car and my weekend toy prior to that. They will do everything required however fuel economy is poor as you would expect rust like every JDM car is the killer Don’t buy a 10k Sti it will likely be a dog. If you want to borrow a lightly modded WRX let me know

[@Jjm2024-u3t]

@@nicklloyd7987I see yours is a prodrive 😅 sorry I’m a nerd

[@JensScearcy]

I daily my 05 STI 157k miles original engine

[@dadcars]

🙌😎

[@elwittinio2865]

Had a uk 300 bogeye, and a wrx back in the day. Loved them but there is a lot of quicker cars out there now.

[@Itsbobinnitx]

Bought stickers over two weeks and still not delivered even though Dan said posted over a week ago 😢

[@UK300Prodrive]

2002 prodrive UK300 (no 002) and no. No it does not 😂😂😂

[@dadcars]

Good to know! Anyone got a 2003? 😅

[@UK300Prodrive]

@@dadcars if you want the uglier one 😂😂😂 bugeye all the way lol

[@mrwick7961]

i daily a wrx everyday

[@dadcars]

You’ll enjoy this channel then 👏😅

[@mrwick7961]

@@dadcars i do, have been watching for a while now :)

[@amiresmail254]

The Japanese ones are more reliable than the Uk cars

[@Christopher.483]

Lovely car just doesn’t sound right being a 2.0l

[@colinanderson7108]

I have the UK version of this Sti .. if you can get one for 10k i'll eat my hat mate, more like 15k minimum.

[@Stabbobully.79]

What do you mean “can you still daily”? You can drive ANY car daily! What’s the point in this?

[@philbowers5332]

Let's see... A Subaru for a family? With the same engine? Can you say Legacy! The Subaru Legacy because you can't get a sofa in a P22.

[@robertlloyd7493]

😊

[@dadcars]

🙌❤️

[@SymonsChasel-f7w]

Davis Shirley Hernandez Eric Lee Mary

[@CarterThomas-x3u]

Lynch Ranch

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

Whilst i do like your channel and your presenting style, i would be very apprehensive to let you drive one of the cars in my very much loved collection as you do seem to like to rag other people's cars!!!

[@dadcars]

This comment is so funny as the complete opposite is true, you could legitimately complain that my road tests aren’t very good as I only drive the cars 6/10ths of their capability. I only do rolling 0-60s and most of my route is wide open winding straights for obvious reasons 🤷‍♂️ I frequently get motorbikes overtaking me as I sit at 30, 40 etc on the nose

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

@dadcars I'm sorry Ben my aim was not to offend you but I have to say what you are saying is not what comes across on camera? There are several scenes where you appear to be thrashing the Suburu on roundabouts and on b roads. Your facial expressions alone would suggest you do like to put your foot down!!!

[@Seiyomedia]

@@In_memory_of_Dadthis was my car and I can definitely say it wasn’t thrashed by any means! Ben was very respectful and these cars are entirely pointless to own unless you have a little fun in them! Otherwise you may as well save the money and get something without the power, as Ben said, the cars limits are much higher than he explores in this video. He had my full permission to put his foot down within reason :)

[@przemeknowak2905]

He kept it below 6k revs,it was half pull of what this car is capable off and he had child in the back seat,he was gentle with it,I own the same car in white and my kids love 8k redline in it.

[@Bernard-ux2eb]

Rust buckets.

[@golfingCitizen]

My insurance is 269 and tax is now 415...my car sits in the window Nov 05 to Mar 06!!.Also.feels.ad looks.timy.when parked.next to MODERN SUV's and Q7' ffs....