I collected my new '57 reg Impreza from 'Allbrandsnew' in Hull this Saturday and thought that I would post how I got on. Allbrandsnew are an 'import agent' and bring cars in from other EU dealers, they also appear under the names of 'Newregcars' and 'Motor Depot'.
I ordered the car back in the Spring. Although they had cars in stock at their EU dealer (Subaru in Malta) they didn't have the particular colour/spec that I wanted, so the car had to be ordered from the factory in Japan. The delivery date was given as late June/early July (due to the long shipping time of 8 weeks). I ordered an Impreza 2.0RX with pearl paint and side airbags for an OTR price of £12.2k. This compared with a quote from my local dealer of around £17.4k for the same vehicle - so around a £5k saving! The dealer was not particularly interested in negotiating at the time, so I paid £250 deposit and completed all the paperwork. The company acts as an 'go between' between the buyer and the EU dealer.
Everything went to plan and the car arrived in the UK in early July, but because I was going to be on holiday until early August I asked them to hold on to the car until Sept 1st - to get the '57 plate - it would have been a pity (and affected the resale value slightly) to miss the 'new' plate by 3 weeks.
The V5C registration document for it arrived last Friday morning. We got to Hull Saturday morning and the car was all prepped. My wife and I were given the opportunity to inspect it, inside and out, prior to paying. Everthing was spot-on, tyre pressures correct etc and showing 11 miles on the odo. We paid and drove the car home.
I would certainly recommend the company. They were polite and professional throughout and whenever I rang I was able to immediately speak to someone who had details of my order right in front of them and could update me on progress. The car is to UK specification and I am recorded as the first owner (no mention of it being an "import" on the V5C). Currently I am waiting for the warranty book to be processed and sent from Malta, which I'm told takes around 6 weeks.
I've driven about 200 miles over the weekend and we're delighted with the car. For the price paid its a bargain. Obviously I'm running it in and so driving gently, but the engine does have a lovely 'thrumming' sound to it.
I've noted comments in other threads about the handling and understeer and the possibility of modifying the suspension to improve the handling. I just wonder at what kind of speeds some of you guys drive!! The car corners exceptionally well and has very direct steering. It will take a sharp A-road corner at 60mph with almost no roll and no detectable understeer on my part - like its on rails - it feels incredibly stable and bolted to the road. I think to find fault with the handling you'd need to be travelling at VERY high speeds, certainly well above the UK legal limit and beyond any use to which I will put it. Previously I have owned a P11 Primera GTE and a BMW 520i E39, so I like to think I know a good handling car, and the Impreza definitely beats them.
I will update if there are any problems with the car or getting the warranty document through.
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With similar importers offering a 2.0 WRX with delivery miles for £13999 one has to ask why you chose a regular Impreza. I thought the whole point in an Impreza was the WRX and STi variants - the cooking models being bettered by most, if not all, of its rivals.
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With similar importers offering a 2.0 WRX with delivery miles for £13999 one has to ask why you chose a regular Impreza. I thought the whole point in an Impreza was the WRX and STi variants - the cooking models being bettered by most if not all of its rivals.
Possibly because some people want an impreza without looking like a pimp or a pitbull owner.
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< Ex RF, Ex TVM >
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I'm surprised that (some) people always assume that if a car isn't the so-called 'top of the range' it's somehow inferior or lacking in the fundamentals of that range, like assuming the only BMW to buy is the M version etc. In fact, very often the 'lower' spec models have most (if not all) of the essential oily bits that their exalted brethren do - but just don't go as fast. In fact some road tests (& testers) often recommend the mid-range spec. as giving the best overall package. The 'standard' Impreza I believe (from what I've read here & elsewhere) is a very nicely rounded package, without the horrendous insurance/running costs of the turbo versions - probably don't attract too much unwanted attention either. After all, how often does the average motorist get the chance to fully exploit even the humblest of saloons, let alone virtual race cars?
From your 'first drive' report Qxman, is does sound a rather enticing package & good to hear your broker seemed up to scratch(!)
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Did they hold the car in stock for almost a couple of months without you paying anything (other than the deposit)? If so, that's pretty generous of them.
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Did they hold the car in stock for almost a couple of months without you paying anything (other than the deposit)? If so that's pretty generous of them.
Yes, they did.
I test drove both the turbo and non-turbo versions of the Impreza (for about a couple of hours each) before I made the decision. The non-turbo is reasonably rapid, but insurance for me is approximately half that of the turbo version (the car is not garaged) and I often have to park the car is less desirable areas of town. Moreover the turbo's attract Band G road tax, which is £400 next year and will probably increase, not to mention the fuel consumption of the turbo is not too good probably about 25% worse. Overall I reckon a turbo would cost me £80+ a month extra to run, in addition to the higher purchase price - which is about £15k by the time the car is on your drive. Frankly I would probably not use the performance of the turbo for 95% of my driving, so it was just extra cost that I didn't want to pay. You may call me a penny-pincher, but I'm happy with my purchase.
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I might add that I started out looking for a newish but used Legacy 2.0R. When I looked at a few I realised that they were probably a bit too big for my purposes and the Impreza was a more suitable size. So the Impreza was bought not as a 'performance car' but as a daily hack. I tested a few other cars, Auris, Focus, Astra and Civic. I liked the Impreza best, mainly because it just felt so much better on the road and is a bit quirky, but also because of the reputation for reliability. Its less practical than a hatch though, and the interior IS drab compared with some other cars. But I think VFM at the price I paid is outstanding.
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Changed my mind - you should have got the turbo. You were right MichaelR - why drink de-caffeinated after all.
Still, suppose it looks like a proper Subaru from some angles.
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I'm guessing here, but wouldn't the (very?) different depreciation of the turbo and non-turbo cars effectively pay you to drive the turbo, unless you're keeping it for ever?
Just a thought!
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I'm guessing here but wouldn't the (very?) different depreciation of the turbo and non-turbo cars effectively pay you to drive the turbo unless you're keeping it for ever?
Doubtful. I think the depreciation profiles of the cars would be very similar. 5-6 years ago Imprezas were low-depreciation cars. But high levels of cheaper EU-imports and soaring insurance rates for younger drivers of turbo models mean that there is over-supply on the used market. For a young driver a turbo Impreza is now virtually uninsurable unless he has very deep pockets. A guy I deal with has a very tidy '54 plate WRX with modest miles. He's been trying to sell it for most of this year but can't get what he regards as a decent price, so he's decided to hang on to it for a while longer.
The only Subaru that really holds its value these days is the Forester; the Legacy saloon is probably the worst for depreciation - which makes them terrific used bargains of course.
The emphasis on the turbo Impreza has been very much a double-edged sword for Subaru in the UK (they don't have quite the same profile in most of their other markets). They carved out a niche market which was profitable for a few years, but it distracted attention from the other good cars in their range (especially the Legacy) and sucked in huge numbers of imports. Moreover the tubo Impeza has attracted a type of customer which may have damaged the brand somewhat.
I think you will find that with the launch of the new (hatchback) Impreza, Subaru will put much more effort on the non-turbo models to make the brand more mainstream and become 'the thinking person's Japanese car', hopefully repositioning themselves a bit further up market.
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Still suppose it looks like a proper Subaru from some angles.
You mean it looks like a Legacy then?
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Thanks qxman for posting this report. It's good to know about brokers who offer good service.
I agree with you about the normally aspirated Impreza - a cracking car without the expense of the Turbo.
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You mean it looks like a Legacy then?
No, I was just being a bit mean, apologies to OP.
Mind you, my 'mind's eye' Subaru is always the Legacy estate, suits the brand imo: fast, practical, 4wd estate.
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Excellent decision on the car and dealer. I think you've chosen wisely having done all the research.
I'm still chuckling (after laughing heartily) at Altea Ego's comments re: the WRX too!
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