WestHamForever

Hi. Everyone's right - get a turbo. A good one with service history is within your budget. Of course some things are expensive to repair but if well maintained should not be a problem. I've always got 20+mpg and the tyres don't seem to wear anymore than a 'normal' car, although they may be more expensive to buy initially if you go for quality. The only part of Impreza ownership I find expensive is insurance. After shopping around, I ended up with £1400 from Tesco (Have to have a Tracker fitted). However lots of the guys on here will have got it cheaper, some may be more expensive. Depends where you go and in some cases who you talk to - 3 Tesco Ins employees gave me 3 different quotes. One of the problems is, in my opinion, lots of insurers are confused by the model range and in particular, Japanese imports. Anyway, good luck with your search for a car. I guarantee worries about the turbo breaking, etc. will vanish the first time you bury your right foot in an Impreza turbo.

That's the one. Can't remember my Freeserve address coz I only email when I'm at work.

If anyone can edit mine, I'd appreciate it. Still no mail CSIOM! Will mail you offline and see if you can reply.

Thank you all.

There's a short block for sale, on Sale and Wanted, from a 2002 WRX, will it be suitable for a MY96 STi?

Still waiting for mail....and I think this makes me a Senior Member!!!!! /

3K!!!!!! I'm fooked then. However I can't afford the repairs so if anyone wants it I'll grudgingly take £3k. The engine does make a knocking sound but it's far more pronounced when it's cold and hasn't affected the performance. I've never ragged the car (apart from the odd blast obviously) coz I can't afford the fuel/points on my licence. Oil level never drops, coolant temp remains constant always.

No m8, he's straight. He's seen the car a few times from to check it over when I've been curious about one thing or another and the only thing he's ever charged me for was the 60k service. The rest of the time he did it for nothing.

Furthermore, I can't afford the crank regrind and new shells. So I'm dropping the price coz I HAVE to raise some money quickly. What's it worth, do you think? MOT'd till May, bodywork fine as is the interior, apart from a fag burn on my seat (before my purchase), tyres fine, CAT 1 alarm and tracker fitted when I bought it. Plus a CD player. Someone please help. My conscience(spelling) won't let me sell it without being honest about its' condition. I could cry, really.

Some of you may have seen my ad for the car. The mechanic I use came out to have a look at the car this morning, with a view to buying as he knows it's a tidy one. Not so tidy as it turns out. What I thought was mild pison slap at low revs turns out to (probably) be big end bearings going.

Just seen a Boxster on the A4 Reading road with a bonnet and roof covered in snow. But there's no snow here! Mind you, aren't Boxsters mid engined? The bonnet's still cold I expect.

Thanks Gary for the picture. And thanks to you all for your commiserations. I'm just so fed up because it feels like I've been beaten. I bought the car when I was quite flush and sadly things have changed big style since then. Now the car is my only really valuable asset so I have to be sensible and get rid. At least Mrs WHF will stop moaning (temporarily). She'll now get her wish for me to drive "a nice little Astra diesel" But I'll be back! Want a Type R next. If I'm good maybe Santa will get me one.

For the first (and probably last) time ever. Better go to bed soon.