Originally Posted by RS Grant

Without trying to cause offence... you dont really seem to know much about these cars, so please stay clear of Keighley Trade Centre. I'm sure if you were to google them, you would see why I'd say that, there are MANY horror stories about them... and actually about a few garages in that general area.

Pictures and prices look good... and I have heard of a couple of decent cars to come from there, if you know what you're looking for and give each car a proper inspection then you can walk out with a bargain. However, its a big gamble to take.

The main reason for engine failure on earlier Imprezas (pre-97) is the tiny top mount intercooler and poor scoop design... prelonged 100mph+ runs mean that it runs very lean and after a while, results in a knackered engine.

The later phase 1.5 and phase 2 engines are better designed and have a larger capacity top mount fitted. But the engine failures on these tend to be from people thinking that they can get away with running it on super UL (or worse, normal UL) only when the car is designed to run on the japanese 101ron rated fuel. Same as most P1's you'll see have had a rebuild as they are basically just a Version 5 STi with the standard STi ECU and an in-tank fuel broquette fitted from new.. which will have dissolved by now causing the car to detonate on super UL unless its been re-mapped for UK fuel.


Cheers,
Grant