DABAS blog post: Late April 2018: Recently a client who lives in the Mt Dandenong hills overlooking Melbourne requested my services to suggest a small-but-not-too-small late-model used car under $20k for his (still living at home with Mum and Dad) young daughter with a special focus on her and the car-occupants’ safety, driving on the sometimes slippery, windy and narrow roads of the Mt-Dandenong tourist road, which she travels daily on her work commute. These needs may be similar to yours so l thought l would share the selection journey in a blog to assist your selection choices in the future.

The client was not interested in pursuing some of the brand-new car deals in this segment under $20,000.

The client did not want a Holden Cruze, a Hyundai i30, KIA Cerato, Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla or VW Golf; it was decided to explore another option; that is set apart from its rivals above, due to the daughter’s regular driving on at times slippery mountain roads; the option that stood out suiting her practical needs was the fourth-generation 2012 to 2016 Subaru Impreza , which has a 5-star safety suite: the Subaru Impreza also has a 4-cylinder boxer engine plus standard AWD (all-wheel drive) across the range, setting it apart from its rivals (listed above)in this segment , with its many safety benefits for driving on – at times -dangerous mountain roads.

 

Please find some helpful research information below that helped make a Subaru Impreza with the 6-speed manual gearbox her choice of purchase within her pre-discussed set budget.

 

The fourth-generation Impreza from 2012-2016 is a much desired practical-rather than-sexy used car due to the afore-mentioned AWD and 5-star safety rating; they have a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder boxer engine at 110kw/196Nm with a 6-speed manual or CVT automatic, AWD transmissions; its fuel economy was estimated to be 6.8-7.1L per 100km.  As used cars, the Subaru Impreza MY2012-MY2016 pricing range is from generally $12,500 to $23,950. The Subaru Impreza currently has good resale value in its market segment.

In sedan or hatch body styles and in 2.0i, 2.0i-L or 2.0i-S grades, it is said the Impreza’s sole 110kw engine improved on the previous model’s fuel economy but to the detriment of its performance. When new, the hatchback body was the most popular, as was the CVT: and the base model 2.0i (with trimmed steel wheels) was the best seller: If you can find a higher grade model in the used-car lot you gain some desirable extra kit.  All came with auto stop-start; paddle shifters for the CVT; cruise control; climate control; Bluetooth and USB connection; plus a multi-function display. With the 2.0i-L you will get a reversing camera, dual-zone climate control, 16-inch alloys, fog lights and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

Would you like some sportiness? DABAS would suggest the 2.0i-S, which came with chrome body trim/garnishes, alloy pedals, upgraded interior trim and 17-inch alloy wheels; also we would keep our eyes open for those with option packs. The 2.0-L could come with a display screen, satnav and sunroof; to these the 2.0-S added leather trim and a power driver’s seat.

As from 2014, the premium or luxury grades had even more added extras.

It has been said that cabin space was good for a small car: hatches had a 340L boot, which was smaller but made loading bulky items easier than the sedan’s larger 460L boot.

As time went on there were mostly positive mixed reviews on this generation Impreza: positives of course were the 5-star safety rating and AWD; fuel economy; its cabin trim’s quality feel; its comfort and ease to drive; some people did not like the lack of urgency from the motor at times or the sometimes whining CVT auto transmission.

As with many used cars, as times goes by, some problems can and have arisen: including with the CVT automatic transmission leading to expensive repairs at times. Some say that if you don’t mind driving a car with a manual gearbox, it’s worth finding a Impreza with 3 pedals.

DABAS has compiled a checklist for the Impreza’s CVT transmission and engine, which we will supply and discuss at our face-to-face consultation-meeting; if you are considering a Subaru Impreza as your used-car purchasing choice, we can discuss this list at that time.  DABAS’s research also found there were a few regularly noted issues that arose with this model Impreza, including lots of examples of service books/records /stamps not meeting Subaru’s strict servicing schedule, which is every 6 months for these Imprezas. 

DABAS is aware that this model Impreza is also among those affected by the Takata airbag recall; we would prioritise one that has had the required recall fixes.

Throughout these model years other (minor) factory recalls were also issued that we are aware of; it pays to check these have been done by an authorised Subaru service department.

At DABAS we know that buying a car can be one of the biggest purchases in your life. We look forward to having a chat when the need arises for you to update into your next car to assess your personal car-safety requirements and buying needs to suit your lifestyle,

And most importantly . . . your set specified budget!

To contact DABAS to discuss your needs . . .  please click here

We hope you have found this blog page helpful:  A demonstration of how we can save you both time and money with your next cars search and purchase: The selected car’s details and advice on this blog page are to be considered general in nature; the pricing would be considered expired or sold out within a very short time, or 7 days of this blog page’s publication posting date.

At DABAS we recommend all used cars selected undergo a full VACC or RACV vehicle inspection prior to your final purchase decision being made.  Thanks for visiting DABAS’s website and blog: Have a great day, Cheers , Tim