Hello there,

I've got Subaru Outback - I know what you mean by high running costs Trust me, after a couple of hours in the smaller car you wont miss the unweildness of the bigger car (although Impreza is much smaller that Outback). The only thing I miss is some more power on hills, but I have 1.2 so it is also sooo cheap to run. And did I mention easy parking, much cheaper tax, petrol, servicing, less bodywork to wash, comfy seats... I hope you go with your decision as Panda is great car also, and they both cost to run about the same as one Impreza. Only you know if you can afford the higher running costs in these expesive times. I know what I would do...Good luck whatever you choose mate!

Dude, you won't regret it once you get used to it...give it a couple of weeks, I know that feeling of losing all that power but, if it helps, read this thread:

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/142635-unforseen-500-effect.html

John R Smith does a good review of his experience throwing the 500 round corners etc.

A neighbour of mine just bought a beautiful Impreza WRX with red break calipers and all the bits and bobs, when he starts it its got that gorgeous air injection filtration sound, like a thoroughbred snorting before a race...

BUT

He looks haggard with the cost of the damn thing even after a couple of weeks and he is actually contemplating getting a 1.4 even though he's a total petrol head... Fuel costs and motoring costs in general are fast becoming impossible if you want to effectively run anything but the most frugal of cars (especially a previous generation impreza). So much So that I reckon by the end of the decade, if we haven't all gone Hydrogen fuel cell, even Clarkson will be driving around in cars with moped engines, and the old 1.4s of 2008 will look positively decadent...

Anyway congrats on your trade in, I really don't think you'll regret it...It so adds to the pleasure of driving such an energetic and well designed car when you see that fuel needle falling so slowly that it's almost imperceptible...

Traded my impreza for a clio dci back in 2006, loved the driving, the speed, the sound but omg, the running costs. Worst tank of petrol ever was about 175 miles iirc. Would love to have another one though !

thanks guys,

i will miss the subaru even though it was costing me close to £100 per week in fuel lately due to an increase in the miles i now do.

thats mortgage money per month really so theres the huge savings there to keep me happy.