Rally success gave the Subaru Impreza bags of credibility, but buyers have been slow to accept the quirky looks of the current models launched in late 2000.

So what price an old-shape Impreza? The under-rated 2.0 Sport (125bhp) looks similar to the Turbo, still has four-wheel drive but costs a whole lot less to buy and run. A 30,000-mile 00X Sport saloon can be picked up for around £10k, an estate £500 more.

Older Turbo models start from as little as under £6k for an M-reg 80,000-miler, to £16k-plus for an end-of-line 00X saloon.

Turbo values are dependent on mileage and extras: UK modified Prodrive P1 versions are the most expensive at up to £22k. WRX (218bhp) and STi (265bhp) 'grey' imports are around £1000 to £2000 less than official UK Turbo models, but they have higher specifications.