Very impressed with an Impreza and managed decent MPG from the Mustang!!

[Gibbo]

Hi there

After reading how some people are managing 25-30MPG from their Mustangs I was a bit confused, but did noticed they actually used 5th gear, cruise control and did a lot more highway driving.

So on my way back from Powerstation this evening it was raining and so I decided to reset my TRIP computer, set the car to cruise control at 65mph and after approx 50-60 miles on the motorway the car was averaging 26MPG to the US Gallon. I am unsure what that is in our MPG but I am guessing 29-31MPG, maybe somebody can work it out for me?

Once I got of the motorway and was back to only using gears 1-4 and not use cruise control my MPG did drop, but still to a respectable 24.1MPG to US gallon:-

Now some of you are probably thinking so what big deal !!
Well to me I am quite impressed as if you do a lot of motorway miles and respect speed limits and use cruise control the Mustang can easily return 25-30MPG. Also remember my car is now running at 390BHP and 365Lb-Ft so it aint no slouch.
Obviously my average MPG does tend to be 14MPG to US Gallon which is approx 16-17MPG as I do no motorway driving and never use 5th gear as its just too long, afterall 5th is capable of 240mph to give you an idea of the gearing.


Now to move onto something that will interest you guys more.

Litchfields/PowerStation Subaru Impreza Type 25 2007

See more info here:-
Type 25 Information

The all important information:-

• 415bhp @ 6,500rpm (400bhp from 5,800rpm − 7,000rpm)
• 570Nm / 420lbft @ 3,800rpm (300lbft from 3,000rpm)
• 8,000rpm Redline
• 304bhp/ton
• 0−60mph in 3.7sec
• 0−100mph in 8.7sec
• 157mph limited top speed (175mph gearing, taller gearing also under review)

The new Type−25 sees this acclaimed chassis further developed with revised damping and a completely new spring design. This new, improved chassis uses the experience gained from both Type−25 production and our race car program. Our new spring design has allowed us to revise the damper rates whilst still maintaining a smooth comfortable ride. The new spring’s unique shape has also improved noise and vibration characteristics. Combined with the improvements in the powertrain, the new Type−25 now laps quicker than the 996 GT3 RS and Ferrari F430 around a circuit. It also proved faster than a 997 Turbo running track tyres around the high speed Snetterton circuit further proving the level of performance the Type−25 has as a complete package. ***Note: All cars driven by same driver!!***


Now to me thats mighty impressive, there is two versions which their site describes in more detail, one is basically lighter in weight but obviously creature comforts are removed wheras there is a more comfortable version with leather etc. giving for a better ride quality.

I've watched one of these be built today and was going to be test driving one however as my car proved its awkward self Andy was unable to get the carbon prop shaft fitted in time to the car for us to take it out. Also for some information my stock driveshaft weighs 48lbs that was in the Mustang and the new replacement item only weighs 26lbs. Well this carbon shaft for the Impreza made my new one feel heavy as it must only weigh approx 10lbs. So unfortunately I now don't get my test drive until my next visit but cannot wait. After seeing the time and effort gone into the production and then seeing the cars put together I can see why its such a capable machine.

Also their was the RACE spec Type 25 that they have built and which they won the time attack series in this weekend, but not only that they beat the open wheel challenges too which basically meant this race spec Type 25 was lapping faster than ariel atoms, turbo'd hayabusa westfields etc. etc. Obviously the race spec has had a lot of money put into it as it runs in the region of 600BHP on race fuel and has Porsche brakes along with very sorted handling. For some more information on the race car and videos check these out:-
Type 25 Race Spec information
Click on each round and scroll down to see video, though note they aint uploaded this weekends action yet I believe.


So as you can probably tell, I've been impressed by a car thats never really interested me before. Plus after seeing the new 2007 model I can say that I think it looks fantastic, yeah its no Mustang, Gallardo or a Porsche but its still a nice looking car. Obviously the Impreza has the huge bonus of been practical, incredible handling and performance and all for a reasonable £39,000 with full 3 year warranty. Obviously I suspect they will depreciate quick and picking a 6-12 month old one up in the future for 25-30k will no doubt be possible.

Am I tempted? Yes! The performance, handling, reliability, practicality are amazing, this car can compete with the very best super/sport cars if not actually beat them.

Will I buy one? Probably not because I do like cars that are that bit special and rare plus have to be very pleasing to my eye. Now American Muscle cars, Porsches and other exotic cars fit do this for me. Wheras an Impreza though its a nice car is just another Impreza for me. Now if I had plenty of money I would buy one and keep the Mustang. It is afterall an absolute weapon of a car and a car thats a real pleasure to drive and rewards the driver all the time. However maybe as I get older and need something more practical then I might just go for one of these Type 25's.

Anyway thought I'd share my experiences of today with you and let me know your thoughts.

 

[Gibbo]

I test drove the Type 25 in late August. It is quite frankly staggering at everything it does. Ian drove first and after tootling along in town, we hit a nice stretch of NSL and he planted the throttle. It was like the world exploded… every gear felt like a fresh punch in the kidneys. Staggering. The car had just returned from the TunerGP event (came second, only to his GP Impreza, winning the sports saloon class and trouncing the Milltek RS4 and BM’s etc and lapping faster than Evo's entry of the 997 Turbo press car)) so had track pads which needed a bit of heat in them. The car was fitted with the optional Porsche callipers/ AP discs, but Ian said the AP/AP combo would be better for road use.

The twelve way adjustable suspension was set just on the hard side of medium and the ride was pretty impressive, not as refined as the RS4 which I had driven a few months previously (and had decided up until then was the most capable all-rounder I'd had the pleasure to drive) but easily liveable on a daily driver and the trade-off in sheer cornering speed makes up any shortcomings in the comfort stakes.

I’m struggling with superlatives trying to describe just how utterly awesome this package is. Throttle response and pull is virtually instantaneous and the estimated performance figures actually seem slightly pessimistic.

I know that Ian said Evo were very impressed (and the subsequent report in Evo backed this up) and the Type 25 will be going into ECOTY and I’m not surprised in the least. It’s a fantastic piece of kit and very well thought out. Service intervals are every 10k, intial price is a bit shocking for a scoob, but my God, what a car.



I don't think you'll find any difference in ride quality. What you will notice is the difference in road noise.

Hi there

Did you drive the new Type 25 with 415BHP or the older 355BHP model?
Yeah what I forgot to mention as well that PowerStation have managed to tune the car to a state that there is virtually no lagg at all, throttle response is practically instant.

 

[Gibbo]

Surely, if you're driving a Mustang, economy is the absolute last of your worries?

Hi there

Yes I don't worry about fuel consumption at all. I was just impressed to see that if one does drive with MPG in mind then the Mustang can return half decent figures. Not bad for an American V8 running close to 400BHP.

 

[Gibbo]

You're turning in to an American

Hi there funny you mentioned that as when I re-read my post this morning I was thinking as to why I put that instead of motorway, but I was tired when I made the post so obviously let my guard down a bit.

 

[Gibbo]

And Gibbo knows for sure that the Type 25 with its 4 wheel drive will out handle his YANK TANK anyday of the week....

Then again, so would a Nissan Micra!! hahahahahaha!!

HI there

Funny guy Curly!

The Mustang in the dry believe it not will rival other cars as its handling is excellent.

A stock Mustang laps the Bedford Autodrome track quicker than Mitsubishi EVO 260. 1.30.55 vs the Mitsubishi's 1.31.05.
Too put that in comparison a VW Golf R32 laps the same track in 1.32.55 so if a stock Mustang can beat VW's flagship golf then I have no worries about what a 400BHP Saleen Mustang could do.
Well to put that into perspective the Roush 420RE which uses the same/similar racecraft suspension and has 420BHP does the lap in 1.28.50 which is quicker than a Porsche Boxter S, Porsche Carrera, Porsche Cayman S, Lotus Elise 111R, Mercedes SLK55 AMG, BMW M3 CS, BMW M5, Mercedes SL600, Marcos TSO GT2, BMW 330i M Sport, Mercedes SL55 AMG, MG SV-R, Alpina B5. So as in your view Mustangs/American cars don't handle does that then indeed make all those cars that did slower lap times crap too?

So you slate the Mustang and claim it has poor handling yet you've never actually driven one, or not at least a modern one and certainly not a Saleen/Roush model. Your view comes from your narrow mindedness and the impression that Yank cars don't handle. Yet clearly EVO Magazine which are very highly regarded and do decent car reviews have taken the Mustangs and driven them and clearly they have no issues with throwing them around the track and driving them on UK roads at high speeds.

You forget the new Mustang was improved substancially over the older models, yes it still has a live axle but its certainly a good live axle that works. Clearly Ford are under the impression of if it works then why change it and when a Mustang can do such quick lap times the setup must be working pretty well. Then when you move onto the Saleen/Roush cars these only weigh approx 1500kg, thats quite a bit lighter than your new modern Golfs and lots of other European cars with a half decent engine under the bonnet, even though those engines are still underpowered.

Is it a Golf or A3 you own, do you think it handles well? I am sure it does but you say my car is crap yet even a STD Mustang is capable if handling better according to professional reviewers. Then I guess your straight line performance must be somewhat lacking with that twist and **** excuse of an engine you have under the bonnet.

Also remember the Top Gear issue where the STIG took the new Elise supercharged model around the track with Clarkson driving the Mustang in pursuit I think it was or the other way round and the standard Mustang was only like approx 2s slower at doing the lap compared to a powerful track focused Elise. I'd be betting if they were going up against my car on that then it would have won or been much closer.

Yes the Subaru Type 25 is another league again and it would destroy a Mustang on the track but hey it also destroys all other cars on the track too, its a very special car that handles and goes damn quick too.

Oh and to even upset yourself more the new Corvette Z06 does the same lap in 1.24.30, now thats damn quick, well put it this way a Ferrari F430 does it in 1.24.22.

Sorry to shatter your beliefs Curly but modern American performance vehicles can indeed handle and hold the road with some of the greatest European/JAP cars.

 

[Gibbo]

It's quite simple to get a car setup to go fast round a track, it's a lot more tricky to get one to do that AND handle crappy British roads without being skittish and shimmying/pulling over the uneven bits. Evo's assessment of their long term Mustang is pretty much that it's great at the former, but the rather 'low tech' suspension means it's not so hot on the latter.

To be honest though, the current craze of rock hard suspension and the obsesson with track/ring times on modern cars doesn't really sit well with our roads in my opinion. The original MX5 handles pretty well, but also manages to glide across crap road surfaces like nothing else I've driven.. so it is possible to have both

Hi there

Pretty true. A lot of manufacturers now design their cars to give good track times and sometimes neglect the performance aspect for our roads. The original press Focus RS cars got caught out by this. But I believe that customers cars did not suffer the problem at all and are fantastic on our UK roads as well.

Regarding the Mustang and our roads well it seems to handle fine in the dry, the more you nail it mid-corner the more the rear-end digs into the tarmec with the correct method of applying the throttle. In the wet it is obviously slower and requires smoother throttle operation or it can soon kick out the rear-end but that can also prove fun too. Plus its suspension is not rock hard and so its perfectly feasable to commute and do long distance in it.
Obviously Saleen have made modifications to improve the suspension setup considerably. Plus I also own a Mitsubishi 3000GT and the Mustang certainly handles a lot better and I've owned an S2000 so have a good idea if a car is good or bad at handling. The S2000 was great but our road surfaces could upset it at times.

 

[Gibbo]

It was the new one with the Cossie internals etc.

Hi there

That certainly sounds like the one then, great bit of kit!

 

[Gibbo]

You still have the 3000GT? Why?

The new Corvette Z06 is one amazing car. In the past Ive not been American Cars' biggest fan, but the current crop as well as the upcoming models are very appealing.

Hi there

Owning the 3000GT still is partially my own fault for not really trying too hard to sell it, plus I've still been using it. Though now I feel it must go and as such am trying to shift it via Pistonheads. Have dropped the price down towards the 8k area which I feel is too cheap for the car but it needs a new caring home. Been offered lots of part exchanges but nothing thats really got my attention plus the cash from the 3000GT would pay for some new toys for the Mustang and the remainder I can just bank.

Yep the Corvette Z06 is amazing, its Americas best handling car yet and if not one of the best handling cars, especially for its size. Still I suspect the Type 25 Impreza would beat it on most tracks except for ones with very long straights.

 

[Gibbo]

Blimey Gibbo mate, that was war and peace! Did I touch a nerve?

Like Ive said to you before, I know your car handles........it handles VERY well indeed. But your car like you said before above, is a rare site in the uk.

Fast around a track doesnt really show the same thing as fast on the roads. The RS focus is a good case, if you have ever driven one the first thing you notice when you floor it is the enormous amount of torque steer. Not really something I could live with daily..

So take a chill pill mate Andrew!!

Hi there

I am chilled Curly !

If you do get the Scooby remember to get down to PowerStation for a tune up.