Who here owns a Subaru?

One Vision said:
So does this mean if your car is not mapped for V-power then you should not use it?
Or odes it mean if your going to use it then stick with it and dont change?
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If it's mapped for 95RON (Regular unleaded) then you can full up with whatever Unleaded takes your fancy, if it's mapped for 98/99RON (Vpower/BP Ultimate etc) then you must use the premium unleaded
 
The WRX I posted about the other day is a no go, my mechanic mate said he has looked over a couple of cars for his customers from that garage and they were terrible so not going to even look at it. Especially given the feedback on the 2.5 engine.

However I've just seen a local importer has an STI on the way over.

They say..

One the most talked about performance cars of the last 20 years must be the Impreza. I've owned many over the years and a good one is a joy to drive and ridiculously quick. We're now importing one of the more desirable models from Japan. This 1998 Impreza WRX STi V5 is finished in white with black/red interior and has a great spec. The STi has lots of interesting upgrades such as forged pistons, tougher gearbox, bigger intercooler running more boost, bigger brakes etc. I know acceleration times are not everything but 0-100mph in a touch over 12 seconds is pretty impressive - and these things are pretty well as quick in the wet too.
Due here within the next 6 weeks or so, I photograph this one proper;y when it arrives. Price is £6495.
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Any thoughts as to whether it's worth pursuing?
 
Some of the STi "upgrades" as a bit questionable. If its stock then yes the pistons in classic STIs were forged. Not sure the gearbox is tougher, it will still bit teeth if abused. Brakes are all 4 pot on the front, STis had 2 pot rears. JDM WRXs didn't have the 4 pots AFAIK till later if at all - I had a V6 WRX Type RA V Limited and that had 4 pots but they'd been fitted in the UK. All UK classics turbos had 4 pots. STi I think had the same steering rack as the WRX. Type Rs had a shorter ratio and STI RA had the shortest of the lot.

I'd ask for the auction sheet - yes they can be doctored but at least you might get something genuine - if they say they haven't got it then walk away. Ask for the auction pictures - they should have them, again question if they haven't. Which auction did it come from? Some don't care and sometimes it doesn't matter but Japan is made up of islands and some cars may have spent a lifetime by the sea which isn't good for cars that aren't undersealed.

Go have a look at it when it arrives - does it have the OE steering wheel - question why if not. Is the dash full of holes where boost controllers used to be. Look at the door hinges for overspray - the Japanese are awful at rebuilding wrecked cars so it's usually fairly obvious (I viewed a car once with a bent B pillar and washers in the front wing bolts so they lined up properly) Check the engine bay - the front wings are bolted on - if the paint is broken, the wing has been off. If the bolts and wings and anywhere in the engine bay has lacquer on the paint it's been re-sprayed. They were never lacquered in the engine bay. Pull all the carpet out the boot and look round for signs of damage or wetness.

If you get a genuine auction sheet they are usually spot on. So many cars go through auction and it's just in no ones interest to fiddle them - it's only when they get here that it's a possibility.

£6495 also sounds a bit cheap given the prices now. Probably not a grade 4 which is really a minimum IMO but you could go lower (Auction grading 1 poor, 5/6 excellent - grade 0 or R is crash/repaired)

IMHO - you have two choices. Buy the best standard model you can find and keep it mint OR buy a cheap but good condition of any version and mod it. For the same money you could get a decent UK turbo and build a better handling faster car than the STI. Granted you'd lose money on the latter but if the STI lunches itself you're unlikely to ever get the repair cost back.

Lastly - I mentioned having a WRX Type RA. The Type RAs had the same box and turbo as that current version STI RA so quicker than a normal STI - same turbo but lower ratio box - it might also have the short ratio steering rack. It doesn't have some of the STi goodies but you'd barely notice. Plus most insurers put it down as a WRX so you don't pay more for what is a faster car. There is a lovely V5 Type RA V Limited on Scoobynet right now. It's probably what I would get over an STI with that budget.

http://www.scoobynet.com/subaru-444/1038250-my99-v5-wrx-type-ra-limited.html
 
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Thanks for the advice, I'm in a quandary now, my MX5 decided to sheer a pulley and chuck a belt this morning, no boost and no power steering, need overnight parts from the US to fix it....

I really haven't got the time to be finding a new car but I need one asap, and I cannot bring myself to buy something that isn't fun...
 
I know what you mean but if it's your main car then a freshly imported Impreza probably isn't near the top of the reliability score board.

Might be complete tosh to some but I bought a 2003 Mini for my daughter and am now not sure whether I can let it go. I have to keep reminding myself not to rag the nuts off it and they'll be nothing left to give her :D

It's not an S and I think it needs the charger to hustle it really - you can feel it's a bit lardy. There's an S in the next village and wouldn't mind a go to see how different it is compared to a vanilla cooper. It's fun in a way that you don't need to be doing death inducing speeds to crack a smile.
 
Spent the last couple of days in Anglesey which has allowed me to spend some time driving the STi along some decent roads, to which it's been utterly awesome!

The power comes in quickly and pushes the car nicely up the road. 1.3 bar of boost at around 3300rpm makes for a great mid-range kick up the backside, no matter what gear you're in. I've not spent much time watching how quickly it climbs round the speedo as the short 6 speed box means that it doesn't take long before you're at the top of another gear. You don't really have much choice other than to keep your eyes on the road when pressing on. The box feels excellent with a nice short throw.

The grip and brakes are superb. This is a real point and squirt car and if I could be sure there was nothing around the next corner, my entry speeds would no doubt be much much higher (I'm quite a cautious driver tbh) as I'm sure the car is so much more capable than what I'm asking it to do. The brakes quickly bring the speed down and even after miles of hard driving, show no signs of fade.

After a 250bhp Rover Turbo, the WRX felt flat compared. The STi is definitely like the Rover in terms of excitement... and then some. It is an absolute blast to drive and is so effortless in the way it performs.

scoob1_zpsitifyhad.jpg


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Couple of jobs lined up for it;
Re-grease the rear shocks to temporarily stop the knocking (until I decide whether to go coil overs or not)
New number plates
Fit my boost, oil temp and oil pressure gauges
Replace some of the bulbs for LEDs
Clean, clay, wax, seal body and wheels

Who knows where we will go from there :)
 
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Nice to see this thread is still going. I have had my scooby nearly 4 years now.
I first posted pics of my scoob on page 15 of this thread, I will update with pics as the car has undergone some changes :)
 
ReAPeR101 said:
A few pics of my purchase.

It has a FSH 38k on the clock, all previous MOTs, im the 2nd owner, it has the PPP pack, the alloys are Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2s 18" Other than that it is totally standard. But in time that is going to change. Hope you like.

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The above was how she looked, and obviously now :)

















 
agw_01 said:
Spent the last couple of days in Anglesey which has allowed me to spend some time driving the STi along some decent roads, to which it's been utterly awesome!

The power comes in quickly and pushes the car nicely up the road. 1.3 bar of boost at around 3300rpm makes for a great mid-range kick up the backside, no matter what gear you're in. I've not spent much time watching how quickly it climbs round the speedo as the short 6 speed box means that it doesn't take long before you're at the top of another gear. You don't really have much choice other than to keep your eyes on the road when pressing on. The box feels excellent with a nice short throw.

The grip and brakes are superb. This is a real point and squirt car and if I could be sure there was nothing around the next corner, my entry speeds would no doubt be much much higher (I'm quite a cautious driver tbh) as I'm sure the car is so much more capable than what I'm asking it to do. The brakes quickly bring the speed down and even after miles of hard driving, show no signs of fade.

After a 250bhp Rover Turbo, the WRX felt flat compared. The STi is definitely like the Rover in terms of excitement... and then some. It is an absolute blast to drive and is so effortless in the way it performs.

PICTURES

Couple of jobs lined up for it;
Re-grease the rear shocks to temporarily stop the knocking (until I decide whether to go coil overs or not)
New number plates
Fit my boost, oil temp and oil pressure gauges
Replace some of the bulbs for LEDs
Clean, clay, wax, seal body and wheels

Who knows where we will go from there :)
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You were about 5 minutes from my house in both of those pictures :p Looks so weird seeing a car almost identical to my own one places i know so well!

Anglesey does have some quite fun roads if you know where to look and once your over the bridge towards snowdonia its pretty epic!
 
ScoobyDoo69 said:
Really glad you're enjoying it agw!
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Cheers Kosta, loving it :)

sovietspybob said:
You were about 5 minutes from my house in both of those pictures :p Looks so weird seeing a car almost identical to my own one places i know so well!

Anglesey does have some quite fun roads if you know where to look and once your over the bridge towards snowdonia its pretty epic!
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haha no way! Surprised you didn't hear it :p I was staying in Brynteg and went to Moelfre yesterday, decided to head further inland and do a loop on the way back. Don't ask me for road names/numbers but it was a lot of fun! I'll have to visit the Evo triangle at some point too but I imagine police are pretty hot on there these days.

Not long got back home and can't fault the car at all. I've done 300 miles this week and expect the fuel light to come on in about 20 miles. Can't argue with that! With my normal commute to work I used to get around 340 miles to a tank in the WRX with normal driving.
 
ScoobyDoo69 said:
ReAPeR101 - looks like it has come on well! Got any more info you can share with us ? :)
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Car has run faultlessly for.my ownership so far.

I got quite heavily into the mods, engine internals untouched, I really wanted to push the limits of the car, and tmic, without the need of a engine build, so all the mods are bolt on.

Currently just turned 55k miles with a recent cam belt change using dayco belts.

Turbo is a sc38 from scooby clinic with billet wheel.
Full cobra 3" (true 3") turbo back exhaust
RCM headers fully wrapped.
RCM venturi up-pipe, fully wrapped.
GGR racing grp A cone filter.
Samco induction hose.
Mishimoto induction hose.
3 port boost solenoid
42mm core aluminium racing radiator.
Injectors currently 550cc stock.
Open source remap by race dynamic (duncan)
Exedy racing clutch
Tien s springs
Kyb SR ultra shocks
White line drop links
White line 22 mm rear arb
Nankang ns2r 225 40 18 soft compound.
Alloys refurbished gloss black
Air ducts for CAI
Window tints rear.
Smoked side repeaters

I have godspeed brakes to be fitted all round with kevlar pads.

750cc injectors to be fitted at the same time, the car did hit 410bhp on the mapping session, but the injectors were at their max, leaning the car out, 395bhp/352 torque currently.
Remap session penned in for 7th July, when duncan comes back from his honeymoon.

Then all that is left to complete is for the scoop and rear bumper to be resprayed :)

Due for drag racing 5th June. Current fastest time is 12.70 @ 103 mph. That was with 328 bhp.

I'll see what times I get, will have to bed the clutch in, other than that, I still enjoy the car immensely, I have no plans to sell.
 
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Quite extensive! 12.7 @ 103 is a very good time with 328bhp, you'll be going much faster now though :D

If you can, get some videos up of it on the dyno or track time :)
 
Let my Mrs drive it tonight :D

After me scaring her on the first outing in the car, she did bloody well and gave it a bit of a boot. The only downside is that I think she enjoyed it a bit too much and might actually ask to use it when I'm at work :eek:

Done 1000 miles since I bought it too, averaging 28mpg across a tank. Am I doing something wrong? Haha
 
agw_01 said:
Let my Mrs drive it tonight :D

After me scaring her on the first outing in the car, she did bloody well and gave it a bit of a boot. The only downside is that I think she enjoyed it a bit too much and might actually ask to use it when I'm at work :eek:

Done 1000 miles since I bought it too, averaging 28mpg across a tank. Am I doing something wrong? Haha
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28mpg over a tank :eek: That's bloody impressive
 
I used to get 33mpg average in the WRX almost every fill up. I do a lot of motorway driving but am not afraid to press the loud pedal if required. Ive probably been driving the car harder than I would do normally, with it being new to me.

Expect that figure to increase in the coming weeks!
 
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