Impreza RB5 Owners
Discussion
Firstly, apologies for the super late reply to the post, it's been a mad month and a bit at work. Thanks for all the replies, does seem to be not many left and especially here. A handful in fact on here still in current ownership, and only a couple of those standard or very close to. All WR Sports though interestingly and all looking awesome.
AntiLagGC8, yours sounds like a right monster
It's fair to say that you rarely see any on sale these days, I bought mine just short of a couple of years ago and there was always a fair few on sale around the country, in fact picked #149 up just a handful of miles away in the Falkirk area luckily. Always wanted one of these, but could never get it approved by any of the SO's, so went for it when I was single again. Here it is as it was when I bought it...
...first thing was to change those god awful rear lights and get it sticker'd back up properly. Needed arches done also but it was only just appearing so not too bad. Never thought I'd find a set of original wheels for it and I didn't, but did find the correct Speedlines so although not Prodrive embossed are otherwise identical. Rust wise now it seems pretty good, nothing visible on or inside the bodywork, driving lamp brackets have had it as have the lights themselves, but got the new bits just need to fit them. Here it is as of today...
Excuse the towbar and lack of centre caps in the first pic, was using the bike rack when it was taken, came with the car and removable though. Was thinking of modifying the engine but have come to prefer it standard, but for the straight through downpipe it came with, and it's way more than fast enough for me and today's roads anyway. Can't imagine owning anything else
AntiLagGC8, yours sounds like a right monster
It's fair to say that you rarely see any on sale these days, I bought mine just short of a couple of years ago and there was always a fair few on sale around the country, in fact picked #149 up just a handful of miles away in the Falkirk area luckily. Always wanted one of these, but could never get it approved by any of the SO's, so went for it when I was single again. Here it is as it was when I bought it...
...first thing was to change those god awful rear lights and get it sticker'd back up properly. Needed arches done also but it was only just appearing so not too bad. Never thought I'd find a set of original wheels for it and I didn't, but did find the correct Speedlines so although not Prodrive embossed are otherwise identical. Rust wise now it seems pretty good, nothing visible on or inside the bodywork, driving lamp brackets have had it as have the lights themselves, but got the new bits just need to fit them. Here it is as of today...
Excuse the towbar and lack of centre caps in the first pic, was using the bike rack when it was taken, came with the car and removable though. Was thinking of modifying the engine but have come to prefer it standard, but for the straight through downpipe it came with, and it's way more than fast enough for me and today's roads anyway. Can't imagine owning anything else
Edited by DugyC on Saturday 19th September 18:08
Thanks Dug 
I've just got my car back from EngineTuner (Alan Jeffrey's) after a couple weeks of work.
It was getting too hot and not running that well so I spoke to these guys who are utterly brilliant with Impreza's and the consensus was the top mount intercooler wasn't doing its job and the recommendation was to move to a front mount intercooler.
So I had a front mount intercooler fitted and also had it painted black so its not visible unless you really are looking for it, a K+N induction kit (the front mount piping means the standard airbox has to go), a forge recirc valve and a remap.
While the front was off I also had a service, new front pads, timing belt change, lambda sensor and a few other things.
The result? 345bhp and a very flexible delivery thanks to the twin scroll and setup. It's pretty fast for a road car now!
As a unplanned result it also sounds epic with the changes!
I've just got my car back from EngineTuner (Alan Jeffrey's) after a couple weeks of work.
It was getting too hot and not running that well so I spoke to these guys who are utterly brilliant with Impreza's and the consensus was the top mount intercooler wasn't doing its job and the recommendation was to move to a front mount intercooler.
So I had a front mount intercooler fitted and also had it painted black so its not visible unless you really are looking for it, a K+N induction kit (the front mount piping means the standard airbox has to go), a forge recirc valve and a remap.
While the front was off I also had a service, new front pads, timing belt change, lambda sensor and a few other things.
The result? 345bhp and a very flexible delivery thanks to the twin scroll and setup. It's pretty fast for a road car now!
As a unplanned result it also sounds epic with the changes!
AntiLagGC8 I was right, it is a monster 
Great news about the sound, you should also see some bonus acceleration with that weight shaved off your wallet too LOL! 
Nice one SAB888, 12 years! now that's devotion, looks awesome in your profile photo too!
Aye rb5er, that'll have been the Castle Coombe Rally Day, there is still activity on the RB5OC site for events and you can see the list of attendees there. Shame it's so far south for me, however it is where most of them are, would like to attend one year.
Great news about the sound, you should also see some bonus acceleration with that weight shaved off your wallet too LOL! Nice one SAB888, 12 years! now that's devotion, looks awesome in your profile photo too!
Aye rb5er, that'll have been the Castle Coombe Rally Day, there is still activity on the RB5OC site for events and you can see the list of attendees there. Shame it's so far south for me, however it is where most of them are, would like to attend one year.
Hi Dug, I'm not sure I'd call it a monster but it is very fast. I've been fortunate enough to have been in several classics over 500BHP and they are definitely in monster territory!
It's now just very flexible and because it sounds so good, I tend to spend most of my time cruising and just listening to it! I think when they get to this level because acceleration is so good you tend to treat it with more respect as it can get you into trouble very easily either with road conditions or the police!
I'm prepping it for the track and now just need some more work with the suspension and brakes before going out. I'm also tempted to fit one of the gearbox braces that is supposed to reduce the flex which is in turn supposed to help stopping them braking!
I also keep considering a roll cage but I don't want to make it unusable as a road car and obviously a cage can be dangerous if you're not wearing a helmet.
It's now just very flexible and because it sounds so good, I tend to spend most of my time cruising and just listening to it! I think when they get to this level because acceleration is so good you tend to treat it with more respect as it can get you into trouble very easily either with road conditions or the police!
I'm prepping it for the track and now just need some more work with the suspension and brakes before going out. I'm also tempted to fit one of the gearbox braces that is supposed to reduce the flex which is in turn supposed to help stopping them braking!
I also keep considering a roll cage but I don't want to make it unusable as a road car and obviously a cage can be dangerous if you're not wearing a helmet.
DugyC said:
Nice one [b]SAB888, 12 years! now that's devotion, looks awesome in your profile photo too!
Thanks! Apparently of around 400 that were originally registered in the UK, there are cutrently about 200 still registered. I used to see about 3 or 4 others but haven't seen another on the road for some time. It's definitely the best car I've ever owned and the most fun, with the 205GTI 1.9 a close second!Hi AntiLagGC8, I know what you mean about cruising around just listening to that engine note, quite often I deliberately sit in a lower gear just to turn the volume up a notch, and the police seem to be everywhere these days so just not worth racing around.
On that note, can't help thinking your motor may be better round the track than most of the 500+bhp screamers, especially as you say it's more flexible across the range. Sounds like the ideal track day Scoob to me.
On that note, can't help thinking your motor may be better round the track than most of the 500+bhp screamers, especially as you say it's more flexible across the range. Sounds like the ideal track day Scoob to me.
DugyC said:
Hi AntiLagGC8, I know what you mean about cruising around just listening to that engine note, quite often I deliberately sit in a lower gear just to turn the volume up a notch, and the police seem to be everywhere these days so just not worth racing around.
On that note, can't help thinking your motor may be better round the track than most of the 500+bhp screamers, especially as you say it's more flexible across the range. Sounds like the ideal track day Scoob to me.
Hi Dug, I'm working on the suspension and brakes at the moment to get it track ready although I suspect I won't be entirely happy until I get to about 450bhp. On that note, can't help thinking your motor may be better round the track than most of the 500+bhp screamers, especially as you say it's more flexible across the range. Sounds like the ideal track day Scoob to me.
Running highish boost (1.7bar) with the front mount + K+N induction kit makes such a wonderful sound. It's also got a Forge recirc valve although I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the whooshes caused by all of the above changes.
I'm getting old bud and wont endanger others so I will only drive the car hard on the track!
DaveM85 said:
Just got my first RB5 (WR) last night, shipped up from High Wycombe to near Edinburgh. Usual rust issues on the arches, but I'm going to take it off the road over the winter to strip it back, sort any issues and return it to good condition ready for the summer!
Welcome to the club Dave!Is this your first Impreza or have you had them before?
I've done a huge amount to my RB5 over the years and still love driving it whenever I get the chance!
DaveM85 said:
Thanks AntiLagGC8
Yes this is my first one. I never see many of these about any more!
Looks really good and original, very nice example. Nice one! Yes this is my first one. I never see many of these about any more!
If you're around Edinburgh way, I'll have to keep an eye out for you on the roads next year, there goes my exclusivity up here LOL!
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