2003 Subaru Impreza WRX PPP Wagon
Discussion
Having read the recent carpool article on the Impreza, I decided to start a thread for my own Wagon.
Having owned 2 Imprezas previously, I wanted a stop gap car after selling my BMW E60 535D. I decided to get an Impreza Wagon as it would be cheap, practical and hopefully reliable. Oh, and entertaining on the daily commute!
After a terrifying passenger ride as part of the test drive, for some reason I still went ahead with the deal and bought my current car, despite my reservations about how it had been treated by its former owner. One of the first things I did was replace the crappy short shift kit that was fitted with a stock shifter with uprated Perrin shifter bushings.
The result was a much more bearable shift feel. Sure, it was a longer throw, but not by very much really. It instantly made the car feel much better to drive and it didn't need to be wrenched in and out of gear any longer.
Here's how it looked to start with:
I started on with the Brembo brake conversion this weekend. Braided lines to go on the rear too.
Unfortunately I haven't yet completed the job, which is a major blow as I was trying to avoid using my other car tomorrow.
I've got the fronts on, fitted one of the rear braided lines and that's it right now. I had to go to a football match yesterday and a family meal today so my weekend time has been extremely limited!
The front already had braided lines for some reason, but not the rear....
Few pics so far:
The STI wheels will clear the Brembos, which is obviously great. I have to fit larger handbrake shoes on the rear to work properly with the bigger STI rear discs. Looks like a slightly fiddly job, but not the end of the world.
I really do love this car though. The previous Impreza was an STI Spec-D which took us to the 'Ring and a whole host of other places around Europe. I bought this one as a stop gap and got the Wagon for the handiness of it. I never actually intended to keep it long term, but once again a Subaru has gotten under my skin. People will say "don't waste money trying to turn a WRX into an STI" and, for the most part, those people are right. But being a Wagon really sets a WRX apart and for me, makes it something worth investing in.
Sure, I'll never get it back. But the more I do to it, the more I'll enjoy it, and we don't buy cars to make money, do we?
I have a lot in mind for this car, but it will probably take a couple of years to get there.
I have already fitted a Perrin short ram air intake. I've given it some fresh Millers CFS 10w-40 Fully Synth oil and brand new NGK plugs, plus an oil filter of course. Next up is an STI catless up pipe that I have in the kitchen and a set of front alloy lower arms that are in the shed. These will improve turn in and are lighter and stronger than the steel items they will replace.
I plan to fit an Anti Lift Kit, uprated front and rear 22/24mm anti roll bars and drop links, possibly a Perrin turbo intake pipe, new shocks or some suitable coilovers for road use, a front splitter and so on. I may also get some STI seats up front. I have some Bugeye WRX seats in the garage but I haven't decided whether to use them or not yet. The one thing I am really reluctant about is to take the current airbag seats out to put non airbag seats in. The ones I have from the bug eye are essentially the same as STI ones though and do appear to be more supportive.
In time, there might be an STI engine and gearbox conversion, but that all depends on whether I want to pour that much in when the time comes.
Anyway, that's enough for now. I'll update as and when more is done
Having owned 2 Imprezas previously, I wanted a stop gap car after selling my BMW E60 535D. I decided to get an Impreza Wagon as it would be cheap, practical and hopefully reliable. Oh, and entertaining on the daily commute!
After a terrifying passenger ride as part of the test drive, for some reason I still went ahead with the deal and bought my current car, despite my reservations about how it had been treated by its former owner. One of the first things I did was replace the crappy short shift kit that was fitted with a stock shifter with uprated Perrin shifter bushings.
The result was a much more bearable shift feel. Sure, it was a longer throw, but not by very much really. It instantly made the car feel much better to drive and it didn't need to be wrenched in and out of gear any longer.
Here's how it looked to start with:
I started on with the Brembo brake conversion this weekend. Braided lines to go on the rear too.
Unfortunately I haven't yet completed the job, which is a major blow as I was trying to avoid using my other car tomorrow.
I've got the fronts on, fitted one of the rear braided lines and that's it right now. I had to go to a football match yesterday and a family meal today so my weekend time has been extremely limited!
The front already had braided lines for some reason, but not the rear....
Few pics so far:
The STI wheels will clear the Brembos, which is obviously great. I have to fit larger handbrake shoes on the rear to work properly with the bigger STI rear discs. Looks like a slightly fiddly job, but not the end of the world.
I really do love this car though. The previous Impreza was an STI Spec-D which took us to the 'Ring and a whole host of other places around Europe. I bought this one as a stop gap and got the Wagon for the handiness of it. I never actually intended to keep it long term, but once again a Subaru has gotten under my skin. People will say "don't waste money trying to turn a WRX into an STI" and, for the most part, those people are right. But being a Wagon really sets a WRX apart and for me, makes it something worth investing in.
Sure, I'll never get it back. But the more I do to it, the more I'll enjoy it, and we don't buy cars to make money, do we?
I have a lot in mind for this car, but it will probably take a couple of years to get there.
I have already fitted a Perrin short ram air intake. I've given it some fresh Millers CFS 10w-40 Fully Synth oil and brand new NGK plugs, plus an oil filter of course. Next up is an STI catless up pipe that I have in the kitchen and a set of front alloy lower arms that are in the shed. These will improve turn in and are lighter and stronger than the steel items they will replace.
I plan to fit an Anti Lift Kit, uprated front and rear 22/24mm anti roll bars and drop links, possibly a Perrin turbo intake pipe, new shocks or some suitable coilovers for road use, a front splitter and so on. I may also get some STI seats up front. I have some Bugeye WRX seats in the garage but I haven't decided whether to use them or not yet. The one thing I am really reluctant about is to take the current airbag seats out to put non airbag seats in. The ones I have from the bug eye are essentially the same as STI ones though and do appear to be more supportive.
In time, there might be an STI engine and gearbox conversion, but that all depends on whether I want to pour that much in when the time comes.
Anyway, that's enough for now. I'll update as and when more is done
Awesome - I didn't know that the hatch STI calipers were bolt on upgrades. That's widened my eBay search 
I assume the alloy lower arms are from a Saloon? Are you'll switch to Saloon shocks / coilovers to match that up. Any worry that you'll catch the wheel on the arch with the extra track and extra width on the wheel?
I assume the alloy lower arms are from a Saloon? Are you'll switch to Saloon shocks / coilovers to match that up. Any worry that you'll catch the wheel on the arch with the extra track and extra width on the wheel?
I've been told they fit fine from a non wide track car.
Hatch front calipers do indeed bolt on. They are the same caliper as the gold Brembos, just painted black. I actually got these from Subaru on ebay. £180 each with Brembo pads! Delivery miles only on them.
The rears are different and won't fit.
Hatch front calipers do indeed bolt on. They are the same caliper as the gold Brembos, just painted black. I actually got these from Subaru on ebay. £180 each with Brembo pads! Delivery miles only on them.
The rears are different and won't fit.
Managed to fit the rear Brembos, but had a slight issue; the nut on the brake hard line decided to round off. Completely. Despite using a brake line spanner.
Great stuff.
I had to tighten it up with mole grips once the braided hose was attached. Not ideal.
Only photo I have so far with the new wheels and brakes on:
Love how it looks though. Brakes already feel massively better and the fronts still need bedding in.
I had to rip the dust shield off the rear hubs to fit the larger discs back there. I also had a huge amount of hassle fitting the handbrake shoes. The process is fairly simple in itself, but bloody hell, getting the retaining pins all clipped back in is an absolute nightmare.
I had to take my best guess with the adjustment. I set the shoes so that I could just get the discs on and off with a bit of coercion. The handbrake does seem to work, but only at the very top of the lever travel.
I guess if that's the case, it's adjustment at the lever end next?
Things are starting to move a bit now. I've got an up pipe to go on, bought an S202 silicone inlet hose and there are shocks and a Spec C steering rack on the way!
Great stuff.
I had to tighten it up with mole grips once the braided hose was attached. Not ideal.
Only photo I have so far with the new wheels and brakes on:
Love how it looks though. Brakes already feel massively better and the fronts still need bedding in.
I had to rip the dust shield off the rear hubs to fit the larger discs back there. I also had a huge amount of hassle fitting the handbrake shoes. The process is fairly simple in itself, but bloody hell, getting the retaining pins all clipped back in is an absolute nightmare.
I had to take my best guess with the adjustment. I set the shoes so that I could just get the discs on and off with a bit of coercion. The handbrake does seem to work, but only at the very top of the lever travel.
I guess if that's the case, it's adjustment at the lever end next?
Things are starting to move a bit now. I've got an up pipe to go on, bought an S202 silicone inlet hose and there are shocks and a Spec C steering rack on the way!
The car is now running its Spec-C quick steering rack and boy, does it feel good
It's all very positive and there's a lot more feel to it with this rack than the very light standard rack. Poly steering rack bushes have also been fitted at the same time. A good thing, as the old ones were on the car for over 100k and looked a little worse for wear.
I've just agreed a deal for another set of STI wheels in gunmetal, shod with 7-8mm Michelin Alpin tyres. Will be getting hold of them at the end of this month.
Those should ensure my annual New Year's Day trip to Buttertubs goes off without a hitch
It's all very positive and there's a lot more feel to it with this rack than the very light standard rack. Poly steering rack bushes have also been fitted at the same time. A good thing, as the old ones were on the car for over 100k and looked a little worse for wear.
I've just agreed a deal for another set of STI wheels in gunmetal, shod with 7-8mm Michelin Alpin tyres. Will be getting hold of them at the end of this month.
Those should ensure my annual New Year's Day trip to Buttertubs goes off without a hitch
Wheels were £290 with decent Bridgestones on I think.
I paid £250 for the rear calipers with used discs and pads included from one of the breakers. You can sometimes get them under £200 from private sellers, but there weren't any about at the time and one guy I had already agreed to buy from had somebody come up and ask him for the entire drivetrain package he was selling. They wanted the brakes too though and although he did say he'd honour the deal if I wanted him to, I didn't want to be the person that made somebody lose a £2k sale so I told him to go for it and sell them.
The fronts I actually bought for £180 each from Subaru's eBay account! They had delivery miles only on them and included some Brembo pads.
I did a little job today and had a go at the headlights with the Meguiar's headlight restoration kit.
Here's a few pics in fading light:
Before:
After:
I paid £250 for the rear calipers with used discs and pads included from one of the breakers. You can sometimes get them under £200 from private sellers, but there weren't any about at the time and one guy I had already agreed to buy from had somebody come up and ask him for the entire drivetrain package he was selling. They wanted the brakes too though and although he did say he'd honour the deal if I wanted him to, I didn't want to be the person that made somebody lose a £2k sale so I told him to go for it and sell them.
The fronts I actually bought for £180 each from Subaru's eBay account! They had delivery miles only on them and included some Brembo pads.
I did a little job today and had a go at the headlights with the Meguiar's headlight restoration kit.
Here's a few pics in fading light:
Before:
After:
economicpygmy said:
Good deal on the fronts!
Lights look much better
Cheers Lights look much better
I forgot to take a picture of the driver side light beforehand. It's actually quite hard to show just how cloudy they were in photos. They aren't perfect but I am really happy overall. I need to stop spending money but I am enjoying improving the car as I go....
So, I am having a little bit of trouble. I bought some Bug Eye STI front seats. Put them in, great. Then I found the connector under one had been cut off and some bullet connectors added! Strange, but OK. I can get around that.
Then I discovered that the back rest of the driver's seat has a fair amount of back and forth movement in it when it's meant to be locked in position. Not best pleased and will have to see if I can fix it at all.
I'm not entirely sure what exactly the problem is as it stands....
I have put my winter wheels/tyres on and when I had the summers off I found a nail in one of them. Pulled it out and the tyre burst
Need to get that repaired ahead of Goodwood this weekend. I am debating putting the summers back on and driving there and doing the track day on them, but I might take them with me in the car and swap them at the track. Not sure yet.
Then I discovered that the back rest of the driver's seat has a fair amount of back and forth movement in it when it's meant to be locked in position. Not best pleased and will have to see if I can fix it at all.
I'm not entirely sure what exactly the problem is as it stands....
I have put my winter wheels/tyres on and when I had the summers off I found a nail in one of them. Pulled it out and the tyre burst
Need to get that repaired ahead of Goodwood this weekend. I am debating putting the summers back on and driving there and doing the track day on them, but I might take them with me in the car and swap them at the track. Not sure yet.
TEKNOPUG said:
I recently bought a Bugeye WRX Wagon and this thread, along with the earlier PPP one you mention, has motivated me to start my own. Looks like we are all considering similar mods but approaching them slightly, so there should be plenty of knowledge/experience to share.
Excellent! Me and the Mrs drove it on track at the weekend and now I am itching tog et more done to it!
Fingers crossed Konan!
Unfortunately the thread has come to an end already. The Scooby has gone. I'm very sad, but felt the time was right for a bit of a clearout because I was going to end up spending mega money on it and at the end of the day, it still wouldn't be an STI and would be a lot of hassle to get it where I wanted.
I couldn't justify it with a track car project (despite the fact that's also temporarily on hold!).
It's only been a few days but I do miss it already. It was a bit of a snap decision and I don't know if I'd have gone through with it given more time to think it over.
What's done is done though. Time for the next car!
Unfortunately the thread has come to an end already. The Scooby has gone. I'm very sad, but felt the time was right for a bit of a clearout because I was going to end up spending mega money on it and at the end of the day, it still wouldn't be an STI and would be a lot of hassle to get it where I wanted.
I couldn't justify it with a track car project (despite the fact that's also temporarily on hold!).
It's only been a few days but I do miss it already. It was a bit of a snap decision and I don't know if I'd have gone through with it given more time to think it over.
What's done is done though. Time for the next car!
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