My 1996 WRX Sti
Discussion
I've been lurking on pistonheads since 2007, but never considered the Fiat Cinquecento Sportings I used to drive around in PH enough to post about, but now I have something different...
So I emigrated to New Zealand a few years ago, and found that I could afford something a tad more exciting than what I could have in the UK. Having grown up with Colin Mcrae hooning about forests in WRXs I decided I wanted one.
It took 6 months finding one that hadn't been barried, but I finally found this back in september 2009.
Sorry about the artsy photo, but its the only one I have from when I first bought it. It was stock as a rock bar the Enkei RP01 wheels with useless snow tyres on them (it slid like a champ with them on though!)
So far we have done 40,000km together, one small traffic bump, an engine failure caused by the traffic bump and much fun has ensued. Modifications wise, its still plenty fast enough to make me smile, so I have focused on making it handle better.
I have fitted STi Rear bracing to match the front brace, along with a Whiteline under engine brace to stiffen up the front. Suspension wise, I upgraded to the optional STi Inverted KYB shocks which are fitted with the Gymkhana Springs. Along with the suspension I have fitted Bridgestone RE01R tyres on the optional Rays TE37 wheels which cling to the road like nobodies business and cut unsprung weight!
You have guessed that I'm essentially buying up all the parts from the STi option catalogue, and you'd be RIGHT!! a lot of these things get sold off quite cheaply as kiwis tend to replace really good stuff with dubious aftermarket stuff, so i jump in a nab it cheap!
other then that I have fitted a Defi-Link Boost gauge, along with a 240kmh speedo to replace the standard 180kmh one JDM cars come with. The pedals were also changed to Version 7 ones, as I had some laying about and they look much better than the worn out rubber ones.
In the engine bay, it is mostly stock, but with some ZeroSports air diverter panels for the bonnet scoop and radiator. The intercoolers silicon hoses were binned for much nicer red STi parts and i swapped out the convoluted intake pipe with a much smoother ZS unit to smooth out airflow.
Currently it sits on 17" SSR Type C alloys, again with RE01Rs (i got them cheap as the previous owner swapped them for some "chromies"!!) and im about the install a ZeroSports WorldLeauger exhaust to match the bellmouth catless downpipe I fitted a couple of weeks ago.
Its just about to hit 200,000kms and so far its been pretty good to me. Sometimes, when im not buying/fitting parts to it, I go and explore my new country :P
So yea, that's my car. Hopefully this hasn't been too wordy and scare people away!
Pete
So I emigrated to New Zealand a few years ago, and found that I could afford something a tad more exciting than what I could have in the UK. Having grown up with Colin Mcrae hooning about forests in WRXs I decided I wanted one.
It took 6 months finding one that hadn't been barried, but I finally found this back in september 2009.
Sorry about the artsy photo, but its the only one I have from when I first bought it. It was stock as a rock bar the Enkei RP01 wheels with useless snow tyres on them (it slid like a champ with them on though!)
So far we have done 40,000km together, one small traffic bump, an engine failure caused by the traffic bump and much fun has ensued. Modifications wise, its still plenty fast enough to make me smile, so I have focused on making it handle better.
I have fitted STi Rear bracing to match the front brace, along with a Whiteline under engine brace to stiffen up the front. Suspension wise, I upgraded to the optional STi Inverted KYB shocks which are fitted with the Gymkhana Springs. Along with the suspension I have fitted Bridgestone RE01R tyres on the optional Rays TE37 wheels which cling to the road like nobodies business and cut unsprung weight!
You have guessed that I'm essentially buying up all the parts from the STi option catalogue, and you'd be RIGHT!! a lot of these things get sold off quite cheaply as kiwis tend to replace really good stuff with dubious aftermarket stuff, so i jump in a nab it cheap!
other then that I have fitted a Defi-Link Boost gauge, along with a 240kmh speedo to replace the standard 180kmh one JDM cars come with. The pedals were also changed to Version 7 ones, as I had some laying about and they look much better than the worn out rubber ones.
In the engine bay, it is mostly stock, but with some ZeroSports air diverter panels for the bonnet scoop and radiator. The intercoolers silicon hoses were binned for much nicer red STi parts and i swapped out the convoluted intake pipe with a much smoother ZS unit to smooth out airflow.
Currently it sits on 17" SSR Type C alloys, again with RE01Rs (i got them cheap as the previous owner swapped them for some "chromies"!!) and im about the install a ZeroSports WorldLeauger exhaust to match the bellmouth catless downpipe I fitted a couple of weeks ago.
Its just about to hit 200,000kms and so far its been pretty good to me. Sometimes, when im not buying/fitting parts to it, I go and explore my new country :P
So yea, that's my car. Hopefully this hasn't been too wordy and scare people away!
Pete
MrMoonyMan said:
Hey there, nice car and write up.
Which island are you and how have you got on with the harsh speed penalties there?
Cheers guys.Which island are you and how have you got on with the harsh speed penalties there?
Im in Auckland, which is in the North Island.
So far ive managed to pick up a few speeding tickets, but theyre only small ones (45 in a 40, and 104 in a 100) but they were on special weekends where they drop the tolerance.
Other then that its not too bad. if you do get caught, it'll be by a cop in a car, as they dont really do speed cameras to much. Also, unless your bombing down the motorway at many leptons over the limit, your pretty good to go. This mixed with the fact that pretty much all the country roads are NSL and twisty as hell, mean its easy to have fun and be nowhere near the limit XD
On another note, last night I got a set of Greddy SMI Gauges to replace my Defi (the control unit wouldnt remeber settings!) as I could get the Boost, Water Temp and Control unit for $95 rather then the $200+ people want for defi...
Turns out the gauges ARE defi gauges, just rebranded! so I can reuse all my wiring and mounts. I love it when a plan comes together!! Now I have to decide if I should fit the water temp gauge.
Baryonyx said:
I have always loved the classic Impreza (and I came very close to buying a McRae edition before getting my blobeye GX). Mind you, those WRX bootlid stickers are so naff, I don't think I've ever seen an Impreza that wouldn't benefit from having them removed!
I did consider removing it, but I started getting into the them playing Gran Turismo, and the stickers all part of the charm for me! I love the naff JDM stuff.Mine is all cracked tho, as the UV over here is not kind, so I have been looking for a new bootlid that I can use, as you cant get the stickers any more here and then I can play around with different spoilers and not feel guilty
Anyway, today I taxed the thing as while giving it a wash i noticed it run out 4 days ago
Approx 140 pounds and its got another 12 months on it 
So I thought I should update the thread a bit!
So after trying several times to fit my exhaust, before finding that the previous owner had modified it so it would no longer fit I ended up getting a cat-less down pipe to go with the standard exhaust. Brought along a lovely rasp to the exhaust, and you can really hear the ball bearing turbo spinning up which makes the child in me giggle.
Anyway, recently I have been driving it less and less. While I used to use it for commuting and everyday stuff, I bought a little Nissan Wingroad Wagon so as to keep the mileage down and so I could mod the WRX. But in the end all the bracing and suspension, along with the 17s on RE01rs made for a car that handled superbly, but gave a very harsh ride. So apart from the odd hoon about, I never took it out.
I took it to the NZ round of the WRC, got it VERY dirty and then put it in the garage and forgot about it a bit til recently.
Dirtiest its ever been!
So recently a mate of mine sold his WRX for 2x Legacies, and I was suddenly reminded about the rex hiding in the shed. So I went down to find a sorry looking car with a very flat battery, knackered tyres and a WOF (MoT equivalent) that was way past due, so with new found vigor I set about getting it sorted.
Step One; was to get the new speedos mileometre reading the correct thing, so now its reading 200xxxkms rather that 145xxx...
Step Two; was to get some tyres on it. Luckily I happened to have the original wheels that I had the car on that after a few months had gotten a puncture. Air in them and fitted and the car was looking a little better
Step Three; was to give it an Italian Tune up on the way to the WOF, and on doing that I found something....
..... My old car! It was supple again while still handling nicely, not the stiff noisy car I had had before! Who knew tyres could make that much difference *eye roll* So Huzzah, I've fallen in love with it all over again, and now with it over the 200km ceiling, I can drive the snot out of it as now its worth Tuppence!?
It passed its wof with flying colours and I spent the rest of the day driving about
So happy chap I am. Now I just have to find the money for 2x new T1Rs, and the new sparkplugs, leads, brake pads, Engine and gearbox oil, filters.....
Good thing I love it
So after trying several times to fit my exhaust, before finding that the previous owner had modified it so it would no longer fit I ended up getting a cat-less down pipe to go with the standard exhaust. Brought along a lovely rasp to the exhaust, and you can really hear the ball bearing turbo spinning up which makes the child in me giggle.
Anyway, recently I have been driving it less and less. While I used to use it for commuting and everyday stuff, I bought a little Nissan Wingroad Wagon so as to keep the mileage down and so I could mod the WRX. But in the end all the bracing and suspension, along with the 17s on RE01rs made for a car that handled superbly, but gave a very harsh ride. So apart from the odd hoon about, I never took it out.
I took it to the NZ round of the WRC, got it VERY dirty and then put it in the garage and forgot about it a bit til recently.
Dirtiest its ever been!
So recently a mate of mine sold his WRX for 2x Legacies, and I was suddenly reminded about the rex hiding in the shed. So I went down to find a sorry looking car with a very flat battery, knackered tyres and a WOF (MoT equivalent) that was way past due, so with new found vigor I set about getting it sorted.
Step One; was to get the new speedos mileometre reading the correct thing, so now its reading 200xxxkms rather that 145xxx...
Step Two; was to get some tyres on it. Luckily I happened to have the original wheels that I had the car on that after a few months had gotten a puncture. Air in them and fitted and the car was looking a little better
Step Three; was to give it an Italian Tune up on the way to the WOF, and on doing that I found something....
..... My old car! It was supple again while still handling nicely, not the stiff noisy car I had had before! Who knew tyres could make that much difference *eye roll* So Huzzah, I've fallen in love with it all over again, and now with it over the 200km ceiling, I can drive the snot out of it as now its worth Tuppence!?
It passed its wof with flying colours and I spent the rest of the day driving about
So happy chap I am. Now I just have to find the money for 2x new T1Rs, and the new sparkplugs, leads, brake pads, Engine and gearbox oil, filters.....
Good thing I love it
_Nathan_ said:
nice story but are you sure that is a genuine STI engine?
I though they were all red
The red paint has flaked off the manifold. If you look closely you can see some of it left.I though they were all red
The very early sti cars didnt have the red manifold as they only started doing that part of the way through making the second version of the sti.
So, I managed to drive my car over my tool kit 
. This unfortunately spurred me off onto a tool buying binge.
New Black Stanley ratchet set, ramps and other bits and pieces the rational part of my head knew I didn't need. To show that small bit that I "needed" these parts, I of course had to work on the car.
So, a little while ago I managed to find some uprated rear sway bar links. These were the ball bearing type. Turns out they were missing a part, as after a few months of a rattly rear, I discovered the problem;
Huzzah, something to fix. Thus started Project "Justify spending money on lots of tools!"
Nolathane parts bought. I had also decided that it would be a good time to change the swaybar bushes aswell, as they look to be the originals, and were probably pretty worn, even more so by the uprated linkages.
Tool number one in use, Rampage Up!
Old links off, all of 4 bolts, and 2 for the swaybar. This is were I started using the grease they supplied, which got everywhere. needless to say I didn't want it on my camera, so I am photo less til;
New shiny bits installed, all my new tools used/thrown in anger, my car no longer knocks going over peculiar bumps and it handles much nicer Its strange that such a little part can change the car so much, but it has made the whole rear end feel a lot more linear in its movement when you move around corners.
Then I found some front links on Trademe (like NZs ebay) and attempted to fit them. Alas, the advert lied, and it was only after I forced one of them on til I discovered that they won't fit a Subaru with alloy front arms
Still, managed to replace the front swaybar bushes, and catch my finger inbetween its and the subframe, so now I have my proof of doing work on my car
. This unfortunately spurred me off onto a tool buying binge. New Black Stanley ratchet set, ramps and other bits and pieces the rational part of my head knew I didn't need. To show that small bit that I "needed" these parts, I of course had to work on the car.
So, a little while ago I managed to find some uprated rear sway bar links. These were the ball bearing type. Turns out they were missing a part, as after a few months of a rattly rear, I discovered the problem;
Huzzah, something to fix. Thus started Project "Justify spending money on lots of tools!"
Nolathane parts bought. I had also decided that it would be a good time to change the swaybar bushes aswell, as they look to be the originals, and were probably pretty worn, even more so by the uprated linkages.
Tool number one in use, Rampage Up!
Old links off, all of 4 bolts, and 2 for the swaybar. This is were I started using the grease they supplied, which got everywhere. needless to say I didn't want it on my camera, so I am photo less til;
New shiny bits installed, all my new tools used/thrown in anger, my car no longer knocks going over peculiar bumps and it handles much nicer
Its strange that such a little part can change the car so much, but it has made the whole rear end feel a lot more linear in its movement when you move around corners.Then I found some front links on Trademe (like NZs ebay) and attempted to fit them. Alas, the advert lied, and it was only after I forced one of them on til I discovered that they won't fit a Subaru with alloy front arms
Still, managed to replace the front swaybar bushes, and catch my finger inbetween its and the subframe, so now I have my proof of doing work on my car
On WRXs the C pillar trims are a chrome bit of metal, painted matte black. So, over time the paint dies and you get some unwanted bling. Why Subaru used polish metal when no Impreza had the trim bare chrome I havent a clue...
Anyway, mine were knackered, but Im a novice when it comes to spray painting so have always chickened, but looking at vids on YouTube I saw videos of something called Plasti-Dip.
Its a rubberized paint, that is removable. Great for me as I can fix it if I fail hard. Today it came in the post and I cracked on with it.
Before
After
The paint is great. Really hard to get wrong, and the bits I over sprayed (remember to cover the rest of the car next time....) just peel off. Now its been in the sun, its really stuck on
Not so pleased with the painters tape I used, as when I removed it, it did THIS!
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...............
Anyway, mine were knackered, but Im a novice when it comes to spray painting so have always chickened, but looking at vids on YouTube I saw videos of something called Plasti-Dip.
Its a rubberized paint, that is removable. Great for me as I can fix it if I fail hard. Today it came in the post and I cracked on with it.
Before
After
The paint is great. Really hard to get wrong, and the bits I over sprayed (remember to cover the rest of the car next time....) just peel off. Now its been in the sun, its really stuck on
Not so pleased with the painters tape I used, as when I removed it, it did THIS!
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...............
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