New owner

Author
Discussion

Jay964rs

Original Poster:

257 posts

195 months

Monday 6th April 2015
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Hi,
I'm a newly proud owner of a 2003 WRX Wagon.
101k on the clock and bog standard apart from a Barry boy tailpipe.
Anyone got a standard rear box they want rid of?
I'm going to book the car into subarus4you in Newbury this week for the following:
Engine oil change
Gearbox/transfer oil change
Coolant change
Arb bushes
Any other general maintenance that I've missed?
Does anyone have any experience with subarus4you?
Thanks for any comments.
Jay

peter8171

183 posts

143 months

Monday 6th April 2015
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Timing belt should be done every 5 years or 50,000 miles. If you're not sure it was done 2 years ago, it will need doing.
Generally, if they are serviced regularly and decent oil used and changed on schedule, they are pretty reliable.

nickofh

603 posts

118 months

Monday 6th April 2015
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Great choice , pretty sure you will always want a Subaru in your life from now on , especially when winter comes!

When I got my second impreza last year I did everything you have planned except for ARB bushes , for mine it was the links that needed doing. I would always do the air filters for the sake of a few extra £.

If you decided to save a bit I have found Subaru's fairly easy for doing your own maintenance on.

Good luck!

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

163 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Ebay. Try and get a prodrive backbox. They look and sound great and are not to OTT.

Jay964rs

Original Poster:

257 posts

195 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Hi,
Thanks for the replies.
Looking for a prodrive box now.
I love the noise mine makes, but a 3.5" tailpipe is for a younger person to be proud of.


paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

163 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Jay964rs said:
Hi,
Thanks for the replies.
Looking for a prodrive box now.
I love the noise mine makes, but a 3.5" tailpipe is for a younger person to be proud of.
I agree. This looks bloody ridiculous.



peter8171

183 posts

143 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Make sure you get a back box from another wagon as they have a different bumper to the saloon, so the exit pipe is slightly longer.

Jay964rs

Original Poster:

257 posts

195 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice about the length, I was just thinking if a wagon and saloon have different length exhausts.
I do like the noise, but need a more subtle tailpipe.
I wonder if I can get one custom made for the current silencer?

paulmoonraker

2,850 posts

163 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Email these guys: http://www.haywardandscott.com/

They make some of the exhausts for Scooby World..


BenWRXSEi

2,346 posts

134 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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Welcome. Let me know how you get on with Subaru4you, I'll be on the lookout for a good specialist when my warranty runs out!

johnthunder

8 posts

111 months

Wednesday 8th April 2015
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I have a factory twin tailpipe for a 2004 wagon as I am selling my Wagon also but I have a spare pipe and ECU.

Edited by johnthunder on Wednesday 8th April 21:46

Jay964rs

Original Poster:

257 posts

195 months

Thursday 9th April 2015
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I'm interested.
Please pm me and we can chat.
Thanks

TEKNOPUG

18,948 posts

205 months

Thursday 9th April 2015
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May as well change brake/clutch fluid and powersteering whilst you are at it. Plugs and air filter. Fuel filter. I’d probably change the battery too unless you know it’s recent. Can cause all sorts of weird fault codes if it has a weak charge.
Fuel pump is another to consider. They don’t generally fail suddenly, rather they steady deteriorate and the flow decreases over time. Can rob power and damage engine if it causes lean running.

Quality fully synth-oil changed every 6 months.

Generally it depends how it’s been maintained previously and whether it was driven with mechanical sympathy. Mileage counts for little at this age. I bought mine very cheaply with 120k on the clock and have put 10k on it in 5 months. Hasn’t missed a beat and it appears to have been cared for.

In the process of over-hauling the brakes and the whole suspension is due a refresh. Not going to bother with changing any bushes yet until the new suspension is on and I can identify weaknesses.

Definitely get a remap. I have a PPP car with about 260bhp but it would definitely benefit with another 50bhp or so. Chassis is great for high-speed A/B road driving but it lacks mid-range punch for over-taking.

Head lights are rubbish unless you have HIDs. Steering wheel is too big.

Jay964rs

Original Poster:

257 posts

195 months

Thursday 9th April 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the info.
I was thinking about HIDs as I have them on my TVR Tuscan and they make a world of difference for night driving.
Not sure about a remap though, I'd worry about extra strain on the turbo and pipes on a 100k engine.


TEKNOPUG

18,948 posts

205 months

Thursday 9th April 2015
quotequote all
Jay964rs said:
Thanks for the info.
I was thinking about HIDs as I have them on my TVR Tuscan and they make a world of difference for night driving.
Not sure about a remap though, I'd worry about extra strain on the turbo and pipes on a 100k engine.
Get a proper inspection done - compression and leak-down tests. If the numbers are all good, then a sensible remap will be fine. Mine was remapped from new - so that's 132k without issue. It's only when people try and push the turbo too hard or don't use correct supporting mods (and are badly mapped) that things go wrong. 280+bhp is a very easy and safe figure to remap to on a stock WRX. You can pick up the PPP parts second-hand for very little money and that's a nice jump to @260bhp. Stock must be very slow as the engines are very detuned. The standard turbo will go over 300bhp before it runs out of puff, so only left the factory at 60% potential.

TEKNOPUG

18,948 posts

205 months

Thursday 9th April 2015
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MaxA

238 posts

144 months

Wednesday 15th April 2015
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thanks teknopug for the linky