My New Scooby... I'm Back...

[paulmoonraker]

Hi all,

I picked up my new toy today from a nice chap called Dan in South Wales Big thanks to Ian who connected me with the seller!

Previously owned by a Prodrive engineer, its had a few modifications including Prodrive springs, Exhaust, Panel Filter and a Remap by Andy Forrest. It develops about 370bhp and a boat load of torque

Edited by paulmoonraker on Tuesday 18th February 20:55

Edited by paulmoonraker on Tuesday 18th February 20:57

[paulmoonraker]

Evil.soup said:

Glad it worked out mate, its one hell of a good example! Imagine the drive home was fun

It poured with rain But I still had fun... Honest, it's like a missile...

[paulmoonraker]

Only 22K on the clock, and mapped from new so according to the original owner (who I met - he owns the garage where I picked up the car), it should be less prone to piston failure.

[paulmoonraker]

Nice! I will do that. My front splitter has to come off though as it's getting torn to shreds on the drive

I fitted a Sony head-unit tonight and am going to sort the door speakers, amp them and add a small sub tomorrow. Nothing Barry-boy, but just a good sounding set up.

Next it's a boot and spoiler respray as there is some damage from where the massive rally wing was removed.

I'm absolutely loving it so far.

[paulmoonraker]

As you will all know, the stereo in the Impreza is woeful. So I have upgraded it slightly

The front speakers are Rainbows and the amp powering them is a Genesis. They sound awesome and the sub is spot on, but could in fairness be smaller. However, the audio shop was selling it second hand for a customer, so I got a great deal on what is 500 pounds worth of speaker and box.

[paulmoonraker]

The 2ltr is more frantic, revs harder and you tend to sit much higher in the rev range. Because of this theatre you get the sensation you are going lightning quick. The 2.5 on the other hand has so much more low end grunt, but runs out of puff much sooner. Therefore, its easy to think the 2.0 is quicker, but its not. Also, as you say, you don't need to work the gearbox anything like you do on the 2, so again, its deceptive.

The 2.5 is ballistic compared to the more frantic nature of the 2.0. The gearbox is much better also, and the Prodrive springs compared to my old coilovers are orders better.

I think as a track toy and a pure weekender you would take the 2ltr - no contest. However, the 2.5 is good and I have quickly grown to like the way you can outgun virtually anything in any gear

[paulmoonraker]

Ved said:

I find the 2.5 easier to go quicker and the 2.0 requires more of a focused mind to get the best out of it. Personally I'd say a forged 2.5 is the better engine from day to day but I'm very happy with the older EJ for now

I will give it 6 months or so, then check the car into a API or perhaps my local guy for a forged rebuild and get the car running around 500bhp. However, its more than enough for the time being and I am just enjoying the car.

It really reminded me today how brutally effective these are across the B roads, and with the grunt of the larger engine, you can just sit in 3rd and eat road

[paulmoonraker]

Evil.soup said:

paulmoonraker said:

The 2ltr is more frantic, revs harder and you tend to sit much higher in the rev range. Because of this theatre you get the sensation you are going lightning quick. The 2.5 on the other hand has so much more low end grunt, but runs out of puff much sooner. Therefore, its easy to think the 2.0 is quicker, but its not. Also, as you say, you don't need to work the gearbox anything like you do on the 2, so again, its deceptive.

The 2.5 is ballistic compared to the more frantic nature of the 2.0. The gearbox is much better also, and the Prodrive springs compared to my old coilovers are orders better.

I think as a track toy and a pure weekender you would take the 2ltr - no contest. However, the 2.5 is good and I have quickly grown to like the way you can outgun virtually anything in any gear

I put coilovers on mine last year and took them off after 6 months. They were outstanding on smooth fresh tarmac but thats rare in this country. On any other surface they were hateful, even dangerous as they were not compliant enough to react to the poor uneven roads in the uk. At speed the car would hunker down on good tarmac but on anything else it would feel unsettled and would crash around.

I put my Eibach Pro Springs back on and they are 95% what the coilovers were on smooth roads and far better on the normal rough roads than the coilovers. To my cost i have found that coilovers and road cars do not mix!

In hindsight I would agree. Epic for the track, however, on a busted up UK B road they cause you to lose traction

[paulmoonraker]

Today's lunchtime jobbie... Backbox replaced for an Afterburner Raptor...

[paulmoonraker]

Anybody know where I can get some exhaust hangers that are a bit longer than the standard ones? The OEM ones are a bit tight with the new backbox!

Thanks!

[paulmoonraker]

I got bored with the Porker and it wasn't practical given my twins So I then swapped it for an M3 which was good for a year, and I was doing lots of driving. However, I'm changing jobs so won't be driving as much, so this opened the opportunity to get back in a real fun car

The centre pipe is blowing so I'm replacing this. As soon as its done I will make a video of the exhaust.

[paulmoonraker]

Ved said:

Evil.soup said:

We need a sound clip now........

Personally I want a youtube video that has 2 mins of faffing with a camera and walking to the car. It's just not the same without it

Ha! I won't let you down...

[paulmoonraker]

Ved said:

paulmoonraker said:

Today's lunchtime jobbie... Backbox replaced for an Afterburner Raptor...

LOVELY! I wonder if that'll fit a Milltek 3" system?

The raptor backbox is actually 3inch, but its supplied with a reducer for 2.5inch centre pipes. Incidently, I am actually replacing the whole exhaust next week, which will include a de-restonated centre pipe. I will be selling the Miltek if anybody is interested (once I have welded the hole in the restonator).

Ved said:

Can I ask a favour? Could you show me where you're jacking your car up on the front and the back please because I'm having trouble getting a consistent answer and also where you're putting those axel stands. I'm getting bored of paying to have my pads and discs changed so I'l do them myself to save a bit of money.

Axel stands are not ideal as they have a small area of contact which results in significant load, which can in turn bend things (like the sill which runs front to back). However, there are some areas where you can use them. Really you want something about 4 inches flat which you could then lower the sill directly onto. Basically like the plates on a mechanics car lift.

Ved said:

BTW, my Subarus are full on family cars now as I brought home a baby girl (and mother, hey ho, I tried!) on Wednesday night I cannot wait until she's older so I can get her out in the STI!

Congratulations! I have twin girls and they love 'super fast'. Get yourself a roof box and your sorted for holidays.

[paulmoonraker]

Ved said:

LOVELY! I wonder if that'll fit a Milltek 3" system?

To answer that specifically, it will and that's what I have it connected to at the moment. However, its very tight on the bumper, something I am hoping will be fixed when I change the rest of the exhaust. I think if I bent the left hand hanger bar a bit it would sort it, or use longer exhaust hangers.

[paulmoonraker]

Here's is a few. Horrible weather and not good for photos...

[paulmoonraker]

Ved said:

Be careful you don't find homeless people living in that tailpipe

Looks spot on as does the rest of the car. I miss my Hawkeye

You can actually fit a toilet roll in it! Brilliant!

[paulmoonraker]

Ved said:

If it sounds like this then I'm very interested. Much more punchy than the Milltek, don't you think?

What's it like at 70 on longer trips?

Edited by Ved on Sunday 9th February 16:05

It's much better than the Miltek. It's deeper and really opens up when you nail it. However, it's hard to draw a full conclusion until the rest is changed and its therefore no longer making a blowing sound from the centre section (which is clear to hear when stationary).

[paulmoonraker]

Ved said:

Duff gasket?

There is a hole in the restonator (the mechanic man told me). However, I also reused the old gasket knowing that all the gaskets are being replaced Tuesday (you see, like an excited kid, I couldn't wait until Tuesday to fit the new backbox).

Edited by paulmoonraker on Sunday 9th February 18:46

[paulmoonraker]

I think the word I would use to describe the volume is, ample, yes, ample...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB3W13YuyRk

[paulmoonraker]

JFReturns said:

So much noise and power it blew the camera over!

You can actually feel it indoors... I have a bung which I have used to get the car out of the garage and up the road in the mornings.

It does sound epic when your driving.

Tomorrow it's map time at Surrey Rolling Road. It will be slightly down on top end power given the change from a 3in to 2.5in exhaust, however, it was a bit lacking in bottom end grunt, so this should fix that. I'm also having switchable maps, one with launch, flat shift and what have you...