P1

[Lefty]

Bought last month for £4k:




Andy Forrest remap
Front-mount cooler
2.5" turbo-back exhaust although I've already replaced the cheap chavvy 5" tailpipe and minuscule backbox with an oem p1 silencer and tailpipe

Dynoed at 342bhp back in 2008.

It's got a VTA turbosmart dump valve which is ridiculously noisy so I really want a decent recirc valve. Running ok, a little bit laggy though.

Just had a thorough service including timing belt, 4 pulleys and tensioner.

Edited by Lefty on Friday 22 February 12:51

[Lefty]

Badly in need of TLC but I'm still pretty pleased.

Going in to a local body shop next week to get the rear arches sorted and front splitter repaired (it's in a hell of a mess).

Drives well though, lovely ride, very direct, very grippy.

[Lefty]

Nasty

[Lefty]

I do have an itch for an Evo v or vi but, to be honest, the roads around here are in such bad condition something as hard as an evo really puts me off. The p1 is very supple, body control is great but it's really quote softly sprung which is great on buggered tarmac.

My mkv r32 was much firmer and that was often the limiting factor on back road hooning...

I've had a couple of quick-ish cars before (vx220 turbo probably the quickest) but the p1 feels a hell of a lot of quicker. Not been on track yet but I'll hopefully get down to knockhill in the new year.

Cheers
Lefty

Edited by Lefty on Saturday 3rd November 20:57

[Lefty]

You should have seen the wheels it came on!

First purchase was a set of genuine 17" prodrive oz alloys(which, admittedly, could do with a refurb)

Also got a set of white oz supertourismo for winter tyres.

And the exhaust is much better now with the proper p1 backbox and tailpipe, it at least looks standard. It was ridiculously loud before and is now just nicely burbly, IMHO of course.

[Lefty]

Mastodon2 said:

Lefty said:

You should have seen the wheels it came on!

First purchase was a set of genuine 17" prodrive oz alloys(which, admittedly, could do with a refurb)

Also got a set of white oz supertourismo for winter tyres.

And the exhaust is much better now with the proper p1 backbox and tailpipe, it at least looks standard. It was ridiculously loud before and is now just nicely burbly, IMHO of course.

Any before and after pics of the exhaust? I'm in the camp that thinks that Imprezas look and sound better with a proper N1 exhaust rather than the standard peashooters, and sound a lot better for it too. One of my friends had a Hawkeye WRX with a Blitz Nur Spec system that was absolutely heavenly.

Hmmm, no pic of the car with the old exhaust on but it was a 5" pipe exiting at an angle - really not my cup of tea at all. I'll take a pic tomorrow of the new system.

[Lefty]

the stigs dad said:

How does it compare to the golf r32?

Not really comparable to be honest.

P1 much faster, grippier, pointier, adjustable.

Golf much more refined, subtle, better equipped and slightly more economical.

Sold the Golf for 12k, got some spare beer tokens to spend on the Subaru!

[Lefty]

RobCrezz said:

Looks great! I was considering these and Impreza Type R but ended up with a evo VI.

When you say laggy, is there a big delay between putting your foot down and getting boost (even when in the power band)? Or do you mean not much below a certain amount of revs?

I would check for boost leaks.

Interesting you mention that, i just got it back from a service and he replaced a turbo hose! Not had a chance to drive it properly yet... will report back

[Lefty]

Jibber Jabber said:

Would be interested to hear how you get on with the P1.

I'm looking at one to replace the old merc.

I was also looking at the R32, albeit the mk IV. I'm guessing the P1 is more fragile but would you say there is a big drop in quality of fittings etc?

Yes, indeed the p1 does feel more fragile although the seats are great and ergonomics bang-on (for me, anyway). The quality of plastics is very poor, even for a '90's car to be honest. It really doesn't bother me but it's nowhere close to a mk4 golf.

Jibber Jabber said:

Hows the drive compared to the VX? My VX was probably the most fun I've had in a car but not sure I can live with defrosting the interior before every drive anymore, so am looking for something more practical.

Been a while since I drove a VXT. Straight-line they are close, the p1 is probably quicker. VX much more raw, faster steering but also harder. On a bumpy wet road the p1 would destroy it, on a dry track...who knows.

Jibber Jabber said:

Did you look at many before your picked yours up? Whats the general condition of the ones you looked at?

Not at all, in fact I was looking for an rb5 but saw a badly worded advert with a crappy photograph for a car so went to look at it. First p1 I'd seen and I bought it there and then (after a test drive). Previous owner was a nice lad, had a big pile of receipts to prove he's always used 99 fuel but he couldn't afford to run it.

[quoteJibber Jabber]


Apologies for the barrage of questions but I'm thinking about biting the bullet fairly soon and would like some feedback, especially someone with a similar car history to mine.

No problem. I love it so far - I'd had a '99 Impreza UK2000 Turbo a few years back and loved it. It does have some negative image issues but, again, that doesn't bother me.

[Lefty]

Thanks folks, pick her up from the body shop tomorrow

In the meantime I've bought some oz alloys for winters:

[Lefty]

And just bought some Vredestein wintac xrtreme for the new alloys (which are being refurbed next week).

Once I've got the winters on I'm going to get the original P1 alloys refurbed, can't find a RAL code for the gunmetal/titanium colour though so will just have to try and get a close match.

[Lefty]

chevronb37 said:

Trying to persuade my missus to get one as her next car. She was worried it might not be as exciting as the Nissan 350Z she really wants (!). I think I've put her right. I look forward to following the thread with interest.

I've driven both and think the P1 is much more exciting to drive (and considerably quicker). Again, hard to compare a big, heavy NA rear drive muscle car with a compact 1250kg 4wd rally rep. They feel very, very different.

[Lefty]

Some progress (pics to follow!)

Had rear arches fixed with new sheet metal shaped, welded in and painted beautifully by Warren at North East Autobody in Aberdeen. Warren also did a grand job of repairing the buggered front splitter. Now it's fixed up, painted and refitted the whole fron end really looks like it could do with a respiratory.

That can wait however because I Popped in to see Brian Downie today and discussed a 2.5 engine build. He just happened to have a 2.5 block sitting about along with an AFP 20g turbo (hybrid TD05) and some forged rods and pistons. With 83k on the clock my current engine is going to need attention sooner or later and I'd rather pre-empt any problems...

3 of the 4 oz superturismo's are great, one is completely wrecked though, the guy at my tyre place reckons it would need 250g to balance it! So on the lookout for one more wheel. Bum.

[Lefty]

Ordered a few bits today: fuel pump, oil pump, cosworth head studs.

20% sale on at RCM.

Should be around 380bhp/380lb/ft with monster midrange.

Also got some OZ Superturismo's and a set of new Vredestein wintrac extreme, very good they are too.

[Lefty]

Pic uploader not working

Thanks Lee. It's a block from a 2008 car that my local engine builder lying around so got it for a good price...

Booked in for early Feb to do the swap and change the heads over.

Spec is roughly:

2.5 block
Forged rods (rcm) and pistons (Mahle)
AFP 20G
740cc injectors
RCM headers (ceramic coated) and decat pipe. RCM 2.5" system with oem p1 wr backbox.
New radiator (mine is fked)
RCM 340l/hr fuel pump
Cosworth 11mm studs

I'm also changing my FMIC pipes to be able to it a recirc dump valve, the horribly chavvy VTA trumpeting hoor of a thing that's on it at the moment is driving me nuts.

[Lefty]

Winter wheels

[Lefty]

rb5er said:

Lovely car. Absolute bargain at £4k. Is it a high miler?

Thank you. 80k on the original engine when I bought it. Very thorough service history up to 3 years ago then patchy. Well due a rebuild and it's reasonably convenient that Brian Downie has a 2.5 block and an Andy Forrest 20g waiting to go.

I'm not looking for a revvy top-endy motor, I want serious low down grunt and minimal lag, 2.5 with the 20g should hopefully deliver that. I'm not actually that bothered what the max power is, I guess around 380-ish but if it's only 360 or thereabouts I won't be upset if the torque curve is right. It's for fast road work on twisty, bumpy, badly sighted roads with one or two trackdays per year. If it was a track slag I'd have gone for a 2.1 with a bigger turbo for 450-500 bhp (but with foxtrot alpha below 4000rpm.)

The 2.5 20g should be on 1+ bar boost below 3000rpm and should be exactly what I want. I think...

Plus, to be honest, it's not an expensive build.

Next jobs are discs all round.

Edited by Lefty on Friday 22 February 12:43

[Lefty]

Yes I've heard the box might be next, not really fussed about a 6spd box but I believe it might be cheaper than a ppg 5 spd rebuild...

[Lefty]

Discs and pads changed all round at the weekend.

The 330mm Alcon one-piece front discs are hard to get and appropriately priced at £250+vat each :-0

Got the original wheels refurbed at The Wheel Specialist in Dyce (who did a very nice job) and fitted AD08's for a summer tyre.

Engine build is under way, hope to get it done and mapped by end of March. She's using a bit of oil so the rebuild is timely.

I was at Knockhill on Tuesday and the car was great (touching 125 before braking for Duffus and same again at the hairpin) but the brakes still letting the side down a little. Braided hoses and some race-spec fluid is next I think.

[Lefty]

Tedswagon said:

Braided hoses and proper fluid will make a big difference, more positive feel when hot. As yours is a daily as well as a track slag, its a better option than red stuffs or more track orientated pads and disks. They tend to.have you hoping you can stop in.time, rather than knowing for the first while in the morning.

Make sure hoses have stainless fittings, not coated. Goodridge.

Thanks for the advice

Ferrodo DS2500 pads on the front and black diamond discs/pads on the back.