Impreza v3 STI

[TITWONK]

Recently collected my impreza, it was a nice 170 mile drive back and the car ran as smooth as can be lucky really as I hadn't seen the car prior to taking the train down south and bought it just from pics and a few conversations with the owner.

She's in very good condition for her age and everything feels like it should. Seams to need a new thermostat and it's missing its rear STI lights other than that shes pretty spotless.



Weather has been useless since I got it so I plan to get better pics soon. Any other classic sti owners on here? Post um up.
Cheers

[stew-S160]

Nice. Love these. Hope it's reliable for you.

[TITWONK]

Hope so, I'm not expecting anything too painful as I say, she's in quite good condition.

[rossub]

Do you know why the lights are missing? Have you checked the VIN to make sure it is actually an STI!

[Drew986]

You sure it's a v3, got any photo's of the engine or dash?

My old STi v4 Impreza was registered R630 so a very similar vintage, unless yours was the last of the v3's or a late registration I'd say it's a 4.

[TITWONK]

Lol yes mate she's definitely an sti, haven't a clue why they are missing though! It's not the first one I've seen like it either. I assumed it was for the rear fog light? Although I haven't actually checked if the rear fog light works.

[TITWONK]

Yeah it's deffo a v3 as its hasn't got the compartment above the hand brake or white dials! It is indeed a late v3 from 97 imported from new.

[TITWONK]

Only pic I've got at the moment

[Drew986]

TITWONK said:

Yeah it's deffo a v3 as its hasn't got the compartment above the hand brake or white dials! It is indeed a late v3 from 97 imported from new.

So it's a late plate v3 then, Looks fairly tidy on the outside and hasn't been Barry'd which is a rare thing.

Good luck with it.

[TITWONK]

Thanks mate, the interior is in good nic too, I may change the wheels back to gold, if that's what they should be?
Other thank that I'm just hoping to enjoy it!

[rossub]

Ah, if it was imported from new, then you're probably right about the lights being changed to get the fog light in there. Seems a shame though, as the STI lights are so much nicer.

[Lefty]

Looks very honest and clean. Top job!

[TITWONK]

rossub said:

Ah, if it was imported from new, then you're probably right about the lights being changed to get the fog light in there. Seems a shame though, as the STI lights are so much nicer.

I know mate, surprisingly cheap these days too, think you can get a set for 120 quid so going to have to get that sorted! And also paint the wheels gold! Going to leave the retro amber indicators on the front.

Just been out and killed 15 quids worth of juice in about 15 minutes lol! It really is a pleasure to drive though, you wouldn't think it was as old as it is! It'sfaultless, I'm over the moon with it.

[Baryonyx]

Awesome car. The 'classic' Impreza is by far the best looking Impreza!

[TITWONK]

Chucked a bucket of water over the car today and took a few better pics

Fitted a boost gauge only to find she is just running standard actuator pressure a few hours reading and head scratching over the engine bay it appears my car is missing a boost pill/restrictor in the turbo vacume line, either that or my boost solenoid is fubar! I shall know more tomorrow when I insert a boost pill/restrictor and hope that sorts it slowly remembering the joys of jap turbo ownership

[TITWONK]

Found a pic of my old impreza, found it for sale recently too.

[Mastodon2]

Such a good looking car. Should it be running a higher than "standard" boost pressure?

[Ved]

Very nice car. I think these are the sweet spot for the JDM classics with regards to handing and driver involvement. Looks like you found a gem. Thought about reprinting the wheels back to gold?

[TITWONK]

Yeah, I'm going to return the wheels to gold, white stands out too much.
Standard boost should be more like 1 bar and I'm only getting 0.5 which is when the actuator will open unless boost is being bled away by the boost solenoid, my solenoid appears not to be doing this hence I'm only getting 0.5 bar! I've been up all night reading about the turbo system, ha, can't sleep now as I wanna get out and get it sorted thanks for the kind comments, she does look pretty JDM

[TITWONK]

Boost is restored
used a 0.8mm wig welding tip as a boost restrictor and it works like a dream! Now it goes like an sti should! The petrol gauge now seams to move twice as fast too!
Top result considering I had all the stuff in the lying about the shed, well happy now.