Discussion
Looking forward to the classic car shows again this summer in the RB5 here in the Midlands. Don't see to many RB5's about these days as there's only about 170 left of them now, most of them are sorned.
Now classed as a modern classic, but still at a sensible price for a good one unlike the P1 which seems to go up in price every day, or the ultra priced and very rare 22B.
Now classed as a modern classic, but still at a sensible price for a good one unlike the P1 which seems to go up in price every day, or the ultra priced and very rare 22B.
Never been to the rally show at castle combe, although I do know the RB5 owners club do attend there. I used to go the rally show at Chatsworth house in Derbyshire as it was close to me, but the stopped doing it and it moved down south.
It's got the PPP engine modifications, but the Prodrive rear spoiler wasn't included when the first owner bought it. It's had a few more engine modifications done since then, plus I added the 18 inch Prodrive alloys.
It's got the PPP engine modifications, but the Prodrive rear spoiler wasn't included when the first owner bought it. It's had a few more engine modifications done since then, plus I added the 18 inch Prodrive alloys.
I just sold mine. I really miss it. It was a great car for the 7 years that I owned it but I just felt I wasn't using it enough and fancied a new toy. Really special cars but a bit too nice to be thrashed round a track and getting a bit old to be using in conditions that cause rust.
Nice car but looks much better on the standard wheels though.
Nice car but looks much better on the standard wheels though.
My RB5 is my everyday run about, plus I show it as well. It's kept under a carport summer and winter. I don't have the luxury of owning another car to keep the RB5 off the road until the sun comes out. Lol, I use it, enjoy, keep it clean and well maintained. It's a joy to drive and brings a smile to my face when you hit the loud pedal.
Just cleaned the RB5 up ready for the start of the classic car show season next weekend at weston Park in Shropshire. Anybody who's interested, there's a breakfast club meet once a month at Curborough sprint circuit near Lichfield on a Saturday morning, catering is on site and there's usually a sprint practice taking place in the morning ready for the runs after lunch. Good morning out. Look at the website to see when the first meet is in May. 
Yes. A brilliant car. Mines No90 of the build, I've still got the original alloys. Although the original owner had the PPP pack put on, he didn't have the Prodrive rear spoiler put on, been looking for one, but every time one comes up for sale they go for crazy money being a rare item. The original owner had some engine modifications done when the engine was rebuilt, all I know is it goes like stink and my friends Porche 911 can't keep up with it on take off and exccelaration, he timed it at 4 seconds 0 to 60!
Yes they are becoming rare now. I looked at how many left and apparently there is only 170 left and 126 of those where on sorn.
I saw some comment on YouTube saying it's just a dressed up subaru, obviously they haven't read up on it and didn't know it was built at Prodrive and had a JDM fixed bulkhead shell sent from Japan, I find it perfect to drive, as you have said and with prices going up every day on the P1, the RB5 is still a good buy for a good one. I have noticed prices are going up on the RB5 even for a rough one. There been quite a lot of attention in the classic car magazines lately about the classic shape Subaru impreza and its now recognised as a modern classic.
I saw some comment on YouTube saying it's just a dressed up subaru, obviously they haven't read up on it and didn't know it was built at Prodrive and had a JDM fixed bulkhead shell sent from Japan, I find it perfect to drive, as you have said and with prices going up every day on the P1, the RB5 is still a good buy for a good one. I have noticed prices are going up on the RB5 even for a rough one. There been quite a lot of attention in the classic car magazines lately about the classic shape Subaru impreza and its now recognised as a modern classic.
I'm afraid that there is a lot of misinformation out there about Subaru models - a lot spread by Subaru/ IM themselves e.g. The p1 quick rack - it didn't have one, as in development they thought that the STi Type R 13:1 rack might be too twitchy for ordinary uk road users and so didn't add it to the production model- this didn't stop IM letting all the press talk about it going forward and, as a result, it now gets quoted at you by people who just repeat info from incorrect press releases/ forums and on it goes.
Same thing goes for the fixed bulkhead on the RB5 - it doesn't exist. What it does have is a small (1/2" maybe) square section steel tube that runs behind the rear seats from side to side. This is just there to support the rear seat back and is exactly the same as what the P1 / sti type Rs and other shells have.
If you don't believe me, take out your back seat, it will only take 5 minutes - 3 bolts down in the rear footwell, lift out the seat squab, and the undo the two bolts at the bottom of the rear seat back - the seat back can then be unhooked from the top hooks and lifted out - leaving a rubber sound proofing sheet that lifts off with the steel bar across the middle with a cardboard style flat plastic sheet covering the hole behind it. Unbolt the steel bar and lift out the plastic sheet and there is just the usual gaping hole into the boot- no fixed bulkhead. The small bar is too small to do any stiffening and doesn't even run between the strut tops; it's just there to stop the foam seat backs collapsing into the boot when someone leans on them as you can see below - this shows the bar with the foam back of the rear seat behind it.
No impreza saloon models have a welded in solid rear bulkhead and if anyone thinks that such a small manufacturer would bother to do it for a run of badge specials then you'd be sadly mistaken.
Prodrive received already painted cars and then just added a few bits on, exactly as they did for the P1.
Doesn't mean that the RB5 isn't a good car, but it isn't as special as some people would have you believe.
Same thing goes for the fixed bulkhead on the RB5 - it doesn't exist. What it does have is a small (1/2" maybe) square section steel tube that runs behind the rear seats from side to side. This is just there to support the rear seat back and is exactly the same as what the P1 / sti type Rs and other shells have.
If you don't believe me, take out your back seat, it will only take 5 minutes - 3 bolts down in the rear footwell, lift out the seat squab, and the undo the two bolts at the bottom of the rear seat back - the seat back can then be unhooked from the top hooks and lifted out - leaving a rubber sound proofing sheet that lifts off with the steel bar across the middle with a cardboard style flat plastic sheet covering the hole behind it. Unbolt the steel bar and lift out the plastic sheet and there is just the usual gaping hole into the boot- no fixed bulkhead. The small bar is too small to do any stiffening and doesn't even run between the strut tops; it's just there to stop the foam seat backs collapsing into the boot when someone leans on them as you can see below - this shows the bar with the foam back of the rear seat behind it.
No impreza saloon models have a welded in solid rear bulkhead and if anyone thinks that such a small manufacturer would bother to do it for a run of badge specials then you'd be sadly mistaken.
Prodrive received already painted cars and then just added a few bits on, exactly as they did for the P1.
Doesn't mean that the RB5 isn't a good car, but it isn't as special as some people would have you believe.
Edited by FBP1 on Monday 10th April 10:51
Edited by FBP1 on Monday 10th April 14:24
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I had an 18mth old standard Turbo 2000 back in 1999, seem to remember journo's all saying the RB5 was more than the sum of it's parts, always remember it being a standard car that was lightly modded by Pro drive.Either way, very desirable & possibly even more so in the future.
Yep still a very decent car, especially with the additional WR & PPP options added.
They look good in that colour and are a good momento of one of the UK's best ever drivers.
As you might guess from my user name, I drive one of the other part bin specials - a P1 which I've had from new- that's why my knowledge comes with a strong hint of anorak!
They look good in that colour and are a good momento of one of the UK's best ever drivers.
As you might guess from my user name, I drive one of the other part bin specials - a P1 which I've had from new- that's why my knowledge comes with a strong hint of anorak!
Yeah the P1 is a nice car. I'm amazed how much the fetching now. I always wanted an RB5 when they first came out, but with the full PPP additions was something like £27000,then a lot of money for a new car in 1999. I got my RB5 4 years ago for £4000 and I've since been offered £65000 for it, but it's a car I want to keep for as long as I can because I enjoy it so much.
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