Evo 7 or 2 door sti?

[murf138]

Having currently sold my skyline, im thinking about getting a 2001 evo 7. However i've been told that they are quiet expensive to run with pricey parts and very regular servicing, is this true? So im wondering would i be better off getting a 98,99 Subaru impreza sti 2 door? Can someone please help me in which car would be the right decision to go for, i want something fast!!! but not something that is going to constantly burn a hole in my pocket

[scoobiewrx]

If you don't want a big hole in your pocket and a broken back go for a Scooby. EVO's have a harsh ride, are expensive to run and need servicing every 4.5K miles. The interiors aren't as nice or comfy as Scooby's either although neither is anything to write home about. Aparently EVO servicing costs are almost £2K a year. Scoobys are every 10K miles and the most expensive service is £500, for new cambelt at 50K miles and 100,000K miles.

Go for a P1, 22B, RA anything like that should satisfy your 'need for speed' and get a remap with group N exhaust system, high flow panel filter and uprated fuel pump....(don't go for the cold air induction kit) if it hasn't already been done. You should see at least 350bhp min and scooby's have loads of traction and grip. No electronic driver aids either....just 4WD and human input. If you like driver aids get a UK STi with the DCCD (Driver controlled centre diff) and do the mods. UK STi can be modded as is, upto 500 bhp and still be reliable (if you don't thrash it all the time) although they are bullet proof mechanicals in any case.

My WRX Sportwagon can be modded upto 320bhp and still be reliable.

Hope that helps

Edited by scoobiewrx on Saturday 17th March 23:40

[GravelBen]

scoobiewrx said:

If you like driver aids get a UK STi with the DCCD (Driver controlled centre diff) and do the mods.

DCCD is not a 'driver aid' any more than normal Subaru 4wd, or say an LSD is. It just lets the driver decide how much the centre diff locks, instead of having it open all the time. And when set to open it has a 64r/36f split which is more entertaining (less understeer-prone) than the regular 50/50. Having driven a type-RA with DCCD and many other 4wd Subarus without(though not a regular STi admittedly) I don't think I'd buy a turbo Impreza without DCCD.

DCCD-A in the newer cars could be considered a driver aid when in auto mode as it electronically varies the diff lockup/torque split (unless the driver has used the manual override in which case it works like normal DCCD)



PS not sure if any classic shape UK STi's had DCCD at all, any 2-door STi will be a type-R and will have it though.

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 18th March 09:16

[scoobiewrx]

GravelBen said:

scoobiewrx said:

If you like driver aids get a UK STi with the DCCD (Driver controlled centre diff) and do the mods.

DCCD is not a 'driver aid' any more than normal Subaru 4wd, or say an LSD is. It just lets the driver decide how much the centre diff locks, instead of having it open all the time. And when set to open it has a 64r/36f split which is more entertaining (less understeer-prone) than the regular 50/50. Having driven a type-RA with DCCD and many other 4wd Subarus without(though not a regular STi admittedly) I don't think I'd buy a turbo Impreza without DCCD.

DCCD-A in the newer cars could be considered a driver aid when in auto mode as it electronically varies the diff lockup/torque split (unless the driver has used the manual override in which case it works like normal DCCD)



PS not sure if any classic shape UK STi's had DCCD at all, any 2-door STi will be a type-R and will have it though.

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 18th March 09:16

I know the latest scoobs have an auto funtion for the DCCD since the intro of the new age STi and that is most definately a drivers aid So smartypants...don't you wiggle your finger at me.

[MrFlibbles]

scoobiewrx said:

My WRX Sportwagon can be modded upto 320bhp and still be reliable.

You've still got a brake light out in the Santa Pod pics in your profile though

[shadowninja]

Are non-adjustable Imprezas really 50:50? I thought it was more 60:40 (R:F) as 50:50 would make it stupidly understeery?

[MrFlibbles]

shadowninja said:

Are non-adjustable Imprezas really 50:50? I thought it was more 60:40 (R:F) as 50:50 would make it stupidly understeery?

Dont know about STi's, but my WRX was definetely 50:50.

Understeer...understeer...a bit more understeer.....HOLY MOTHER OF GOD Snap Oversteer!

[murf138]

scoobiewrx said:

If you don't want a big hole in your pocket and a broken back go for a Scooby. EVO's have a harsh ride, are expensive to run and need servicing every 4.5K miles. The interiors aren't as nice or comfy as Scooby's either although neither is anything to write home about. Aparently EVO servicing costs are almost £2K a year. Scoobys are every 10K miles and the most expensive service is £500, for new cambelt at 50K miles and 100,000K miles.

Go for a P1, 22B, RA anything like that should satisfy your 'need for speed' and get a remap with group N exhaust system, high flow panel filter and uprated fuel pump....(don't go for the cold air induction kit) if it hasn't already been done. You should see at least 350bhp min and scooby's have loads of traction and grip. No electronic driver aids either....just 4WD and human input. If you like driver aids get a UK STi with the DCCD (Driver controlled centre diff) and do the mods. UK STi can be modded as is, upto 500 bhp and still be reliable (if you don't thrash it all the time) although they are bullet proof mechanicals in any case.

My WRX Sportwagon can be modded upto 320bhp and still be reliable.

Hope that helps

Edited by scoobiewrx on Saturday 17th March 23:40

[murf138]

scoobiewrx said:

If you don't want a big hole in your pocket and a broken back go for a Scooby. EVO's have a harsh ride, are expensive to run and need servicing every 4.5K miles. The interiors aren't as nice or comfy as Scooby's either although neither is anything to write home about. Aparently EVO servicing costs are almost £2K a year. Scoobys are every 10K miles and the most expensive service is £500, for new cambelt at 50K miles and 100,000K miles.

Go for a P1, 22B, RA anything like that should satisfy your 'need for speed' and get a remap with group N exhaust system, high flow panel filter and uprated fuel pump....(don't go for the cold air induction kit) if it hasn't already been done. You should see at least 350bhp min and scooby's have loads of traction and grip. No electronic driver aids either....just 4WD and human input. If you like driver aids get a UK STi with the DCCD (Driver controlled centre diff) and do the mods. UK STi can be modded as is, upto 500 bhp and still be reliable (if you don't thrash it all the time) although they are bullet proof mechanicals in any case.

My WRX Sportwagon can be modded upto 320bhp and still be reliable.

Hope that helps

Edited by scoobiewrx on Saturday 17th March 23:40

Thanks very much man you sound like you know what your talking about, have heard it from a few people but want to be sure, The sti's are a good bit cheaper to which would help,Sold my r33 gts skyline a few months ago which i loved but had to as i cant drive for another few months if you know what i mean wink wink nod nod!!! I miss it so much cant in wait to be back and never make a silly decision AGAIN! Anyway thanks again maybe when i get one ill let u know what i've purchased. CHEERS

[scoobiewrx]

MrFlibbles said:

shadowninja said:

Are non-adjustable Imprezas really 50:50? I thought it was more 60:40 (R:F) as 50:50 would make it stupidly understeery?

Dont know about STi's, but my WRX was definetely 50:50.

Understeer...understeer...a bit more understeer.....HOLY MOTHER OF GOD Snap Oversteer!

That photo is old and the rear light was fixed ages ago.
You can fix the understeer with a whiteline anti-lift kit. Stops the front end lifting and going light when booting it in the bends. Also allows a bit more camber at the front wheels for better handling. Some Prodrive springs would be good too for better handling and less body roll with some aluminium drop links at the rear to reduce squating under power.

[rsvmilly]

In the words of the Stig, "The Scooby is a good boy's toy. But the Mitsubishi is a man's car!"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=b0OVbLkgi4



(And the service cost is more like £6-700pa on 12,000 miles)


tongue firmly in cheek!

Edited by rsvmilly on Sunday 18th March 19:02

[scoobiewrx]

rsvmilly said:

In the words of the Stig, "The Scooby is a good boy's toy. But the Mitsubishi is a man's car!"

http://youtube.com/watch?v=b0OVbLkgi4



(And the service cost is more like £6-700pa on 12,000 miles)


tongue firmly in cheek!

Edited by rsvmilly on Sunday 18th March 19:02

Yep....i've seen that before....and later on they did another with and EVO and STi. In that one both JC and RH said that although the EVO was quick they would at the end of the day rather go home in the STi.

A chap i know that owns a performance parts shop very near me, and he has had many Scoobys over a long time. He decided he would try an EVO for a change and bought the 320. Quick car he said but bloody expensive to keep with all the twice yearly servicing costs and the rate at which it goes through tyres, and the insurance and the harsh ride which long term proved to be very tiring and taxing on his back.

Where you get the £600 - £700 p.a. servicing costs is beyond me because i know how much he pays for servicing and how often the cam belt gets changed. That's not a cheap service.

It's now up for sale as he wants to get another Scooby. That says it all for me.

[rsvmilly]

scoobiewrx said:

Yep....i've seen that before....and later on they did another with and EVO and STi. In that one both JC and RH said that although the EVO was quick they would at the end of the day rather go home in the STi.

I can understand wanting to go home in a WRX but the STi I drove was incredibly harsh. I had it on a 24 hour loan. The MR Evos have Bilstein suspension which gives them a more compliant ride.

scoobiewrx said:

Where you get the £600 - £700 p.a. servicing costs is beyond me because i know how much he pays for servicing and how often the cam belt gets changed. That's not a cheap service.

Look at the running costs of mine. Factoring in depreciation, the car has cost me less than many a repmobile to run. (Although I was canny enough to buy at 6 months old, saving lots). It cost the same as a colleague spent to run a Korean 4x4 over the same period.

Another consideration for the OP is that some of the 3 door scoobies he is looking at had a reputation for weaker engines. The Mitsubishi engines are tougher and can withstand more tinkering. 400bhp/400lb.ft examples are quite common. 350bhp can be extracted by a simple decat and remap (and even gives better mpg). I'm sure Vixpy can corroborate this.

It must not be forgotten that these are all expensive cars to run and just because the car falls into somebody's budget, they mustn't lose sight of the running costs. And that should include mechanical replacements. They are £30K cars, with proportionate running costs.

My view is that the WRX is the best compromise for road use but if you want the extreme, the Evo is the way to go. (Unless you can lay your hands on an Impreza Spec C)

[GravelBen]

scoobiewrx said:

I know the latest scoobs have an auto funtion for the DCCD since the intro of the new age STi and that is most definately a drivers aid So smartypants...don't you wiggle your finger at me.

like I said, DCCD-A is a driver aid, unlike the straight DCCD in the 3-door cars the OP is talking about I may have had a roundabout way of trying to say it though

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 19th March 10:55

[scoobiewrx]

Go to Litchfield and they have and can get some very nice Spec C's. You've clearly got your head well around EVO running costs and i have to say compared to my friend that has the 320 you have your servicing costs well screwed down too.

If i wanted extreme i would probably have a Litchfield Type 25(with the 500bhp option) 300bhp Ariel Atom or the Adrenalin Motorsports Murtaya with a specced up 2.5L motor and running gear, but my requirements are for everyday use therefore the sportwagon does me very well and goes quickly enough for the moment. It will go even better once i get the 280bhp upgrade and some progressive Prodrive springs

I've driven an STi and the only thing i could say about it is that on a flat road or motorway the suspension makes the car bob up and down for whatever reason and the stearing lacked a bit of feel but was OK considering. I could still however live with the STi everyday as opposed to the EVO as i found the 260 i test drove to be very harsh to drive on our crappy surfaced B roads with overly stiff suspension, and quite hard on my back. They go extremely well and handle really well too but more for the track IMHO, not UK roads but no arguments that it's a pretty good exotica eater.

Still it's Horses for Courses

[trickywoo]

Make sure if its a jap import that its had a decent re-map here. Also the 98-99 engines tend to be extra fragile (more prone to piston slap, as well as the usual bigend failures).

[scoobiewrx]

GravelBen said:

scoobiewrx said:

I know the latest scoobs have an auto funtion for the DCCD since the intro of the new age STi and that is most definately a drivers aid So smartypants...don't you wiggle your finger at me.

like I said, DCCD-A is a driver aid, unlike the straight DCCD in the 3-door cars the OP is talking about I may have had a roundabout way of trying to say it though

Edited by GravelBen on Monday 19th March 10:55

I think you need bigger glasses and a proper hair cut..... I've got some binos that might fit you and i'd be happy to give you a decent no hair cut.... buzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Anyhow.....when are you going to get rid of that Noddy Mobile and get yourself real scoob ......

[GravelBen]

scoobiewrx said:

I think you need bigger glasses and a proper hair cut..... I've got some binos that might fit you and i'd be happy to give you a decent no hair cut.... buzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Can't say it hasn't been done before

scoobiewrx said:

Anyhow.....when are you going to get rid of that Noddy Mobile and get yourself real scoob ......

Maybe when I finish uni and can afford it (checks calendar, starts counting down...)

[scoobiewrx]

GravelBen said:

scoobiewrx said:

I think you need bigger glasses and a proper hair cut..... I've got some binos that might fit you and i'd be happy to give you a decent no hair cut.... buzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Can't say it hasn't been done before

scoobiewrx said:

Anyhow.....when are you going to get rid of that Noddy Mobile and get yourself real scoob ......

Maybe when I finish uni and can afford it (checks calendar, starts counting down...)

I'll gladly contribute to the "Buy GravelBen a Scooby" fund so long as you start saving up now. So thats no more beer, no more drugs, no more holidays, no more anything really. You're scuppered matey Exactly what i'll contribute i don't know but i'm sure it'll be humerous.

Edited by scoobiewrx on Monday 19th March 22:37