Subaru P1
Author
Discussion

Andy_350z

Original Poster:

116 posts

230 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
any advice on buying a second hand one?

what extras were there is any? Are they all the same?

Any problems to look for etc..

cheers

_Batty_

12,268 posts

279 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
stunning cars, *if* you can find one thats unmolested.
main problem is the bottom end, which as far as i can tell, was made of chocolate.
if its not had a new one, be extra diligent that car has a fsh smile

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

255 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
It wasn't that they were made of chocolate but more down to the fact they weren't mapped to run 95RON/97RON baring in mind Japs run 100RON petrol. Clearly with the amount of det going on specially when really loading the engine up you would either have holed pistons or big ends gone, or both.

Best way forward currently with a P1 ECU is to replace with an aftermarket setup that will allow you to remap any aspect of it's running. There may be a solution from ESL for V3-V4 scoobs coming soon, maybe back end of this year with a following wind which will apply to you. They have a solution for V1 and V2 Scoobs right now but that's no help. Current options for you include Simtek, Solaris, Motec, Apexi Power FC and others but not cheap.

As has already been said, unmolested example is the way to go. I'd love one or a 22b!! thumbup

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Thursday 30th July 16:19

Vixpy1

42,699 posts

293 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
Sti5 or 6 Type R is a better car IMHO

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

255 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
I just love the 2dr shape. Wish they'd done that with a newage scoob.

Bonefish Blues

36,332 posts

252 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
ScoobieWRX said:
I just love the 2dr shape. Wish they'd done that with a newage scoob.
It (the P1) is the only one that could remotely be called attractive, that's for sure! smile Must admit it's the one I find myself lusting after at shows.

Marf

22,907 posts

270 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
ScoobieWRX said:
I just love the 2dr shape. Wish they'd done that with a newage scoob.
There was talk of a newage coupe, I think subaru even released a concept picture of it. I'm sure I remember seeing it on the cover of one of the big motoring mags.

deevlash

10,442 posts

266 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
Marf said:
ScoobieWRX said:
I just love the 2dr shape. Wish they'd done that with a newage scoob.
There was talk of a newage coupe, I think subaru even released a concept picture of it. I'm sure I remember seeing it on the cover of one of the big motoring mags.
joint project with toyota, toyota want(ed) a new age corrolla twin cam apparently

Marf

22,907 posts

270 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
deevlash said:
Marf said:
ScoobieWRX said:
I just love the 2dr shape. Wish they'd done that with a newage scoob.
There was talk of a newage coupe, I think subaru even released a concept picture of it. I'm sure I remember seeing it on the cover of one of the big motoring mags.
joint project with toyota, toyota want(ed) a new age corrolla twin cam apparently
No i meant earlier, by newage I thought Scoobiewrx meant hawkeye/bugeye. I'm sure there was a concept based on one of those two.

This is the subaru/toyota project

http://www.0-60mag.com/online/?p=4391
http://www.0-60mag.com/online/?p=4460

deevlash

10,442 posts

266 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
ah right, cool. Is it just me or has the bug eye aged quite well? It was hideous at the time but now I kinda like it.

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

255 months

Thursday 30th July 2009
quotequote all
I think the bugeye would have made a great 2dr offering (not biased am i hehe ) in the spirit of the P1 or 22B, but yes i did mean Newage cars as in V7-V9.

I know about the Subota collaboration and i'm sure that will look pretty good in the flesh and will be a cracking drive if they produce it.

chippy17

3,740 posts

272 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all

allsop83

113 posts

219 months

Friday 31st July 2009
quotequote all
If you can mate, get one with a re-built engine with a full set of reciepts to back it up. Or one that has been re-mapped from an early age.

It is not neccesarily a sign of a badly treated car so look around the car and gauge the condition from there. Also, check into www.p1woc.co.uk as there is a very informative "buyers advice" section over there.

Great cars, there are a few crackers with rebuilds on PH at the moment so good luck and let us know how you get on!

Inverness

556 posts

207 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
Andy_350z said:
any advice on buying a second hand one?

what extras were there is any? Are they all the same?

Any problems to look for etc..

cheers
A very good choice, I had one a few years back for over two years and loved it. I was able to take out a subaru warranty with mine as it was not even 3 years old when I bought it, The car never missed a beat [but the standard alarm immobiliser was a pain in the butt] so I never had to make a claim!

Just make sure you get one which has not been modified and full Subaru History and it won't have any problems. All the promblems with the engine were because people were either skimping on servicing or had made mods, but evrey body denied this so they could try and get a new engine out of Subaru.

The only real options were:
P1 floor mats
Leather [very rear]
18inch wheels [17inch standard]
fog lights
stereo

HTH.

rsstman

1,918 posts

216 months

Saturday 1st August 2009
quotequote all
chippy17 said:
i am looking to buy one of those as just sold my focus st.

wheres the best place to find them as there seems few about.


Smifffy

2,000 posts

295 months

Monday 3rd August 2009
quotequote all
Ahh, the P1. The biggest regret I have is selling mine - as lovely as the 22b is (now anyway) it takes quite a bit of work to get it anywhere near the driving experience of the P1.

As much as I'm a fan - engines going bang (at the risk of starting up a 6 monthly debate on PH) is a fact of life and it's my belief this isn't related to lack of maintenance, using 95 octane fuel or any other owner-attributable cause. Mine went bang at 41k miles with none of these causes. Personally I'd actively look for one with a replacement engine. Subaru first raised the price of a warranty extension to M5 levels and then refused to offer them at all. I extended mine as long as I could.

Handling and performance was quick enough and apart from the 22b I think it's the best looking car in the range. Interesting to hear Vixpy1's comments - I've never driven the Type R, but for the damping on the P1 was the star of the show and I understand this is where Prodrive put a lot of their development time. I'd like to see how that compares as this is the next area for my attention on the 22b which seems to better suit smooth Japanese streets, not lumpy bumpy B Roads.

Further to one of the poster's comments, the 330mm Prodrive brakes were a factory fit option. Well worth it, but be careful as last time I replaced them on mine the discs & pads were over 1000 quid. (main dealer admittedly).

I did drive an RB5 too, and was hypnotised by its handling, but felt the extra umph of the P1 was well worth it.

Marf

22,907 posts

270 months

Monday 3rd August 2009
quotequote all
Smifffy said:
As much as I'm a fan - engines going bang (at the risk of starting up a 6 monthly debate on PH) is a fact of life and it's my belief this isn't related to lack of maintenance, using 95 octane fuel or any other owner-attributable cause. Mine went bang at 41k miles with none of these causes.
Wasn't the engine popping issue down to the mapping?

chippy17

3,740 posts

272 months

Monday 3rd August 2009
quotequote all
rsstman said:
chippy17 said:
i am looking to buy one of those as just sold my focus st.

wheres the best place to find them as there seems few about.
don't know really, but I do like the look of that one a lot, tempted myself

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

255 months

Monday 3rd August 2009
quotequote all
Marf said:
Smifffy said:
As much as I'm a fan - engines going bang (at the risk of starting up a 6 monthly debate on PH) is a fact of life and it's my belief this isn't related to lack of maintenance, using 95 octane fuel or any other owner-attributable cause. Mine went bang at 41k miles with none of these causes.
Wasn't the engine popping issue down to the mapping?
Mapping is one of the main causes of engines going bang but i think on 98 or 99 turbo cars Subaru also had issues with piston slap from cylinder bores going out of round. This is why a car with replacement engine via a Subaru dealer is a desirable option because they would have replaced it with an engine that had that issue sorted, so when buying your P1 see what the vehicle history and receipts/invoices say.

Inverness

556 posts

207 months

Tuesday 4th August 2009
quotequote all
Smifffy said:
As much as I'm a fan - engines going bang (at the risk of starting up a 6 monthly debate on PH) is a fact of life and it's my belief this isn't related to lack of maintenance, using 95 octane fuel or any other owner-attributable cause. Mine went bang at 41k miles with none of these causes. Personally I'd actively look for one with a replacement engine. Subaru first raised the price of a warranty extension to M5 levels and then refused to offer them at all. I extended mine as long as I could.
If you look on www.p1woc.co.uk they are still having this debate and I sold mine 4 years ago!