My wife can be so cool sometimes!
Discussion
My wife has just given me permission to keep my MY06 2.5 WRX and turn it into a trackday car!
If you had the chance, what would you do to it? It has to be able to drive to the Nurburg ring and back while not breaking my back or ruin what little hearing I have left! Externally I want to keep it looking like a standard WRX.
So far I've put a set Prodrive springs, Whiteline 22mm / 24mm adjustable front / rear anti-roll bars, ALK and changed the bushes to polly ones.
Next to go on is a Godspeed 335mm big brake kit, Cusco tarmac centre diff and rear lsd and single plate clutch.
For the engine and interior, I have not made any decisions yet but don't want some highly strung pig for the engine but would be happy with a stripped out interior.
Thanks,
Robert
If you had the chance, what would you do to it? It has to be able to drive to the Nurburg ring and back while not breaking my back or ruin what little hearing I have left! Externally I want to keep it looking like a standard WRX.
So far I've put a set Prodrive springs, Whiteline 22mm / 24mm adjustable front / rear anti-roll bars, ALK and changed the bushes to polly ones.
Next to go on is a Godspeed 335mm big brake kit, Cusco tarmac centre diff and rear lsd and single plate clutch.
For the engine and interior, I have not made any decisions yet but don't want some highly strung pig for the engine but would be happy with a stripped out interior.
Thanks,
Robert
Personally I'd keep it as a sensible car and buy a more focussed track car to go with it! But that aside you should be able to combine fun and reliability without much trouble.
I don't know any details of the Cusco centre diff, but another option there could be the DCCD (+ 6-speed box) from an STi which will also take a lot more torque if you decide to push the envelope a bit more power-wise.
I don't know any details of the Cusco centre diff, but another option there could be the DCCD (+ 6-speed box) from an STi which will also take a lot more torque if you decide to push the envelope a bit more power-wise.
Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 4th August 09:44
I agree with Ben. Personally I think 4WDs make terrible track cars. Whilst undoubtedly quick in a straight line, they are expensive to run as a track car and are pretty numb things generally.
Id sell and buy an Elise or Caterfield (although given you mention trips to the ring, a Caterfield may be a little too extreme.
The rally reps are very quick beasts but are ultimately a sledgehammer to crack a nut, and the Elise is a far more involving and rewarding drive, both on and off track. When it rains hard however, that's a different story.
If you do decide to track the Scoob though start saving for a set of EXE TC dampers - there really is no finer damper for the scoob. They are expensive though.
Id sell and buy an Elise or Caterfield (although given you mention trips to the ring, a Caterfield may be a little too extreme.
The rally reps are very quick beasts but are ultimately a sledgehammer to crack a nut, and the Elise is a far more involving and rewarding drive, both on and off track. When it rains hard however, that's a different story.
If you do decide to track the Scoob though start saving for a set of EXE TC dampers - there really is no finer damper for the scoob. They are expensive though.
Don't fanny about then!!
Strip it, cage it, do some proper suspension, brake and engine mods while keeping it street legal and there are very few finer trackday cars around.
Once you've taken the weight out of it and added a short ratio steering rack + other mods there will be plenty of feel. Subaru's have dominated Time Attack, in the UK anyway, for a number of years now. Time Attack is all about track times so a well set up car will be as quick as you can drive it. It's very likely you will run out of talent long before the car does.
Std Subaru's are much slower and very soft in comparison to modified cars. Go and drive a well prepped car and you'll see what i mean!!
Strip it, cage it, do some proper suspension, brake and engine mods while keeping it street legal and there are very few finer trackday cars around.
Once you've taken the weight out of it and added a short ratio steering rack + other mods there will be plenty of feel. Subaru's have dominated Time Attack, in the UK anyway, for a number of years now. Time Attack is all about track times so a well set up car will be as quick as you can drive it. It's very likely you will run out of talent long before the car does.
Std Subaru's are much slower and very soft in comparison to modified cars. Go and drive a well prepped car and you'll see what i mean!!
ScoobieWRX said:
Don't fanny about then!!
Strip it, cage it, do some proper suspension, brake and engine mods while keeping it street legal and there are very few finer trackday cars around.
Once you've taken the weight out of it and added a short ratio steering rack + other mods there will be plenty of feel. Subaru's have dominated Time Attack, in the UK anyway, for a number of years now. Time Attack is all about track times so a well set up car will be as quick as you can drive it. It's very likely you will run out of talent long before the car does.
Std Subaru's are much slower and very soft in comparison to modified cars. Go and drive a well prepped car and you'll see what i mean!!
Strip it, cage it, do some proper suspension, brake and engine mods while keeping it street legal and there are very few finer trackday cars around.
Once you've taken the weight out of it and added a short ratio steering rack + other mods there will be plenty of feel. Subaru's have dominated Time Attack, in the UK anyway, for a number of years now. Time Attack is all about track times so a well set up car will be as quick as you can drive it. It's very likely you will run out of talent long before the car does.
Std Subaru's are much slower and very soft in comparison to modified cars. Go and drive a well prepped car and you'll see what i mean!!
I'd love a 7 or an elise but I also love my scooby and want to keep her forever! Maybe the wife will let me have both? I wonder what I would have to do to get that?
I find that the scooby is a flattering car to drive and does not punish my lack of skill while still able to reward when I get it right. Also I know there is a lot more to come from the car, without too much expense as long as I make the right choices. Putting her (the WRX not the wife) on a diet has to be one direction.
The cusco centre diff splits power 35/65 front/rear.
scoobiewrx, Where would I get a short ratio steering rack from?
Thanks,
Robert
I find that the scooby is a flattering car to drive and does not punish my lack of skill while still able to reward when I get it right. Also I know there is a lot more to come from the car, without too much expense as long as I make the right choices. Putting her (the WRX not the wife) on a diet has to be one direction.
The cusco centre diff splits power 35/65 front/rear.
scoobiewrx, Where would I get a short ratio steering rack from?
Thanks,
Robert
rcadiz said:
I'd love a 7 or an elise but I also love my scooby and want to keep her forever! Maybe the wife will let me have both? I wonder what I would have to do to get that?
I find that the scooby is a flattering car to drive and does not punish my lack of skill while still able to reward when I get it right. Also I know there is a lot more to come from the car, without too much expense as long as I make the right choices. Putting her (the WRX not the wife) on a diet has to be one direction.
The cusco centre diff splits power 35/65 front/rear.
scoobiewrx, Where would I get a short ratio steering rack from?
Thanks,
Robert
For what you'd spend on mods to make a fun track car, you could buy a Seven type car with a bike engine for track use, and keep your Scooby a B road tool.I find that the scooby is a flattering car to drive and does not punish my lack of skill while still able to reward when I get it right. Also I know there is a lot more to come from the car, without too much expense as long as I make the right choices. Putting her (the WRX not the wife) on a diet has to be one direction.
The cusco centre diff splits power 35/65 front/rear.
scoobiewrx, Where would I get a short ratio steering rack from?
Thanks,
Robert
Look at how the costs stack up:
- Brakes - Even sticking with the standard stuff, you'd be looking at £500 for a full set of Pagid pads and perhaps some new front discs (cheap ones from Camskill) Go godspeed and that adds £350 just for the fronts.
- Tyres AO48Rs - £600-700
- Suspension - £2000 minimum.
- Cusco CD - £1000
- Cage - £1000
- Engine mods - £1000
A seven or Elise cost a fraction of that to run and are quicker around the track too.
GravelBen said:
rhinochopig said:
A seven or Elise cost a fraction of that to run and are quicker around the track too.
Or take the low-cost argument another step and get a nutter-spec MX5
Works for me!However it was on track where it excelled. It would spend all day lapping Evos and Scoobies. It would even keep Carrera cup cars honest whilst running on road legal tyres.
The lack weight is a huge advantage. I love Scoobies and Evos - have owned both - but they are very expensive hobby when you track them compared to a Caterfield.
rhinochopig said:
GravelBen said:
Or take the low-cost argument another step and get a nutter-spec MX5 Works for me!
Agreed but I bet yours has cost you more than a decently built BEC. I sold my factory built westy for £8k which was running a dry sumped Blackbird with lots of race parts, which in theory would do 0-100 in under 10 seconds. Can't say I ever tried but it was very fast. Less established marques are cheaper still. Works for me!
I bought mine (with the engine work etc already done) for NZ$8k (about 3700 pounds) - Kit cars are surprisingly rare down here and finished ones are expensive, also for comparison its very rare to see an Elise selling under NZ$40k. I guess its a different market but here are some turbo MX5's from the classifieds for comparison.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=57&...
Still very much a sensible road car compared to a BEC I agree, mind you thats probably a good thing if the OP wants to be driving to the Nurburgring!
GravelBen said:
rhinochopig said:
GravelBen said:
Or take the low-cost argument another step and get a nutter-spec MX5 Works for me!
Agreed but I bet yours has cost you more than a decently built BEC. I sold my factory built westy for £8k which was running a dry sumped Blackbird with lots of race parts, which in theory would do 0-100 in under 10 seconds. Can't say I ever tried but it was very fast. Less established marques are cheaper still. Works for me!I bought mine (with the engine work etc already done) for NZ$8k (about 3700 pounds) - Kit cars are surprisingly rare down here and finished ones are expensive, also for comparison its very rare to see an Elise selling under NZ$40k. I guess its a different market but here are some turbo MX5's from the classifieds for comparison.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=57&...
Still very much a sensible road car compared to a BEC I agree, mind you thats probably a good thing if the OP wants to be driving to the Nurburgring!
Totally agree though - a Caterfield makes a poor tourer. £3700 is a bloody bargain though.
This http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1864793.htm
Or if you still want a Subaru tarck car, this http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1883924.htm
Or if you still want a Subaru tarck car, this http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1883924.htm
I'm lucky enough to have a track only fireblade. My wife bought me that for Christmas, another example of how cool she can be sometimes! So a BEC is not on my list though a very interesting proposition.
Thing is I have a WRX to play with. I like the idea of doing something with it, making it a little more 'mine'. Did I tell you that my wife bought the WRX as our sensible family car!
As I live in Geneva a trip to the ring in a BEC seems like hard work but also I guess part of the joy of owning a BEC is doing what others would not.
Robert
Thing is I have a WRX to play with. I like the idea of doing something with it, making it a little more 'mine'. Did I tell you that my wife bought the WRX as our sensible family car!
As I live in Geneva a trip to the ring in a BEC seems like hard work but also I guess part of the joy of owning a BEC is doing what others would not.
Robert
rhinochopig said:
ScoobieWRX said:
Don't fanny about then!!
Strip it, cage it, do some proper suspension, brake and engine mods while keeping it street legal and there are very few finer trackday cars around.
Once you've taken the weight out of it and added a short ratio steering rack + other mods there will be plenty of feel. Subaru's have dominated Time Attack, in the UK anyway, for a number of years now. Time Attack is all about track times so a well set up car will be as quick as you can drive it. It's very likely you will run out of talent long before the car does.
Std Subaru's are much slower and very soft in comparison to modified cars. Go and drive a well prepped car and you'll see what i mean!!
Strip it, cage it, do some proper suspension, brake and engine mods while keeping it street legal and there are very few finer trackday cars around.
Once you've taken the weight out of it and added a short ratio steering rack + other mods there will be plenty of feel. Subaru's have dominated Time Attack, in the UK anyway, for a number of years now. Time Attack is all about track times so a well set up car will be as quick as you can drive it. It's very likely you will run out of talent long before the car does.
Std Subaru's are much slower and very soft in comparison to modified cars. Go and drive a well prepped car and you'll see what i mean!!
My guess is if the OP can afford to lay up his WRX and use it for trackdays only, he can afford to strip it and do the mods to have a proper trackday toy he can drive to and from the track without getting wet or breaking down.
He's got the car so he's halfway there. Another £4K-6K in sensible mods and he'll see 400-450bhp/torque with handling, brakes and reliability to match in a stripped out 1200-1250Kg car. I bet he'll feel a damn site safer and warmer in the winter and at speed in a subaru than a caterfield.
Around the ring it will be awesome fun any time of the year!!
Caterfields, DAX etc...are't the only answer to trackdays and sprints.
ScoobieWRX said:
rhinochopig said:
ScoobieWRX said:
Don't fanny about then!!
Strip it, cage it, do some proper suspension, brake and engine mods while keeping it street legal and there are very few finer trackday cars around.
Once you've taken the weight out of it and added a short ratio steering rack + other mods there will be plenty of feel. Subaru's have dominated Time Attack, in the UK anyway, for a number of years now. Time Attack is all about track times so a well set up car will be as quick as you can drive it. It's very likely you will run out of talent long before the car does.
Std Subaru's are much slower and very soft in comparison to modified cars. Go and drive a well prepped car and you'll see what i mean!!
Strip it, cage it, do some proper suspension, brake and engine mods while keeping it street legal and there are very few finer trackday cars around.
Once you've taken the weight out of it and added a short ratio steering rack + other mods there will be plenty of feel. Subaru's have dominated Time Attack, in the UK anyway, for a number of years now. Time Attack is all about track times so a well set up car will be as quick as you can drive it. It's very likely you will run out of talent long before the car does.
Std Subaru's are much slower and very soft in comparison to modified cars. Go and drive a well prepped car and you'll see what i mean!!
My guess is if the OP can afford to lay up his WRX and use it for trackdays only, he can afford to strip it and do the mods to have a proper trackday toy he can drive to and from the track without getting wet or breaking down.
He's got the car so he's halfway there. Another £4K-6K in sensible mods and he'll see 400-450bhp/torque with handling, brakes and reliability to match in a stripped out 1200-1250Kg car. I bet he'll feel a damn site safer and warmer in the winter and at speed in a subaru than a caterfield.
Around the ring it will be awesome fun any time of the year!!
Caterfields, DAX etc...are't the only answer to trackdays and sprints.
Anyway back to the O/Ps original point.
If you're going to turn your scooby into a track toy then I would be looking at the following changes in the following order.
- Cage / Seats / Etc. Crashing hurts so I'd argue your first upgrade should be a decent cage, T45 if you can afford it as it's lighter, fixed back seats, and five or six point harness. Strip out the rest of the interior. Keep the air-con though - the benefits outweigh the 20-25 kilo saving.
- Brakes - K Sport are getting excellent feedback and are a chunk cheaper than the stuff from Mov'it, Alcon, AP.
- Swap to coil overs - I would go with EXE-TC as first choice, then either Ohlins new kit or Nitron. However, pick whichever is best supported where you live - this is a big plus when getting them re-built. The standard platform dampers aren't man enough for sustained track work. You mention poly bushes. Stay away from Euro brands and buy aussie as they make the best bushes. They've been developing the shape and material for much longer than we have and so the products are superior - I'd go with super-pro personally.
- Wheels and Tyres - I'd then go for a wheel swap - probably one of OZ's superleggara or alligeretta [sp?] as the standard scooby wheels are very very heavy. OZ make a good wheel on a £/weight basis. You'll shave 3-4 kilos per wheel using these. I would also keep the standard size, unless you want to spec really big rotors as it'll save you money in the long run with tyres. Just be aware that wider wheels add more stress to the car and increase corner g loads, which can cause issues with oil surge. Make it too grippy and you'll need to budget for a dry sump system. A lot of TA cars are now seeing failures because of oil starvation due to the increase cornering forces.
- Engine - how deep are your pockets? Plan what power and delivery you want to go from there. It's a false economy to spend money on one component only to have to junk it later because it is no longer fit for purpose. Beyond about 380bhp I'd seriously be considering a drop in forged kit.
- Finally - weight reduction through GRP and carbon. Personally I'd ignore CF and go with GRP panels / doors etc and polycarb / lexan windows. Plaggy windows do tend to rattle a bit though and do craze / scratch easily. Not ideal in a road-car coming out of a junction.
rcadiz said:
I'm lucky enough to have a track only fireblade. My wife bought me that for Christmas, another example of how cool she can be sometimes! So a BEC is not on my list though a very interesting proposition.
Thing is I have a WRX to play with. I like the idea of doing something with it, making it a little more 'mine'. Did I tell you that my wife bought the WRX as our sensible family car!
As I live in Geneva a trip to the ring in a BEC seems like hard work but also I guess part of the joy of owning a BEC is doing what others would not.
Robert
I am 100% with you on this one mate! I also have an 06 WRX and i have owned it since new. To be honest i have spent a few quid on it already and cant really see myself ever parting with it. I have never owned a car more than 2 years until the Impreza and i love it so much i dont think i ever want to see it go, so mine will also become a track car at some point in the future. Not yet though. I still have to use it as the sensible family car for now!Thing is I have a WRX to play with. I like the idea of doing something with it, making it a little more 'mine'. Did I tell you that my wife bought the WRX as our sensible family car!
As I live in Geneva a trip to the ring in a BEC seems like hard work but also I guess part of the joy of owning a BEC is doing what others would not.
Robert
Evil.soup said:
rcadiz said:
I'm lucky enough to have a track only fireblade. My wife bought me that for Christmas, another example of how cool she can be sometimes! So a BEC is not on my list though a very interesting proposition.
Thing is I have a WRX to play with. I like the idea of doing something with it, making it a little more 'mine'. Did I tell you that my wife bought the WRX as our sensible family car!
As I live in Geneva a trip to the ring in a BEC seems like hard work but also I guess part of the joy of owning a BEC is doing what others would not.
Robert
I am 100% with you on this one mate! I also have an 06 WRX and i have owned it since new. To be honest i have spent a few quid on it already and cant really see myself ever parting with it. I have never owned a car more than 2 years until the Impreza and i love it so much i dont think i ever want to see it go, so mine will also become a track car at some point in the future. Not yet though. I still have to use it as the sensible family car for now!Thing is I have a WRX to play with. I like the idea of doing something with it, making it a little more 'mine'. Did I tell you that my wife bought the WRX as our sensible family car!
As I live in Geneva a trip to the ring in a BEC seems like hard work but also I guess part of the joy of owning a BEC is doing what others would not.
Robert
So what have you done to yours?
As suggested by a previous poster I'll lose some weight and add a roll cage, quick steering rack, etc. Power will be the last thing I do to the car.
rcadiz said:
Evil.soup said:
rcadiz said:
I'm lucky enough to have a track only fireblade. My wife bought me that for Christmas, another example of how cool she can be sometimes! So a BEC is not on my list though a very interesting proposition.
Thing is I have a WRX to play with. I like the idea of doing something with it, making it a little more 'mine'. Did I tell you that my wife bought the WRX as our sensible family car!
As I live in Geneva a trip to the ring in a BEC seems like hard work but also I guess part of the joy of owning a BEC is doing what others would not.
Robert
I am 100% with you on this one mate! I also have an 06 WRX and i have owned it since new. To be honest i have spent a few quid on it already and cant really see myself ever parting with it. I have never owned a car more than 2 years until the Impreza and i love it so much i dont think i ever want to see it go, so mine will also become a track car at some point in the future. Not yet though. I still have to use it as the sensible family car for now!Thing is I have a WRX to play with. I like the idea of doing something with it, making it a little more 'mine'. Did I tell you that my wife bought the WRX as our sensible family car!
As I live in Geneva a trip to the ring in a BEC seems like hard work but also I guess part of the joy of owning a BEC is doing what others would not.
Robert
So what have you done to yours?
As suggested by a previous poster I'll lose some weight and add a roll cage, quick steering rack, etc. Power will be the last thing I do to the car.
As for power, i have replaced the air filter with a green cotton filter, i have a custom built 3" SS exhaust with wide mouth from the turbo and a sportscat with and all others removed, sounds great and goes through the MOT. I have had the car mapped by JGM (Jolly Green Monster) and when last on the rollers was running 282bhp and 320lbft, on a hot day. I have considered more power but it is blisteringly quick as it stands and i am looking for reliability as well as power so it will do for road use. I may up the power with new turbo and injectors when it goes to track but on the road i have no problems keeping up with far more powerful cars
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