Bugeye or Blobeye - it's a tough one!!
Discussion
Well, while I'm still waiting for someone to buy my Clio, it's given me more time to watch the classifieds.
I was pretty set on a blobeye wagon, ideally a late one with the new centre console and inverted dampers (despite their 'issues'), but I do keep wondering about saving myself a few quid and just getting a late bugeye. Knowing they are pretty much the same, and I like them both looks wise, the blobeye looks more modern and definitely purposeful with STi front end and splitter, but then the bugeye does have character despite looking like a Neon!!
For a bugeye though it would have to be a slightly different colour, for me, a late Mica Red wagon with UK300 or Sti headlamps, anthracite P1 wheels and Stage 1 mods - that would be a tough decision against a later blob!
On a serious note, even though they are 'pretty' much the same, are there any shortcomings with the bug? Do they suffer from rust? If so, whereabouts? I have heard mentions of some corrosion underneath, but how about rear arches, sills, etc?
Also, I may have read this wrong, but was it around 2002-2003 where there were a few chocolate engines? I may have misread something there, but I have certainly seen a fair few bugeye WRX's advertised with new or rebuilt engines, and also some of the first blob's (03).
Any wagon owners, feel free to sway with some pics!!
I was pretty set on a blobeye wagon, ideally a late one with the new centre console and inverted dampers (despite their 'issues'), but I do keep wondering about saving myself a few quid and just getting a late bugeye. Knowing they are pretty much the same, and I like them both looks wise, the blobeye looks more modern and definitely purposeful with STi front end and splitter, but then the bugeye does have character despite looking like a Neon!!
For a bugeye though it would have to be a slightly different colour, for me, a late Mica Red wagon with UK300 or Sti headlamps, anthracite P1 wheels and Stage 1 mods - that would be a tough decision against a later blob!
On a serious note, even though they are 'pretty' much the same, are there any shortcomings with the bug? Do they suffer from rust? If so, whereabouts? I have heard mentions of some corrosion underneath, but how about rear arches, sills, etc?
Also, I may have read this wrong, but was it around 2002-2003 where there were a few chocolate engines? I may have misread something there, but I have certainly seen a fair few bugeye WRX's advertised with new or rebuilt engines, and also some of the first blob's (03).
Any wagon owners, feel free to sway with some pics!!
If you have that sort of money and you quite like the bugeye (i don't blame you!!) why don't you see if you can get hold of an STi Bugeye wagon.
Rare as rocking horse droppings, just a handful in the country and a great investment. They are about £7K. STi go and handling with wagon practicality.
Why on earth they stopped making them i'll never know. You'll love it!!
Rare as rocking horse droppings, just a handful in the country and a great investment. They are about £7K. STi go and handling with wagon practicality.
Why on earth they stopped making them i'll never know. You'll love it!!
A bugeye STi wagon would be lovely, but for a daily I'd decided to go down the WRX route - besides, I'm not looking to spend £7k really.
As you say though, why they stopped the STi wagons is a mystery - even if they just did a few more 'special' wagons like they did with the UK300. Although I do quite like the GB270 wagons.
As you say though, why they stopped the STi wagons is a mystery - even if they just did a few more 'special' wagons like they did with the UK300. Although I do quite like the GB270 wagons.
Mine is a deep blue mica bugeye wagon... best colour IMHO. It's actually my second bugeye wagon (and 3rd bugeye in total 
)
Have thought about getting a newer one a number of times but to be honest, there's nothing wrong with mine so it would just be spending money for the sake of it.
My advice would simply be to get the best example you can afford and don't get hung up on whether it's a bug or a blob. Of course, a bug should be a bit cheaper and you could spend the savings on a few mods
)Have thought about getting a newer one a number of times but to be honest, there's nothing wrong with mine so it would just be spending money for the sake of it.
My advice would simply be to get the best example you can afford and don't get hung up on whether it's a bug or a blob. Of course, a bug should be a bit cheaper and you could spend the savings on a few mods
If you want the better option 'out of the box' and don't want to mod the suspension, the best ones are the MY05 Blobeyes. They have a far better suspension setup as standard (wider track and better strut set up on the STI at least). Again, the MY05 Blob STI's have a better interior finish, and the all important DCCD.
Shame you're not nearer to my way (Hampshire) - my bugeye wagon is up for sale at the moment for under £3k (prices have really dropped due to petrol rises I think). There are lots of price ranges for the wagons out there though and TBH there are real bargains out there to be found and others up at crazy prices, seen a couple of cars similar to mine for over £4.5k which is clearly not right!!! 
Ours has been bullet proof but as with most cars best to find one with a proper service history. ScoobieWRX would no doubt fill you in on specific engine issues but as generic ownership goes neither of my Scoobies suffered from any rust and always been hard wearing and rattle free.
Good luck with your search!
Ours has been bullet proof but as with most cars best to find one with a proper service history. ScoobieWRX would no doubt fill you in on specific engine issues but as generic ownership goes neither of my Scoobies suffered from any rust and always been hard wearing and rattle free.
Good luck with your search!
Edited by mikeyr on Wednesday 1st August 16:15
Gwagon111 said:
If you want the better option 'out of the box' and don't want to mod the suspension, the best ones are the MY05 Blobeyes. They have a far better suspension setup as standard (wider track and better strut set up on the STI at least). Again, the MY05 Blob STI's have a better interior finish, and the all important DCCD.
Sorry chaps, as tempting as an STi is, It's got to be a WRX wagon for me I'm afraid. Once I move on my second car, then there's always rooms for a special classic of some sort!!
The MY05 wider track was only for the STi wasn't it? As far as I was aware, the WRX got the inverted dampers, which are better if they aren't knocking, and if you keep them well greased?
Mikey - could be wrong, but is yours the silver bugeye with morette headlamps? If so, can't believe you've not sold it yet - certainly looks tidy. If you fancied a 182 I'd be over to take a look, lol!!
The MY05 wider track was only for the STi wasn't it? As far as I was aware, the WRX got the inverted dampers, which are better if they aren't knocking, and if you keep them well greased?
Mikey - could be wrong, but is yours the silver bugeye with morette headlamps? If so, can't believe you've not sold it yet - certainly looks tidy. If you fancied a 182 I'd be over to take a look, lol!!
I know, sure makes me wonder whether I should stick a diesel badge on the back...just can't get it shifted but surely not over priced. Ho hum!
Good news for you though is that even the good examples are struggling to shift should be plenty for you to look at. And if I hadn't recently got a puma now as my commuter I'd have liked your clio.
Make sure you update us on your search.
Good news for you though is that even the good examples are struggling to shift should be plenty for you to look at. And if I hadn't recently got a puma now as my commuter I'd have liked your clio.
Make sure you update us on your search.
ScoobieWRX said:
Or get yourself a 2003-2004 BlobEye JDM STi and you get bigger valves too!!
I had one of these, fantastic choice if you can find one in your budget. First Scoob to get auto DCCD.If you can get a 2003/5 SpecC for the budget, you'll have the 2005 spec suspension and hubs already on it.
Mechanically there isn't a lot between the bug and the blob in wrx guise anyway.
The interior (as in seat trim) is arguably better on the blob (try to avoid the very early bugs with the side airbag seats they were a bit lame, the majority came with the sportier buckets anyway), and the biggest difference for me was the red needles on the instrument cluster instead of the nasty yellow needles that were on the bugs which used to really bug me if you'll excuse the pun!! The steering wheel centre is also nicer on the 03 with the Momo logo in red/black on the airbag.
Exterior wise the rear clusters were different, obviously the front lights/wings/bonnet/scoop and front bumper. With some mods the bugs can actually look really cool.
Be careful also if you buy a prodrive bugeye as the ecus weren't mapped using ecutek software, I believe they had a hardware chip soldered into the ecu, so if you try and remap one with ecutek software it could cause conflicting issues.
Both should be ultra reliable if looked after correctly, unfortunately there are a lot of s
tters around and badly maintained examples but of course there are also gems around, you just need to have patience and keep your eyes open. I looked at loads and couldn't find a decent one, so I ended up with a Hawkeye just because there were a great many nicer examples around. The drving experience of the Hawkeye EJ25 is very different from the EJ20 even though performance figures are similar on paper, the way in which the power/torque is delivered is totally different. The EJ25 is cheaper to tune up as it already has the larger 500cc injectors fitted and can have a larger turbo without suffering the loss of low down response you'd get if you bolted one to the EJ20.
Regards
Nito
The interior (as in seat trim) is arguably better on the blob (try to avoid the very early bugs with the side airbag seats they were a bit lame, the majority came with the sportier buckets anyway), and the biggest difference for me was the red needles on the instrument cluster instead of the nasty yellow needles that were on the bugs which used to really bug me if you'll excuse the pun!! The steering wheel centre is also nicer on the 03 with the Momo logo in red/black on the airbag.
Exterior wise the rear clusters were different, obviously the front lights/wings/bonnet/scoop and front bumper. With some mods the bugs can actually look really cool.
Be careful also if you buy a prodrive bugeye as the ecus weren't mapped using ecutek software, I believe they had a hardware chip soldered into the ecu, so if you try and remap one with ecutek software it could cause conflicting issues.
Both should be ultra reliable if looked after correctly, unfortunately there are a lot of s
tters around and badly maintained examples but of course there are also gems around, you just need to have patience and keep your eyes open. I looked at loads and couldn't find a decent one, so I ended up with a Hawkeye just because there were a great many nicer examples around. The drving experience of the Hawkeye EJ25 is very different from the EJ20 even though performance figures are similar on paper, the way in which the power/torque is delivered is totally different. The EJ25 is cheaper to tune up as it already has the larger 500cc injectors fitted and can have a larger turbo without suffering the loss of low down response you'd get if you bolted one to the EJ20.Regards
Nito
You wanted some pics;
I'm a wagon fan, between myself and my Mrs we've had them all!!
My wife had a tuned bug and blob, both running in the order of around 340bhp.
Bugeye
Same car, but wearing Prodrive PFF7 Alloys instead!
Sat next to my 365bhp 98 Classic wagon...the very first UK car to break the 300bhp barrier at a time when they said it couldn't be done!!
Onto the Blobeye
Bug vs Blob...gotta say the bug doesn't look bad dressed up!!
My stunning Classic
and finally the Hawkeye
Cheers
Nito
I'm a wagon fan, between myself and my Mrs we've had them all!!
My wife had a tuned bug and blob, both running in the order of around 340bhp.
Bugeye
Same car, but wearing Prodrive PFF7 Alloys instead!
Sat next to my 365bhp 98 Classic wagon...the very first UK car to break the 300bhp barrier at a time when they said it couldn't be done!!
Onto the Blobeye
Bug vs Blob...gotta say the bug doesn't look bad dressed up!!
My stunning Classic
and finally the Hawkeye
Cheers
Nito
Thanks Resse.
To the OP, regarding your question on chocolate engines, there were no duffers as such and the engines are fine. Provided they have been looked after. Unfortunately, Subaru UK didn't do themselves any favours when they upped the mileage interval from 7.5k miles to 10k to try and compete with other brands where the trend was longer intervals. It is very easy to get well below the L mark on the dipstick in 10k miles. So if you do run the car to that sort of interval, make sure you keep an eye on the oil level as letting it run low is the easiest way to goose the engine. Personally I would change the oil between 5-7.5k and keep a check on it every now and then, you'll get a feeling for how much oil it uses, mine never used much at all.
I have been out of Imprezas for a few years and then helped a friend get a nice one, after this I bought another myself. I went to view quite a few for both of us, watch out for a clattery engine, I went to view one that was perfect on paper, one lady owner fsh etc, got there, it sounded tappety. Checked the oil and it was below the L. We asked her if she had any oil and she came out with a container of homebase engine oil!! We walked away from that one, which was also described as excellent yet was covered in scuffs and door dinks. Similar story with another lady owned example, not being purposely sexist but from the ones I viewed, the lady owned cars were always the worst! (grenade's away...running for cover)
Being thrashed is not an issue on these, so long as they are maintained, that's critical. Not caning them until the oil is up to temp is another given. There are so many people that redline them from cold!
Also, no need to run away from modded ones with turbo swaps, so long as its done correctly and the cars have the right supporting mods. If you're unsure ask on the forums.
Rgds
Nito
To the OP, regarding your question on chocolate engines, there were no duffers as such and the engines are fine. Provided they have been looked after. Unfortunately, Subaru UK didn't do themselves any favours when they upped the mileage interval from 7.5k miles to 10k to try and compete with other brands where the trend was longer intervals. It is very easy to get well below the L mark on the dipstick in 10k miles. So if you do run the car to that sort of interval, make sure you keep an eye on the oil level as letting it run low is the easiest way to goose the engine. Personally I would change the oil between 5-7.5k and keep a check on it every now and then, you'll get a feeling for how much oil it uses, mine never used much at all.
I have been out of Imprezas for a few years and then helped a friend get a nice one, after this I bought another myself. I went to view quite a few for both of us, watch out for a clattery engine, I went to view one that was perfect on paper, one lady owner fsh etc, got there, it sounded tappety. Checked the oil and it was below the L. We asked her if she had any oil and she came out with a container of homebase engine oil!! We walked away from that one, which was also described as excellent yet was covered in scuffs and door dinks. Similar story with another lady owned example, not being purposely sexist but from the ones I viewed, the lady owned cars were always the worst! (grenade's away...running for cover)
Being thrashed is not an issue on these, so long as they are maintained, that's critical. Not caning them until the oil is up to temp is another given. There are so many people that redline them from cold!
Also, no need to run away from modded ones with turbo swaps, so long as its done correctly and the cars have the right supporting mods. If you're unsure ask on the forums.
Rgds
Nito
Thanks for that Nito, certainly sounds like you know your Scoobies
They all look great, especially the hawkeye - love that colour, and a front splitter really sets them off.
Interesting you mention the bugeye PPP, I remember reading something about the ECU tweaks being slightly different (replacement EPROM rather than flash?) - but hadn't considered the effect it might have on a remap. Something to bear in mind anyway.
I'm starting to get tired of looking now, it seems that for some reason my Clio is taking a while to sell (maybe it's a bit of a slow time for cars in general), which is annoying!!
They all look great, especially the hawkeye - love that colour, and a front splitter really sets them off.
Interesting you mention the bugeye PPP, I remember reading something about the ECU tweaks being slightly different (replacement EPROM rather than flash?) - but hadn't considered the effect it might have on a remap. Something to bear in mind anyway.
I'm starting to get tired of looking now, it seems that for some reason my Clio is taking a while to sell (maybe it's a bit of a slow time for cars in general), which is annoying!!
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