Bugeye or Blobeye - it's a tough one!!

[Gwagon111]

The EJ20 in the UK blobeyes was a nice strong motor. I had no end of issues with the motor in my GB270 saloon though. There was a much higher incidence of issues with the EJ25 in my experience.

[AMH82]

Must admit, that is another reason I had decided not to stretch to a Hawkeye.

For one I'd be spending more when I probably didn't need to, but also had heard of quite a few failures with the EJ25. Still, could be the same old thing where you only hear about the bad ones.

[mikeyr]

AMH82 said:

Mikey - have you still got your bugeye for sale??

No, sadly now sold ... Good luck on the hunt for one though.

[NITO]

Interesting Gwagon, was yours tuned? I'm still trying to suss out the EJ25. I don't think it helps that they run too small a turbo for the capacity, its the same td04 as the ej20 and it runs out of puff too soon in the rev range imho on the ej25. I haven't yet rigged up an egt gauge but i'd be interested to measure how the egts compare with the 2.0 - its just crying out for a bigger turbo.

I've read some of the power figures and boost levels people are getting and running on these and in my opinion they're pushing them too hard. The ej25 generates a lot of torque compared to the 2.0L and its too easy to just crank up the boost to excessive torque figures. Personally if I tune mine I'll be happy at 335-350bhp with no more than 350lbs/ft torque and no more than 1.25-1.3bar boost tops, less if it can produce the 350lbs at lower boost levels which I suspect it can. This in turn will result in lower temps and reduce the chances of det.

The ej25 doesn't rev as well as the ej20 but it produces a shed load more torque. I'm not entirely happy with the power delivery on my hawkeye because it runs out of puff too soon in the rev range, its all over by 5.5k rpm which is a bit lame, but it has awesome spool up, which is frustrating as it has so much more potential. A larger turbo, high flow cat and remap plus some other supporting mods should transform the driving experience and produce lower inlet temps and better mpg in turn but it only redlines at 6.5k ish which again is lower than the ej20 7k limit.

The jury is out on the ej25 for me, its not an ideally matched turbo setup imho. The beauty is the hawkeye already runs larger injectors, there's no up-pipe cat and the ecutek is available with race rom as well as coming with a more efficient tmic so there is a lot of potential there at less cost to tune than an equivalent bug or blob as well as the response benefits the extra 500cc gives, I think it just needs a larger turbo to take advantage of what it has to offer.

Whereas the bug and blob have a very well matched turbo setup out of the box, with 280bhp from minor mods they offer a really nice driving experience. Its a bit of a pain needing to change the up-pipe though and a turbo swap will necessitate larger injectors so tuning starts to get dearer.

At the end of the day they're all great cars, each with its respective merits, and all have lots more tuning potential.

Regards
Nito

[paulmoonraker]

That's the one thing that spoils the Hawkeyes for me, that fact that they do not rev as well. Sure, for a daily the Hawkeye is easier to live with, but for weekend fun nothing beats the more frantic feel of the Blobeye

Oh, I miss my STi

[Gwagon111]

paulmoonraker said:

Oh, I miss my STi

Told you so.

[paulmoonraker]

Gwagon111 said:

paulmoonraker said:

Oh, I miss my STi

Told you so.

You did, yes There are few things as fast as a sorted Scooby and I really miss that lunacy. The porker is a great car, but its just too civilized at times

[ScoobieWRX]

paulmoonraker said:

Gwagon111 said:

paulmoonraker said:

Oh, I miss my STi

Told you so.

You did, yes There are few things as fast as a sorted Scooby and I really miss that lunacy. The porker is a great car, but its just too civilized at times

Dude, are you hankering to come back to the fold? If so, where are you going to find as nice an example as your last blobeye? Or maybe lose the Porker for a Spec C

[paulmoonraker]

ScoobieWRX said:

paulmoonraker said:

Gwagon111 said:

paulmoonraker said:

Oh, I miss my STi

Told you so.

You did, yes There are few things as fast as a sorted Scooby and I really miss that lunacy. The porker is a great car, but its just too civilized at times

Dude, are you hankering to come back to the fold? If so, where are you going to find as nice an example as your last blobeye? Or maybe lose the Porker for a Spec C

That's one of the issues - finding an STi with full leather interior that is factory spec (with STi embossed seats!)... I know that's not exactly the point, but hey, it was a nice touch to an otherwise primitive interior

[ScoobieWRX]

That'll be a Spec C then and you can get the seats custom leather trimmed to suit your taste.

What are you waiting for dude?!!?...Lose the pig!!

[AMH82]

Bit of an update.....

I've finally bought one

'53 WRX wagon, 70k, nice condition, lots of history/receipts, WR Sport rear box, decat centre with resonator, Walbro pump, Green panel filter and been mapped by Duncan @ RaceDynamix. Very happy with it!!!

As you often find with a 'new' car, there are a few things that need attention to get it how I'd like it. First thing to show it's head on the journey home, was that the aircon isn't quite 'ice' cold, so that needs sorting. The wheels have been refurbished four years ago, but have already started to flake (total piss poor refurb job imo, even though it was done by a wheel specialist) - so I'll be weighing up paying to get them redone, or my time and do them myself. Incidentally, does anyone know the paint code for the optional pewter/anthracite colour that the WRX wheels came in?

Brakes don't feel amazing, a little dead at the start of the pedal, although they do stop OK. They either need bleeding or just some more performance orinetated pads. Standard setero is crap, and I miss my ipod, but that will have to wait a little while!!

Annoyingly, since I have got the car home it has developed a squeak. Sounds like it is coming from the turbo/dp area, seems to be related to engine movement so possible a heatshield or exhaust bracket needing attention, but not had chance to have a proper look yet.

Need to call up Subaru to see the situation on the front arms, as there is no mention of them being done or checked this year so far.

So yeah, so far, so

[jay140285]

I am currently hunting for a subaru again.

I had a 2003 blob eye just over 12months ago but it had to go as I ended up working 90mile away for ten months and done nearly 20k in that time so changed it for a diesel.

Currently got a Saab 95 Aero HOT which is a very nice car and quick but it doesn't have the Subaru factor which I miss.

So as soon as the Saab is sold I will be after a blob or bug eye again.