JDM Impreza WRX Wagon
Discussion
Evening all! Thanks for the advice on tyres, I think I will get myself a set of F1 Assy 5s, unless I can find an exceptional deal on PS4s that is. However I think it will have to wait a few weeks until some sort of normal life is resumed.
First few days at home were spent moving firewood and building a new woodstore so that I can get her in behind bars:
Not exactly spacious, but when I see some of the miracle threads on here where people have persevered without even a driveway, it does put things in perspective! New pressure washer and foam nozzle were acquired before the end of the world (I suppose possibly a petrolhead's version of panic buying?), so some gratuitous auto foam pictures to come.
Yesterday though, I started work on fitting the roofbars I picked up from an eBay breaker. Seeing as I will be having a roof rack on and off the car at regular intervals, it seemed the logical thing to do. So the headlining came down yesterday, which was surprisingly painless with the judicious use of the dealer's manual and assisted by beer on hand for the nervous moments!
Whilst doing this I made a start on removing some of theslightly poorly abysmally fitted gangster tintz. I prefer the aesthetic without, although it might hurt drug sales a little.
I won't write a full guide to fitting roof bars right now, but am happy to do this if it would help someone else out. With the interior and exterior trim off, the tracks were cleaned around the fitting points with IPA, a bead of Sikaflex was laid round each hole and the bars fitted. I masked the threads to save them getting gunged up, and haven't fitted the nuts yet. I'll be back tomorrow to do that, by which time the Sika should have gone off nicely and squeeze down as I tighten up.
I also cleaned up the plastic trim which sits around the feet and had gone that horrible faded white shade. A bit of 600-grit to sand the surface back and looked good as new - although the iPhone white balance is way out in this before and after photo. Incidentally the bars could do with the paint touching up but as they are a working part which will get scratched again, and I can't get hold of paint right now, I'm not too fussed.
Tomorrow is pressure test day so either my whole post will be censored because of the leaks or I'll have done it right and will tell you all how brilliant I am. Good to have something to look forward to eh?
First few days at home were spent moving firewood and building a new woodstore so that I can get her in behind bars:
Not exactly spacious, but when I see some of the miracle threads on here where people have persevered without even a driveway, it does put things in perspective! New pressure washer and foam nozzle were acquired before the end of the world (I suppose possibly a petrolhead's version of panic buying?), so some gratuitous auto foam pictures to come.
Yesterday though, I started work on fitting the roofbars I picked up from an eBay breaker. Seeing as I will be having a roof rack on and off the car at regular intervals, it seemed the logical thing to do. So the headlining came down yesterday, which was surprisingly painless with the judicious use of the dealer's manual and assisted by beer on hand for the nervous moments!
Whilst doing this I made a start on removing some of the
I won't write a full guide to fitting roof bars right now, but am happy to do this if it would help someone else out. With the interior and exterior trim off, the tracks were cleaned around the fitting points with IPA, a bead of Sikaflex was laid round each hole and the bars fitted. I masked the threads to save them getting gunged up, and haven't fitted the nuts yet. I'll be back tomorrow to do that, by which time the Sika should have gone off nicely and squeeze down as I tighten up.
I also cleaned up the plastic trim which sits around the feet and had gone that horrible faded white shade. A bit of 600-grit to sand the surface back and looked good as new - although the iPhone white balance is way out in this before and after photo. Incidentally the bars could do with the paint touching up but as they are a working part which will get scratched again, and I can't get hold of paint right now, I'm not too fussed.
Tomorrow is pressure test day so either my whole post will be censored because of the leaks or I'll have done it right and will tell you all how brilliant I am. Good to have something to look forward to eh?
Evening all!
Not a lot going on with the car during lockdown, just minor tinkering. After several trips to the shop riding in the boot, and a few misdiagnosis, I've managed to chase down an infuriating rattle to the striker for the tailgate being misaligned. Quick tweak and sanity can be had again!
In preparation for being able to use it for the intended purpose of lugging muddy bikes and kit around, I've enlisted the help of the OH to make a sort of fitted boot liner:
Sewn up from an old curtain and bits of webbing I had lying about, with a polythene sheet sewn to the back and some soft fleece to stop the bumper getting scratched loading up. I have every intention of using the car and I know cosmetics will suffer, but worth making a bit of effort to save silly unnecessary damage I think.
Invested an unnecessary amount of money into various detailing products, my first foray into the dark side where as far as I can tell the idea is to make the car as shiny as possible, but any method or product you tell the internet you have used will lead to a lynching by one mob or another, regardless of shinyness! So I'm going to stick to just calling it washing the car rather than detailing then I shouldn't get into trouble!
I have been very impressed with the results of Plast-star, takes years off the trim, with just about no effort. Suits me!
Before:
After:
Got in under the wipers:
Vroom vroom bit
Love a waxed scoop
Changed the colour of the LED ignition lamp from green to red so it now matches the rest of the instrumentation backlighting:
Accidentally got lost on the way to the shops a couple of times, gave her the chance to warm up though!
Not a lot going on with the car during lockdown, just minor tinkering. After several trips to the shop riding in the boot, and a few misdiagnosis, I've managed to chase down an infuriating rattle to the striker for the tailgate being misaligned. Quick tweak and sanity can be had again!
In preparation for being able to use it for the intended purpose of lugging muddy bikes and kit around, I've enlisted the help of the OH to make a sort of fitted boot liner:
Sewn up from an old curtain and bits of webbing I had lying about, with a polythene sheet sewn to the back and some soft fleece to stop the bumper getting scratched loading up. I have every intention of using the car and I know cosmetics will suffer, but worth making a bit of effort to save silly unnecessary damage I think.
Invested an unnecessary amount of money into various detailing products, my first foray into the dark side where as far as I can tell the idea is to make the car as shiny as possible, but any method or product you tell the internet you have used will lead to a lynching by one mob or another, regardless of shinyness! So I'm going to stick to just calling it washing the car rather than detailing then I shouldn't get into trouble!
I have been very impressed with the results of Plast-star, takes years off the trim, with just about no effort. Suits me!
Before:
After:
Got in under the wipers:
Vroom vroom bit
Love a waxed scoop
Changed the colour of the LED ignition lamp from green to red so it now matches the rest of the instrumentation backlighting:
Accidentally got lost on the way to the shops a couple of times, gave her the chance to warm up though!
Awesome looking car mate. I’ve always thought the Impreza wagons look so much better than the saloons (like most cars tbh).
When it comes to detailing try not to get drawn into the product hype, just find one that works for you and stick with it. Every week there will be a new greatest invention ever and as with most things, you ask for recommendations for a product and you’ll get 20 people all recommending different products* to be the best. A good source for no nonsense recommendations is John from The Forensic Detailing Channel on Youtube. Hes a bit out there but seems a decent fella and gives a pretty honest opinion on most things and isn’t swayed by price or reputation.
When it comes to detailing try not to get drawn into the product hype, just find one that works for you and stick with it. Every week there will be a new greatest invention ever and as with most things, you ask for recommendations for a product and you’ll get 20 people all recommending different products* to be the best. A good source for no nonsense recommendations is John from The Forensic Detailing Channel on Youtube. Hes a bit out there but seems a decent fella and gives a pretty honest opinion on most things and isn’t swayed by price or reputation.
- most of which will be the same product rebottled and relabelled
I like the matching rear light clusters, the non symmetrical UK ones with the foglight make the rear end look untidy.
One thing to check whilst the interior is out is behind the rear seats where they bolt to the rear struts as rust starts here and goes from the inside out.
You can't tell from the outside it's happening and it's much better to nip it in the bud then later down the line when it's had a chance to work it's way through.
One thing to check whilst the interior is out is behind the rear seats where they bolt to the rear struts as rust starts here and goes from the inside out.
You can't tell from the outside it's happening and it's much better to nip it in the bud then later down the line when it's had a chance to work it's way through.
Looking good mate and glad you had no leaks after fitting the roof bars. Mine developed a leak in the roof which saturated the roof lining and then the carpets as it ran down the A pillar. Eventually turned out to be a break in the sealant joining the roof panel to the side panel on the spot weld line right underneath the roof bar trim. I can only conclude that someone had been swinging on the roof bars when it was parked up and had stressed the joint!
Sub5 said:
Nice wagon OP. Looks good in white.
If you don’t mind me asking. How was Hurst to deal with. I was looking at JDM spec Hawkeye from him...expensive but nice. Was sold though. Be nice to know for future.
A mate of mine bought a Type R from them a while ago, spoke highly of them. Car is a nice example too. If you don’t mind me asking. How was Hurst to deal with. I was looking at JDM spec Hawkeye from him...expensive but nice. Was sold though. Be nice to know for future.
Looks very tidy OP!
I picked up this wagon a few weekends ago. So far so good, interior is rather 2000's, but it's basic and works. Needs some work here and there (brakes and exhaust), but that's part of the fun.
These are pretty rare over here in Canada of this vintage (06-07 model), I could only find one other 'hawkeye' WRX wagon for sale at the time in the whole of Canada. I did a 500 mile round trip to get this one (which is nothing by Canadian standards). It was optioned with cruise control and heated seats. The car is very original and unmolested, even down to the floor mats and radio. That must be rare for a WRX in most places!
and up on my 2-post lift:
I picked up this wagon a few weekends ago. So far so good, interior is rather 2000's, but it's basic and works. Needs some work here and there (brakes and exhaust), but that's part of the fun.
These are pretty rare over here in Canada of this vintage (06-07 model), I could only find one other 'hawkeye' WRX wagon for sale at the time in the whole of Canada. I did a 500 mile round trip to get this one (which is nothing by Canadian standards). It was optioned with cruise control and heated seats. The car is very original and unmolested, even down to the floor mats and radio. That must be rare for a WRX in most places!
and up on my 2-post lift:
Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 19th May 16:37
One thing that might be worth extra protection attention is the front panel below the radiator.
Had mine at work to do some pre MOT jobs recently so had a good look up on the ramp. My front lower panel is rotten as a pear now and the rad has actually dropped. Guess it stays partially hidden by the bumper and by the time it’s out in the open it’s too late.
I’ve kind of neglected the bodywork over the years (talking maybe 3-4 washes in the last 6 years) but certainly the last couple of winters have really accelerated the rust on that front panel.
When I got it I did clean the rear arches off (one tiny bubble showing at the time) and put rust treatment in them but they’re now pretty badly bubbled up regardless of that.
I’ve always serviced the engine every 6 months and it’s sweet as a nut despite 143k and my gearbox rebuild on the front lawn is still good after 6 years but I fear she’s not long for this world now. Still been the best £500 I’ve spent on a car though.
Had mine at work to do some pre MOT jobs recently so had a good look up on the ramp. My front lower panel is rotten as a pear now and the rad has actually dropped. Guess it stays partially hidden by the bumper and by the time it’s out in the open it’s too late.
I’ve kind of neglected the bodywork over the years (talking maybe 3-4 washes in the last 6 years) but certainly the last couple of winters have really accelerated the rust on that front panel.
When I got it I did clean the rear arches off (one tiny bubble showing at the time) and put rust treatment in them but they’re now pretty badly bubbled up regardless of that.
I’ve always serviced the engine every 6 months and it’s sweet as a nut despite 143k and my gearbox rebuild on the front lawn is still good after 6 years but I fear she’s not long for this world now. Still been the best £500 I’ve spent on a car though.
Like these very much.
Big tax aside, why did the post 2007 ones not get the same sway these did? This shape-
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Big tax aside, why did the post 2007 ones not get the same sway these did? This shape-
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Macron said:
Like these very much.
Big tax aside, why did the post 2007 ones not get the same sway these did? This shape-
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
Because it's not a wagon. Big tax aside, why did the post 2007 ones not get the same sway these did? This shape-
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...
J.C... said:
Awesome looking car mate. I’ve always thought the Impreza wagons look so much better than the saloons (like most cars tbh).
When it comes to detailing try not to get drawn into the product hype [...] John from The Forensic Detailing Channel on Youtube
Cheers, I have to say I've always been an estate fan, parents have had several Accord estates and I had an old Audi A6 barge when I was at uni - £700 for the worlds comfiest heated seats with a car thrown in around them. Did have to rig an elaborate pulley system to get the tailgate open when the release gave up...! I've also found John's youtube channel, some pretty long videos on there but he certainly seems to know his sWhen it comes to detailing try not to get drawn into the product hype [...] John from The Forensic Detailing Channel on Youtube
t and works on results not some cult like service to one particular brand.untakenname said:
One thing to check whilst the interior is out is behind the rear seats where they bolt to the rear struts as rust starts here and goes from the inside out.
Having seen the horror shows on some forum threads and stuck my head in some pretty rusty UK spec arches I'm certainly concerned about this. I haven't had the boot trim out yet, but it's on the to do list probably at some point this summer.Sub5 said:
Nice wagon OP. Looks good in white.
If you don’t mind me asking. How was Hurst to deal with. I was looking at JDM spec Hawkeye from him...expensive but nice. Was sold though. Be nice to know for future.
Thanks for all the nice comments. I wanted blue but this one came up at the right time and it's really growing on me! Hurst were great to deal with, I got in contact around Christmas time and he made a special effort to come down and open up for me to have a look round. Concluding the sale from a distance while I was at work was a bit harder, but I certainly wouldn't have a problem recommending them.If you don’t mind me asking. How was Hurst to deal with. I was looking at JDM spec Hawkeye from him...expensive but nice. Was sold though. Be nice to know for future.
Rich_AR said:
Looks very tidy OP!
I picked up this wagon a few weekends ago. So far so good, interior is rather 2000's, but it's basic and works. Needs some work here and there (brakes and exhaust), but that's part of the fun.
Love the blue! Interior is very basic, stepping out of a MkV GTI it feels like a bit of a step backwards but I suppose nobody buys a scooby for that! I'm keeping my eye out for a prodrive exhaust, the standard one currently fitted is just too quiet. I don't want a dustbin hanging under the bumper though!I picked up this wagon a few weekends ago. So far so good, interior is rather 2000's, but it's basic and works. Needs some work here and there (brakes and exhaust), but that's part of the fun.
uncleluck said:
One thing that might be worth extra protection attention is the front panel below the radiator.
Had mine at work to do some pre MOT jobs recently so had a good look up on the ramp. My front lower panel is rotten as a pear now and the rad has actually dropped. Guess it stays partially hidden by the bumper and by the time it’s out in the open it’s too late.
I’ve kind of neglected the bodywork over the years (talking maybe 3-4 washes in the last 6 years) but certainly the last couple of winters have really accelerated the rust on that front panel.
When I got it I did clean the rear arches off (one tiny bubble showing at the time) and put rust treatment in them but they’re now pretty badly bubbled up regardless of that.
I’ve always serviced the engine every 6 months and it’s sweet as a nut despite 143k and my gearbox rebuild on the front lawn is still good after 6 years but I fear she’s not long for this world now. Still been the best £500 I’ve spent on a car though.
Thanks for that, I'd heard the front panels go. This one is currently really minty fresh from Japan, and it's been Dynax'd so I'm hoping that gives it some protection for at least the next couple of years. Always easier to catch things before they go I suppose. Always like hearing engine reliability stories though, keep them coming!Had mine at work to do some pre MOT jobs recently so had a good look up on the ramp. My front lower panel is rotten as a pear now and the rad has actually dropped. Guess it stays partially hidden by the bumper and by the time it’s out in the open it’s too late.
I’ve kind of neglected the bodywork over the years (talking maybe 3-4 washes in the last 6 years) but certainly the last couple of winters have really accelerated the rust on that front panel.
When I got it I did clean the rear arches off (one tiny bubble showing at the time) and put rust treatment in them but they’re now pretty badly bubbled up regardless of that.
I’ve always serviced the engine every 6 months and it’s sweet as a nut despite 143k and my gearbox rebuild on the front lawn is still good after 6 years but I fear she’s not long for this world now. Still been the best £500 I’ve spent on a car though.
Rich_AR said:
Because it's not a wagon.
What he said.uncleluck said:
Had mine at work to do some pre MOT jobs recently so had a good look up on the ramp. My front lower panel is rotten as a pear now and the rad has actually dropped. Guess it stays partially hidden by the bumper and by the time it’s out in the open it’s too late.
I’ve kind of neglected the bodywork over the years (talking maybe 3-4 washes in the last 6 years) but certainly the last couple of winters have really accelerated the rust on that front panel.
I'm putting that job off for as long as possible. The U shaped subframe is holding mine in place!I’ve kind of neglected the bodywork over the years (talking maybe 3-4 washes in the last 6 years) but certainly the last couple of winters have really accelerated the rust on that front panel.
R12many said:
I'm putting that job off for as long as possible. The U shaped subframe is holding mine in place!
Ha! I threw away the U shaped frame years ago! There’s a load of fuss about is it anything required but the clincher for me was seeing a certain JDM model came without it from new.The lower panel job doesn’t look too bad. You can get the pair (genuine) and only £90 IIRC so wouldn’t bother with replica stuff given the fun we have at work with pattern panels.
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