Target 12 months - WRX Hatch
Discussion
For the past few years of my 9 year long driving career I have not managed to keep a car for 12 months, I do not know why this keep happening as of recent but for some strange reason I just cannot seem to cling onto a car, or maybe the car just isn't grabbing me enough?
Now, I have been tempted to write on here for many of my past cars over the years, but for some reason I never got around to it. But now I have quite an abundance of spare time due to health, and a car I feel I want to try and keep in order to reach the quality and kind of car I always set out to achieve but always fall short of.
Before I begin, I shall list my history of vehicles as they are quite ranged.
1. Corsa B 1.2 16v (Stolen after only a few months of ownership)
2. Corsa C 1.0 (no.)
3. Toyota Starlet EP91 NA (Grew up with an SR, always wanted my own)
4. MK1 MX5 (1.6 Import)
5. Lexus IS200 Sport
6. MK1 MX5 S Limited
7. Subaru Impreza WRX Hatchback
8. Suzuki Swift Sport ZC32s
9. Toyota MR2 Roadster
10. Subaru Legacy 2.5 NA (We got a dog)
11. Honda Civic FN2 Type R (Rear subframe on the Legacy snapped)
12. Suzuki Swift Sport ZC33s
And on to lucky number 13... This has occurred due to quite unforeseen and shocking personal news, at the ripe old age of 27 I was diagnosed with Bowel cancer, lovely. With this news I was quite calm and collected, but having this carcaine addiction it did open up opportunities, the Swift sport was a belter, but reality hit, in 6 months time I would be down to half pay whilst off sick and the loan amount for the swift just wasnt cutting it for me.
So I sold the swift and settled my loan, huzzah! Now I was stuck on not knowing what car to purchase, I enjoyed the Type R due to the high revving and worry free NA lump. I was quite set on getting a Celica 190, but finding a good example within a reasonable distance was seeming incredibly difficult, plus I looked at one local and it was beyond a shed. Then my wife suggested another Impreza, to which I initially shot down as I was not a fan of the tax amount... But I do now earn more than I did before... And the monthly outgoings would still be less than owning the swift... Oh this one is only about 10 miles away, at a good price and very reasonable mileage... Its completely stock you say? Say no more!
I viewed this WRX and the owner was a chap I had seen on the pages a few times in the past, he had more knowledge on Subaru's than anyone I had ever met. The car was great and so we came to an agreed price and a deposit was left whilst my Swift awaited collection! As a child, spending an ungodly amount playing games like the first Forza Motorsport, I would always choose the Evolution over Subaru, even as I grew up I never really understood the appeal of them. But setting my eyes on the STi in Fast and Furious 4 I fell in love. I wanted an Impreza hatch, and I guess now being on my 3rd Subaru I must have been converted. Although I would welcome an Evo at any time...
So we here we are, my 2009 Impreza WRX hatch! Affectionately named Lucky, being my 13th car.
It was comforting buying a car from a chap who knows them inside out. This particular car has been his daily for a short while, in which he had a standard turbo replacement, new plugs gapped correctly, new belts, and headgaskets replaced. I am still a bit on the edge as I always am with a new car as I do not know it fully yet and I have happened on a few bits that I would like to tidy/rectify. For some odd reason, this has a shiny new decat downpipe, which I most certainly need to sort.
Not long into my ownership I cam out to the car to see a flat front tyre... Great, the fronts were both odd and each 10 years old, I was hoping to replace the wheels but tyres are a must, so 2 brand new Rainsport 5's are now on the front axle. Whilst scouting on Facebook marketplace I spotted a second hand STi spoiler, an absolute must for the WRX as the stock piece is just pitiful. This was collected for a whopping £80. I wrapped this with vinyl I had left over from my 1st MX5 and got it whacked on. A million times better.
Featuring my new plate, purchased for my birthday from the better half.
With all this time and not much to do, I gave the car a quick single stage and wax. Fortunately I spent a year of my life working as a detailer for a company working with cars I could only dream of affording. Which is only a curse as I cannot walk past any car without judging the paint condition. BUT! This black paint was in great condition, it was just hidden by the most severe case of swirling I had ever seen... 50/50 below.
This was achieved quite easily using a DAS6 Pro DA polisher, Hex Logic Orange pad and Meguiars ultimate compound. The reality is this needs a 2 Stage correction and ceramic, but I do not have the right environment to hand.
But here are the beauty snaps.
Oh! an old friend of mine was moving away and offered me this free of charge.
Blitz Nurspec Backbox. I will most likely get this fabbed up as a custom backbox first, to check if I am happy with the look before having the rest of the exhaust fabbed up to suit.
What are the plans?
Well, I have not done a trackday since my first MX5, every car I have said will go on track, but that never happens as I never have them long enough to do so. I want any car to be ready with the simple mods before hand and by the time I have done these changes I chop the car in.
First of all is maintenance, but more so preventative. I hope that by having a lower mileage car that if I at least keep on top of the simple bits and upgrade any of the common weak points I will be ready and confident to do some track days. I am not chasing power with this, standard is enough for me as I would rather a car that can handle rather than blast away on a straight.
Anyway thats me, the thread has finally been created and all it took was 13 cars and some very unwelcome news! I hope to keep this updated and although the hatch is a bit marmite, I hope those who are interested enjoy the car as much as I.
Now, I have been tempted to write on here for many of my past cars over the years, but for some reason I never got around to it. But now I have quite an abundance of spare time due to health, and a car I feel I want to try and keep in order to reach the quality and kind of car I always set out to achieve but always fall short of.
Before I begin, I shall list my history of vehicles as they are quite ranged.
1. Corsa B 1.2 16v (Stolen after only a few months of ownership)
2. Corsa C 1.0 (no.)
3. Toyota Starlet EP91 NA (Grew up with an SR, always wanted my own)
4. MK1 MX5 (1.6 Import)
5. Lexus IS200 Sport
6. MK1 MX5 S Limited
7. Subaru Impreza WRX Hatchback
8. Suzuki Swift Sport ZC32s
9. Toyota MR2 Roadster
10. Subaru Legacy 2.5 NA (We got a dog)
11. Honda Civic FN2 Type R (Rear subframe on the Legacy snapped)
12. Suzuki Swift Sport ZC33s
And on to lucky number 13... This has occurred due to quite unforeseen and shocking personal news, at the ripe old age of 27 I was diagnosed with Bowel cancer, lovely. With this news I was quite calm and collected, but having this carcaine addiction it did open up opportunities, the Swift sport was a belter, but reality hit, in 6 months time I would be down to half pay whilst off sick and the loan amount for the swift just wasnt cutting it for me.
So I sold the swift and settled my loan, huzzah! Now I was stuck on not knowing what car to purchase, I enjoyed the Type R due to the high revving and worry free NA lump. I was quite set on getting a Celica 190, but finding a good example within a reasonable distance was seeming incredibly difficult, plus I looked at one local and it was beyond a shed. Then my wife suggested another Impreza, to which I initially shot down as I was not a fan of the tax amount... But I do now earn more than I did before... And the monthly outgoings would still be less than owning the swift... Oh this one is only about 10 miles away, at a good price and very reasonable mileage... Its completely stock you say? Say no more!
I viewed this WRX and the owner was a chap I had seen on the pages a few times in the past, he had more knowledge on Subaru's than anyone I had ever met. The car was great and so we came to an agreed price and a deposit was left whilst my Swift awaited collection! As a child, spending an ungodly amount playing games like the first Forza Motorsport, I would always choose the Evolution over Subaru, even as I grew up I never really understood the appeal of them. But setting my eyes on the STi in Fast and Furious 4 I fell in love. I wanted an Impreza hatch, and I guess now being on my 3rd Subaru I must have been converted. Although I would welcome an Evo at any time...
So we here we are, my 2009 Impreza WRX hatch! Affectionately named Lucky, being my 13th car.
It was comforting buying a car from a chap who knows them inside out. This particular car has been his daily for a short while, in which he had a standard turbo replacement, new plugs gapped correctly, new belts, and headgaskets replaced. I am still a bit on the edge as I always am with a new car as I do not know it fully yet and I have happened on a few bits that I would like to tidy/rectify. For some odd reason, this has a shiny new decat downpipe, which I most certainly need to sort.
Not long into my ownership I cam out to the car to see a flat front tyre... Great, the fronts were both odd and each 10 years old, I was hoping to replace the wheels but tyres are a must, so 2 brand new Rainsport 5's are now on the front axle. Whilst scouting on Facebook marketplace I spotted a second hand STi spoiler, an absolute must for the WRX as the stock piece is just pitiful. This was collected for a whopping £80. I wrapped this with vinyl I had left over from my 1st MX5 and got it whacked on. A million times better.
Featuring my new plate, purchased for my birthday from the better half.
With all this time and not much to do, I gave the car a quick single stage and wax. Fortunately I spent a year of my life working as a detailer for a company working with cars I could only dream of affording. Which is only a curse as I cannot walk past any car without judging the paint condition. BUT! This black paint was in great condition, it was just hidden by the most severe case of swirling I had ever seen... 50/50 below.
This was achieved quite easily using a DAS6 Pro DA polisher, Hex Logic Orange pad and Meguiars ultimate compound. The reality is this needs a 2 Stage correction and ceramic, but I do not have the right environment to hand.
But here are the beauty snaps.
Oh! an old friend of mine was moving away and offered me this free of charge.
Blitz Nurspec Backbox. I will most likely get this fabbed up as a custom backbox first, to check if I am happy with the look before having the rest of the exhaust fabbed up to suit.
What are the plans?
Well, I have not done a trackday since my first MX5, every car I have said will go on track, but that never happens as I never have them long enough to do so. I want any car to be ready with the simple mods before hand and by the time I have done these changes I chop the car in.
First of all is maintenance, but more so preventative. I hope that by having a lower mileage car that if I at least keep on top of the simple bits and upgrade any of the common weak points I will be ready and confident to do some track days. I am not chasing power with this, standard is enough for me as I would rather a car that can handle rather than blast away on a straight.
Anyway thats me, the thread has finally been created and all it took was 13 cars and some very unwelcome news! I hope to keep this updated and although the hatch is a bit marmite, I hope those who are interested enjoy the car as much as I.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, here's hoping for a swift recovery.
It's rare to look at a thread and the car history and think "I'd have everyone one of those" the MR2 and the shift sport are still on my future list and I'm currently running a Legacy wagon myself, except mine has the engine more similar to the Impreza
It looks to me like the cars name is already working... I mean who gets a blitz exhaust for free !
It's rare to look at a thread and the car history and think "I'd have everyone one of those" the MR2 and the shift sport are still on my future list and I'm currently running a Legacy wagon myself, except mine has the engine more similar to the Impreza
It looks to me like the cars name is already working... I mean who gets a blitz exhaust for free !
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