For the love of WRX (wagon!)
18 August 2015, 05:29 PM
#242
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yeah i agree on the wheel sizing. Looking at different pics it all seems to depend on the light quality and the angle you look at them from. I just wanted to stick with 17s because 18s to me always look odd if you dont lower the car at all. And im not looking to lower as my local roads dont lend themselves to a harder ride. Might be ok in a different colour. It just seems with the offset limitation on these cars, theres a very small selection of wheels to choose from.
19 August 2015, 10:20 AM
#243
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If you were to go for the Prodrive/PCA Dynamics springs like I have you get a nice drop (to suit 18s perfectly) with absolutely no downsides, Prodrive/Peter Cambridge really did develop these springs properly and are perfect for our roads. Believe me, the roads here in Edinburgh are amongst the worse I've driven on but my wagon just soaks it all up and is a real pleasure to drive, I highly recommend them.
19 August 2015, 08:10 PM
#244
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Ah yes id love prodrive springs. Are they much harder than standard in your opinion? Once our little nipper arrives i dont really want the ride to be any harder than it already is.
13 November 2015, 08:31 AM
#249
Wagon`s still rule, though....I looked long and hard at the Scoobybits modded Hawk last summer when down in Cornwall. Problem was it needed running in and full map, and that seemed a bit odd when so much had been spent on it.
Oh, Modrich, it was crystal grey as well !!
13 November 2015, 09:20 AM
#250
Spec C is probably the only thing I'd swap my wagon for but just not practical enough for me at the moment and when I really sit down and think about it I'd sooner spend the money on my Type R for the fun driving aspect.
As far as Wagon modding goes, the things required to make them stop and go aren't really that expensive when compared to buying an STI or Spec C, spend wisely and the end result is better suited as a daily driver on crap roads than either of the above, which by the way still require the suspension looking at and money/time spending on them.
Not slating the STI or Spec C and if they did a Spec C wagon I'd probably own one and put up with the noise and harsh ride etc just for those moments when I was on track or ***** out down an empty country road.
I think the Wrx just needs to be appreciated for what it is and not go mental spending a fortune on one, £2k and 320 ish bhp max would be my limit and beyond that you have the wrong car.
Yours is looking really sweet Rich.
As far as Wagon modding goes, the things required to make them stop and go aren't really that expensive when compared to buying an STI or Spec C, spend wisely and the end result is better suited as a daily driver on crap roads than either of the above, which by the way still require the suspension looking at and money/time spending on them.
Not slating the STI or Spec C and if they did a Spec C wagon I'd probably own one and put up with the noise and harsh ride etc just for those moments when I was on track or ***** out down an empty country road.
I think the Wrx just needs to be appreciated for what it is and not go mental spending a fortune on one, £2k and 320 ish bhp max would be my limit and beyond that you have the wrong car.
Yours is looking really sweet Rich.
13 November 2015, 09:35 AM
#252
Interior looks well smart, what was the cost in getting them retrimmed?
13 November 2015, 03:37 PM
#253
Hello, That is a fantastic wagon and I've been obsessively following this thread.
Out of interest have you considered fitting an sti de-cat up-pipe? I've got a blobeye wagon with ppp and I'm considering it, mainly to protect the turbo if the cat falls apart, but I'm not sure if the car will pass MOT emissions with only one cat in the exhaust.
Out of interest have you considered fitting an sti de-cat up-pipe? I've got a blobeye wagon with ppp and I'm considering it, mainly to protect the turbo if the cat falls apart, but I'm not sure if the car will pass MOT emissions with only one cat in the exhaust.
14 November 2015, 10:50 PM
#254
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Blob wagon rear bar is 17mm I think. Non wide track STI goes straight on, got one on mine.
16 November 2015, 11:23 AM
#255
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I`ve loved this thread, and my own 05 sl wagon, but ironically have decided, quite reluctantly, to move on to a GRB jdm spec c ! It`s a case of too little time/too much work to get my suspension and engine to the levels that some of you guys have managed, and I just need something "straight out of the box" I spent the last 6 months building up supporting mods and a billeted TD04, only to realise that I will only want to do the same to the suspension, polybushing, whilst at the same time I have been keeping the basics up to scratch eg new coil packs, new rad, calipers rebuilt yet again; all too much with family life and self employment.
Wagon`s still rule, though....I looked long and hard at the Scoobybits modded Hawk last summer when down in Cornwall. Problem was it needed running in and full map, and that seemed a bit odd when so much had been spent on it.
Oh, Modrich, it was crystal grey as well !!
Wagon`s still rule, though....I looked long and hard at the Scoobybits modded Hawk last summer when down in Cornwall. Problem was it needed running in and full map, and that seemed a bit odd when so much had been spent on it.
Oh, Modrich, it was crystal grey as well !!
All my attention has turned to the house and my garage project so I might start a thread on that at some point...
Spec C is probably the only thing I'd swap my wagon for but just not practical enough for me at the moment and when I really sit down and think about it I'd sooner spend the money on my Type R for the fun driving aspect.
As far as Wagon modding goes, the things required to make them stop and go aren't really that expensive when compared to buying an STI or Spec C, spend wisely and the end result is better suited as a daily driver on crap roads than either of the above, which by the way still require the suspension looking at and money/time spending on them.
Not slating the STI or Spec C and if they did a Spec C wagon I'd probably own one and put up with the noise and harsh ride etc just for those moments when I was on track or ***** out down an empty country road.
I think the Wrx just needs to be appreciated for what it is and not go mental spending a fortune on one, £2k and 320 ish bhp max would be my limit and beyond that you have the wrong car.
Yours is looking really sweet Rich.
As far as Wagon modding goes, the things required to make them stop and go aren't really that expensive when compared to buying an STI or Spec C, spend wisely and the end result is better suited as a daily driver on crap roads than either of the above, which by the way still require the suspension looking at and money/time spending on them.
Not slating the STI or Spec C and if they did a Spec C wagon I'd probably own one and put up with the noise and harsh ride etc just for those moments when I was on track or ***** out down an empty country road.
I think the Wrx just needs to be appreciated for what it is and not go mental spending a fortune on one, £2k and 320 ish bhp max would be my limit and beyond that you have the wrong car.
Yours is looking really sweet Rich.
16 November 2015, 11:35 AM
#256
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Front seat refurb cost an embarrassingly large amount considering what the cars worth, a bit of man maths was needed to justify that one...(ie they are amazing to look at and sit!)
Hello, That is a fantastic wagon and I've been obsessively following this thread.
Out of interest have you considered fitting an sti de-cat up-pipe? I've got a blobeye wagon with ppp and I'm considering it, mainly to protect the turbo if the cat falls apart, but I'm not sure if the car will pass MOT emissions with only one cat in the exhaust.
Out of interest have you considered fitting an sti de-cat up-pipe? I've got a blobeye wagon with ppp and I'm considering it, mainly to protect the turbo if the cat falls apart, but I'm not sure if the car will pass MOT emissions with only one cat in the exhaust.
Last edited by modrich; 16 November 2015 at 02:36 PM.
16 November 2015, 01:00 PM
#257
Yep I love the prodrive map on mine too, with it being a little rich and designed for longevity as well as the WRX engine being a little more forgiving towards exhaust mods, as and when my clutch gives up (121k so far) I shall fit my AP clutch and Exeddy lightweight flywheel as well as decat up-pipe and a low milage TD04 that I picked up foc and have done a bit of porting on, probably change the cambelt too as that's due on milage and over due on years by about 18months, my moto being if it aint broke don't fix it.
16 November 2015, 02:35 PM
#258
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Interesting ditch, so with the up pipe & turbo tweak you wreckon the Prodrive map can adjust to suit? Might be one to add to my future mod list then to add a little 'spice' to the relationship!
16 November 2015, 03:04 PM
#259
Yep it's a little more forgiving, but at the same time I'll be adding an AFR gauge just to keep an eye on things, but from everything I have read it shouldn't be a problem, that said I won't be advising others to do it but I don't mind as I have had good service out of my car and have all the parts together to rebuild it as well as the tools and knowledge having done it once already all I need is a gasket set to do a forged 2.0L build.
17 November 2015, 10:44 AM
#260
If you are changing the turbo for a ported one and changing the up-pipe to a de-cat up-pipe then 100% you will need a remap. If nothing else, just to control the overboosting you will get but also to fuel correct. The ECU will fuel correct to a point yes, but not for changes like that.
You're a very brave man if you don't get it mapped that's for sure. I know I would without hesitation.
The prodrive PPP ECU/map is just another one size fits all base map like the standard Subaru map. All be it the boost and fuel have been turned up to give more power, but essentially lots of safety margin to suit every car it goes on with all the sensor & part varients/tolerances it will come accross. Getting a bespoke map done for your car will always be a far better and safer plan for the cars longevity.
You're a very brave man if you don't get it mapped that's for sure. I know I would without hesitation.
The prodrive PPP ECU/map is just another one size fits all base map like the standard Subaru map. All be it the boost and fuel have been turned up to give more power, but essentially lots of safety margin to suit every car it goes on with all the sensor & part varients/tolerances it will come accross. Getting a bespoke map done for your car will always be a far better and safer plan for the cars longevity.
Last edited by BrownPantsRacing; 17 November 2015 at 10:47 AM.
17 November 2015, 01:20 PM
#261
From what I have read, I'm prepared to take the risk, I know I won't get the best out of it without a remap but the only thing I'll have to worry about or at least keep an eye on is the air fuel ratio at wot to see if it's leaning out, which I don't think will change that significantly, all that's going to happen is the car will push slightly more exhaust gasses through the turbo, slightly quicker which should just give slightly better spool and response, it's not so drastic a change as to warrant a remap in my view and lots of people remove the up pipe cat without a remap.
Everyone is obsessed with mapping for every little change, but like you say there's plenty of safety margin built into generic maps, the ecu will pull timing if it detects knock so the engine isn't going to suddenly explode because it's moving slightly more air/ exhaust gases, if that were the case then you would need a remap just for fitting a performance free flowing panel filter or a less restrictive rear silencer.
And as I said the ppp map is rich so has some room for a slight increase.
It'll either be alright or it will let go, I'm not too worried.
Everyone is obsessed with mapping for every little change, but like you say there's plenty of safety margin built into generic maps, the ecu will pull timing if it detects knock so the engine isn't going to suddenly explode because it's moving slightly more air/ exhaust gases, if that were the case then you would need a remap just for fitting a performance free flowing panel filter or a less restrictive rear silencer.
And as I said the ppp map is rich so has some room for a slight increase.
It'll either be alright or it will let go, I'm not too worried.
23 November 2015, 11:55 PM
#263
Awesome thread Modrich full credit to you with the detail of the write-up. Valuable info for people like me who are new to the Impreza world having purchased my first Hawkeye Wagon a few weeks ago. I wanted to keep it standard as it's mint however have found myself already purchased half the PPP kit and Prodrive Springs.
Unfortunately I have been forced into a brake rebuild similar to yours last year. You have made some great mods, well done!
Unfortunately I have been forced into a brake rebuild similar to yours last year. You have made some great mods, well done!
24 November 2015, 03:59 PM
#264
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Cheers mate, yeah I had the same intention to keep it bog standard as well...but Prodrive bits count as OEM+ anyway so doesn't count as a mod COUGH! The good thing about what I have done is that it's still 100% reliable, it's never let me down.
24 November 2015, 05:06 PM
#265
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26 November 2015, 12:03 PM
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annual oil change and winter wheel swap
Ok, so I managed to get the annual oil change done last weekend before it starts getting 'really' cold up here, amazing what difference a bit of fresh oil makes, the engine is always noticeably smoother for a week or so afterwards. The wagon is now at 77883 miles and since doing the rocker cover gaskets last year and topping the oil up, has only used about 250ml of oil. I check and record the level every month just to be sure.
I bought a batch of Mahle oil filters last year so used the same this year, hoovered the Pro-R filter (was virtually spotless anyway) and some more Millers 5w40 fully synthetic oil
Oil drained, was about 4pm by this time so needed some extra lighting!
New oil filter fitted
Now I have the front splitter on I need some low ramps to get the trolley jack under the engine under tray, these work a treat.
While I had the wagon up I fitted the winter wheels
New Nexan winter tyre was needed on the front left after last winter due to the side walls cracking.
Revolutions ready for a thorough clean. I always give them a good going over to check for stone chips, give them a quick touch-up and then seal them ready for next summer.
Same goes for the wife's Mazda 5 summer wheels...
Ready for the racks...
I bought a batch of Mahle oil filters last year so used the same this year, hoovered the Pro-R filter (was virtually spotless anyway) and some more Millers 5w40 fully synthetic oil
Oil drained, was about 4pm by this time so needed some extra lighting!
New oil filter fitted
Now I have the front splitter on I need some low ramps to get the trolley jack under the engine under tray, these work a treat.
While I had the wagon up I fitted the winter wheels
New Nexan winter tyre was needed on the front left after last winter due to the side walls cracking.
Revolutions ready for a thorough clean. I always give them a good going over to check for stone chips, give them a quick touch-up and then seal them ready for next summer.
Same goes for the wife's Mazda 5 summer wheels...
Ready for the racks...
