JGlanzaV

iTrader: (3)

This is it. Once I go for the engine build its a keep for life commitment as it is just too much money to let go then.... And will I want to drive something as uncomfortable, loud and unreliable as this forever?

He is talking sense though.... As much as I love the car I just dont see it is feasible to keep it....

I agree with Joe, if I was going to do it again I'd get an S204, up the power a bit and leave it as is....

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I agree with Joe's sentiments, but for a FUN toy you can't beat a classic and you don't need huge power to have bags of fun in one. I get the Spec C though and as a Special Edition it's a good place to put your money and they do have a certain wow factor, just don't quite do it for me like my V3 Type R does though, but I'm a classic man in my heart of hearts, for me there's no better Subaru than the one that's sat in my garage, there's no car that's ever quite given me the feelings I get from it.

And no not got a link, give them a call tomorrow.

joe v3sti

iTrader: (8)

I am also a classic man after owning 5 and my current being my Ra. Yes they are raw and don't need mega power. But if spent way more than I ever planned to and if I were in j's position I wouldn't be able to justify spending it all again.

Buy a nice spec c, fuel pump and sensible map for reliability and just drive it and enjoy it, instead of taking it bits and spending time chasing your tail.

We have just bought a white jdm sti wide track in japan for our kid that's due here in April.
Yes it's not a spec C like I would have bought, but it's his daily so I understand he wants all the toys. Still a very very capable car tho! I've told him to clean, look after it, good servicing. Fuel pump and map for reliability and he'll be able to keep it 2-3years sell and lose bugger all. Much better position than spending thousands and feeling guilty for it.

My advice... when you stop enjoying it, it's time to get out!

That's what I would do J because by the sounds of it that's the position your in.

Just my 2p worth

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

It's only money, you can't take it with you

Invest in the engine get it running and get the car out, then find a shell for reasonable money and swap all parts over and sell any spares to recoup some cash.

You come this far, dig deep and play hard

Get work to cover a new car

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

Now, I am finally breaking my car as the power is keep killing parts and it just get more expensive as the time especially now that my car is killing the 6 speed gearboxes as well.

Big power is a constant spend as there is always more power and the parts to support it cost a fortune once your up to 700bhp. The gearbox I need is £14k and I now need a drysump which will be £6k then there is more engine work. Its never ending.

gazney101

iTrader: (5)

Christ i bet its something else.
Any photo's?

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

This is it.

Infected by sti

iTrader: (6)

If you're breaking it how much for the shell

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

Its not getting broken for another month but that can be arranged if your interested

gussy

iTrader: (2)

Im surprised your doing that Steve after all the years you have had it but needs must I presume,,,,,,I take it you will be buying another one or are you moving on to another make ??????

ossett2k2

iTrader: (9)

Don't break it!!!

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

Gussy, I'm gonna strip a classic as much as I can and make a 450bhp track car, I don't have the ***** for 5th gear bends in mine when it's foot to the floor but in 450bhp it won't even bother me I will step the power up in the classic once I can handle foot to the floor in high speed bends


Forgot to add I will have mine on the track quicker than your 365 project

gussy

iTrader: (2)

Forgot to add I will have mine on the track quicker than your 365 project [/QUOTE]

Depends on who's driving yours as every time it brakes its in somebody elses hands ,,,,,mine btw…... Andy is mapping it 4th march first outing is Oulton park

XDevil666

Why don't you look at that thread by boosted who dropped that Audi gear box in his? Not sure of its bhp rate but certainly looks an interesting alternative

JGlanzaV

iTrader: (3)

Same problem, you fix the box, then the next weakest link will go....

And boosted hasn't got the driveshafts sorted to handle 300hp yet, let alone the torque involved with race tyres and 700hp!

I'm tempted to get a small loan and pay off monthly then the expense isn't all in one go...

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

The dilemma is as simple as this.

Nothing in my book comes close to a big power striped out classic.
In terms of driver pleasure and ballistic performance. Everything else feels like a backward step.

Do not look at it as an investment. It is a money pit. It is not sensible and it costs one way or another. Mine is track car primarily these days so bodywork is straight but a bit tatty. So for me my car is a collection of parts and the shell happens to be 1998. In a way do not look at the age of the shell. It is just a shell.

Is the pleasure worth the money...most of which you will not see back?

If you take the backward step. Do not buy a Cossy, Tommy mac Evo or anything that is too nice, too straight to go out onto track. These cars are now show and shine investments not track cars.

Get something track focused that is way cheaper to run. That is what I may do one day.
I am so attached to my car that when it gets too expensive, I tend to retire it for a season.

As far as breaking boxes go. My thoughts are, you always want a weaker point in the drivetrain engineered in and that should be the driveshafts, as it is a pain in the a*** but a lot cheaper and easier than replacing gearboxes.

gussy

iTrader: (2)

Agree with you on that one Steve thats why I sold my hawkeye spec-c type RA even tho it was brilliant on track and to compete in I could not bring myself to pull it apart and built a more track orientated car if you could call it that would have ment investing heavily in a car which I had already sunk a fair bit of cash into as standard so I ended up selling it, in the deal I hardly lost a bean having owned it for 5 years then went classic newage route at half the price best of both worlds

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

Just sold my Blob Spec-C after 4 years of ownership, Got just about all of my cash back out of it when ive finished selling wheels and coilovers etc.... so had 4 years free driving excluding the petrol obviously, lol....but putting it all and a bit more back into a Hawk Spec-C with some tasty bits so hopefully another few years of free motoring, Ive always wanted to build a stripped out RA but i know its just going to lose money unless i am very shrewd on the purchases....for now it will have to wait, lol

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

You have nothing to worry about at 500bhp as that's practically a reliable car and it's not likely to break things due to power as 500bhp isn't that much.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Enough is enough when it ends up on SIOC.

328isport

iTrader: (6)

Enough NEVER becomes enough :-) I saw some of your project thread and your clearly a car guy.. by all means call it a day and go out buy a 330d or something, but I give it a couple of months before you get bored and want to start making changes or buy something else!

The whole buying an already awesome stock car as a means to stop modifying or seeking improvement may work for some, but the thing is many sitting in that exact position will be wishing they had something they could do bits to!

That said in your case with your particular car If you do decide to carry on with an Impreza I do think I'd break it, from a cost perspective it would probably be best. Then keep back your best parts and seek out an already built car close to the spec you want or pick up a very good shell and a built engine second hand.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Second hand engine of any sort is always going to be a gamble, I'd much sooner spec and build an engine myself than buy a used one.

There are so many well proven 500+bhp combo's out there now for £1200/1500 why risk it, it's not like the old days anymore, the information and skills are all out there and these cars and engines are quite easy to work on, I'd go as far as saying they're pretty basic engines and nothing to be afraid of.

Don't believe the hype.

JGlanzaV

iTrader: (3)

Out of everything I have read, this I think is pretty close to the truth.... I modify everything. Even my work vans have remaps....

328isport

iTrader: (6)

Valid point ditch, but then by the same token you could end up with a nicely built engine that someone spent a fortune on for a fraction of the cost..

OP.. something like this may even be worth looking at, imported in 09 so should have a sold shell, and has a forged motor.. between this and yours you could probably build something quick enough and have a load of parts to sell off afterwards.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SUBAR...item1e9987af1e

JGlanzaV

iTrader: (3)

What's the item number? Link won't work on my mobile

scoobygaz1

iTrader: (3)

131424825118 That should do it!

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

I've got a P1 shell all panels. most glass no underneath, but bits can be found. We started it as a project car for a promo a number of years back and just got too busy. Its been inside the workshop safe and sound and DRY for ten years...........

David APi

328isport

iTrader: (6)

really hope you get that 530bhp blobeye... as that would be a great conclusion to this thread lol

Ian

iTrader: (10)

I use to own a ET 2.1 stroker in my classic with a s206b turbo, and sold it a couple years ago, as I was asking myself the same questions.

and over the couple of years, I have been in anything from, a daily ride to a bike powered kit car. and now I am back into another impreza (jdm bug sti) and I think back to my self and think I wish that I never sold my classic.

like your self, I spent mega ££ on it over the years that I owned it for. and now, I would not be able to do it again.

So from me, I would say keep the classic, and do what you can and when, as if like me, you sell, you would be wanting it back again

Alan Jeffery

Isn't anybody going to ask me anything about it?
I have feelings too you know..