babber

John,

"The RB5 shares the same rear bulkhead treatment as an STi 4 door shell, it is stiffer, the normal UK turbo is less rigid."

So your saying the rear bulkhead is stiffer on an RB5 ? How do you know this ?

The rear solid bulkhead on an RB5 is a myth. There is a piece of black plastic and a metal bar.

Lol, so I was right then, all Impreza shells are imports

Phill

pnbond007

iTrader: (1)

So, I have a No Frills 320bhp Jap Import Wrx Ra, with air-con & a life expectancy of 5yrs, Plus it compares with a Black & Decker drill..
Thrilling,
Then at 72k and nearly ten years old, and in a condition both cosmetically & mechanically like its just come of the production line, how can that be...!!

johnfelstead

Who said it was a solid bulkhead? I didnt. It is stiffer than a UK Turbo shell and to achieve that, the folding rear seats of a UK turbo cant be used.

babber

John,

Sorry I wasn't implying that you said the RB5 has a solid rear bulkhead. It appears everyone on here seems to think they have though. Looks identicle to a MY00 if you ask me, apart from the seat won't fold

Phill

andypugh2000

I have a 290 bhp uk turbo, as fast as an sti import, cheap insurance, can read the handbook without a translator, don't have to worry about what motion lotion i put in it, great car all round but i would still love an sti import as they are raw performance and a better spec but unfortunately i have to settle for a UK as its an only car and an import just wouldnt be suitable for the job, still my uk turbo is very good and i am very pleased with it.

16vmarc

Here Here Andy

pantelis

Just had a read through all this and have come to a conclusion:

UK drivers put resale value, originality and reliability at the top of their lists.

JAP drivers couldnt give a **** if they throw loads of money on their cars which may or may not make it blow up.They also realise they will never get back the money they spend on them, cos every second of every minute of every day that the car IS on the road is a substantualy more rewarding/exciting drive. And that is worth a **** load more than 'an english hand book' yada yada yada...!!

BLACK V5

WRX ver5. 60000 miles in 4 years still on all original engine,turbo.gearbox,diffs, well just about everthing. So whats all this unreliable bollocks?

pilkster

Hhhhmmmmm, now for my opinion, cos as you all know its always valid!! UK Turbos, built to withstand Britains ever changing sh1te weather, most come with a comprehensive subaru service history and can be tracked back to every owner and every service and most things that the car has had replaced.. To me thats how good a uk turbo is! Jap imports, where do i start? It beggers belief that someone would part with there hard earned cash and buy a subaru with about 40k on the clock that has no history behind it, apart from the dealer saying, its had a comprehesive check by the ministry of transport and our mechanics say its fine!! The ministry of transport check the emisions etc and make sure it has a fog light fitted!! They cant tell you that Mr Chong has screwed the ***** out of it since new and that its been serviced, err, never!! They look mint when they arrive because there weather conditions are 95% better that ours, there not even undersealed when they arrive for gods sake!! The panels are thinner because rot is not a problem over there!! Two words for a jap import....Ticking.....Timebomb!!!! UK Turbos are far superior than JDM's.

pslewis

pilkster - well written old boy!

It truly does beggar belief that some misguided souls spend good money on what amounts to a HUGE gamble - sometimes it pays off, most times it doesn't!

As I said, a UK car has pedigree (unless, like John you get a BRAND new personal import) .... even then though, he hasn't got that solid gold Subaru Main Dealer set of stamps!

Pedigree, breeding, solid, reliability and just as fast as a JDM (on the same petrol!) - that is the UK car!

Head and shoulders above the 'Reject Parts Bin' STi's with their Bleep, Bleep, Bleep warning that the engine is about to blow!! Ha Ha Ha !!

Pete

StickyMicky

ha ha ha
got that kettle on yet?

D.J.

It boils down to preference at the end of the day. My friend has a uk spec turbo where as I have a jdm and touch wood neither have given any cause for concern.
How about Kelloggs cornflakes versus supermarket cornflakes?

NACRO

Kellogs.

andypugh2000

I suppose you could look at this another way, would you buy a "pedigree" dog from a bloke in a pub that may have come from a welsh puppy farm and drop dead from parvo once you get it home or buy one from a kennel club registered breeder where you get a full pedigree and history and get to see the parents, the dog in the pub may look good on the outside but where has it come from and whats the history?? could be a good pup could be a bad pup where would you put your money?? i know where mine would be

D.J.

Who is the main importer of Subaru?

D.J.

A subsidiary of the I.M. Group Ltd.
who also to my knowledge import Isuzu. So to use andypughs' analogy of pedigree dogs yes you get history, to see the parents etc. But your buying from a PUPPY farm....when using Subaru uk.
Anyhow because you go to the registered breeder(dealer)doesn't mean your not going to have your beloved puppy(impreza)die on you.
In reality one is as good as the other and in the end they're all imported from Japan....

pslewis

Taking the very good puppy example one step further .....

Not only do they buy the puppy (import) from the dodgy fella in the pub - they then go on to have the local jack-the-lad do all its medicals ................ whereas, the proper pedigree puppy (UK car) is taken to the vets for its regular boosters, any attention needed is taken care of by the vet (free) because the proper puppy was bought with proper back-up, proper medical insurance.

The SENSIBLE money goes on the winning dog ......... and that happens to be the Std. UK car that has Subaru Main Dealer history - you can say what you like about the fact an Import has a 'Bleep. Bleepie' thing to tell you when to change gear!!

Maybe, just maybe, those who buy an Import are so daft - they DO actually need a Bleepie??

Pete

babber

pslewis,

Oh no here we go again I like the way you manage to change things just for a winde up I do like the dog scenario though, lol

Phill

andypugh2000

Oh and BTW i have 3 uk bred dogs and a uk bred scooby, none have gone pop yet and all have history! and in this country you won't find them on the menu either

Mad Gypsy

Yet another slant on the dog analogy is; The one from the kennel club is a poodle (UK car) the one from the bloke in the pub is a rottweiler (JDM)

andypugh2000

Yeah and which one will bite you in the ars£ when your not expecting it?? certainly not the poodle but are you also saying you need the rottie (JDM) to look good?? "im not mean but my dog (car) is scenario

pslewis

Hmmmm well said, look at me - I'm inadeqate so have a Rottie to make ME look good I've got small ***** so I need a STi so I can look like a man!

The Rottie also has a Bleepie thing to tell me when it needs a **** ...................... you MUST have a bleepie thing!!

Pete

Mad Gypsy

I don't need a STi (Type R) so I can look like a man, I need a STi so I can go FAST

ps A poodle IS more likely to bite you in the ars£ than a rottie

Hotpants

Solid gold dealer stamps , what's all that about , I've got a 99UK Turbo that I've owned from day 1 , full dealer rip off history, everything it's ever needed & more , 60k miles & what did that dealer in question offer me against a new one .....er 7 grand , so as for solid gold dealer stamps, I don't think so. Oh well I'll have to keep it . Excellent.

pnbond007

iTrader: (1)

Yet another thread going down the road of 'my car's better than your car' Are we not all part of an exclusive club, for want of a better word.
I brought my Import out of choice, I was happy with it so I did the deal. This FSH can sometimes not be worth the paper its written on, anyone can fake a decent service history.

As for what is best, who cares.....

babber

You might be able to fake a service book, but not when it goes to the dealers. They seemed to have all UK cars history already on there screens ??

Phill

pslewis

Yes, who cares - BUT the UK car is the better car!

That MY99 UK car above who was offered £7k for his car? The SAME dealer wouldn't have even WANTED an Import!! Not any ANY price!

When the poor owner eventually finds an outlet, it's Joes CarSales, Gasworks Alley. Cut and shut and run a speciality - oh? the price? £2500 take it or leave it mate!!

Go one step further and spend £5000 on mods and its unsaleable - even to Joes CarSales!! - next seen on some council estate owned by wayne and diane on benefits .................. he thinks it REALLY cool (Funny how the first tasteless owner thought that too??!!)

Pete

KaraK

I had the dilemma of which to buy and for me the UK won out because the insurance was cheaper, and I wanted a warranty and a main dealer history.

8 months down the line however I'm not sure I'd make the same choice. I notice the lack of "toys" aircon, rear wipe, foly mirrors etc.

And also I know full well now that IMHO my FSSH is worthless, all the main dealer work I've had done has been b*****ks and caused me no end of trouble. My warranty as a "subaru proven" warranty isn't really worth the paper its printed on as it doesn't cover hardly anything that a warranty should. Thinking it over now I probably would go UK again but for different reasons, fuel economy, ease of initial purchase, folding rear seats. On the power front I think given how I've got used to the current levels I think starting at the 208 and moving up in increments will give me more long term fun.

Really it's horses for courses. As long as everyone is happy with their choice is there an issue? Its like arguing over colour or choice of 4 vs 5 door. Its just down to what suits.

[EDIT]
Just to say that I'm not implying that all main dealers will do crap work, I'm just saying its no gurantee that its going to be good either...

[/EDIT]

[Edited by KaraK - 12/13/2003 4:00:27 PM]

pnbond007

iTrader: (1)

My plan was to find a beast, something to have as a project. I had a patio area built for the car to sit on, at the rear of the house.
The plan is very shortly, to build this car as an absolute one off. No gleaming 5" tail pipe sticking out the rear & allsorts bolted to it. A car which is built for the purpose, hill climb, may be sprint work etc, but also capable of driving on the road.

Yes not econmical, but how many Banzia Jap Ra's are. Uk or import I could'nt careless, All I know is the Import I have is is almost there. So what if it goes wrong, you by a Ferrari, your repair bills are all relative.

To many people play at building & modifying cars, but still keep them in a condition to take the folks out in. There are not many cars/owners on the road that have gone that extra mile, put a full cage in & bin the interior, I suppose we have Max Power to thank for that.

My Jap Ra is a fine tool, absolutley mint & I would put it against any UK possing mobil, 328 BHP of sheer excitment & 0-60 in just over 4sec's, if it blow's up then I'll put it right.

UK / Import What the hell

P

pslewis

My Jap Ra is a fine tool, absolutley mint & I would put it against any UK possing mobil, 328 BHP of sheer excitment & 0-60 in just over 4sec's, if it blow's up then I'll put it right
-----------------------------------------------------------------

I am sure its loverly and a credit to the Build-your-own fans ... my point is highlighted in the above statement, while you will be about 2 foot ahead of my UK after the 1/4 mile your car will need an engine rebuild - I will drive mine home!

Pete