Spec C' worth the extra?
24 July 2010, 02:18 AM
#31
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Does the spec C have any kind of under bonnet soundproofing or heat reflectors? My soundproofing is very tatty on my 03' WRX with chunks missing, I'd like to rip it off but I've read that the soundproofing material also keeps under bonnet temps low and acts as a fire blanket in extreme fires :/
24 July 2010, 07:18 AM
#33
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Last edited by TonyBurns; 24 July 2010 at 07:31 AM.
24 July 2010, 08:01 AM
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Well not really a "blue printed engine", just one built to tighter tollerences, if it were blue printed then it would be similar to an F1 car and last about as long 
Tony
Tony
24 July 2010, 09:54 AM
#36
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I agree with Tony as regards to this specific sales blurb, in this specific case (Subaru using the term blue printing). Don't read in to it too much.
RS matt,
Some Spec C's do have under bonnet sound deadening, as mine has. As for the rest.... I can't see how it keeps the under bonnet temps lower or reduces fire spread to any worthwhile degree.
RS matt,
Some Spec C's do have under bonnet sound deadening, as mine has. As for the rest.... I can't see how it keeps the under bonnet temps lower or reduces fire spread to any worthwhile degree.
24 July 2010, 12:05 PM
#37
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I appreciate blob eyes or earlier maybe the 'rawrer' of the spec c's however my heart is set on a hawkeye...
I have seen a few hawkeye's at 16k and spec c's as low as 17k and spec c's tend to have done less miles...so
I tend to get more power out of it,350 maybe 400 eventually...I think I will go with a normal Spec C'
do normal spec c's come with all the sound deadening? or is it optinoal
I have seen a few hawkeye's at 16k and spec c's as low as 17k and spec c's tend to have done less miles...so
I tend to get more power out of it,350 maybe 400 eventually...I think I will go with a normal Spec C'
do normal spec c's come with all the sound deadening? or is it optinoal
24 July 2010, 12:38 PM
#40
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They both use the same quick rack, so steering will be no sharper.
You can buy sound deadening kits for the Spec C from the likes of Litchfield Imports. However, these kits are normally only for the boot area. Boot plastic mats and carpet can also be had from specialists like Litchfield Imports.
You can buy sound deadening kits for the Spec C from the likes of Litchfield Imports. However, these kits are normally only for the boot area. Boot plastic mats and carpet can also be had from specialists like Litchfield Imports.
25 July 2010, 05:33 PM
#42
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massive thank you to juggers, had a look around a spec C of his this afternoon and the car is unreal,the handling is second to none and makes my blob eye feel so fat,my heart is set...
now to sell my blob eye STi
now to sell my blob eye STi
25 July 2010, 06:49 PM
#44
I agree with Shaun & my next Impreza (as mentioned in my Ver6 Wrc gallery thread last week) will most probably be a hawkeye JDM Sti. Someone in that thread did question my thinking, saying going from a Hawkeye Spec C to a Hawkeye JDM Sti is pointless & I would be better off going for a JDM Hatch Sti instead. But unless you are doing trackdays every other month there really is hardly much 'real world' difference between a Hawkeye JDM STi & Spec C. If you can pick up a Hawkeye JDM Sti for approx £3k to £4k less than a Spec C then that money could be used for all sorts of mods.
The suspension turrets which are stiffened on the Spec C does make a difference but saying that a chasis stiffening goodie form Summit etc may help the JDM sti in that dept? Fitting an Oil cooler & maybe a transmission cooler could also be done a JDM Sti if you wanted. The Spec C & STi suspension will both start knocking & both will probably get replaced for coilovers anyway. Normal mods like thicker ARB's; Antli lift kit, uprated pads, exhaust, boost solenoid, remap etc etc would probably be done to both either way. So I think ultimately with a very few extra bits added to a JDM sti (not neccesary though) you can come close to bridging that performance gap. The other, simple 'Stage1' type of mods I would do to both cars regardless, the 70kg weight difference we can't get away from & neither the fact that the Spec C would hold its value better over time & is an iconic model in the brand.
But thats just my 2p's worth & looking at it from a facts & figures ££'s point of view.
Saying that, I wouldnt mind a RAR or an S204 just for the hell of it, but those Id have to leave pretty standard 
The suspension turrets which are stiffened on the Spec C does make a difference but saying that a chasis stiffening goodie form Summit etc may help the JDM sti in that dept? Fitting an Oil cooler & maybe a transmission cooler could also be done a JDM Sti if you wanted. The Spec C & STi suspension will both start knocking & both will probably get replaced for coilovers anyway. Normal mods like thicker ARB's; Antli lift kit, uprated pads, exhaust, boost solenoid, remap etc etc would probably be done to both either way. So I think ultimately with a very few extra bits added to a JDM sti (not neccesary though) you can come close to bridging that performance gap. The other, simple 'Stage1' type of mods I would do to both cars regardless, the 70kg weight difference we can't get away from & neither the fact that the Spec C would hold its value better over time & is an iconic model in the brand.
But thats just my 2p's worth & looking at it from a facts & figures ££'s point of view.
Saying that, I wouldnt mind a RAR or an S204 just for the hell of it, but those Id have to leave pretty standard
Last edited by rickya; 25 July 2010 at 07:01 PM.
25 July 2010, 07:32 PM
#45
interesting thread.i personally think as an every day road car a jdm sti,for a track car would be a spec c.would love to have either and i think the future holds a jdm sti (hawkeye) for me...i hope(depending on finances) i do also like the blobeye sti,but the hawkeye certainly looks better imho. price difference is quite a bit tho.
26 July 2010, 02:25 PM
#47
How much difference is there over the spec c to jdm suspension wise?
Is the handling that much better?
I am talking out of the box,
Also would you need to make any changes to the spec c suspension such as alk, rear anti roll bar and drop links like it seems that needs to be done to the STD jdm's.
I guess that if you were fitting coilovers then the suspension differences don't really matter, I am just think of the next car i get needs to be the best out of the box.'i don't mind a cheeky remap and subtle mods but not after spending thousands on suspension, brakes and then the remap etc. Spent too much over the years and am looking for a good all round package
Is the handling that much better?
I am talking out of the box,
Also would you need to make any changes to the spec c suspension such as alk, rear anti roll bar and drop links like it seems that needs to be done to the STD jdm's.
I guess that if you were fitting coilovers then the suspension differences don't really matter, I am just think of the next car i get needs to be the best out of the box.'i don't mind a cheeky remap and subtle mods but not after spending thousands on suspension, brakes and then the remap etc. Spent too much over the years and am looking for a good all round package
26 July 2010, 02:55 PM
#48
I've had my spec C for five and and half years and 50,000 miles (bought factory fresh from Litchfield). We use it as a family car as well as for B-road blasts and track days. Its been to the Nurburgring, the Isle of Man, the Scottish Highlands, most English tracks and is a common sight along the country lanes where I live. I think what its great for is best illustrated by our trip to the Eiffel mountains: we drove there three-up with all our luggage in a day (about 800 miles); drove the 'ring the next day, easily overtaking a couple of Ferrari 355 (much to their owners disbelief); v-maxed it to an indicated 170mph on the autobahn, leaving a stripped-out 325i ring-mobile way behind; and then drove it home.
Whether its worth the extra money over a standard JDM or UK STi depends on how you look at Scoobs I think. If you look at it and think "there's a nice, cheap, relatively comfortable sports saloon with a bit of poke" then you might be better off with the standard version as its definitely a bit softer and a bit easier to live with. If, like me, you look at it and think "there's a four-wheel drive, rally-derived sports car that I can thrash the bollocks off and still take the family out when I need to" then I'd seriously think about the spec C. The JDM STi is probably 90-95% of the car the spec C is but I'd always be wondering about that other 5-10% if I'd gone down that route. Like TonyBurns always says, worth having a drive of first though.
For reference I've been running the Powerstation 'Stage 4' 400bhp upgrade with TEIN MonoFlex electronically-adjustable suspension for about 20 months without any issues.
Whether its worth the extra money over a standard JDM or UK STi depends on how you look at Scoobs I think. If you look at it and think "there's a nice, cheap, relatively comfortable sports saloon with a bit of poke" then you might be better off with the standard version as its definitely a bit softer and a bit easier to live with. If, like me, you look at it and think "there's a four-wheel drive, rally-derived sports car that I can thrash the bollocks off and still take the family out when I need to" then I'd seriously think about the spec C. The JDM STi is probably 90-95% of the car the spec C is but I'd always be wondering about that other 5-10% if I'd gone down that route. Like TonyBurns always says, worth having a drive of first though.
For reference I've been running the Powerstation 'Stage 4' 400bhp upgrade with TEIN MonoFlex electronically-adjustable suspension for about 20 months without any issues.
26 July 2010, 03:38 PM
#50
How much difference is there over the spec c to jdm suspension wise?
Is the handling that much better?
I am talking out of the box,
Also would you need to make any changes to the spec c suspension such as alk, rear anti roll bar and drop links like it seems that needs to be done to the STD jdm's.
I guess that if you were fitting coilovers then the suspension differences don't really matter, I am just think of the next car i get needs to be the best out of the box.'i don't mind a cheeky remap and subtle mods but not after spending thousands on suspension, brakes and then the remap etc. Spent too much over the years and am looking for a good all round package
Is the handling that much better?
I am talking out of the box,
Also would you need to make any changes to the spec c suspension such as alk, rear anti roll bar and drop links like it seems that needs to be done to the STD jdm's.
I guess that if you were fitting coilovers then the suspension differences don't really matter, I am just think of the next car i get needs to be the best out of the box.'i don't mind a cheeky remap and subtle mods but not after spending thousands on suspension, brakes and then the remap etc. Spent too much over the years and am looking for a good all round package
The suspension is the same ,but i find the spec c much more nimble then the standard STI. The instant feed back and response from the spec c chassis gives you more confidence when pushing the car and you feel more in tune with the car.
Am no great driver and have done trackdays in both hawkeye sti/spec c at oulton park and i am always 2 seconds+ faster in the spec c per lap.
Immy
27 July 2010, 12:02 AM
#54
Spec c is well worth the extra money over a standard JDM STI imho and miles better then a UK sti. I personally would go for a Hawkeye spec c as they are the better handling car even due to the DCCD setup. The Hawkeye also seems to hold its value much better than any model and is by far the most popular spec c variant to date. I have sold loads and people choose to buy them over the current hatch sti/ spec c.
The engines are robust and good for 450bhp+ without messing with internals not to mention the weight savings. That alone is worth a few k as that's what you'd have to spend to get the extra power out of an sti to keep up with the spec c on track. Might no be much difference in road use ,but the weight makes a massive difference on track and in the cars handling. The spec c also has transmission coolers where as the sti doesn't.
Immy
The engines are robust and good for 450bhp+ without messing with internals not to mention the weight savings. That alone is worth a few k as that's what you'd have to spend to get the extra power out of an sti to keep up with the spec c on track. Might no be much difference in road use ,but the weight makes a massive difference on track and in the cars handling. The spec c also has transmission coolers where as the sti doesn't.
Immy
Most people in reality wont notice the difference, but at the limit i'd take an MY05 over any other model if chasing handling balance.
Buying a Spec C over a normal JDM STi is far more an emotional choice on the later cars IMHO, i'd love to own one too, but it's not really going to make any real difference to the cars ownership experience as regards a driving machine.
27 July 2010, 12:15 AM
#55
I'll have to disagree with you on the hawkeye being the better handling car. The MY05 Blobeye has by far the best balance and transmition of the range, it shares everything the hawkeye has such as the widetrack suspension, bigger hubs, wheels, tyres, Yaw and steering position sensors for the DCCD-A but importantly still retains the 66R/33F torque split of the earlier cars. When you go to the Hawkeye onwards, it has a more front biased torque split which induces more understeer.
Most people in reality wont notice the difference, but at the limit i'd take an MY05 over any other model if chasing handling balance.
Buying a Spec C over a normal JDM STi is far more an emotional choice on the later cars IMHO, i'd love to own one too, but it's not really going to make any real difference to the cars ownership experience as regards a driving machine.
Most people in reality wont notice the difference, but at the limit i'd take an MY05 over any other model if chasing handling balance.
Buying a Spec C over a normal JDM STi is far more an emotional choice on the later cars IMHO, i'd love to own one too, but it's not really going to make any real difference to the cars ownership experience as regards a driving machine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N5AScA-5q4
Immy
27 July 2010, 01:03 AM
#57
Tbh i was talking from my own experiences as i've driven the MY05 spec c MY06 Sti and MY06 spec c round oulton park and was quicker in the MY06 SPEC C as i always looked at my entry speeds into the corners and felt alot more confident in the MY06 spec c with the diff rolled to the back. In high speed corners i found the car much more stable with this setting.
Immy
Immy
27 July 2010, 07:09 AM
#58
27 July 2010, 02:42 PM
#59
The suspension is the same ,but i find the spec c much more nimble then the standard STI. The instant feed back and response from the spec c chassis gives you more confidence when pushing the car and you feel more in tune with the car.
Am no great driver and have done trackdays in both hawkeye sti/spec c at oulton park and i am always 2 seconds+ faster in the spec c per lap.
Immy
Am no great driver and have done trackdays in both hawkeye sti/spec c at oulton park and i am always 2 seconds+ faster in the spec c per lap.
Immy
so other then the weight loss and oil coolers there does not seem to be much in it between the spec c and jdm sti?
agreed or are there other bits i am missing here
27 July 2010, 03:15 PM
#60
The chassis is also stiffer click on the link below it details all the deifferences between the MY06 spec c and the MY05.
I would only suggest a spec c if your going to do a few trackdays through out the year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N5AScA-5q4
Immy
I would only suggest a spec c if your going to do a few trackdays through out the year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N5AScA-5q4
Immy