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Thanks guys - I have to keep mine fairly sensible in terms of sound as I do use the car for customer facing visits (whole reason I got a Spec-D).
Hayward & Scott sounds like a good bet as I believe they make the Pro-drive exhausts and having owned one it was a nice change up from stock without making your ears bleed.
Anyone running a Milltek sports cat system? Way over my price bracket really but I know I'll get the best from the mapping if I went that route (though I really need to get the idea out of my head for financial reasons!! )
Is Bob aware of the spec of your car? Might be worth dropping him a quick email detailing what you have and ask if he has any suggestions based on what you are trying to achieve.
Bob has always been extremely helpful with me and as a result my current system has remained in place although on his advice (and APIs) I did add GT headers, Harvey up-pipe and decat.
Is Bob aware of the spec of your car? Might be worth dropping him a quick email detailing what you have and ask if he has any suggestions based on what you are trying to achieve.
Bob has always been extremely helpful with me and as a result my current system has remained in place although on his advice (and APIs) I did add GT headers, Harvey up-pipe and decat.
Yeah I've been in contact with Bob on this a few times (doing a business venture with him currently). Waiting for him and David (API) to advise what might suit best.
Sounds like Bob will road map it rather than roller. Makes sense as I'm only after a useable A-road ripper rather than to squeeze every pony out of it for track. V-max map and a safe 95 map too (I'll probably never use it but IMO will help come to re-sale and always handy if I get caught short in the '95 only sticks').
I think at minimum I will get a 2.5" cat back with resonator to keep noise levels sensible (unless I'm told it will hold little benefit over stock of course).
I'm putting a blitz nur spec r on mine with full decat😊
Should hear you coming from... well... anywhere in the UK with that I do love the sound of an untamed scoob and I have access to umm 'friendly' MOT'ers too but I tend to see the de-cat as something that you get hammered on at sale time. "Decat hey.... hmmm ..... well I'll have to factor in getting that put right then!" (even when you know 100% they will never touch it! )
Personally I'd leave the standard back box on and just put un-resonated centre pipe on and remove the second cat too, leaving the downpipe cat in place.
You might get a bit of extra performance by changing to stainless steel hay/scott backbox, but if you want a louder rumble without compromising cabin quality stick with stock and remove the baffle parts of the exhaust.
I run the o.e. prodrive backbox and full decat system and mine isn't loud at all. It's louder than stock but not by much, still very comfortable. No motorway drone.
Everyone has complemented saying how nice it sounds.
Last edited by -Stealth-; 14 March 2014 at 08:15 PM.
Personally I'd leave the standard back box on and just put un-resonated centre pipe on and remove the second cat too, leaving the downpipe cat in place.
You might get a bit of extra performance by changing to stainless steel hay/scott backbox, but if you want a louder rumble without compromising cabin quality stick with stock and remove the baffle parts of the exhaust.
I run the o.e. prodrive backbox and full decat system and mine isn't loud at all. It's louder than stock but not by much, still very comfortable. No motorway drone.
Everyone has complemented saying how nice it sounds.
Interesting idea... I like it. When my centre pipe severed in two randomly the car sounded soooo good (too loud but still good). I was surprised that it seemed to be the centre section that was restricting 'some' of the burble (I know the headers do have something more major to do with it but still).
I'll see what Bob/David says to that idea and maybe pick up a second hand prodrive back box if I can find one that fits a 2.5 sti on flee bay.
First time on here so please forgive any ignorance. I bought a WRX a year ago which is a Type UK but when I ran the details through my insurance and the MID database it came back as an STI Type UK. A guy who serviced it asked me if it was a Spec D which I didn't know anything about. It is grey but it doesn't have leather but was that only available on the official UK cars.
The type codes are GDG and version OKO but can't find anyhting anywhere that makes sense of any of it. Just be glad to clear it up and reading this thread there are some very knowledgable blokes out there.
First time on here so please forgive any ignorance. I bought a WRX a year ago which is a Type UK but when I ran the details through my insurance and the MID database it came back as an STI Type UK. A guy who serviced it asked me if it was a Spec D which I didn't know anything about. It is grey but it doesn't have leather but was that only available on the official UK cars.
The type codes are GDG and version OKO but can't find anyhting anywhere that makes sense of any of it. Just be glad to clear it up and reading this thread there are some very knowledgable blokes out there.
Wow so you could either have yourself a pocket rocket or just be paying through the nose on Insurance!
Easy quick route.... does it have 5 or 6 gears? 5 = WRX 6 = possible STi (though people do swap them over!).
If it is an STi of any description it will have gold Brembo calipers, an STi branded intercooler (unless changed) and the 6 speed gear box. If it lacks any of these its not an STi. You will also have an STi 3 spoke steering wheel, your dials will be STi branded (with a red shift change light that can be programmed to light up/buzz over certain revs) and to the lower right of the wheel you will have an intercooler spray button.
All Spec-D's came in the same metalic grey as they use on some WRX's. They all have full leather (hence yours almost certainly won't be a Spec-D), WRX small spoiler. You should also have a label on the B-Bost (inside the door shuts) stating it is a Spec-D. All are STi's.
Some Spec-D's seem to have Sti grill and boot badges but they may just be aftermarket or dealer added parts.
If the insurers have marked it down as an STi then get them to change it and haggle that you've been over charged. If you didn't HPI it when you purchased now is the time (especially if the insurer won't budge).
Thanks for the quick reply and sorting that for me. Thought it was a WRX and certainly bought as such so no complaints there.
The insurance is cheap anyway so probably won't bother to look into it, there's one advantage to being an old git !
Thanks again, appreciate it
No probs bud. I'd still make that phone call to the insurer.... God forbid you (or someone) writes it off then you don't want them to have ANY excuse to quibble about it. Bare in mind in taking the policy out that you signed (or electronically signed) a legal agreement that declares that the vehicle details are correct and that any incorrect details could deem the policy as void.
Legally you'd be able to fight it tooth and nail with the insurance ombudsman but it would be a real pain to do and take ages. Your last post (if they found it) would do you no favours either
A minor risk but not worth it for something that is their mistake in the first place IMO
Bye bye secondary air pump system. Removed by API this week along with a service. Blanked with RCM blanks/gaskets.
Next step... exhaust (still deciding) and a re-map if I can ever pin Mr Rawle down for long enough
Also time to re-grease the rear shocks via the grease nipples and I'm pretty sure the rear ARB bushing is on its way.... time to replace with a 'stock rubber one' then I see more spending coming my way!
This is what the Secondary Air Pump looks like out of the car.... all of this with no use whatsoever unless you are in California.
Total weight of the bits (box weight removed): 4.5kg
Every little helps I guess
Considering I've not got booked in with Bob for the remap yet I'm now considering going the full de-cat route purely to get the best out of the engine and to keep the costs down from a sports cat and maybe a 3 port boost solinoid from a classic..... though I am still researching if that is both needed or beneficial on a drive by wire Hawk.
it goes, stops, handles and looks the way i planned for it to be the day i bought it ~ 18mths ago
2.5 std internals, cosworth headgaskets
s2 industries air oil separator
PPP sport cat, straight through to prodrive backbox
Bob Rawle mapped 345bhp/395lbft on 97ron
H&R springs
Prodrive bilstein fronts shocks & std sti rears
sti front upper strut brace
rollbar & steering rack polybushes
Redline Prodrive Rep's
it goes, stops, handles and looks the way i planned for it to be the day i bought it ~ 18mths ago
2.5 std internals, cosworth headgaskets
s2 industries air oil separator
PPP sport cat, straight through to prodrive backbox
Bob Rawle mapped 345bhp/395lbft on 97ron
H&R springs
Prodrive bilstein fronts shocks & std sti rears
sti front upper strut brace
rollbar & steering rack polybushes
Redline Prodrive Rep's
HardRace gearbox mount
Great stuff Gambit. Nice clean car and a clean 'real world use' spec too.... very much the kind of thing I'm looking for over the latter part of the year.
How do you find the car's throttle characteristics after Bob's mapping? Did road map it or dyno?
Great stuff Gambit. Nice clean car and a clean 'real world use' spec too.... very much the kind of thing I'm looking for over the latter part of the year.
How do you find the car's throttle characteristics after Bob's mapping? Did road map it or dyno?
yeah it really needed to be a 'real world use' setup as its my daily driver
one of the first things i asked Bob when getting it mapped is can he do anything with the throttle pedal feel, and he said yeah we'll sharpen it up for you. So now I dont get that dead pedal feel where it takes 'a moment' before it decides what to do!
secondary air system removal is something that is also on my list also
Well I finally got round to having Bob road map the car.... Indicated 344hp @ 5671 with 374lb-ft @ 4469. Given that its on a rather restrictive stock exhaust (for shame!) that will do me nicely. Driving experiance is soooo much smoother! Nice to finally be rid of that pesky ECU light from the secondary air pump removal.
Now if I could just smooth out the overly harsh ride....
Sadly, I have to report there is now 1 less Spec D in the fold.
At the end of October I got rear ended while stationary by a taxi.
Needless to say, the insurance company has wrote the car off as Cat D uneconomical to repair.
The damage is repairable, maybe could source it cheaper myself, but have decided not to keep the car. I intend to buy the car back and break it as it has a loads of mods. At the beginning of the year I spent over 6k forging the engine and upgrading the turbo running a safe 390 on the standard top mount.
If anyone wants any bits off it let me know before I start a new thread.
After 10 years with a v5 classic Sti I have just got an 07 spec d. Now i have sort of grown up 😂 I Wanted something quick but a more refined. A spec d fits the bill perfectly. Its had a fair bit of work done ap 6 pots and 4s on the rear. Tein adjustable coilover suspension. Drop links, roll bars all done. Mahale pistons and a gt30 turbo making 436bhp with a powerflow top mount so looks really stealthy. Miltek 3" and equal length headers so subtle noise too. Im loving the luxury compared to the classic could not believe it when the mirrors heated wow! Lots to do though.
Question looking at pics on here, did all spec ds come with the traffic master fitted below the vent? Seems an odd thing in itself let alone seeing it fitted to others.
Yeah, they all came with traffic master and Pioneer Stereo. I removed it when I bought mine though.
Has yours not got leather interior then? Get some photos up.
The owner before me changed it to sti interior as he found the leather slippery and the seat design unsupportive. Will get some pics once its had a rcm time attack return to sump catch can fitted and some paint work. Sorry to hear about yours buddy. Just put my old classic in the for sale section boo hoo
Blimey the Pioneer head unit was useless. Replaced that straight away and fitted some jl components in doors, sub in boot etc etc plus more sound deadening
Last edited by StiKirk; 30 November 2014 at 08:28 PM.
I've only just seen this thread and thought I would ad mine to the list. I got the car in May this year, first registered in March 06 so cheaper tax bracket with only 40k on the clock and completely standard. I've got a few plans for it, but not going to go to mad with the mods, just going to change the exhaust, suspension and get it mapped.
Here it is the day I picked it up
And just after I had the wheels refurbed in grey
Last edited by Matt23; 20 November 2016 at 11:53 AM.
New owner on board, it looks like it's been a while since there's been anyone on here but I'll try my luck anyway, I've recently bought my spec d sti and I've been reading this thread for a few weeks so I thought I'd put my name down on the list. Looking for as much help on here as I'm coming from a modified forester xt and never owned the Impreza �� Cheers.....
New owner on board, it looks like it's been a while since there's been anyone on here but I'll try my luck anyway, I've recently bought my spec d sti and I've been reading this thread for a few weeks so I thought I'd put my name down on the list. Looking for as much help on here as I'm coming from a modified forester xt and never owned the Impreza �� Cheers.....
Welcome to Spec D ownership, enjoy the car and be sure to get some pictures up Asap
New owner on board, it looks like it's been a while since there's been anyone on here but I'll try my luck anyway, I've recently bought my spec d sti and I've been reading this thread for a few weeks so I thought I'd put my name down on the list. Looking for as much help on here as I'm coming from a modified forester xt and never owned the Impreza �� Cheers.....
How are you finding it? I'm collecting a Spec D at the weekend and have also been having a read of this thread. So far what I've learned is that my engine is probably going to explode and land me with a massive repair bill. I did the checks I could for the HG stuff, but think I'm going to be constantly paranoid about it!
13 March 2014, 06:41 PM
)
I do love the sound of an untamed scoob and I have access to umm 'friendly' MOT'ers too but I tend to see the de-cat as something that you get hammered on at sale time. "Decat hey.... hmmm ..... well I'll have to factor in getting that put right then!" (even when you know 100% they will never touch it! 
)
I see more spending coming my way!
with only 40k on the clock and completely standard. I've got a few plans for it, but not going to go to mad with the mods, just going to change the exhaust, suspension and get it mapped. 
