I know

Just thought I'd throw a curve ball in

 

love it, if i only had the cash.........

maybe a nice S204 one day but not until the new year, funds have slowed right up so will stick to the 330 m sport for a while longer

 

It's bad for everyone at the moment I feel for those who can't even get a job. I hope things get better for everyone!

330 m sport is a nice car mate but they drink a lot!

 

I would buy an RB320 if it had the 2.0 jdm engine, or even the original type uk 2.0 engine.

 

Buy one wait till it pops then fit one of them lol, or forge it then your covered

 

RA-R

TX.

 

if you are going to go for a UK car. I would go for the RB 320 all day long, the hawk STI is the best of the uk newage cars, without question IMO. I have had an 04, 55 and currently own an 07 plate, all STI's i have spent about £2k on a stage 3 suspension set up, and os map with an afterburn vortex back box and in a word the car is epic. ive done 45k miles and it hasnt missed a beat. Good luck with whatever you decide scoobys are off the chain fun, albeit high running costs..

 

Depends what you want from your ride, if its a unmodded daily with kudos and style get the rb320, if you fancy modding to your taste/ requirements, uk sti and if your a week end track ***** then spec c.

All great cars, and all within reach for the same sort of money.

Don't agree with the comment about running costs,as there is nothing out there that can do what a subaru does for anywhere near the money, the only comparable car is an evo and they cost more to buy twice as much to service and do a fair bit less to the gallon.

And scoobs sound soooo much better too

 

Quite right I stand corrected!

 

Is a very fine example though

 

Nice but £21.5k is very steep, i would buy an 05 jdm sti and run it at 450bhp and have change for a 2.1 build as and when

 

£18,250 seems £1k or £2k too much. My Nov 2006 Type 20 with 360bhp and 42k miles and full Litchfield history was £15,000 6 months ago. £3k seems quite a premium for a lower mileage (42k's not high) and 30bhp.

Still, very nice, and an obvious alternative to a similarly priced RB320.

Very nice though

 

I agree on the price but take in mind and this is me assuming yours is in standard ish form, the one in the link has a larger turbo and more mods which will save money in the future, plus the almost 20k miles less (2 years motoring for some) then know them down 500-1000 and I think it is fair. More importantly and as you say its a comparison against the value of the comon price if the RB320, I would test drive both and I think I know which one o would be taking home! Albeit a train scroll ;-)

 

The 2.5 would be only drawback as in piston damage risk etc.

A mint one with big end failure and 2.1 her be the job

 

I own an RB320 and love it. Nobody just walks past it without drooling. Its a lovely car to drive with bags of torque. Sport cat and pipe, panel filter and remap should see a decent power increase although there no slouch standard. All scoobs are losing money at the moment but being the RB is so rare im sure it will be very sough after in the future.
If your looking at one make sure it has the 3rd bearing re-work rear shocks. Most have now as the standard ones started knocking early on and were replaced with re-worked units. Also try and get leather or even better lether & alcantara seats. Check out the RB owners club, there are one or two nice examples for sale.

 

What's this 3rd bearing thing?
Did the RB 320 have the same issues as the STI uk? Strange as the RB runs different shocks!!!

 

Like the STi the RB320 was fitted with Bilstein shocks and like the STi they developed a knock. But unlike the STi the RB320 shock's were replaced with factory modified unit's. The modification was a re-worked third bearing which solved the problem. If you look at the rear shocks you should see a sticker under the Prodrive sticker that says "third bearing re-work".
Also there is talk about the 2.5 engine being weak and suffering piston problems. Im unaware of any Rb's to yet suffer this. I have seen a few RB's that have covered near 80k miles so they cant be that weak. If you dont go for huge power on a standard non forged engine, use good oil and 99 ron fuel you should be fine.

 

I don't think the STI uses Blistein tho!!!

 

They use KYB and the RB320 gets a set of Ebach lowering springs from what I know.

 

The RB320 has Bilstein dampers.


http://www.prodrive.com/level4.html?id=67

 

Cool

 

As prodrive were the ones who tinkered with the RB motor i also have not heard of any problems with them.

 

Yeah your right. my bad. but both developed the knock but only the Blistein on the RB were re-worked, although some dealers tried to replace them with standard STi shocks.

 

I would think they suffer the same problems that Hawk Sti's, ie occasional piston/ringland failure and cylinder heads. Nothing prodrive have done is likely to have altered the basic 2.5 issues as the map on the Hawk Sti's does n't appear to be the issue. Not saying they're not great cars - they are: v torquey, modded suspension, look the dogs.

Anyway, from the RB320 forum (head gasket rather than pistons)

"Posted 13 April 2011 - 07:38 PM
Hi guys,
I don't post very often but defo check in everyday for snoop. I have some bad news on No 151. The head cylinder gasket has failed apparently, I was out on Sat for a drive in the sunshine, quite spirited but nothing exceptional, my water temp gauge started climbing from the usual mark, I pulled in straight away. On inspection no obvious leaks or hoses loose?. Let the car cool down for an hour and a half and was followed home the couple of miles by the RAC. The car was only serviced 4weeks ago so I knew all the fluid levels were spot on. Had the car checked at the house by Duncan at Hypertech on Monday, diagnosis, fooked gasket :sweatingbullets: , got a second opinion from Subaru main dealer, diagnosis, fooked gasket.

I am a bit perplexed as the car has wanted for nothing, best oils, serviced on the button every year etc, always heated up and cooled down, defi gauges let me know when oil temp is up to speed before using boost and the turbo timer keeps it running after driving to cool turbo. Main dealer was happy to take photos etc and send report to Subaru UK but I was advised that no out of warranty good will payment has ever been made.

To say I am gutted is an understatement, got a bill of circa £1600 pounds for new gasket, parts and labour. Only good thing is the new gasket parts and labour will have a 3year/60000 miles warranty guarantee."

 

I think all boxer engines are prone to head gasket problems. This is defo not just a 2.5 problem.

 

If you do a search, you'll find it mentioned on here much more with 2.5s than 2.0s.

 

Just because it's mentioned here more does not meen its more common I had a friend with an early 2.0 turbo and he went through plenty of head gaskets. In fact i remember reading many thread's on viarious forums as to possible causes and even a court case which was prior to to 2.5 engine comming to our market.
As great as this place is, it's far from gospel

 

iam not really seeing the problem here, if you bought it as a no cost daily driver, iam afriad the 2.5 isnt quite the correct car, these cars are money sinks, if the head gasket goes its a good excuse to forge the engine ( dont cost a whole lot more ) and get a head gasket that dont go ! i have a hawk sti , no issues so far but have money set aside for the inevitable rebuild, then more power, win win.

 

The irony is the forged piston's are cheaper to buy than the standard subaru pistons. Just a little bit of machine work needed. I wonder if some of the head gasket issues are due to cheap cylinder studs stretching. easy fix if your re-building the engine.

 

Anyway, hope neither of you have any such issues (nor me for that matter!).

Enjoy that torque!