thenewgalaxy

Totally agree, as I do with you most of the time

The fact that the base spec STi is a formidable machine straight out of the factory is one thing, many of us take it far beyond that - this is an enthusiast's forum and most of us own enthusiast's cars.

But I do think Imprezas are (far more than most others) aimed at the enthusiast market and are even designed and built with the aftermarket strongly in mind. It's incredible what you can do with one of these things even on a comparably limited budget.

Were I not particularly interested in aftermarket tuning I'd have bought an RS3. The OP should take a look at an S3 if he's after a hatch with some poke, they're a bit mundane compared to an STi but still rapid and very nice cars.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

No worries and I'm not having a go at you either, I just think sometimes we are all guilty of looking at cars through the rose tinted spectacles of the enthusiast. I am the same I have spent £30K on an AMG worth only £23 or £24K, but that is with my enthusiast hat on

thenewgalaxy

I know you weren't, and I bet you have made that into quite a formidable machine. I've always thought the big Mercs are too heavy and a little wallowy, not difficult to sort that out.

Just out of interest what have you done to it? I've seen some on the American forums that are absolutely insane (twin superchargers as I recall).

I can't think of many cars on sale that are built without some form of compromise. But if you're after something very quick an Impreza / Evo is a jolly good place to start, as is an AMG Merc

I think the OP has been scared off any Impreza built since 2005...

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

What have I done to it? It's an SL55 so pretty rapid out of the box, but it now has a larger supercharger pulley, centre catss replaced by X pipe, ECU map, TCU map, larger heat exchanger, better IC pump, Rentech lowering module, SL63 rear bumper and carbon diffuser with custom rear boxes. No idea what power it is producing exactly but a safe estimate of 600/650 power/torque.

Still want to change the throttle body and airboxes and split the cooling system for a few more horses

Some cosmetics still to do like put the new AMG split rim wheels on and get the calipers refurbed at Godspeed, but have been waylaid by work and other things ... will get that done in January!

Totally different machine to an Impreza, in a straight line it's absolutely mental LOL!

thenewgalaxy

SLR kind of poke there...

I picked on one of them in my hawk after I got the engine forged, was the only time I've ever been humiliated in an Impreza.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yeah but whiz it down a twisty B road and I think you'd be fine! Different sorts of cars. Variety is a good thing