John,

As I was reading the current Evo car of the year article, I was reminded of how evo always like to talk about how cars handle in adverse conditions on winding wales roads- using words like progression, predicability and 'feels keyed into the pavment' etc. Then it dawned on me that you had written a very interesting post about how well your Sport Impreza handled in the wet. You said it was better in those sorts of conditions than the Turbo spec Impreza's if I am correct.

With this in mind, I'm led to believe that your Sport was so good, not only for the fact that it ran smaller size tires (195's?) but that it had a different (and less sophisticated) 4WD (and diff) system.

What was it about the Sports 4WD sytem (diff) that made it better handling in the wet? Also with this in mind do think that there are after-market LSD's that also could contribute to making Impreza turbos's handle as your Sport did? (noteing that many feel the Sure-trac is too on-off/non-progressive for this purpose)

Thanks for your wisdom.

 

I'm not JF, but I think it's mainly down to the open rear diff and the lack of rear rollbar (or a thinner one, not sure)

 

correct

the sport has no LSD's, it uses an open front and rear diff, this is great for traction with a low powered car, not great when you have enough power to overcome tyre grip.

I also ran on 16" turbo spec wheels with SO2 PP tyres, so had a lot of mechanical grip from them.

The sport has no rear anti-roll bar and softer suspension, so it rolls a lot compared a turbo, but in the wet this gives more traction too. When you setup a car for wet weather, you always soften it off.

The sport is also a lot lighter than a turbo, so change of direction is better.

Sports are seriously underated cars, they only have 115BHP (or 125BHP) but are light and the engines produce good torque with no turbo lag.

 

John,

I'm hoping to put some new standard 17" WRX alloys on my 2.0 GX. Can i just simply bolt on and go or do i have to do something a bit more technical,

Thanks, Scooby

 

Scoobynet is pleased to announce the opening of it's latest on line venture called 'Ask John' where John Felstead will endevour to answer all of your car related queries

Sorry couldn't resist that one, been a sh*te day and this amused me

 

Yeah, should definately be an ask John Forum !!

 

There is one - it's called Drivetrain.

 

dont know on the 17" question, measure the rolling radius of the two setups, if they are the same then no problems, if the 17" gives a bigger RR then it will mess up your gearing.

Drivetrain is defo not an ask john forum, it's full of some very bright people.

 

a few bright sparks in here as well

 

Are you trying to give the impression that you are dim then John?

 

He passed the moderators entry exam .

 

I must have missed that.

 

John,

How different would a regular turbo handle in the wet- one that was set up in the manner as your sport was? That is basically the same (same suspesion settings, wheels, rollbars etc) but keeping the turbo's diffs?? I'm sure the added weight, nor the different diff would not damge things?
Thanks, JL