Hello all,

Merry Christmas, hope you can give me some advice.

I am looking to buy a WRX Wagon early next year and have been looking at all my options. I quite like the idea of going through Litchfield Imports and picking up a 280bhp model for the similar price to 220bhp Uk model. Can anyone tell me what other differences over the Uk model that the JDM Model will have?

I have seen that some believe that Japan imports are better built than the Uk spec cars, is this true?

Can the Japanese models have their performance easily increased by increasing exhaust size etc?

How difficult is it to get insurance on a "Grey Import"?

Can anyone let me know of his or her experience of the Japan WRX Wagon?

Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me.

Mark

 

try a search
its been coverd a million times before (i expect)

 

Good link, describes the differences in spec between the different Jap spec models... good luck
Link...

 

Not too knowledgable about the spec on wagons you will get on an import. I have a standard wrx 4 door import,MY97.
Rated at 280 ps (not bhp)
I believe elec windows,wing mirrors, aerial; Air con, rear wiper is all standard.
This link will give general spec ;
http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm#1.2

You will notice u will not get a 280 bhp wagon until the MY97 or later. STi3 wagon 300ps. Non sti wagons a lot less.

Insurance, i think might be a bit less for a uk wagon, not sure if it makes a diff at all with an import.
Best bet is to do the usual an get quotes from as many as poss.
I'm with Liverpool Victoria, but if under 30, i dont think they
do it.
Hope this helps

 

Thought liverpool victoria, did not insure imports as it comes up on there site,may have to try them again if they do

 

Narcosis

looked into jap import vs uk car a few months ago...

please be aware that most wagons had less power than the equiv saloon!!!!!!!!!
dont believe the dealer/seller unless you have some prove-ie r.road paperwork etc..

if you email the year of the wagon i'll get u some exact figures...

i went uk wagon due to lower insurance but now after only a couple of hundred it does 300 on a rolling road..
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Thanks for the advice guys,

I had run various searches but didn't have much luck, sorry to be a bore.

I was looking to get a new MYO3 WRX Wagon as they look to be slightly more expensive than the UK PPP model but appears to kick out a stated 280bhp on Ian Litchfields site....are Jap horses smaller than UK ones then? I wasn't aware that there was much if any difference in performance between wagon and saloon.

Thanks again for any more info and advice.

Mark

 

sorry narc thought you where talking about classic model imports...
so i'll just shut up now
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No mate, dont worry really appreciate any advice,

thanks ;-)

Mark

 

its sad but usually jap motors are better spec'd ..blame subaru uk for that?

but they are more expensive to insure

on scoobynet theres a section on insurance etc and i'm sure if you post there--they'll sort u with a few diff companies who do grey imports!!..
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here's another set of bhp values, a bit different form the ones in the link above.

http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/tech/model_codes.htm

Basically stating that only the Ver 6 has 300ps.

I don't think there is any way that a Ver 3 has 300ps!!! (as standard)

 

Cheers Guys,

Thanks for help and advice.

Here is another question for you. On Litchfields site they advertise a Milltek exhaust system that claims a power increase for their Sti of 30bhp. Is this realistic for the WRX if I have this fitted would I be looking at a 300bhp+ Wagon? Does anyone have any experience with this exhaust and the new Twin scroll Turbo as I have heard that it makes the engine sound quite different from that lovely old school burble? I will unfortunately be doing a lot of motorway miles so don’t want something that is to loud when cruising.

I also see they re-map for the UK Fuel so is 280bhp realistic after the re-map?

Seems daft that Subaru have different spec cars for different parts of the globe. Must be easier for them to have the same spec of car and level of engine tune from a manufacture and distribution point of view.

Sorry I am fairly new to Subaru and the concept of tuning and imports so if these are stupid questions I apologise in advance!!

Mark

 

mark.. this link only covers jap specs from the start to 00 years

but even the 5 door jap car was rated lower than the 4 door..
also jap cars & figs are passed usually on jap fuel rated at 100 ron.compared to our ul ie 95..97 for bp superunleaded and maybe 98 on shell optimax.....
you need defiante confirmation re would the car being sold run without any risk etc on uk fuel...seeings lower ron....
also i think jap motors dont have any(or very very little underseal )-coz they dont use salt on the roads etc..sorry trying not to waffle..but i'm sure some other peole will reply/give advise re the latest jdm cars and confirm/prove me wrong etc..which is what u need before you part with yer pennies..

also get some advise in the insurance section and compare uk vs jdm cars to help yer..
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http://www.iwoc.co.uk/jpimp4.html