as im new to these and looking to buy one soon can anyone point out the pros and cons between the two models,any help at all is welcome cheers

 

UK car is easier to live with on a daily basis, 2.5 ltr single scroll car with 10k/1year service intervals, Spec C is a 2ltr twin scroll JDM car with 7.5k/6 month service intervals, somewhat harder to live with as you lose a fair few of those comforts (soundproofing etc) and more of a weekend car than a daily driver, especially if you do long trips as they become quite tiring and require more concentration.
2 totally different cars that do a similar job, one is just a fair bit hardcore over the other.

Tony

 

thats more or less what i was hoping to find out,the cars just going to be used under normal conditions most of the time, just with the odd blast. the wife will use it mainly to go shopping in.is it worth going for the spec c for straight line pulling power or is there not a noticable difference?

 

You dont buy a spec c because its fast, you buy a spec c because you want one, thats the biggest difference.
99% of Impreza owners are more than content with the everyday performance of their car, hence you have greater sales of normal STI's over the Spec C.
In your position i think you would be selling the spec c sooner over a normal STI because it doesnt tick all the boxes, plus the wife may complain about it being too noisy

Tony

 

but why do they want one? is it the trackday potential? tuning potential or what? the wife will be complaining anyway when i start looking at nur spec r exhausts!!

 

the answer to your questions is here
https://www.scoobynet.com/members-ga...-scoobies.html

budgie

 

You want one because you want something a little more hardcore, hence thats why I bought mine back in late 2003, the only reason I sold her was because I changed jobs and thought that I would be out of pocket more (big mistake ) but they are harsher on the roads, plus some parts (windscreens for instance) are a little harder to get hold of.
Like I said, 99% of Impreza owners are more than happy with a normal STi because it suits their needs perfectly (like the bigger 60ltr fuel tank etc)

On your exhaust front, it will still sound quiet in the normal STI, deafening in a Spec C (even the standard exhaust can sound loud )

Tracks can be done in either car, though the Spec C (which stands for specification competition) is the car they use to make into the group A and group N cars.

If you want a good compromise, then look at a JDM STI which are still 2ltr twin scroll cars, they have a couple of extra's over the UK ones but more comfortable than the Spec C.

Tony

 

That would be my advice too, JDM STi

 

what proper advantages do the jdm cars have over the type uks as in on the road advantages not just tech spec on paper?

 

My best answer to this question begins with saying an Evo 6 is in a different league to a type UK STI. (i had the UK STI before the Evo) My comment here refers to the handling and grip capabilities of both cars in STANDARD spec.

The JDM Twin Scroll i have now has the same turn in, grip and lightning change of direction that my old Evo 6 had which subsequently was the best car i owned for the pure adrenaline rush it gave on our highland roads.

I've been all over the country with my work and if you live in a city or have motorways etc all around you the JDM car simply wont shine properly. You need back roads to appreciate it.

I wouldn't own another Uk STI.. It just doesn't match up in any way to the JDM car.!!!

The twin scroll turbo is also an absolute gem with no lag and instant response and the 2.0ltr lump keeps going to 8k. UK car 6.5k?? thats pathetic is it not.

Will you modify?? JDM will give more and cost less....

 

Here's some of the differences the MY06 JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) STi has over the UK version.

• Twin scroll turbo
• Nitride coated, cross drilled crank
• 13:1 STi quick rack
• Slightly larger intercooler design
• Auto and manual intercooler spray (UK get manual activation only)
• More aggressive inlet cams
• Equal length headers
• Electric folding wing mirrors
• 235 width tyres (UK get 225)
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th same as UK, 5th and 6th are shorter
• Front STi titanium strut brace
• 8,000rpm redline


Spec C

The MY06 Spec C is 90Kg lighter than the standard STi due to the following changes:

• Rear wash wipe **deleted**
• Privacy glass **deleted**
• Deadlocks **deleted**
• Boot trim and carpet **deleted**
• Passenger sun visor **deleted**
• Grab handles **deleted**
• Ski hatch **deleted**
• Glove box light **deleted**
• Isofix child seat fixing point **deleted**
• Underseal **deleted**
• Sound deadening **deleted**
• Map lights **deleted**
• Speakers in rear doors **deleted**
• Centre diagonal inertia seatbelt **deleted**
• Side airbags **deleted**
• HID headlights **deleted**




-
However, the Spec C has the following changes over and above even the JDM STi:

• Thinner lightweight glass
• Lightweight roof
• Aluminium boot lid
• 12 litre intercooler spray bottle mounted behind the rear seats
• Different radiator and water pump
• Engine & transmission oil coolers
• Roller bearing version of the twin scroll turbo
• Rear strut brace
• Lightweight front subframe
• Performance revolving chamber fuel pump (anti surge)
• Black seats, door panels and carpet
• Stiffer chassis with revised welding
• Larger intake pipe
• Roof vent
• Smaller 50 litre fuel tank
• Smaller lightweight battery

 

Very well put that Robocop...

 

Robo, you forgot the lack of carpet in the boot plus the different subframe (hence some weight savings) but pretty much everything else

Tony

 

Hi Tony

I didn't miss the boot carpet bit as you can see. I know the earlier previous models i.e MY04 had the different subframe, but I was unsure if this was the case on the MY06 Spec C, so I didn't include in the specs.

 

They all have that changed subframe, it removes one of the front iron beams if i remember correctly, saves a few kg there and sorry i missed the boot trim up there though you could add the thicker arb's to that and the different suspension (10mm lower)

Tony

 

Christ,

Reading this makes me want another Spec C.lOL

Mac

 

Robo/Tony after all that you forgot the lightweight battery

 

Nah, rob got that one at the bottom of his list

Tony

 

Cheers Tony I missed that its a reminder to put my reading glasses on

 

You also missed that the fastest and rarest ones are always red ,lol

Mac

 

You lot need to go specsavers!

 

And I thought that Shaun's was white

Tony

 

Tony.

Isn't it about time you got a "sticky" for this subject? Seems to get asked almost daily now ...

No offence meant to the OP of course.

TX.

Edit - Robocop post above is a good one for info

 

Probably is actually TX we could do with a pro's/con's of all the different types of subaru's, how livable with etc

Tony

 

Totally agree with the Sticky, always someone asking about these.

Mac

 

To an extent I agree with Tony ... you buy a spec C because you want something hardcore and a bit different. But I don't think it is so harsh. I've had mine four years now and it works well as a daily driver, a long-distance tourer, or a track car. When I bought it I had the 'standard' litchfield/powerstation 350bhp mods and now it runs 400bhp. I'm equally happy driving it to work, to the shops, or to Cadwell park (actually I'd much rather go to Cadwell, but you know what I mean). If you like comfort, neither the STi nor the C will feel particularly plush. If you like hardcore cars the C feels like the real deal.

I also have an (old school) mini cooper S and that really is a hardcore car. I'm taking it to the Nurburgring next year and dreading the trip down. In the spec C, its a breeze going, going round, and coming back.

 

I agree as standard my Spec C is quiet and comfortable and was a dream to drive to the ring and back.I decided mine was too quiet though and have opted to liven it up a bit with a nice RCM system

 

Get a Spec C, I bought mine after owning a UK STi Bugeye and never regretted it, as a daily drive for shorter distances it is no problem, can be a bit tiring on longer journeys but just so much sharper overall....

 

Guy's, read this first, you all own spec c's for a reason, you have to see what reasons Darren wants the car for, and tbh a spec c does not tick those boxes.


IMHO a JDM STI or a UK car would be better for Darren and his missus, to start with the lack of comforts (like the boot lining for the shopping, nothing as bad as something bouncing off the painted surfaces or getting stuck in the spare wheel well) isnt whats needed, plus you need to want a spec c, not just buy one and hope for the best, they are harsher on the uk roads (well up here in the north we still have horse and cart roads with holes in them ) as the suspension is stiffer than any other STI.
Being one of the first people in the country to own one of the twin scroll spec c's, i can say that they are a great car but still not for everyone (though I was use to driving series 3 landrovers for several years )

Tony

 

I think your right Tony. For Darrens & wifes needs, the JDM STI is perfect rather than Spec C