Hi Guys,
I know i've seen this on here before but did a search an couldn't find quite what i wanted to know.

I was pondering getting an 03-05 blob sti a few months ago, an the longing just hasn't gone away.

If going for an 05 UK spec that has the DCCD is there much difference between it an the JDM car?

I know the JDM revs to 8k an the UK only 7250?? Can this be up'd with a re-map.
Does the JDM have stronger rods or pistons?

If tuning to 330-350bhp will there be any con's to buying UK spec over JDM basically.

Thanks in advance

 

Just buy my JDM instead as they are loads better than the uk model

 

+1 on JDM, it is much better.

 

had an 05 uk sti now have a hawkeye jdm and would not go bk to the uk model, JDM all the way.
I think 'scoobypedia' has info on the different models

 

gotta be jdm......

 

Jdm cars are better spec'd than the uk. Think they have stronger interals, twin scroll turbo, quicker rack steering , electric mirrors, high rev line etc, cheaper to buy but more to insure. I have had jdm classics before and have just picked up my first jdm newage and although I love the car and the way the twin scroll delivers the power and pulls all the way to 8k, I have to say I really miss the sound of the exhaust note you get with a uk car,

 

I knew everyone would say "Just get the JDM" but i wanted to know the differences.

The option I have is to do a part ex for my 120d Msport and its an 05 UK model.
Had the 120d advertised for a month, about 800-1k cheaper than anything else similar spec of mileage an not a phone call, so I don't have alot of choice unfotunately, otherwise i'd just go for the JDM.

Now for some constructive replies.
Can the UK car have the rev limit raised with a re-map?
Can Uk car easily put out the 350 that can be got from JDM with de-cat and downpipes?

Thanks guys!

 

I wouldn't be put off buying a UK car - the JDM may be better in some respects, but also has higher insurance, lower resale value, and for real world drivers for those of us who aren't professional rally drivers or drive at maximum speed everywhere, the performance differences are very small.

If you can get a good part ex on the 120d, and you like the car you are swapping it for, then dont get too hung up on theoretical power and performance figures.

I think we often get caught up on here thinking that a 0.5s difference in 0-60 time is a HUGE difference - the standard UK WRX is a damn fast car compared to 99% of things on the road, and the UK STi is even quicker - if you bought one and lived with it for a while and find you arent using 99% of the performance, you may well decide you dont need to do any tuning to it just for the sake of having better 'down the pub' figures.

 

Ye, obviously the guy has to like my 120d also but We'll meet up and see.
I think at the standard 265bhp it won't be that much quicker than the 120d past about 30mph. Mine was dyno'd at 218bhp and 530Nm! So it goes like stink for a diesel.

Just reading up on a gas conversion, unfortunately i do about 300miles a week.....thats where the 120d was a saving grace.

 

as for the uk and modding, a walbro fuel pump, decat downpipe and centre and an uprated pannel filter plus an ecutek remap should see around 350bhp 360lb if not a little more what i have found by owning my 1st jdm newage is the way the power is delivered is completely different, where the uk car seems to come in with a punch around 3k and then start to die off towards the top (just my opinion) the jdm comes in a load earlier and is on full boost sooner and it feels as if it is more progressive and pulls to all the way to 8k. think you need to drive both and see what you prefer, as i tried a wr1, 05 uk sti, 06 uk sti ppp and was not a fan of any compared to my p1, then i tried a jdm and i am a little lucky as it is a MK1 T25 and i cant fault it other than the lack if the subaru burbble

 

Ok Thanks stevie1982.

I imagine thats the difference between the twin-scroll turbo on the JDM, and Normal on the UK, if the UK one isn't a twin-scroll?

The only other Imprezza turbo i drove was a 1990 4 door. Owner said it was about 320-330, but it felt like that, nothing, then, bang of power about 3 an flat again by 6.5. It was quick it those revs but alot of work if driving on a twisty road to keep it going.

 

Sorry Mike but I have to disagree. I found insurance costs to be no different and if anything re-sale values are higher, they just take a little longer to sell due to their more specialist nature.
The figures may only be marginally different but that doesn't tell the whole story about the way they drive. The twin scroll gives much quicker spool, the quick rack is much nicer and the car is generally better spec'd. Buy a spec C and you're laughing

Mine is my fourth subaru, all the previous being UK cars. If you can buy the jap, you wont regret it

 

Mike, im agreeing with mad here, these are 2 totally different cars in the way they deliver their power, in a uk car your talking 3k before it starts to become a monster, the JDM started 1300rpm lower, much more linear and is a more precise road car than its UK counter part, plus they hold their value more than that of a UK car due to the limited numbers over here, insurance is very similar to that of a uk car.

Tony

 

Spec C is far too raw as a road car.

Both JDM and UK cars are impressive. I tried both and preferred the 2.5ltr UK STI. If I was to buy a track car then it would be a JDM, probably an RA-R.

As road cars both UK and JDM stage one tuned STIs are more than you need. The UK 2.5 is much better than the 2.0ltr and delivers as much power and more torque than the JDM early on.

 

Oh and as for better spec'd... you get a rear wind screen wiper, electric mirrors and the worlds worst ever attempt at a sun roof. I've said it before, the "JDM all the way" argument doesn't really wash with me post-classic. In my UK car I got a lot more in car goodies than you get as standard in a JDM.

It really depends what you require from a car.

 

I think it depends on your insurance company, age, area, how much NC you have.

When I was first looking to buy an Impreza, an import was over double the price to insure of a UK car, and that was with all the insurance companies I tried.

I'm sure the JDM does feel quicker / better after having driven a standard UK STi, but if you have never driven either, you arent going to find the UK one a slow car !

But again, that depends on the driving you are doing - from the OP's posts, he will be doing 300 miles a week ( mostly on a motorway ? in which case acceleration isnt much of an issue ), so I would suggest any Impreza probably isnt the best kind of car to buy - adding a large mileage to the car each year isnt going to help when it comes time to sell as there are plenty of low mileage weekend and second cars around to choose from, so higher mileage ones dont seem to be selling very well.

 

oh and one other thing i would def go for a later 2.5 uk sti over the 2.0 uk sti much more low down grunt. the jdm are all 2.0ltr unless you get a mk1 t25 like me!!!

and no the uk is a single scroll and jdm twin and the twin scroll is a very nice setup best

best bit of advice i can give is to try them both mate as it is you who has to live with it day in day out.

not sure where you are based but you can always have a look round mine but remmeber it is not a normal jdm

cheers

 

I'm not talking about toy's Mikkel, I'm talking about mechanical spec so the list should include vastly superior turbo setup, revised chassis details (in line with the spec C on later cars), quick rack, better seats (built for normal people, not fat americans), stronger engine internals.....

I agree that it depends what you want from a car and if I were looking at something to do a load of motorway miles it wouldn't be a subaru of any kind!

 

Agreed on the seats

Yeah, it is not really a motorway car. I found my old 350Z made a better motorway cruiser than my current STI. Didn't feel like it was made of paper and about to rattle itself apart above certain speeds in high winds

 

To answer these questions, yes you could raise the rev-limit but it's lower for a reason and yes you can get 350 easily from a uk if it's a 2.5.

 

The JDM's have a higher rev range over the 2.5's, they also produce 80% of their torque at 2.5k, not bad for a 2ltr and out of the box, the JDM's produce MORE torque than the 2.5's

Tony

 

JDM's do have more toys in them over the UK cars folding electric mirrors, auto I/C, rear wash wipe etc

Tony

 

No only about 100 is M-way, the rest is lovely tarmac with nice twisties, easy to get carried away on!
TBH i'd say if i kept it a year that would be it. Its a car I've always wanted since before I ever drove, (25 now) and still want it! I'd say 6-12 months of fun an fuel costs will be enough!

Being in Ireland the 2.5 isn't really a runner. The 2.0L costs 620 euro a year to tax, the 2.5 is a little over 1000 a year!

I don't think the insurance is that much diff for UK or JDM, i do remeber being told that a 2.0 in my name (5 yrs NCB, no points, full licence since 17) was 2100 euro and a B4 Legacy would be 800! lol

Would have to go the route of GF or mother insure it. About 900 for impreza sti then.


PS. Any one on here converted to LPG in theirs?

 

I have had a JDM WR Ltd Legacy with the twin scroll and found it to be a cracking car, only 280 donkeys but delivered extremely well. When I went to the local Subaru Dealer he was all over it like a rash, they come in WR Blue in Japan on the spec but not the UK.

My JDM MY 04 Foggy STi is now converted to LPG by the new owner, it's by Romanero, I think and seems to be the only Foggy STi conerted so far. There is a big thread on it at www.subaruforester.org in the Europe section. You may want to drop Scott a PM and ask him. He seems more than happy.

 

Romano Lpg on a MY 04 Litchfield Sti - Subaru Forester Owners Forum

 

i would go for uk model as when reselling least your going to keep some of the value unlike most JDM imports they lose alot of there value when reselling due to being an import, not much in the two, id got for a uk spec model wrx sti and put decat exhaust, panel filter, walbro fuel pump and ecutek remap and you will see 350/350 if not more, stick with the uk models mate, if your wanting a good JDM sti you have to go for somthing like type ra-r, spec c, s204 etc, as for sti JDM vs sti UK nothing much in it with both at least the uk model will keep more of its value when reselling, and i dont think having electric mirrors, IC auto spray which needs to be filled up every week, and a rear wiper are much needed extras, the rev limit can be made higher as my 07 wrx revs to 7500-8000rpm now after a remap.

if i was you i would go for a standard uk spec sti, put a full decat turbo back exhaust, good panel filter, walbro fuel pump, remap and you will have a quick road car having 350/350, just as good as any jdm model sti and will hold more of its value

 

^^ JDM has the "better" engine though (2 vs 2.5) JDM all the way!

TX.

 

That's just isn't it? Wrong car choice surely fella if you're thinking of that?

TX.

 

Im just waiting to see if this guy comes back to me now to see if he's interested in a part Ex....

Wish he'd just ring!

 

Who told you all that bullsh*t?
JDM's hold their value more than UK cars that's a fact and thats because they are a better car and in more demand.
Spot your average MY03 UK STI, value is 8-9k, same year JDM 9.5-10.5k, depreciates more? nope

To start with, there is a substantial difference in the way both the UK car and the JDM car perform, on average there is 30+bhp difference, the JDM has a MUCH wider power band and is far the more drivable on both open and country roads, earlier JDM cars have A-DCCD and quick rack steering as standard, something that was not standard on UK cars until 2005 (and thats only the A-DCCD as quickrack steering isnt even an option, and it makes a BIG difference in the way the car handles and feels )

As for increasing the rev limit, have you wondered why its set where its set? thats due to the fact the rods/pistons (especially on wrx's) aint up to doing 8k rpm, so it if goes pop, you know why

Tony