I just realised the paint on my Spec C is only 80 - 100 microns thick. A few areas go as thin as 70 microns. The car is brand new and has never gone through any form of paint restoration.

A quick search on 'google' tells me that the average paint thickness for cars from the factory ranges from 100 - 180 microns?

Is this only the case for a Spec C? Or do JDM STIs come with such a thin coat of paint?

Spec C owners, have you measured your paint before? Is it that thin?

 

Spec C's have less paint to lighten up the car, i used t cut once on my first one and it took it down to the plastic on the bumper

Tony

 

This is one of the reasons you only buy a spec c because you want one its been said before, on the MY05 onward cars, there is very very very little in it in terms of performance between a spec c and a standard STI (and they have thicker paint )

Tony

 

Hey Tony, good to see your respond. Was about to call for the Spec C guys, you, Rickya, Shaun, Juggers.

Anyway, was your car polished before? I find it hard to believe that Subaru would resort to using less paint for the Spec C to save weight. That's commitment for you eh? They must've saved what? 2kg? I guess it saves them money by applying less paint too. Win win situation for Subaru Japan.

What about JDM owners? Anyone?

 

No mine wasnt polished, just washed (well not polished, polished, just lightly polished), but white seems to suffer worse than blue for some reason maybe because its not metallic.

Tony

 

Get some pics up Suberman

 

I have a Spec C Limited like Tony. From research i've found it is true that the Spec C between 03 -05 (at least) had less undercoats than the normal JDM STI. This press release from STI Japan has proved useful in explaining some of the Lightening procedures....... http://www.subaru-sti.co.jp/e/GRN/bulletins/040902.pdf

I imagine that paint depending on its ingredients weighs heavier than water. 5 litres of water = 5 kgs of weight. So i would say there are a few kg's to be saved. I suppose every little helps. My car has no accident history but in a certain light where the C pillar joins the rear wing i can see a join/weld line. I pressume this due to a less refined finish.

Andrew

 

When we did a Prodrive trip (when they where still with Subaru) they where prepping the shells for the WRC cars. They always used white primer, single coat, as it weights less than coloured primer. No pigment/colour makes it lighter.

 

Don't you just love spec c's. It's the only car i can think of that can raise such a subject for a thread................Spec c's for you hey got to be the best impreza to roll of the production line

 

Ah, i guess i need to get some decent pictures up soon.

What i have right now. https://www.scoobynet.com/members-ga...-for-xmas.html I'm sure you'll remember me.

 

Yup, they make it known in the press release that the Spec C comes with less undercoats, but imagine if they had added the fact that it comes with less paint.

 

I sure do! The best impreza that comes without boot trim, sound deadening, less undercoat, thiner panels and glass and now to add....less paint as well.

 

Didn't they remove the rear speakers too?

 

Most of the panels are the same thickness as the standard car, its mainly the sound proofing and revised front beam that reduces the vast majority of the weight, though things like not having a release inside the car for the boot help

Tony

 

I thought the roof is thinner? Bet the boot release weighs 0.5kg!

As part of my dealer's effort to make the Spec Cs more user friendly, they offered to install the boot release at no charge, i politely declined their offer. It isn't a Spec C if it gets too user friendly isn't it?

 

I own a 03 spec c it came with no spoiler no rear speakers no central locking no elec windows no boot opener standard manual mirrors in fact not alot of anything.
I did have paint correction done when i got it as it was really poor and i wanted it to shine at least a little.
This not being a spec c ltd i think i will upgrade it to ltd spec as im hating winding windows and locking each door indiviually.

 

my bug sti limited is the same **** poor thin paint and **** poor thin clear to top it off, I had paint correction done on the roof after it got hit by a roof tile now all the clear is pealing off

 

Well you dont get much more on the limited, still dont get the boot opener, you get a black interior instead of blue, external temp and rev change buzzer, plus the electric windows and mirrors, the rest is simlar to the 17 inch version with the exception of the alloys which are standard STI items hence why I now have some BBS 17 inch wheels

Is yours not the motorsport version though jonboy?

Tony

 

I have a MY04 Spec C Motorsport version but it has factory fitted central locking, electric windows and air conditioning.

Still has Manual DCCD, did have the throwaway interior, WRX brakes and 16" steel wheels but they were upgraded by the first UK owner Rich S202 I believe.

I think the original Japanese owner must have added some options on ordering but surely it would have been better to have ordered a Spec C Limited?

 

Most new age cars have pretty thin paint, my 53WRX wasn't much better tbh 90-120 on most areas and +/- 60-80 in the crevices and scoop.

 

Hi all, I have an 06 Spec C V-LTD (Arai) and the only thing (extra) I would have asked for is the passenger side sun visor >>>> SPEC C

Sorry, couldnt resist the opportunity

 

Ah mine comes with the passenger sunvisor as standard

Tony

 

Lovely ! how many times have you been pulled on the plate

 

Still getting away with it

 

I was told it was, it had standard 4pots when i got it but original wheels changed and since fitted brembos, other than that and a passenger sun visor for her indoors its how iv came hereso im told hence no spoiler either