Pete_UK99

I don't have any mechanical knowledge, but my warranty for my car runs out next year and so I'd be looking at upgrading the performance. At the moment I've got ppp so I'm guessing it's around 245-250bhp. I've been looking at the new age impreza and the spec c which is obviously a wonderful car as demonstrated by Ian in Auto car. To be honest I'm not to bothered if I can't get it to behave and perform exactly like the spec c but it would be nice to get a similar figure output and handling characteristics. So how much money would I be looking at to do something like this, and who would be the best company to approach to do it?
Or would it just be cheaper to sell the car and get a spec C.

Scooby96

sell and re-buy what you want - less hassle and probably c. the same price

Pete_UK99

So do you think it would cost around 10 grand to do a conversion like this?

Jza

Interesting thread... Ive got a MY01 WRX with PPP - my warrenty runs out Jan 2004. Ive seen the spec C etc as well.

Choices for me are the same:

a) Sell car and take a £10k + hit to get the new car with more poke as standard

or

b) Keep my car - spend a few grand on de-cat and suspension/brake upgrades - and be happy with what i've got.

Tough choice. At the end of the day i think its got to be a financial decision. If you can afford the £10k hit - get the new car. Otherwise dabble in the world of mods and enjoy what you have already....

I'm still undecided!!! I'm going to see what the next years STI is like (the spec C is too extreme for me - i like my comforts more than the odd time i can thrash the car).... if its got the DCCD - ie its on a par with the JDM car - im probably going for one of them.

Like for me - there wasnt a UK STI about when you bought your car... so the advantage of the new STI is that when we both post in 3 years time (having bought an STI) asking the same question (but ref the STI 13 ) - our car will be better made for some more power mods than our WRX's at the mo.

Good luck and keep me up to date with what you decide!!

Jza

MCL335

ATTACH IT TO THE BACK OF MY M3 EVO, THAT SHOULD DO THE TRICK

greasemonkey

How do you define similar? You'll never get a UK300 to handle the same as a Spec C, as the UK300 is somewhere between 140 and 200kg heavier, and doesn't have the altered front suspension geometry.

You could concievably change the front suspension, add the turbo and other bits, but unless you chuck the bodyshell and replace it with an RA one, you're still only nibbling at the edges.

As has been said up top, if you want to get this sort of driving experience, selling your car and getting one with what you need already done would probably be the most practical option.

[Edited by greasemonkey - 9/5/2003 3:29:30 PM]

Blue_Boy

Have to agree again with the greasy one and S96 above, if it's Spec C performance you want, there's only one choice in terms of the complete handling package (and don't forget the Spec C is standard with that bhp, you've got the law of diminishing returns here in as much as every bhp is going to cost you more on an already tuned car, but that depends on how fast you want to go really).

If it's just outright speed your after, then your probably better off keeping the UK300 and doing it up as it'll be lots cheaper, but I suspect that come resale almost all of the savings will be lost due to a low resale value for the "added on" car as opposed to the standard one.

But I could be biased

Bob Rawle

AFAIK next years MY04 Sti is the same as this years for UK/Europe. The JDM spec will still be just that ... JDM.

bob

Pete_UK99

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm not after something that will be the exact performance as a spec C, but at least something that will perform on a similar level on normal roads. I do like having air con and the other luxuries so wouldn't want to go as far as the spec C. I also still like the look of the UK300 and prefer it to the new look. I'd just have to have similar power, so probably about 320-350 bhp and handling. What would be needed to get this sort of spec from the engine and how much would it roughly cost?

greasemonkey

There's quite a difference in cost between 320 and 350bhp, so you might want to be a bit more specific there. If you want to get close to the Spec C's driving experience, you'll need considerably more than the same amount of power to take account of your car's extra weight.

Depending on whether it's 320, 350, or somewhere in between, you'd be looking at turbo, possibly fuel pump and regulator, remap, at least partial exhaust system, intercooler piping and panel filter, possibly (if you're going for the upper end of your notional scale) bigger injectors and uprate top-mount/front mount intercooler too.

Ballpark cost for that lot, depending on whether you go for new bits or cruise the breakers, could be anything from £1500 to two-three times that. Also don't forget that you might want to do something about the suspension, and especially the front brakes, which are given a lot to do hauling up a big, heavy bugeye with more poke!

Pete_UK99

Where would be the best place to get this sort of thing done, or would I be better sourcing from different places?