Mike Tuckwood

I have looked at a car today the current modifications are
1) Ohlins suspension all round. All comments on this welcome like or dilike, (good or bad).

2) Engine re-chip done in Japan by a company called 'K Series' (not sure if that is correct spelling does any body know anything about them? (good or bad also).

Impreza Turbo ownership getting so close I can almost smell it.

abetts

My STi has Ohlins suspension. I have not seen anything of comparable quality available in the UK. The damper rods are about 40mm diameter and the bodies are plated (? Cadmium). The dampers are 35 position adjustable without removal from the car so you should be able to set them up to your tastes.

Ohlins were originally a Swedish company but they are now owned by Yamaha. They made their reputation in the bike world and are currently used on Carl Fogarty's World Championship winning Ducati. I believe that they started to diversify into the car world a couple of years ago.

KENNY McK

A chipped car! are you sure you wont to do that? Please dont waste your money, if its chipped it`s busted and thats that.

clarence

'K Series'? Or is it "K's"?
K's is one of the numerous tuners in Japan that does parts for Japanese cars. Other notable parts maker in Japan that 'do' Subaru cars are Apexi, Prova and HKS.

malique

hi kenny,

Care to elaborate about chipping?

Thanks.

mal.

Mike Tuckwood

To abetts & Clarence.

Thanks for the replies, I am assuming that as nothing detrimental has been said about either K's or Ohlins, that they are of above average quality? Particularly the re-chippers.

Kenny, please quantify the reasoning behind your contribution! especially as everything I have read in the FAQ points towards these cars being more than capable of handling additional increases in power without compromising longevity or reliability? I would be grateful if you could tell me what it is that concerns you so deeply.

[This message has been edited by Mike Tuckwood (edited 17-01-99).]

[This message has been edited by Mike Tuckwood (edited 17-01-99).]

KENNY McK

Yes sorry it was a bit opinionated wasn`t it, its just that though, my opinion.
However while I agree that boost levels will probably not exceed the safety levels for your engine, there is no such thing as a free lunch, there will be increased fuel consumption and extra strain on clutch gearbox drivetrain turbo intercooler and pipes, all very expensive.
now, can anyone put their hand on their heart and say they have found the limit of an impreza on public roads, let alone an already more powerful jap car, if they have then i suggest that they might be confusing their own abilitys with those of the car.
Its a stereotype I know but people who need to chip their car probably dont drive it sypathetically.
If you bought a car new and had it chipped fill yer boots,then sell it! Know what I mean! but does anyone want to buy my chipped up
S econd H and I mpreza T urbo

yours
opinionated
kenny

yee_har

Mike, tried to E-Mail you earlier with a few bits and pieces..."Domain not known".
Can you update profile and/or E-Mail me with correct address.
Thanks,

malique

cant find f*** all on ohlins and am f***ing curious and abetts makes it sound like a MUST have...interesting.
Cant get input on fish and 'chipping' either - no one out there chipped their cars or what?

pardon the ****'s.

Mike Tuckwood

Dear yee-har.

If you read the newly posted "profile Alteration" you may quite understandably reach the conclusion that I am somewhat in-experienced on the E. Mail situation.
I have updated (with assistance my profile/E. mail address. Please communicate at your leisure.

Mike Tuckwood

Thank's kenny, I am capable of evaluating my limitations, I was looking for "EXPERT" opinion on the vehicles limits and strengths. I have no doubt that I am not the first to tread this path, in fact I am counting on it.
I understand that there is an increase on stress etc. on all parts with additional load and boost Etc. however with improving engineering/production and designed (future proof) engineering, that these cars are capable of dealing with what are statistically in the region of power increases of around 17% overall on figures calculated.
(I'm happy to live with the reduced mpg Etc.

[This message has been edited by Mike Tuckwood (edited 17-01-99).]

KENNY McK

sorry mike, I did not mean your limitations but those of the unknown person who chipped your car originally,like i said its my opinion, its just that i have never had one before,opinion that is, and i was so proud of it, pity it wasn`t right i suppose.
Never mind me i just worry too much, anyway best of luck with the car.

clarence

Stuff made by K's should be okay, as they have a long history in tuning turbo cars.
Do you know what boost the ECU is running? It seems that most Stage 1 ECU ROMs from Japan raise it to around 1.2bar. This is the case for Mine's VX-ROM, which is the most 'respected' ECU in Asia for Japanese cars.
I think it all depends on how the car is driven after it's been chipped and whether there is sufficient cooling for the engine.
As you know, a lot of Jap turbo cars are artificially limited to 280ps, some of these ROMs 'de-limit' the power output. E.g. the export spec Toyota Supra has 326ps, whereas the Jap spec Supra only has 280ps.

Mike Tuckwood

I am advised by the current owner that it is running 1.35 bar. Power comes in strong at 3800rpm.

rupertu

Kenny McK - you may be surprised to learn that 'chipping' doesn't always adversely affect fuel consumption. A Legacy Turbo that I've been using used to do about 20mpg, like an Impreza. It then went for some ECU mods with Dave West up in Princes Risborough (he's a bit of a Subaru guru). It came back with substantially more power (over 260bhp I suspect)and driveabilty (torque I suppose). Cane it and you could still get it down to the 16/17mpg of before, but have a cruise-about tankful on m-ways, d/carriageways, congested A - roads etc and the thing would do 26 or 27mpg ! I did on one occasion get 29mpg out of a tank ! It had over 120,000 miles on it by then too, and yes it's still going strong.

Jules

"Chipping" cannot be THAT bad for a car - A Main Dealer in Surrey offers a performance upgrade which includes an "ECU re-map" to take power up to 240+ BHP. Quite happy to maintain the warranty as long as you get the car serviced there as well.
& guess what - once your back is turned they send your car off to Superchips for the ECU work !!

malique

Instead of chipping the car wouldn't it be better to fix a boost controller which allows you to dial up the boost to your fancy and increase, as necessary, fuel/air mixture anyway AND it doesn't mess with the car's electronics -i.e. doesn't piggyback the ecu?

[This message has been edited by malique (edited 25-01-99).]

Steve Wilson

Cannot comment on chipping but Ohlins suspension should be of a very high standard.

Ohlins are regarded as probably the highest quality dampers used on motorbikes, both on and off road. Many racers uprate their OE with Ohlins. Ohlins have been involved in several 4 wheeled racing classes. Yamaha are the major shareholder.

Naz

Without labouring the point too much...if you give a common or garden trained police driver (I'm not talking Damon Hill here!!) a 120bhp car, there is no way, all other things being equal, that your normal Impreza driver could leave him (or her) behind, even with a "chipped" car.
Better technique means faster, surely the biggest buzz is driving a crap car well. As for chips, best had with fish!!

As for the Ferrari comment, there are many reasons to buy a Ferrari (etc...). The main one (in my opinion) is CLASS, Impreza - not got it!

[This message has been edited by Naz (edited 28-01-99).]

Naz

There is an interesting thread going through this subject, which I find astounding in the extreme. Why would anyone want to "chip" the car, when they most likely cannot drive the original to its full potential anyway? No offence, but I doubt that anyone commenting here can do so. I can't (and won't try on British roads) but then I'm willing to admit it!!
Why not spend some extra money on learning how to drive fast BUT safely before biting off more than you can chew!!?
One last thing, if you must be macho, make sure that you tell your insurers about the chip, 'cos if you don't it'll be a lot of money down the pan when you wrap it around a tree!

malique

naz,

Good point but it isn't really about ability is it? More like capability.

Why buy a Ferrari, C36, Alpina, Mitsu Evos, Skyline, STi 22B when one can't exploit it to the max? Must one be able to?

I don't know but I have a want, a desire... not that I need it nor do most of us here I guess. Macho? umm...sorry....don't have hair on my chest.

"Humans....unusual temperemental beings with a mind unlike ours" - Spock circa stardate 24193.


[This message has been edited by malique (edited 28-01-99).]

Mike Tuckwood

Thanks to all for your input on this one.

I bought the car and all seems well so far, it will be in my local garage on Saturday, for Mobil 1 vaccination, new cam belt, oil and fuel filter + installation of quickshift gear change from local Subaru main dealer, (they had one in stock).

A profanity passed my lips when the main dealer told me that the cam belt would be £117.46. He thought that telling me that a MY99 cambelt is £190.35, might be some relief......
He was right, thank goodness for trade discount.

Mike

TC

Naz, what type of 120 bhp are we talking about? is it escort gti bhp or caterham or lotus elise(ok i know that the caterham and the elise have slightly more) but because of their weight are considerably faster. I in my youth was a bit of a tarmac specialist although i did a bit of forest work also, but to come to the point i came up against traffic police enthusiasts on tarmac stages in similarly powered cars and to be honest the few that did compete were not that competitive.As for the 120bhp car competing with a standard impreza even a mediocre driver becomes leaps and bounds better because the car is so easy to drive fast. Try it yourself at a track day you drive a 120bhp car and see if you can get anywher near an impreza.

Mike Tuckwood

naz.
1) Here we go.

"Astounding in the extreme". Shows or implies a lack of foresight and a preconceived interpretation of why something is required or is going to be used.

If it calms your fears somewhat and to pacify the tree hugging anti-speed types, who are so clearly concerned about the safety of myself and other road users (not that we need your concern).

Passed my test at 17 years old, had one 'at fault' accident in over 16 years driving (minor shunt not caused by excess speed),

And yes I exceed speed limits where in my qualified and capable assesment it is safe to do so. The proof that my assessments have so far been accurate is over 16 years without an 'at fault' accident.

This has often been with expensive, very powerful cars, which I have worked very hard for and enjoyed owning.

"Biting off more than you can chew"
I have also been a motorcyclist for over 17 years and now own and use a Honda Blackbird with 150 Bhp at the back wheel. Still a big thrill.

I have passed the following driving tests.

1) Car
2) Motorcycle
3) Heavy Goods Vehicles. (C+E)
4) Track laying vehicle (Tank)
5) Advanced Driving test (car)
6) Advanced Motorcycle instruction has been booked.

How many have you done to achieve your lofty position of judgement?

CLASS?
Class is purely an individual interpretation???

MACHO?
Excuse for somebody to enter an ill founded, ignorant (of any pertinant facts) argument with no other justification.

I hope I have offended nobody with this reply I started this thread and on the whole it has been worth the effort as has this post also.

I do not think that in any way I am unique, in fact I know that I am one of thousands who are capable of doing slightly more than the numbers on a road sign tell you you must comply with.

Mailique.
Nice one.


Mike.

Naz

FLAME FLAME FLAME - did I touch on a raw nerve?

Mike, I am more concerned about the tree.

If I must lower myself to the slanging match level, then here goes:

I too, passed my test at 17 (32 years ago) and have had no, as you so quaintly put it, "at fault" accidents (is there any wood about here?!). How many have you seen happening in your rear view mirror??

I have my concerns about people who believe that they know better than the people who set the speed limits. The limits are often historically influenced, rate and severity of accidents etc. How can you justify your claims of being qualified and capable of making an assessment about when it is safe to speed, do you know every road THAT well?

I too ride a bike (T595) and fly a plane. I'm also an A.D.I. What more do you want?

I hope that you continue to be lucky in your driving and steer clear of accidents. Although, you could make yourself even luckier by modifying your attitude.

'nuff said?

Naz

TC,

You are, of course, correct in your inference that some police drivers are not as good as others (just as there are Golf pros who win the Open and those who just can't quite get there).

Believe me, there are drivers out there that can drive an XR3i around a track quicker than the average person could drive an Impreza around it. I'm not slagging the Impreza (and I loathe XR3's), I'm just saying good technique gives you more virtual bhp than you think!

TC

NAZ; Only the privelidged few are ever going to win a major championship let alone THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, most tour pro's realise this and are happy to earn a damn good living playing a "game" no life or death or situations just a well paid hobby.Yes there are people out there who can drive underpowered cars quicker than high performance machines god knows i've proved that to some pretty shocked boy racers.What the impreza offers the general public is the chance to sample a safer quicker car that flatters the ego even when the drivers skills are a little bit below par(no pun intended). As has been mentioned numerous times on these threads there is no substitute for driver technique,except maybe if it were coupled with a helping of natural talent.If we compare it to boxing Frank bruno was taught to box but he didn't have the natural talent or instinct of Mike tyson who once he was trained was far superior. The same goes for Rally drivers,F1 drivers,Touring cars etc.. you can teach them good technique but without good "vision" all they have is good technique,which may make them fast but not "FAST".

Curiousity beckons, is there some reason for no profile of yourself eg;what line of employment are you involved with?

[This message has been edited by TC (edited 01-02-99).]

Mike Tuckwood

Naz

Glad to see your further opinion, comment of this nature should be encouraged in the correct forum, I comment openly with my identity and details known to all who are you, why the anonymity?

Back to the point. To correct your earlier statement, Speed limits are rarely historically influenced in the manner that you imply, they are often set on a blanket basis with caution given a high priority, which is why you will rarely find a primary ring road (A class dual carriageway) with a speed limit of more than 40 or 50.

It would be more accurate to state that, accident spots are often the cause of increased policing priorities and historically, speed limits are very rarely altered either up or down. Other methods are usually adopted instead. Traffic calming being one, (an estate in Birmingham is now considering how to reverse a scheme which cost over £1.2 million. The scheme is a recognised failure compounded by the fact that less than 20% of the estate wanted it in the first place.

What was that comment about knowing better than people who set the rules limits laws Etc.

I have seen very few accidents (none actually) in my rear view mirror though I have seen others when people do not pay enough attention to what they are doing and get themselves into bigger accidents at slower speeds than I travel at on occasion.

Lack of attention for the surrounding/prevailing conditions is usually the root cause of most accidents.
Speed is fine. Speed in the wrong place or at the wrong time is wrong, not the actual speed itself.

I make no claim to knowing every road that well, I have the ability to assess and act accordingly and it surprises me that you think that constant appraisal of one's own surroundings is wrong.

I find it interesting that you applaud the ability of one type of driver i.e. trained police driver but with the next sentence condemn somebody who has had the foresight to undertake additional training at his/her own expense, not just because they have to for their jobs.

I have routine contact with the Police and you would be astonished at the frequency that they are involved in accidents even when not responding to emergencies.

Your concerns are misplaced if you believe as you state that avoidance of accidents is purely down to luck. I hope that you do not feel that your ADI status gives you a strong standpoint, my experience of driving instructors is the primary ability to TEACH little emphasis being on personal skill or ability in the seat themselves?
The basics to inexperienced drivers???

What do you get if you cross that trained driver with "good technique" and put him into an Impreza??

In case the logic eludes you, the answer is a competent driver with good technique who is also driving a supremely competent and stable car..


Sorry to all the other non radical BBS visitors members and Administrators, but I am sure that there are a few more of you that do not want the perverse and narrow minded, 'follow the leader' opinions which appear to be creeping in.

To concede otherwise will lead to more political correctness, which will further restrict genuine car enthusiasts.

Naz. Nice bike by the way, any more communication on this matter I will be glad to indulge in by direct E: mail.


Mike.

Naz

TC,

I apologise if you took my comment the wrong way, I didn't intend to deride Golf as a profession. If I had the talent to make a living out of a sport that I loved, then I'd be first in the queue!

Your argument about natural talent is, of course, irrefutable.

My anonimity is innocent, I merely wish to protect my business interests, future pupils (or their parents more to the point) may not agree with the things that I post.

Mike,

Your arguments are lucid and well presented but we'll have to agree to differ on most of your points.

I don't want to provoke any more correspondence, this has gone on long enough, but please note the following:

Most dual carriageways with a speed limit of 40 or 50 mph have small side roads (without an acceleration lane) or driveways directly joining them. Take a look next time!

I couldn't agree more when you say "speed in the wrong place or at the wrong time is wrong" - we just differ on the definition of the wrong place and wrong time.

Whether or not any ADI is a good driver or not (and my experience is that some are not!), it doesn't alter the "fact" that an experienced ADI (such as myself) has a greater awareness of the dangers involved in driving than 98% of drivers on the road (you may be in the 2%, we'll never know!). For example, when you travel around a blind bend on a country road, how often do you think "there may be a stray cow/sheep etc just around here". I know it's unlikely (but not unheard of), but a ton and a half of beef can leave serious dents in a car, or if you swerve and hit something else........I use this scenario to illustrate my point, I concede that awareness is linked to experience, but there is something more. However, I digress.

Mark,

Plod, pleeaaasse!!

Just a little "behavioural psycology", we all drive to a level of perceived risk. 85mph in a modern car, with all it's safety features and better brakes is perceived as being safer than the Mk1 Cortina scenario to which you refer, but if you hit someone standing on the pavement or crossing the road, they aren't going worry about what car it was, just how fast it was going!!

I'd lay a wager that Mike rides his bike more sensibly than he drives his car, because you feel a lot closer to death on a bike. I know that I do!

I only looked into this website beacuse one of my ex-pupils (fortunately not ex-person) wrote his Impreza off. I didn't intend to post but....

Enjoy your Impreza's, but more to the point enjoy safe driving.

Mark McE

Mmmm.......i smell plod.....that subtle hint of behavioural facism.....they just can't hide it......

As far as speed limits go it seems strange to me that it was "safe" in the mid '60s for your average driver to do 70 mph in the rain in a Mk1 Cortina on crossplies with no seatbelt but it's arrogant for me to assume i'm safe doing 85 in a modern car?

Ferraris got class? - a bit nouveau riche i'd say....

[This message has been edited by Mark McE (edited 02-02-99).]