GREGGYG

iTrader: (2)

Please help me chaps, I know you have, and I respect your objective opinions, and thats why i'm asking you! I have a WRX PPP 03 which i've had since new, and been very happy with in every area, except one thing, the way the car leans and feels quite soft, when I go round corners or bends. (even though it has Prodrive springs). I got itchy feet, as most of us do, and after weeks of dithering, went and test drove an Evo VII FQ 300. The car was totally superb and mental round twisty roads, it felt totally upright, almost like it had no springs at all, and I really want it. Are they as reliable as our Scoobs? I know the servicing is every 4500 miles. Shall I do it? Will I regret it? Would you change to this car? Are they good motorway cruising cars also? Any other fears I should have? All opinions gratefully received! Thanks!

misty

Matey, I went from a my/00 with ppp. prodrive brakes, suspension, wheels, to an EVO V.....................Never looked back.....well only a little bit!!! the Evo is everything I expected the scoob to be. Who cares about the short service intervals? tiny fuel tank? the shi*ty mpg? and the rock hard ride? Not me it's all been worth it. GET IT MATE!!!!!
dave

craigdmcd

iTrader: (2)

It quite possibly will be, but to be honest it is not really a fair comparison. I'd have loved one but asking the bank manager for another 7 grand wasn't really an option

Craig

chris's scooby

If you like it and want it then buy it!

eliot

Sorry but i have to disagree
I test drove the FQ300 and was really disappointed. It just didn't live up to expectations (my bugeye scoob was running at just under 300bhp). I felt rattled by the time I got out and it didn't feel any quicker than my bugeye. Yes, the handling was better but overall the scoob was more fun to drive. Motorways would be a noisy, shaken, hard ride but if your not doing it a lot then it doesn't really matter.
The Evo didn't give me the grin factor that the scoob did.......so I bought a new wrx sl blobeye with ppp and a few more mods (and more to come this weekend - handling in particular), and now am so pleased i didn't buy the evo. For the extra money the evo costs, you can mod the scoob to be as good - and the interior is better as well.....which is a bonus
Hope this helps
eliot

robby1

buy a p1 mate,you wont look back save the bank managers £7000 for xmas

AR

I agree with you about the soft cornering bit - it really bugs me too despite having 18" wheels and Prodrive springs. However, I have the wagon and therefore can't go to an Evo!

WRX_Rich

iTrader: (5)

anti roll bar and solid drop links.........sorts the problem right out

I had a test drive in a 260 ( not as good as a 300 ) and was totaly put off and I wanted to buy the car loan sorted and everything

if I had the money for a fq320 I think I might change my mind

MattW

I've got an 8 FQ330 and previously had an STi with PPP.

Get the Evo

C

It's the natural progression from a Scooby

MPG is no worse, it's just the size of the tank thats smaller.

Reliability - well, lets not go there, lets just say you wont have to worry about blowing a chocolate piston through your cadbury's sponsored engine block with an Evo

There are plenty of cars on the MLR running well over 400bhp on standard internals.

RRH

As a mate of mine once said who owned both STi7 and Evo7 at the same time;

"If you want to go round the block at 200mph like your **** is on fire then take the Evo. You will become quite friendly with your dentist though as you'll become his best customer when all your teeth rattle themselves loose.

If you want to travel any distance take the Impreza, its quite a bit more refined and not that much slower- just more comfortable and relaxing to drive"

I have to say that I agree with him- although I keep feeling this strange attraction to the dark side...........

sKunk

Get your droplinks upgraded.

Beastie

iTrader: (2)

Well Greggy I am in the same boat. I have an RB5 WRSport and last week test drove the EVO V111 260. If felt really fast and made nice whoosing noises but the suspension was absolutely terrible, i drove the car fro 14 miles and it gave me a headache what with all the bobbling up and down with my jowells flapping. (No not jewels!).
I then asked if the more powerful models had different suspension, which they do as it turned out made by Bilstein. I then booked a drive in the Demo EVO V111 MR340. Absolutely fabulous, the suspension is well sorted, firmer than the Subaru but not uncomfortable and keeps the car well composed. First test drive i have ever caught air witrh the car as we hit a yump at speed. Landed beautifully and all the car was doing was communicated right back to me through the steering and suspension. It was quick but very friendly, the only impresson you got of the immense power was the wheels squirming sometimes.The interior has most of the things the new scoobies have, however, it doesnt have tracker but has smartnav. The seat doesnt have height adjustment and the speedo was very small and hard to read, it also doesnt have outside temp or a bright switch! However, it does have HID lights and rear wipe and the mirrors fold in.
I am sorely tempted, i have already driven an STI PPP and was underwhelmed with the performance which as far as i am concerned was basically on a par with my existing car if not a little bit slower.
I have been offered £11500 as a trade in for my RB5 and really want the EVO, in fact it is the only car i have recently driven that I WANT, so i know where you are coming from.
I would say that you definitely wont regret it even if they do bring out a 2.5litre scoob in the next year.
Beastie

MattW

Can upgrade to Tracker Retrieve for £100 and then £24 per qtr.

MJW

Hello ? It's 2004 y'know, not 1994

minor_threat

If I had the money and the opportunity I'd trade my Scooby for an Evo! A red Tommi Makinen Edition Evo VI . . . drool . . .

Beastie

iTrader: (2)

MattW has a valid point, you can also upgrade it for speed camera detection GPS stylee. However, as Greggy is considering an FQ300 then this does not apply to him.
I also now believe (from looking at roadtests and lancerregister) that the V11 has harsher suspension than the V111 MR.

Scooby Roo

Evo if you don't mind visiting the dentist

Suspension will knock a few fillings out in a Tesco's Car Park

MikeWood

Gregg

Try an 04STi with a PPP and preferably springs as well before you make a decision or even wait until the dealers have 05STi demos available. I don't think you want to go over to the dark side then....

Mike

S.B.

Which model have you experienced this in?

C

Hello

I know it's 2004

& yes, still sponsored by Cadbury's

I'm not quite sure why people are saying they are so hard in terms of ride it will knock you're fillings out

I can't say mine is bad at all!

Maybe you lot are just used to a big, wallowy, comfy saloon car - the Impreza

p.s. - No understeer on this Evo corner :P

S.B.

How can you remember

C

It is a bit hazy, I must admit

Not for too much longer now though

blot

Can't comment on Evo 7/8 but had a 6 for 15k miles and have covered nearly 30k in my 5, is the ride hard? I personally don't think so and find the seats extremely comfy..but then again 2nd car has been westfield (cold, wet and ow!) followed by elise (cold & ow!) and now noble (very comfy).

Have found Evo ownership to be trouble free, only major costs incurred with the 6 was discs and pads (after an excursion into a muddy field at Croft.

5 has been very reliable and can't really imagine selling it, it's still totally on the button despite 55k miles on the clock.

Lagamorph

iTrader: (12)

why not wait and test the 05 model i think that has a longer wheel base and spec c suspension then make a decision.

Andy

Gary C

Nice car, I loved mine. Even after I had to change the AYC rear diff (eeeeeeeek)

Fantastic cars. The AYC adds to the driving pleasure, the 5 & 6 (maybe the 7 too) had much more power than the advertised 276 (over 300 according to ralliart). Dissapointed by the 280 evo 8, not as aggressive as the 5, so much so I went for a new STi but the fq300 probably addresses that.

The onlything missing from the EVO mix is the scooby noise (mine sounded a bit like a kenwood mixer), but you can probably address that with a exhaust.

Mine did cost quite a bit to keep on the road, servicing is not cheap at a dealer, try a specialist but NEVER miss one.

Its the only car Ive had where people have stood in the road to take pictures of it while I've been driving past.

paulhsti

I am going to compare the evo 8 FQ300 directlyagainst my 04STI this weekend as my cousin has one and we will be swopping cars and seeing what's what.
He had a 02STI PPP and recons the evo is more comfortable and handles "better" -he would wouldn't he.

T.J

Hi

I went from classic scoob (approx 275bhp) to evo 8 fq300. EVO handling and scapel like steering is in a different league and worth it without the performance gains. Performance is linear as opposed to big bang which can prove disconcerting until you look at the speedo. The 5/6th gear performance at motorway speeds is also excellent. EVO is more roomy than a classic/blobeye.

MPG about 21-24, 60 litre tank. Servicing every six months/4.5 k miles.

Tyres last about 8k....... road use only! My scoob fronts used to last 10-12k and rears 20k.

As for noise, decat and remove the bung from the rear box which improves the sound.

Dont understand the comments re hard suspension et al and I drive mainly on B/unclassified roads.. MR variants seem to resolve this 'problem' for those of a more sensitive nature.

Also see Clarkson comparison of EVO v Scoob (STI7 PPP) v Audi S4 for some
more convincing.

TJ

George W Bush

I going the opposite way from EVO 6 to o5 sti.

Didnt even try an 8, really dont like the look of them at all.

The 05 sti is something else....

marky1

Yeah I agree there is something about the latest EVO that just makes it look wrong. If it wasn't for the look I probably would have bought one instead of my 03sti. The Evo 6 looked great IMHO.