RB320 or 330s Hatch ?
 

Hi

I currently drive a 2002 wagon mapped with a few mods running about 280bhp give or take, misses drives a mk4 Golf 2.8 just to give u abit of a background.

We are currently looking for a car to share as I now have a work van an my car very rarely gets used (apart for the odd weekend thrashing or long motorway drive as mine has more room)

The 2 cars we are looking at are RB320 or 330s hatch (partner wants a S3) but as I'm buying I will take lead on this lol

What's your opinions ?

Car will be used daily for small commute to and from my partners work place bout 20miles per day in total.

Not looking to mod too much.....maybe a remap and exhaust depending on exhaust note.

Cheers

I'd go for the 330S hatch if I were looking for a daily. It's a more refined place to be yet perfectly capable of hoo age.

RB320 is more of a weekend car IMHO.

330S - I used to have one myself.

Get a forged one though if you can for peace of mind.

Rb320 was set up for the UK roads and is a lovely looking car just is it worth the premium over a UK sti that is subject to personal opinion. I think yes and is fine to live with on a day to day basis

330s is a great car I had one with a forged lump so piece of mind. Loved the mod cons such as keyless entry and start. The seats and cabin were a lovely place to be.

As for driving experience the hawk sti I have now feels far more positive to drive but what would I have given the choice, would have to agree with the above, 330s as a every day car is a very nice place to be

Does anyone know what the RB320 or 330s map up to ?
Also which do U think will hold its value better ?

I must agree with what U guys are saying re the 330s it looks a very all rounded car inside and out but something inside me is saying RB320..... I have no idea why to be honest.

I really need to take both for a test but feel cheeky going to a garage and asking when I may not buy it as I need to test both.


I've read the 330s doesn't suffer the usual engine failure as they were remapped by prodrive and that dials out the fault with the map

It would be unwise to push them over 340bhp but they can produce a lot of torques.

Don't feel guilty about taking them out, you cannot buy a product out of sheer faith and dealers know that.

The RB320 is a special car but do think twice about sticking a fair old mileage on one, they are better cars for a blast on special occasions.

question is what's your max spend?

I'm afraid you read wrong, 330S is not immune to going bang rattle rattle rattle.

I take ur point re the RB320, it's prob only gona do 7k miles a yr at a push mind due.

I'm just thinking about resale value when that day comes that's all.

Been reading loads about the engine frailer on the 2.5..... And it's not put the 2.5 in great light......... Saying that I've read horror stories about all scoobs at one point or another.

I've never (touches wood) had any major faults with mine in 6 yrs of ownership, serviced every 3k with millars oils and only used vp or momentum. It's needed for nothing and been driven hard at times but it has been very well looked after so I would hope all scoobs would be the same .

RB320 is my favourite Impreza so id go for that :thumb:

Had my 08 mapped to about 350 with no issues, main reason for the map was to build in some safety measures over the standard map, the up in BHP was just a bonus.

Daily driver would for me be the 330s, just for the mod cons, weekend hack then probably the RB, if you go for the RB though the upgraded interior is a must.

Max spend between 13-15k

I know it's not immune from engine failure no car is but surely if you don't push it to it's limits too offen and look after it with an added remap it must make it less likely ?

You'd have thought so but what about the previous owner? They might have thrashed it from cold and run it on 95 for all we know.

You're buying a secondhand car you take your chances matey!

This is the thing - many cars that have failed most certainly haven't been thrashed all the time.
The pistons simply are not up to the job, and will not really tolerate any kind of det whatsoever

Whichever you go for, I'd suggest you get one that has had a forged build by a reputable specialist. Quite a few hatches have had this done; A forged 2.5 is a wonderful engine!!

TBH special editions like the RB320 tend to attract higher prices than the regular counterparts so offer less VFM: depends how much you like the spec and the badge. No point paying over the odds for the spec if you're only going to start fiddling with it anyway!! :D

Neither, I'd leave the mrs in what she's driving now and ship my car off for a 2.1 stroker with avcs heads, 6 speed,500bhp turbo, sti ecu and tear arse at the weekends.:norty:

13-15k you might struggle to get a decent 330s

65k miles on a 10 plate?

Plus I've got my car to either part ex or sell before the purchase and my young ladies car to sell also.

sorted.... here you go
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ck?logcode=dsp

That's some motor that but a lil out my price range if I'm honest.

I'm really wanting a 330s if I'm honest, just all these bad stories I've heard of engine giving up is putting me off now :(:(:(:(

I may end up with a 135i at this rate........

Rich

4 year old car and you post a link with 2 year old car with 34500 miles that equates to 17250 a year more than the 65 k car in 4 years :wonder:

You need to get a jdm spec 2.0sti hatch. They will map to high 300s with just a remap or convert a MD321T to twin scroll and get over 400bhp

Didnt look at the milage. Only the rear window spoiler lol

I need to find one to have a look at the spec, the 330s bought me over with all mod cons like keyless entry, push start, sat nav etc etc.

I will search the net to have a look.

If you are concerned about depreciation (or better lack of) and want a perfect all round package buy my Forester STi.

Drop David at API a message ;)

He's got a JDM hatch sti there only registered owner in the uk as well.

Won't find many about and It would definitely be my first choice, although the 2.5's are thunderous with that torque!

Id get the hatch then get the std map removed not so much for performance increase but to make it a safer map, subaru mapped them more for emissions which is partial reason behind their tendency to go bang

Its a shame they didn't use the 2.0 sti pistons from<05 because the hatch onwards are very popular its just the chocolate pistons that put folks off :nono: