My new MY98 Impreza Turbo feels low on power.

Before the 1st 1000 mile service, it'd pull hard from 2750 revs and I could hear the beautiful whistle as it wound up to the (self-imposed) 4000. Now with 2500 miles under it's belt, the car only seems to take off at 4000rpm+ and I can hardly hear the whistle.. If I do, it's faint and the engine seems harsher.

Sound familiar ?

Am I being a hypochondriac (sp?) or does this sound ominous ? (running Super Unleaded)

I've experienced the same thing with only 1700 miles under its belt(MY98). Personally, I put it down to getting used to the performance. Have you tried driving another car you know well. I often drive my wife's car and find it so much slower than I remember!

Try resetting the ECU. Take a look at the FAQ http://www.sidc.co.uk/

I tried resetting the ECU today, and experienced no feeling of improvement.

(I disconnected the -ve battery terminal, let the car sit for 1-2 hours. Then reconnected, drove to a dual carriageway (1-2 miles away) then held it in 5th at 4000 rpm with my foot on the brake for a good while. OK, so I broke the speed limit)

No real difference in pick up was noticed. Maybe the ECU was set OK in the first place.

As for getting used to the speed? Dunno. Perhaps. Previously, the car would accelerate blindingly from 3000rpm in 1st, now it takes til 4000 before "igniting".

I don't think that is a perception thing.

I just fitted a RamAir & Scooby exhaust a day or 2 ago, before resetting the ECU and didn't really feel more speed either..

If your in first and bury the accelerator, when does your turbo cut in and go stupidly fast?

Hmm.. Maybe I always just want more

Flog it, get on a plane to Japan, buy an STi there, stick it on a boat to Blighty and spend all the spare cash on beer and loose women to keep you entertained until the car arrives.

David read my comments in the general section. It's that ramair filter. I think it's much better without it in everyday driving.

David,
In answer to your query about what revs the engine gets into the groove. Mine has 1700 miles on it, and the turbo begins whistling around 2000rpm. This whistle I am told is the by-pass valve which allows the turbo to spin but not actually feed the engine. Then at around 3000rpm it definitely starts to push, the turbo stops whistling (I think the bypass valve is closed now) and it begins to whine, the thrust is quite healthy, increasing all the way to 4000 when it gets to what seems to be it's maximum, this is maintained to the red line. I find it very odd that you're not really sensing the turbo's effect below 4000rpm, definitely something very wrong. Now I am a layman in this field, but is your by-pass valve not operating correctly? If that was the case, the turbo would whistle until the valve closed and fed the boost to your engine, which in your case seems to be at 4000rpm now.
They definitely do something at that first service. Mine was fine until then, now it 'knocks' below 2000rpm, and I'm very very annoyed about it.

your cam belt is one tooth out on one of your cogs, see your local dealer who will sort this for you

If the last message is right, so much for official UK dealer PDI!