I read with interest the Autocar feature on the 0-100-0 times for various cars, but it has got me thinking about several things.

Firstly, they describe the technique for getting the best start on these cars as revving to the limiter and then sidestepping the clutch. If I do that on my car (98 WRX), the clutch slips instead of the wheels spinning. I suppose I still get a reasonable start, but nothing like keeping the revs at 3.5k -> 4k while letting the clutch out slightly slower (not to mention the lack of smelly fumes coming into the cabin). Is my clutch on the way out? It has been like this ever since I have had the car (& I've done nearly 10k miles in it since I bought it) so I assumed that you needed a little skill - after all, the car still hasn't done 30k miles! Now I am wondering. If this is the case, does anyone know how much it is likely to set me back sticking a new clutch in?!

Secondly, I am confused over the performance figures! I am surprised at how little difference there was between the RB5 and the 22B (although it seems that this may be down to final drive ratios as discussed elsewhere), but I wonder how the grey STis and WRXes will compare to this. How about ones with ScoobySport / Ramair additions? I would expect them to give a UK 22B a good seeing to!!

What does anyone else think about the state of my clutch & my other comments? I'm not trying to start a flame war, but subjectively, I felt that my car was a "lot" quicker than an MY99 Prodrive to 100 (tested on the same bit of track on the same day). I talking straight lines here, not bendy bits!!!

I've read numerous times that the impreza has a smallish clutch.

I would never dump it this way for fear of burning it out, in any car, but ESPECIALLY in a 4wd.

Just think..200 odd bhp, 4 sticky wheels, decent tranny, where's the power going to go...weakest part which is the clutch !

didn't gel clarkson get a whiff of blue smoke under bonnet from the same trick on an escort cossie ?

I wore out the clutch on my first Impreza (95) in under 10k by doing starts like that. I'd always had hot hatches before and made the mistake of driving the Impreza in the same way (ie high revs and slip the clutch). Doing this in Scooby just stinks out the cabin and wears the clutch at a frightening rate. The way I drive the Impreza now is to basically get the car rolling and the clutch fully engaged before flooring it. You may lose a little for the first 10 feet but then wave the opposition bye bye. Of course, if it's not your car like the 0-100-0 testers then yes, dial in 6000 and dump it!

BTW judging from the price and bhp/torque quoted for the RB5 in the 0-100-0 test it must have been a Prodrive car

Hi Anthony & All

Last time I slipped the clutch at 6000rpm was in my last Impreza (95MY) when racing my brother (in a 328i BMW) off the lights.
Beat him easily but nearly choked on the clutch fumes given off. My brother also commented on it saying he could smell it also - so I will never do that again !

A friend of a friend who works for Lotus (who was there when Autocar were doing the 0-100-0 tests) said that the 22B was NEVER put through the test !! Makes sense because the 0-60 & 0-100 times they quote in the article are EXACTLY the same as in the back of the mag for a 22B tested months before.......

Interesting.....

Jules.