I'm new to this forum and I keep reading about STI5, STI6, STI7 etc. What do these mean - are they different models of Impreza STis?
I'm about to buy a 2004 STi Type UK - what STI number would that be?
Are there any other common Subaru acronyms I should know about before reading more of this forum ?!

cheers
Tony

As each year passes the number goes up, just the same as the Evo (currently also at 8 (VIII)). The MY03 (MY=model year) was the latest and was the eighth version of the STi, so hence STi8. The previous bugeye model thus was the STi7, and so on. Here in the UK we didn't officially get the STi until the 7, so any 6's and below are JDM (Japanese domestic market) imports. I'm not sure if the MY04 will be called the STi9, unless there are some major revisions to spec. The more knowlegable may feel free to correct me.

PS. Welcome to the forum. Ooh, and have lots of fun in ya new mota m8, ya jammy g!t ;)

[Edited by corradoboy - 11/22/2003 3:13:47 PM]

Just noticed you're in Halifax. You may want to check out the Northern forum for a couple of regular meets nearby. There's one in Huddersfield next thursday, and the following monday the Buckles meet just north of Leeds. They're a fun way to gain lots of valuable knowlege about your car, and meet lots of jolly pleasant people too. Dates times and direction all in the posts.

[Edited by corradoboy - 11/22/2003 3:21:19 PM]

thanks corradoboy.
It's a good forum isn't it? The only problem is - all the good advice I'm finding here is going to cost me money! I've been browsing thru the various discussion groups and so far I've mentally bought a Prodrive spring set, dumped the Bridgestone tyres for some Toyos, booked a service with TSL...

If you're going to TSL, better get a geometry set-up done too. And consider bumpsteer to get rid of understeer. Then of course you'll be needing to PPP that STi as is just isn't quick enough yet ;)

The list is endless. I'd stick with PPP, springs, bumpsteer, geometry, tints, debadged and consider a defi-gauge set with knocklink, and leave the serious stuff to the big boys. You really can spend 10's of 1000's of £'s.

Ooh, and please don't be tempted by the mudflaps, especially from the dealer (£400 :eek: ), even at £160 they're a con. They can be got for £60, and I'm sure Halfrauds will be doing lookalikes very soon for pennies.

One last question.. what's Bumpsteer? I googled for it, but none of the entries explain what it is...

I'm not the most knowlegable here, but it involves revisions to the steering linkages and lower suspension mounts to alter the angle of the wheels during conering and loading to improve front end grip and thus remove much of the Imprezas understeer. Ignore Google and do a http://www.scoobynet.co.uk/bbs/images/Search.jpg on here, there should be plenty on it.

[Edited by corradoboy - 11/22/2003 4:01:28 PM]

The numbering of models finished at 6 with the classics.

MY00 Was Vesion 6

if you carry on though ;)

MY01 was 7
MY02 was 8
MY03 is/was 9

;)

japan got a 7 in 2001, europe had to wait until 2002 hence why its confusing ;)

Bumpsteer is a change of wheel steering angle as the suspension compresses or extends, due to the angulation and length of the track control arms and steering rack not being quite perfect.

The PowerStation mod corrects this by repositioning the steering rack slightly, reducing the bumpsteer. This (especially when combined with uprated rear antiroll bar droplinks) allows the front wheel steering angles to be optimised when the car is set into hard cornering, thus maximises the grip of the front wheels, and reducing the perception of "understeer".

bumpsteer removal IIRC is the altering of the steering arms to reduce the amount of suspension movement when you go over a bump.

I maybe wrong though

http://www.powerstation.org.uk/

Bumpsteer mod is not required on MY01 (ie new shape) onwards as the factory finally realised there was an opportunity to improive handling for pennies and fixed it from new.

As GM said it helps with understeer. Which seems a good reason for having the mod done ? (I know it doesnt cure 100% it but it really reduces it)



[Edited by chrisp - 11/22/2003 4:36:05 PM]