Impulse WRX purchase - need SVA help!
 

A friend of mine was at a Japanese import auction today. He knew I was on the look out for a 4 door as I have a 12 week old baby so he called and said:
"I'm standing next to a really tidy looking '96 WRX in white, do you want me to bid?".
To cut a short story shorter I'm now three grand poorer and a proud Scooby owner :)

I'll be off to Liverpool tomorrow to pick it up!!

I'm very green to the registering process and wondered if anyone could point me in the right direction? I know I need to get it SVA'd, but I'm not sure what parts I need to convert and what other stuff I need? Is there a specific firm anyone would suggest for the parts I expect I'll need? I know it's not a requirment for the SVA, but I expect a chip for UK fuel would be a good idea??

I did a search on here and found something about a model report, but I'm such a clown even that is over my head!

Any help much appreciated.

And there was me planning to get a nice BMW estate! :cuckoo:

A Model Report isnt required. Id suggest you look for an SVA preparation firm who will deal with this for you, although filling the b*stard form in is harder than converting the car..... Itll need a fuel inlet restrictor, a correctly wired and fitted foglight and the speedo face converting to display MPH (visible night and day). You may need to replace the tyres if they arent suitable (a lot of Japanese tyres are appalling) and possibly remove the stereo or other aftermarket accessories that 'may present a hazard in the event of an accident' (its common to re-fit them afterwards). If the car has wind deflectors these will need edging too. After all this get it MOTd and youre away.

Hope it works out for you; I wouldnt touch a car from a dock auction with a ****ty stick!

Simon

Many thanks for the info.
I would have given other people exactly the same advice for dock auctions! I guess the next few weeks will show whether I should have paid up for a known thing or whether I've got lucky..!

The fundamental problem with dock auctions is that all of the ****e grade cars from Japanese auctions are bought to supply them..... Then the auction appraisals and the oil chage stickers are removed (draw your own conclusions here...) before theyre spruced up and sold to 'importers' at docks auction, most of whom dont even know where Japan is, let alone how to import a car from there.....

GC8 has about hit the nail on the head about the dock auctions , better to import ya own motor from japan so u can get a good grade car, no brain needed just a bit of common sense and a few weeks wait, or go to a reputable dealer, but anyway u have bitten the bullet and got one from dock so , hope it proves to be ok for u , get the belts and fluids changed without delay

Id add to that: NEVER buy an (newly) imported car where you are not able to see the auction appraisal sheet. Irrespective of what youre told there is NO good reason for it (or at least a copy of it) not being available. Where it isnt available to see the vehicle has either come form a docks auction or; the vendor wants to conceal its auction grade.....


Simon

id agree with all the above hope you get lucky renton

ps say no to the huge bodykits and lexus lights :D

lol

don't be so negative! fingers crossed and all that!

it should be returned to showroom spec for an SVA but you'll get away with things like strutbraces,gearknobs etc. just don't try geting through with a decatted 5" exhaust, mahoosive bodykit and -120mm springs.

foglight, fuel restrictor (ebay), mph conversion (back of jap mags) + sticker that says MPH to cover the KPH one and you should be ok. shame it's a 96 cos cars older than 10years only need MOT - no need to worry about an SVA.

fuel - run it on optimax and things will be okay. get a knocklink and AFM for monitoring (plus a mothlike fascination with glowing lights). or spend 750quid here on mappable A'pexi ignition that will take UK fuel into account... http://www.andyforrestperformance.co.uk/

finally, service it with someone who knows what they're doing (like www.scoobyclinic.com), and Bob's your flippin.

i've got the SVA manual - it's heavy going but i can email you it if you want?

tath

PS you ain't gonna do some rash redline style things to the poor girl are you?

I'd go with GC8's advice.. From personal experience, and for a lot less hassle....take it to someone to sva it for you. There are a few pitfalls, and it will only save u headaches and time.
Worth getting a set of new uk suppled tyres on it anyway, while its there if the company can do it...get a full service with new plugs, leads, cam and ancillary belts, filters etc.

I have imported 3 subaru's and toyota gt4/starlet turbo/mrs in the last 7 months and when i went down this week to pick my wagon up i pop in to a docks auction which was only open to trade and i did not belive what prices the for because they were selling for near the same price i get them from japan and it work out the same and the good thing with the auction is you can check the car out your self and not look at pictures, but the best thing i would say about buying from a dock auction is no waiting 1-3 months for the car to get here.

That fact alone SHOWS that theyre ****e doesnt it? Theyre crap cars with low grades bought cheap and tarted up. Theyre shipped over using slack space on the boats and then sold to people who dont know any better at a dock auction. It is the crap and the idiots who sell it that have caused Scooby values to drop through the floor recently.

ya i agree with you about the bit which make scoobys drop value but there was some half decent cars at the dock aution which i went to and some sheds as well.

At least at those kind of prices, if you buy a bad one, there's always some money to be made back on selling off for spares.

Got the car on my drive now :)

It's totally standard apart from an STi exhaust, some plastic window things and an 18 disc CD changer in the boot!
It's done 102km, and is in quite remarkable condition in my opinion.
The only marks on the body are cracked paint on the rear bumper and a tiny dent in the boot - both caused by someone reversing it into a post by the look of it!

Other than that it just needs a day or two cutting and polishing.
Interior is in great condition, engine is very dirty/dusty but no fluid leaks or anything - phew!

Got to say I'm really happy with it. Haven't driven it yet though so don't want to talk too soon..!

With regard to fitting 22in rims, a set of neons and 7in exhaust, there's nothing to fear! As my misses will be driving it more than me, she's speccing the mods!
Her current list reads:
17 or 18in rims in black/grey.
lowered suspension - around 25mm with good quality shocks.
Front lip spoiler.
Colour code the front grille.
star grille badge rather than the i.

Engine mods she's leaving to me, but as I'll be paying the fuel bills I doubt I'll be going too mad with anything under the bonnet!

The rest of my day will be spent cleaning and polishing...

Renton

PS I 0pologse for my small contribution to the decline in Impreza prices - blame the Japanese for selling all their used cars too cheap!

PPS Tath, if you could email that manual that would be appreciated renton@futurenet.co.uk

PPPS Thanks for the help on the SVA mods. Next job is to jack it up and see whether it is cable or electric speedo - read on ebay they changed on '96?

rear pic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/07...y/DSC00673.jpg

front pic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/07...y/DSC00674.jpg

!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Forget the scoob, post up some pics of the Cossie next to it :-D

RAZ

the speedo will be the mechanical type. they changed to the electric type on the version 4 cars made from 98 onwards.

that cossie is mint :notworthy can we have more pics ?

It's nearly finished.
Will be in Fast Ford and Redline when it's done.
Did 0-60 in 3.4 and 0-100 in 7.7 on my first test run the other day :)
Then snapped a rear shaft on the second launch! :(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/07...a/DSC00681.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/07...a/DSC00676.jpg

The look of your car reminds me of martin hadland's escort cossie, and that was fookin fast too!!

black 17s and lip spoiler eh? intriguing...

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b...thjones/02.jpg

my car... ;)

one nice cossie very quick too :notworthy

Nice. I might copy your black mirrors too!
Sona (wife) has just announced she wants black motorsport stars on the sides! I might Photoshop them on first, see how it might look.

I've just washed the car, which always shows up marks you wouldn't otherwise see. It's had a couple of panels painted at some point (not recently) but i guess that's to be expected of a 9.5 year old car. Especially one that didn't cost too much!

Have ordered the filler neck, speedo converter and a rear fog light. Just need to get an original fog light switch now. Better get those wheels sorted soon too as I don't think Mr. SVA will think much of the Yokohama 'studless' things it's wearing at the moment. And service it...

Cost so far: £3089...

Renton

PS Martin Hadland built the Sierra - sister car to his old (now dead) Escort I guess. Now he's turning his attention to building his new Escort, complete with OSG sequential Skyline box! It's gonna be a bit of a monster...

is that the escort that got smashed up on a gumball ?

Top speed for '96 WRX import?
 

Yep, that's the one.


I've finally got around to doing the ESVA mods now and I'm in the middle of filling in the test application form.

It asks for engine power and top speed. I found a chart on the SIDC site that said my C48D model has 260 PS, so 256bhp, but does anyone know what the top speed it as all?

Thats easy. 112 mph as it has a restrictor :D Or it should have :Suspiciou

It's got a speedo converter, I'm assuming that also acts as a de-restrictor? Would be nice if that little gizmo converted top speed from 178kpm to 178mph!!

Another SVA form question: how many revs is peak power achieved?

Many thanks for any help proivided :notworthy

Maximum power is 260PS @ 6500rpm. With regard to the vehicle's top speed, I'd suggest that it was 180kph/112mph. Remove the speedo cable drop gear and replace the speedometer face with a 112mph part. You can replace the drop gear later and refit your 180mph speedometer face.


Simon

Would they know if I leave the drop gear fitted, but just put 112mph on the form?
The only faces I have are the original 180 km/h ones but I blacked the 'k' out so now it just says m/h.

On a slightly different subject, the ESVA will have to be delayed as some wnakers tried to nick it last night...

The people who live opposite woke up to the sound of the theft in progress at 4am this morning.

The thieves were so clever they'd rolled the WRX out into the road, blocking their escape route! So they had to drive through my garden and they hit the XR2 on their way out! Car they were using was found burning 10 minutes later...

How's this for irony: it was booked in for an MoT today. I'd taken it to the test centre last night and the guy said he's have to leave it outside over night "we've never had any problems but I need to tell you it will be at your risk". I said it would be 'safer' on my drive and took it home...!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/07...y/ed648cd7.jpg
For the cherry on the cake they wrecked the brand new Kenwood D-Mask CD player - despite the face plate and mask key not being with the unit...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/07...y/db5cc557.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/07...y/f5ea1c59.jpg

Anyone got and cheap parts for sale?
Looking for:
steering column
plastic lower steering surround
plastic surround panel to headunit/gear gaiter
clear plastic face to speedo/clocks - how they managed to crack that I don't know!

Gutted for you mate - such a shame when you've just got it :(

W@nkers! :mad: