Second hand RB5's - why so expensive?
 

The Mrs doesn't like the fact I got rid of my Scoob back in December and always has a dig about why I got rid of it for a Skoda Octavia vRS (was due to the fact 2 kids, one a new baby at the time, have far too much stuff for a scoob boot plus running costs etc)

Recently she has been going on about RB5's (or as she calls them the grey ones ;) )

I decided to look up the prices for them and was stunned by the prices of them. Why are they so expensive? What is so special about them that they are going for twice the money of a normal UK Turbo of the same year?

I literally had to give my Reddish Blue turbo away at the dealers and there are scoobs galore for sale at 6k that are low mileage and mint condition so why is an RB5 woth twice as much at 12k?

I am not having a dig at RB5 owners, I am genuinely interested as to why they hold their value so much? I know they are a limited edtion, they look nice with the extra kit on them etc but does that really make them worth twice the value?

As an RB5 owner I'd obviously like to keep the prices high. We had a worrying discussion over on the RB5 owners club forum about prices being really cheap recently.

If there's nothing special about them, why does the Mrs want one and not just another Turbo. If the differences are small enough to make people want them i.e. create a demand the price will go up.

It also helps that there's not many around, not many low milers and in very good condition. Mine was valued at £9K last year for a standard RB5. So, the WR version would be £500-£1000 more. Take another years depreciation and it's hard to see where £12K comes from.

Guess it depends on condition and what demand there is for them. If they are selling at that price I'll be much happier :)

Oh, and I set the cat amongst the pigeons by asking the same question about P1's ;)

Ozzy I would agree 8-9k is a lot more understandable, but looking about on Autotrader, Scoobynets for sale section and the RB5's OC forum there seemed to be some silly prices being asked and 12k was definately seen on a couple.

As to the reason the Mrs likes them, because they are grey and have a tea tray on the back and the one she has seen is very shiny :D lol

One technical question on them, is the bhp more on a standard RB5 to that of a standard UK Turbo and if so what was done to the RB5 model to make it have a higher output? OK more than one question, were the brakes uprated and any other technical improvements made for the RB5?

Power is the same, actually the only real changes were the uprated suspension, wheels, tyres, and the shell which was an STi 4 door shell, plus the cosmetics like the interior, big spoiler on the WR version, but engine power is the same, 215bhp for the normal and 245bhp for the WR version.

Tony:D

As Tony says the RB5 has same power as normal MY99 Turbo. WR version is just like any car with a PPP fitted.

There was no suspension or brake changes. Same shocks/springs as other MY99 cars. My car had the Prodrive geometry dialed in from factory, but that's it. Some cars do have Prodrive suspension, but that's simply because the owner paid for it - just like any other owner that could buy it when they ordered the car.

Some of the stuff on the RB5 was carried over to the MY00 model - colour coding and map light for example.

It has air-con too ;) All the exact details are on the owners club info pages.

Ah in that case I think she has been eyeing the WR version.

tell 'er they're steel blue, not grey :p

lol no, remember this is the female mind we are dealing with here, its grey!!!

I have to admit I do like them but I bought a Skoda for a reason, its cheap to run and spacious so the RB5 will have to wait for now.

My mate isn't a lady but mine (RB5) is the only scooby he actually likes. I think its the colour, it looks a lot more subtle than normal ones Aggressive but not garish. I also think the light covers make the front look a lot better. All of the above is true including engine and brake stuff. Do note that it is true the shell is jap spec and so the RB5 does not have folding rear seats like the other uk models. Only 444 were made in either normal or WR spec (215bhp or 237). Extra's - short shift gear shift, air-con, different seat and door cloth material, grey dash insert, colour coded exterior (standard on normal ones post MY00), 17" speedline alloys ( anthracite) and car number badge under ashtray. PPP or WR model had extra power, prodrive intercooler piping, prodrive exhaust (this included removing one of the cats for more power) and extra Prodrive larger rear spoiler. Many have been uprated. Always worth the extra money cause everyone looks more and other scooby owners always have an even more intense look over!!!!!