Firstly, hello and happy Friday all.

I've been lurking for a while but now I am the happy owner of a 2002 Bugeye Wagon on about 99k. I bought it pretty cheap and as such it has a few niggles which I am going to sort out – mainly hesitation on light throttle openings, tendency to a veer to the left on (very) hard braking and a mild case of Subaru arch bubble rust disease but all in all it is not too bad I think.

I am always up for a bit of mechanical stuff anyway and I don’t mind spending a bit on her - hoping perhaps people on here could chime in with any suggestions on things I can do to get the car back driving like it just came out of the factory.

Here’s the old girl anyway:



I actually thought it was standard (aside from the headlights) when I bought it but after a bit of research it seems to have the PPP pack installed - it has the blue Prodrive pipe and Prodrive backbox in any case - is it possible to check the ECU?

Due to the lack of much history I’m going to start these weekend with oil, brake fluid, plugs, coolant etc. anything else I should check/change whilst I am at it?

I'm also going to look at getting the rust cut out - any recommendations around London / Bucks?

Lastly - the ditch-finder-special budget tyres have to go immediately. I was going to go with RE050 if I can get them, does anyone have an opinion on these?


Cheers All!

 

Pulling on braking is probably 1 or more seized pistons in the front calipers.

Godspeed do rebuilt kits for them with 8x new stainless pistons (so they don't get stuck again) and new seals. Did mine when I bought it for the same reason.

Nice looking wagon though, looks like it might be on prodrive springs too as its a bit lower than stock.

 

Just had a look at their site - £120 to make them new basically calipers isn't bad at all! I'll investigate the state of mine this weekend.

RE: Springs - the car is on 17" alloys, are these standard of a bug? Springs don't feel particularly stiff but I've nothing to compare it to - any way I can check?

 

Prodrive springs will be blue, my Blobeye wagon has them. Alloys are OEM.

 

Welcome to the wagon brigade!

 

Nice wagon, welcome.

There is a fairly recent tyre thread on here. Personally I really like Goodyear Eagle F1's.

 

Another wagon Welcome!

 

Welcome wagon!

 

Where do the newages rust? Mine was hesitant on light throttle. Seemed to do nothing on light throttle then if a little more throttle was applied it would pick up again, but it seemed like too much throttle was used. A bit like kangaroo petrol. If there is a VTA dump valve fitted return it to OEM, that cured mine.

 

Check for rust on the inside of the rear arches up around the tops
of the suspension struts, that's where mine had gone.

 

Rust around the tailgate glass

 

Looks good, My dad has the exact same colour bugeye wagon, he has owned it the last 5/6 years and its never missed a beat.
He also had the dreaded rust on the arches, but had them fixed and painted and had any car park dents removed and the car now looks mint!!