sti4bob

Well, i’ll be in the market for a new car soon and looking for your good peoples opinion.

I’m not new to Subarus and have had WRX’s, STi’s and a UK2000. Building them all up to 400bhp plus.

I’m currently considering importing one for the first time. I’m looking at Japan Partner and Brave Auto JP to get a feel for the market.

It appears all in and on the road i’m looking between 13 - 15K for the two mentioned cars.

A classic would be my ultimate choice (Again) but finding a decent one now is very hard.

I found my UK Blob Sti over my JDM classic very boring and unresponsive so i have settled on the idea it MUST be a JDM import.

I never liked the hatch and agreed with most about it looking like a hybrid Kia, Astra, Mazda etc but of late they have grown on me massively. Adding to the fact that there are people now on here who have actually taken the plunge and imported them and are currently raving about the handling etc.

My concerns are if i go for the Hawk i’ll be disappointed and compare it to the UK Blob.

As for the Hatch. I know very little. I’m presuming it’ll be an EJ20 JDM lump despite some of the Auction sites saying 2.5 etc.

I’ve seen a lot of “A-Line” versions which looks like an automatic with flappy paddles. Is this box any good or will it fail once i start adding more power to the car?

I have lots more questions but just trying to start a thread with your opinions and why to start with.

Thanks in advance

Tidgy

hawk spec c and done.

hedgecutter

iTrader: (5)

A line is 2.5l

lunar tick

iTrader: (2)

I've just taken exactly this step - just imported with 54K on the clock and in superb condition

Loving it so far - so agile and responsive compared to my old UK Blob, which although it ran 415bhp, was nowhere as enjoyable to drive

BBB3

iTrader: (7)

I "maybe" sell mine for the right price as I don't use it that much.

plenty

iTrader: (13)

Try before you buy. My (more or less standard) non Spec C blob JDM is IMO more responsive and enjoyable than both my JDM classics (both RAs), and I liked both of them a lot.

sti4bob

Thanks for your input guys.

I've now done even more reading and it appears the best way to go about this is to up the budget and go for a hatch spec c.

I've gone through a lot of old posts on here and other subaru forums and it appears the future is the Kia wannabe hatch on steroids.

I've toyed with the idea of importing myself but there are so many opportunities throughout the entire process where there is potential to be had over i'm thinking it'll just be too much like hard work.

I'll keep you posted. All comments still appreciated though

hedgecutter

iTrader: (5)

Join the queue ! I`ve been looking and waiting 2 months so far, and only very low or very high mileage examples have come to auction; the low mileage ones where about £ 21 000 for a 26 000 miler

sy.

iTrader: (8)

Not if you get a Hawkeye A Line mine is A 2.0.

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

You sure you haven't had an engine swap...you got a manual box or auto?

sy.

iTrader: (8)

If you mean mine it's deffo 2.0 manual 6 speed.

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

You sure it's an A-line, thought they were all 2.5 with auto boxes and leather seats...small spoiler etc...?

sy.

iTrader: (8)

On the late 2007 Hawkeye jdm sti my understanding is subaru started showing off hatch parts so to speak pre 2008 launch hence the a line black brembos hatch type half leather low spoiler ect some may well be auto but there are 3 that I know off all manual. Mine came from Subaru Japan I even have the a line booklet with the owners manual.

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

Learn something new everyday

**jay**

iTrader: (1)

Max at hurst cars has a few a-lines yeh 2.0 jdm manual spec c interior and a strange spoiler not sure what else they come with but look decent.

sy.

iTrader: (8)

At first I didn't realise the hatch spec c is still 2.0 makes you wonder what Subaru already knew about the 2.5s as sti clearly prefer the 2.0 not just cause its group n spec

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

I know all the decent JDM's were 2.0 barring the forrester STI but for some reason I was under the impression the A-lines were 2.5's, I have a hawk spec c

sy.

iTrader: (8)

I was looking at the blob spec c in my budget as the car of choice myself as all the good hawk spec c were tall money but then the a line gave me a curved ball into sleeper mode I can accept the vf37 over the vf36 just the roof vent I really miss lol ( maybe add one later in the year as a line with the roof vent externally looks a bit like a ra r lmao)