funkyrimpler

Hi guys,
I havent been in this forum for years (but it still remembered me!!)..
I've had a couple of Scoobs and currently drive a BMW E46 M3 which is awesome....I love it..buuuut

I went to a car show the other day and saw some Imprezas and the old itch came back....I'm getting quite interested in a classic 2 door coupe..
It HAS to be a classic and it HAS to be a 2 door..From memory i think i'd be looking at a Type R Version 4 onwards with the facelifted interior??

If i get one I'd be thinking about doing a wide body conversion in a year or two, but I've always preferred the coupes..

Any buying advice on the Type R models?? Is the gearing suitable for everyday driving..I seem to remember (Adam?) at Scoobyclinic saying they were a bit short geared for motorway driving...

Any thoughts or advice, or where i might be able to locate one would be really helpful...I may even consider importing one...

Let me know your thoughts guys...

btw, im probably too old for this ****..Im 46..
Cheers

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

All JDM classic's have the same problem as not designed for UK roads like motor ways etc, my mates WRX revs alot higher at 70 than my 2000 UK turbo does. Gear box change would sort that, but i wouldn't want to do that in a type r. Just get one with 6 speed box.

Yes version 4-6 facelift interior. Or all UK P1 Impreza's.

funkyrimpler

yeah i know..they were pretty cheap back in the day..Ive seen a few good examples around the £12k and plenty of chancers asking similar money for average/dross...
I used to have a P1 in 2007..Sold it for £8k..If only I'd known...

1509joe

iTrader: (2)

Stick a UK 5th in it job done. A couple of days and you'll be used to it.

Tidgy

ratios are a bit short for UK motorways, but depends how much milage you do on them.

My type R now has a closed deck 2.5 and a 6 speed uk sti hawk box to match the 2.5. As said though you can change 5th gear without splitting the box (mine had a new 5th gear synchro before i went 6 speed).

funkyrimpler

Would swapping the boxes affect the future value of the car though?

plenty

iTrader: (13)

The 5 speed boxes are interchangeable and straightforward to change so you could stick a U.K. box in, put the JDM box in storage and put it back come resale time. Also UK boxes are cheap and plentiful whereas R/RA boxes are getting rare now, so less worry if you break the box which is not uncommon.

Tidgy

you never get your money back on mods

funkyrimpler

i was really referring to the fact that with a UK box, you're straying away from OEM which could harm it's resale value.

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

Think this is the best idea.

funkyrimpler

Agreed..

I'd love to get a really nice V5 or V6 and go the whole hog with a wide body conversion too but i'd just be scared that i would've raped a classic...

burt2000

iTrader: (1)

Will it be a daily driver and used a lot on motorways? imo the short ratios and DCCD are one of the things that make the type r's more desirable. In saying that I wouldn't be using one as a daily though.

funkyrimpler

No I wouldnt daily it, ive already got two other gas guzzling cars...It was more for a Sunday morning, dry weather hoon..

Turbovin

iTrader: (2)

To me the short gearing is what gives the Type R so much raw character. If you remove it, it will feel more like your M3, I have a E36 M3 3.2 too and would never ever want that long gearing in my Type R.

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Err... why on earth would you be fussed about the gearing if that's what it's being used for?

Just get it bought and enjoy it as it is....

funkyrimpler

Err..because i was asking the question about the shorter gearing's suitability on the motorway...Inevitably the car would end up doing some urban driving and the odd commute.

burt2000

iTrader: (1)

They arent that bad like, about 4k revs at 80mph...if its a sunday car b road blaster the rawer the better imo. I really would not be putting a uk box in as it would change its character, devalue it and make it less fun. Then there's the cost of doing it.

funkyrimpler

i think you're right..Bone stock is probably the best, also for future resale value...Now all i need to do is find somewhere to store it because i don't have any more space!

jaygsi

iTrader: (46)

My mate's import is a daily driver, and i use to own a wrx import, for 30 min trips it was amazing, and as it was my 2nd car it was fine, but on long trips your always on boost, can never relax and just drinking the fuel. My UK isn't as fun, but as a daily driver alot better car to live with. So its all down to what you will be using it for, my mate doesn't like his on motor way drives for reasons stated.

funkyrimpler

I went to see one today, but it was a bit of a shed..I thought it would be...It wouldn't be a daily anyway (although i would almost certainly end up putting more miles on than i originally intended...
Now i've seen one again, I've got the horn and am thinking....'keep it stock or go to a stage two tune'??
Eitherway, i think i'll probably import one from Japan and get myself a keeper.

burt2000

iTrader: (1)

Where was the one you looked at as I was after a type r recently and had viewed about 5 and seen everyone for sale on the internet! Mods wise all I would do personally is a map and full exhaust, should get you around 330bhp and will be perfect in a type r with the gearing and relatively light kerb weight

neil97rs

Drove mine to Germany with a blitz but spec fitted
it's just a noise you get used to after a while
wasn't actually as bad as I thought it was going to be even the other half was surprised by it.
But by god did I have to keep stopping for petrol . 11 of us went and most others where on 1/4 or more when I was empty and has to fill up

funkyrimpler

I'm almost certainly going to import one...I can't see any decent ones in the UK...