mozza1

Looking to buy my first scooby but some help off you people first! I know abit them already but could do with owner advice. Ive currently got a rover coupe turbo with around 240bhp at last rr, so looking at a STI really, preferably a v 5 or similar. I need to be able to use the car daily as a company vehicle so needs to be reliable and with around 25-30 plus miles per gallon on a m'way run. Ive heard that the short ratio gearbox on some of the Sti's means that at m'way speeds, the revs are very high???
other questions i have are:

being a jap import? will many garages service these cars? are parts readily available if things go wrong, are they reliable?

I run my rover on optimax but wud i need additional octane booster??

What mods wud see me around 330 bhp...reliably?

And also as im only 22, a jap import is costing me 700 quid more than a UK spec'd car, my other option is choose a UK spec car either with mods, what sort of power of power is achieveable out of these? 300ish??? and still totally drivable to work every day?

what are the overall costs if things go wrong for example, new gearbox new clutch etc.....

as much advice as you can give me would be real helpful.

Thanx in advance
Mozza

OllyK

OK FWIIW

Many people quote those sorts of figures for circa leagal speed motorway travel so shouldn't be a problem.

Higher than a UK Turbo yes, but depends what you mean by high, at the speeds you will be doing to get 30 mpg you certainly won't be red-lining it

Unlikely a main dealer will be too keen, but it all depends. Plenty of Subaru specialist outfits out there that seem to be the preferance for UK cars that are out of warranty as well.

Parts shouldn't be a problem, big Subaru community in the UK and plenty of suppliers. You will always hear horror stories, but on the whole reliability doesn't seem to be a major issue providing you service it regularly and don't drive everywhere on the red line. It's a turbo so usual comments on letting it warm up and cool down properly apply

A lot depends on how it has been set up, if it is standard and if the ECU has been mapped to UK fuel. It is perfectly possible to run on ordinary Optimax although many will recommend octane booster. However as I understand it, you will knacker your CATs so many need to find a friendly MOT station locally and get them removed!

Not much as the STi isn't far off that anyway. De-cat, induction kit and a re-map will probably see you well on the way.

Plenty of 300 bhp UK's about, reasonably easy to get there as well but remember that the mods will then put up the UK insurance as well!

Can't quote prices to be honest, but in general the parts seem over priced from main dealers (as with just about anything) and comparable with similar cars from specialist suppliers. Have a look at some of the advertisers from ScoobyShop on here or the banner ads at the top.

Can't offer too much more. You tend to eat tyres in 4's rather than just the fronts as you would with a FWD. Servicing is cheaper than my old Pug, but more frequent. Average about 22 mpg for mixed driving without booting it too much. Parts seem much cheaper than the Pug as well.

HTH

IN THE STICKS

don't want to sound too obvious but check out the insurance first , as not all of them will cover 22 year olds or Imports .
Try doing a few search's on here as there is tons of info to be found , if you do get one you won't regret it !

Dave

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Mozza.

I'll assist (I've an STi V):

1) STi is 276bhp/258ft torque as standard but general consensus is that bhp is actually 300+ as standard.
2) M Way speeds - revs are not "high" ie annoying; I've not noticed particularly high revs and I drive on the motorway at least once a week. The Type R may be though as it is short geared.
3) MPG should generally be circa 25 but dropping to 18/20 ish if pedal to the metal for any lenth of time! The STi is a performance car so mpg is not top of the list!
4) Subaru WILL service jap imports; fairly recent development though. If not Subaru then there are many specialist garages to go to ie Power Engineering etc.
5) Optimax always used for my car but not octane booster; I've had no probs here; car has knock link that checks for detonation and it has never strayed off the green (which is good!).
6) Mods - I've none but assume exhaust with no cat would get you to 330bhp?
7) Check insurance with Liverpool Victoria who seem to be the best re jap and/or modded cars. I'm with them.
8) UK car with mods - mmmm, not my cup of tea (flame!!).
9) Parts seem OK price wise ie servicing of STi seems same as UK car.

X.

SteveV-WRX

Mozza

i'm 23 and i've got a 290+bhp uk turbo and do a fair bit of mileage to, from and for work.

pay somewhere around £1400 insurance with a couple of years NCD.

the way that I look at it is yes you will pay a lot in petrol and servicing cost but the smile factor/ £ is more than worth it! I regularly look at the pro's and con's and then the last 10 mile stretch of B road back home just blows it all away!

mines for sale as well at the moment if your interested.

Steve

[Edited by SteveV-WRX - 1/23/2004 3:39:26 PM]

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Mozza.

You are a dreamer!

X.