gridgway

I am looking to return from my excursion into mitsufishi land! So be gentle ok? I had a P1 from new and moved after 4 years to an MR340. Safe to say, that only lasted for about 8 months (which makes it the most expensive 8 months driving I've ever done)!

At the time (spring 04) I test drove a new 04 (blob?) with ppp, Ian Litchfield's red Spec C demo car and thought about the WR1. And in a fit of madness bought none of them!

The spec C demo was just awesome, great response, fantastically pointy and brakes to die for over the P1 brakes. I was just not sure I could face the import owning experience with insurance, spare parts, no local dealer.

The ppp was just not up to it in comparison to the P1. More solid feel perhaps, but annoying lag and soft feeling steering response. So I didn't go there.

So to the point Ladies and Gents, I would like some advice on what to look for.

My budget is diminished from those days (owing to an increasing number of toys in the garage) to sub 20k. I don't want to buy a new car (that's good then isn't it?). I don't want too complex a life.

So I could buy a used spec c, a (used of course) P1, or a used ppp'd blob. Any useful thoughts, advice, thread hijacks most appreciated.

Thanks
Graham

EVOLUTION

when you say ppp'd blobeye, i presume we are talking about an STI?

if so, was it a JDM spec car of a TYPE UK as i belive the two are different?

if your spending close to 20k, i would be going for as new as possible, so my money would be on the SPEC C, SPEC C 57, thats steve's (i think) user name on here, think hes considering selling his, 17 to 18k would see you with a good example.

but is ***** out performance what your looking for? as you get more performance at the cost of no toys


john

gridgway

yes, it was a UK Sti at my local dealer (my model designation skills have become atrophied!). I guess that I'm not looking for the ultimate in peformance, nor the ultimate in toys. Just dont want turbo lag or understeer, do want AC.

Graham

EVOLUTION

im not certain of the differences between JDM and Type UK, but for 20k, im sure you can sort the understeer, get a remap and have a fairly new very clean example STI.

im sure someone will be along this evening to shed some further light on it, but by the sounds of it, spec c aint in the running


john

MBK

Hi Graham,

like you I was once a P1 owner and returned a few years later to the Scooby fold in an 04 STI Type UK PPP. After 6 months that wasn't quite enough and I started looking around again. I was tempted by a Mitsi VIII MR340 and Iains 06 shape Spec C demonstrator. The initial cost and imminent IX model ended the MR340 adventure before it began - not to mention the silly service intervals, though to drive it was a fantastic car!

A quick drive in the Spec C was enough to convince me that its as good as people on here and evo magazine say, but somehow that was also a bit raw, maybe a bit too much, and again the initial new cost was also a factor with Scooby depreciation these days.

So I settled on the Powerstation/Litchfield Type 20 upgrade to my STi - that is both the Type 25 fully adjustable suspension and the Type 20 engine upgrade to 330 bhp and recently I added uprated pads and braided brake hoses. For me it is a good compromise, more power, a near spec C experience though a little less raw. The suspension mods give much more control and feedback and make the whole car much more neutral - more like the MR340 in that respect. The fact remains its not a Spec C, nor is it as fast as a 340 nor can it carry the amazing orner speeds of the 340 but for an average driver like me it has all the thrills and control of both for a fraction of the cost. The improvement over the standard STi PPP is awesome, just a few improvements include throttle response, control, handling, driveability, noise, steering feedback and above all the confidence it inspires in all weather conditions and on the often dodgy road surfaces here in Wales.

From a few fun runs out I can tell you that the difference on real roads between the MR340, Spec C or a Type 20'd car is much smaller than I would have thought (often there is no difference at all!).

I would have thought you could easily get a late blob 04/05 STi PPP or similar JDM car and the T20 kit within your 20K limit, so it might be worth a look.

Alternatively there are a few 04 Spec C's on Autotrader for less than 20K and they have the luxury bits and peices too (links are probably not allowed so I won't but you should be able to find them easily enough!)

Having said all that I drove an Evo IX recently with over 360bhp and if money were no object...it would be a real toss up betwee that and Litcho's Spec C complete with the T20 kit.

I would like to hear more about your experiences in Evo land - might stop me making an expensive mistake!!

Hope this helps,

Mark

gridgway

Thanks Mark, that's very interesting. Does the Litcho type 20 upgrade build on top of the ppp, or was the ppp essentially thrown away? What was the cost of the mods?

My 340 experience is very simple...it's a great car, but the bills kept on coming! I used it the same as my P1, road use, with the occasional blast at castle combe. Not track days, but my kids driving at a car club. So I just got fed up with replacing tyres, brake pads, disks and the final straw the clutch (and I was with the kids all the time, so I know it didn't get abused). It actually couldn't cope with my stop/go journey to work. When I fell out with the dealer over the clutch, I knew it was time for it to go! [As opposed to Cheam Motors who were fantastic with the P1 and its clutch probs].

I have been driving a clio 182 cup since, but somehow it doesn't quite do it! It's certainly not wot Evo mag make of it!

Back to your type 20 mods, what happens at insurance time?

Graham

Robocop

Graham

MY06 Type 20 package Retail Including fitting

3" Milltek Exhaust with Sports CAT £1,015
Up rated Boost control solenoid £120
Performance Panel Filter (K&N) £35
Type 20/25 AST 12-way adjustable suspension £820
Type 20/25 Handling packs £530
Up rated brake lines £108
STI Front lip spoiler £269
Optional lower rubber skirt £70
Type 20 Boot badge £15
Type 20 Interior Mats £55
Optional Type 20 fog light covers £35
Sub Total £2,967
Vat £519.23
Total £3,486.23

All the work is done by Litchfield's tuning partner Powerstation. www.powerstation.org.uk

gridgway

thanks robocop, nice article on your spec c BTW!

think I'll have to have a lie down in a darkened room and contemplate!

Graham

MBK

Insurance is fine - still less than any quote I had for a standard MR340! Most specialists seem to understand the model/mods etc. Easier to insure in many respects than the PPP which the mainstream insurers really struggled with.

The PPP is mainly thrown away, the exhaust goes and you get a remap so its just the fuel pump that stays so all that is needed is a suitable UK STi or JDM car, easy to find in this climate! The pack is a huge improvement over the PPP STi and I think coming from an MR340 you are maybe going to want more than that?

Thanks for the Evo info - I have heard the same from elsewhere, just expense after expense but as you clearly know there is still an attraction to the darkside that I might just have to get out of my system!

p1doc

does that include remap?
martin