guys had a 97 uk turbo ppp (loved it ) sold it for a 02 plate (still need to sell) but also had a supra in the process just a 3.0 24v (but not too happy so sold it)

i loved the raw drive that i got from my classic so want to get another but not too sure if to stay with a UK edition or go WRX or STI?

which would you recommend?

which is better and why?

what are the difference between the WRX & STI?

my thought it to stay with a uk as i know what i am getting the fueling issue is not a problem etc. but why tune the uk up when it can be bought already done then spend the same money to get the 300-320bhp mark which is what i would like to end up with.

i need some pointing in the right direction please

steve

 

hi mate the wrx and sti are far better then uk versions i have the sti import on a 1994 plate the difference in power and spec is unreal. the stis have blue printed engines with forged internal parts.inter cooler water spray as standard.suspension is far more firmer then uk cars alloy bonnets and other light weight panels.theres a lot more i havent mentioned.i think the starting point for an imported sti is about 270/300 bhp depending on what model R.A etc.as for history on japan cars thats allways the downside but these cars have been serviced well and looked after to meet high road laws in japan.in my opinion mate go for the import wrx.or even better sti.hope this has helped.

 

I f you decide to go the type ra route

www.type-ra.co.uk

Plenty of info here if your after raw drive

 

thanks guys i thought as much just need some pointers on what to wantch out for? if there are any common problems with them etc?

what is the deal with the rumor of weak pistions especialy piston number 3 so i am told or is this just false info?

 

my real concern id the fuel and the fact that uk fuel is not high enough for the imports, i know we have optimax which i used in me old classic.

if the car has been in the country for a while say a few years and it has not had a remap would this be a reason to walk away?

also would the import if it has just been bought into the country and is sitting on the forcourt would it need to be remaped a soon as poss?

 

I think those that say the imports are 'far' better are just singing the praises of their own cars.

IMHO the only imports worth considering are the specials like the type r and the RA.

I have a PPP UK (no other mods) and had it rolling roaded with hot air blown into the engine and kicked out 267 bhp and 268 il/ft, which is just shy of P1/STI numbers and higher than a WRX. However, it is a low mile well maintained one so that may have something to do with it.

Also, with imports, you have to bother with octane booster and the hassle of insuring imported cars which is also more expensive. But I'm sure it is all worth it for an intercooler spray.

Still all down to personal choice and I'm expecting a flaming for this.

good luck
Ross

 

Quite possibly!!!!
I'm another import owner and have nothing but praise for them. On a ten year old car it's horses for courses - there's rough examples of both types out there. Choose well and you'll be happy with either.

 

I had an Sti 4 for 2 years. Had a decat exhaust, dynoed at 310bhp.
Sold it (moment of madness) and 3 months later I bought a MY99 UK Turbo with TEK 2 map, decat, filter, dynoed at 277bhp. To be honest, I actually prefer the UK Turbo.
It is a bit softer (even on eibach's!) than the sti, has slightly quicker spool up (TD04 vs VF24), cheaper to insure etc etc.
I do miss the top end punch of the sti, but I never really go above 6000rpm anyway!
The UK Turbo is also 50 kilos lighter than the sti due to no electric folding mirrors, no electric aerial and no aircon (now I do miss that!).

I have had no problems with either car. Just change the oil every 3K, warm up and cool down properly, use quality fuel and you should be fine.

There is not great difference between the two, just go and drive both and decide for yourself.

Sti = http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...Photo-0027.jpg
UK Turbo = http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...0/48768d15.jpg

 

as for the uk turbo chris how much cash have you had to spend to get it up to the same power as the sti?

basicly the uk turbo will perform the same as an import just without the electric window and water spray.

now i am even more stuck then befor

help

steve

 

Not so. Comparing like with like a standard UK car is usually less powerful than a standard import of the same year, even on SUL/Booster. You can always boost the power of the UK car, but then if you are going to mod, why not start with something more powerful so you start further up the scale?
Once you start tuning (including PPP), the difference is less marked between the UK vs. WRX, but the STi will always have the edge, and has the benefit of stronger internals and generally better spec'd components.
That'll get me some flamage...... I'll get my suit.

 

sorry to butt in, but chris owns my old car (the red uk) and to answer your question mate, the remap was £500 (i think this money would by you a tek3 nowadays) the air filter was £30ish and the full magnex was approx £400 off the top of my head. chris will probably have some receipts within the reams i gave him but this might give you a start


know what you mean about the aircon though chris, there's no way i'd go back now! the new one is the first car i've ever had with aircon and i don't know how i sweated away without it

 

There are a few inaccuracies kicking about here. I'm not going to name anyone, but this is always the best place to start when looking at different classics : http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm

 

The remap was £600, but you can only ecutek MY99 and on. To remap a v1-v4 Impreza, you'd need and aftermarket ecu, such as the Apeci Power FC.
This can bought, fitted and mapped for around £750 depending on the mapper.

Paul, what you upto this weekend? Bout time you took me for a ride in your new rice rocket!

 

Such as?????

 

Such as these:

250 ps for the STi 1.

You can run the 92-96 WRXs on 97-99 RON quite happily. I had mine for 3 years before the Apexi and it has never seen a bottle of octane booster. The first 3 months had 95 RON!

 

this is one thing i have had in mind that if you start with the sti and spend the same money as you would on the uk turbo (to get it up to an sti) the sti would be far better?

i loved my old uk turbo but i think i am drifting to the import side of things now plus if i buy another uk one i sould of just kept it in the first place as it had already had the building blocks in place. the things we do in haste

 

You're still going to be limited to around 320-330bhp due to the turbo, intercooler, injectors, fueling etc etc.
When you factor in items such as brakes and suspension, there really isn't that much in it.

 

tbh 300-320bhp is all i would like to achive in the long run, so that would be great, so fo the same monewy that i would have to spend on a uk car getting to sti power if i spend the same on the wrx or sti i would see around the 300-320 mark?

how much and what would need to be done to get a wrx or sti up to the given figures?

just i want to start asking workshops and i dont want to get ripped off and lied to, so if i have an idea in mind of what needs to be done and what it should cost please guys

 

sorry also if i did get a uk model am i looking at much more or is it just the ecu chip that limits the engine on the uk as if i need to have the sti remapped anyway surely the uk car can reach the same figures for the same cost?

sorry just want to make sure i keep this car for a few years so i want to make sure i am happy with it

 

A Decat, Hybrid TD04 Turbo and ecu remap will see 320bhp, according to Andy Forrest.

 

is that on wrx/sti or a uk model mate sorry

 

Uk m8.

 

What about EXACTLY the same mods on an import though?
Decat, Hybrid TD05 plus remap.... Would it be about the same?

 

But those aren't 'exactly' the same mods are they?
A hybrid TD05 16G (the smallest TD05 but fast spool up) with a remap and decat will achieve around 330bhp. The limiting factor being the injectors.
This applies to both UK and Imports.

 

Message from gearbox:

"Cheerio"

Ns04

 

Sorry, i'll change the limiting factor to numpty behind the wheel!
Have heard of UK scoobs pushing 400bhp on standard box's.

 

I'm not too sure if anyone covered any of the pitfalls Steve so I'll just let you know about my ownership.

To begin with an STI is a better base car to mod as its internals are more robust. I think the safe limit on a WRX is 280ish BHP with a fuel reg and manual boost controller, exhaust and induction and rolling road set up. Pretty cost effective seeing as WRX go for a little as £4k plus about another circa 1k on mods and set up and thats represents an increase of up to 40bhp depending on the year of manufacture.

I've got an STI type R. You want raw?? They don't really get rawer than these bar the RA of course.

I'd go for an STI power FC (v1-4) / ecutek (V5 onwards) depending on year of make and as a used car just hope it has an aftermarket exhaust and other stage on mods to save you time and money. Go to SIDC for power figures.

Pitfalls. Most of the these cars would have inevitably been thrashed. Not all but how can you tell. I've been done over on my Type R and its cost a fair few quid to put right but don't be put off.

If they've not been thrasehd you have to think about whether the owner has indeed used an octane booster. I still only use a booster when I have one with me and most petrol stations don't stock these. Most of the time I have used Optimax until tesco 99 came out and some tuners again differ with their opinions about whether to use a booster for this fuel. All this will lead to an enigine rebuild.

Engine rebuilds: If thats been done then all the better for you. Just find out why the engine was rebuilt as if the car has had a hard life other components would have felt the strain too.

Gearboxes. I managed to break one in less than 7 hours on very spirited drive back from Cornwall to London against my EVO. My Evo put up with over 14 hours of abuse!!

Brakes: Depending on what you intend to use the car for I've never had a problem with the standard jobbies.

Interior: Pretty robust but ensure all electrics are working. Window motors to as this is a fairly costly and labourious task as quoted by a well respected tuner.

All in all STI's are great cars but be very wary who you are buying from. You also didn't state a budget.

I'm sure there will be a few errors but this is my ownership experience that I'm sharing with you.

regards

Esh

 

Mine sees ok at 320bhp and ft pounds torque!

TOUCHWOD ETC!!!

Ns04