mattireland

i yesterday picked up my 'family 4dr saloon', a 2006 ex-demo STi, after trading in my somewhat un-friendly to children 2002 M3.

it is returning to the dealer next week for a Prodrive Pack which i got with the car

any helpful tips or advice for a first time impreza owner

cheers

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

yes mate, get used to knowing all the first names of every employee in your local petrol station, as its only polite when your visiting everyday to refill

andy

Beastie

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to scooby ownership!! I have a 2006 MY Sti myself and tips would be:
1) Keep an eye on the bonnet if you drive fast the paint dissapears - i had mine fitted with paint protection film after 2 weeks as the paint was dissapearing just with insect strikes at high speed.
2) Fit mudflaps to protect the flanks as the lower part of the wheels sticks out from the bodywork.
3) Remember to let the turbo cool down by idling the engine after a fast run for 1 - 2 minutes.
4) Watch the rear wing on your garage door - hang a tennis ball or something from the roof of your garage that you drive up to, so you can ensure the car is in far enough for your door to clear the wing.
5) Become friendly with your local fuel station.
6) Check your tyre pressures
7) Keep an eye on your oil.
8) Keep an eye out for your licence
9) Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!

mattireland

cheers for the welcome!! much appreciated

Bug Eyed Peas

Don`t take it through your local car wash unless you want the spoilerless look
Secondly take a look in the car care section, some useful advice in there to help keep it looking
Finally, welcome to the Nuthouse

Anthony

pippyrips

let me know which you prefer between the two once you had the sti for a whilr. I test drove 2 M3's before getting a jdm sti. Still fancy once in the future though

mattireland

i have a few initial thought's i'd be happy to share;

the bassy engine and exhaust note didn't once become annoying (i'll see what happens after the PPP is done next week, tyre noise no worse than the m3. wind noise round the wing mirrors actually less noticable than the m3. the m3 is obviously the cruiser and was very comfortable but i actually prefer the seats in the sti, they are the body hugging recaro one's (not sure whether there is another option or if they are standard). as a place to sit it is very nice and comfortable but the interior doesnt have the quality feel of the bmw but it is certainly alot brighter and has an airy specey fieel about it

the handling will definately compliment my limited driving ability, the m3 always had me on edge whenever i psuhed on, i was always waiting for the **** to pass me. the sti feel's much sportier, obviously with awd it is going to be less tiresome cross country, although the downside is the harshness of the suspension set-up, bit of taking with one hand and giving back with the other

im having a prodrive performance pack fitted next week which i am told will boost the power to 305bhp and 301 lbft torque, which i would hope would take the performance to within the m3 levels, espcially as the beemer was a heavy girl

what really swung it for me is it an 06 but an ex demo model with nearly 3 yrs warranty. with the miles i cover for work this is pretty important for me and as mpg isn't important to me as my company give me 30p a mile (alfa gta - m3 - sti all known for their economy!! ) so it was a pretty good compromise

andythejock01wrx

Hi Matt,

Hope all's well in the Emerald Isle !

The comparison is interesting. With the car's as standard, how big a jump is it to the M3 ? And does the M3 have a lot more low down grunt ?

i have a modifiied WRX with 273 bhp and modded suspension. Reckon there must be quite a jump to the M3, but would be interested to hear your thoughts.

Andy

PS Say "hi" to those bonnie Colleens you guys are blessed with !

mattireland

howya andy

the low down grunt of the m3 does make a difference and the dealer i got the STi asked the same questions, alot of it due to the lag i suppose... also the pick up in the M3 from 60mph/70mph in the M3 in 5th or 6th was very impressive.

it has been suggested that with the PPP the increased power and torque that will be available through the rev range should give similar performance levels to the M3

on a very serious note and something i'm sure you'd be very interested in.......... the colleens are very blessed to have me here! lucky enough i'm still a novelty as an essex boy in cork

scoobytyson

Is your new sti the version 10 (hawkeye) if so the ppp will boost power to 320bhp.
I will also be interested in the comparison of your new sti vs m3 as i went from a sti 7 to an m3 e46 and find that with the sport button on the m3 picks up very well and holds on to the red line(8K) , as with the sti its all or nothing.

mattireland

i've no idea what version i have, you'd know better than me https://www.scoobynet.com/my-new-toy-t547684.html

i certainly agree that the throttle response with the sport button on is very impressive, and the exhaust note is much sharper!!

davedipster

That's a MY05 2.0l m8, very very nice.
300hp with ppp as you said, and yes it transforms the car

dipster

mattireland

thanks for the clarification dave.

where about in essex r u?

davedipster

I'm in sunny Braintree.

dipster

mattireland

small world, i used live in kelvedon

Leeroy

That'll be why he thinks the M3 has more low-down grunt than the Sti then! MY06 2.5litre is the way forward if you want low-down pull! Far quicker cross country than older bug/blob Sti's - you can sit in 4th when they're up and down the box! FWIW IMHO etc. etc.

Steve777

iTrader: (8)

One piece of advice no one else has told you is DO NOT PARK IT IN A SUPERMARKET CAR PARK as it will get dented no matter where you park it

AllenJ

To reduce understeer, get a reputable garage to set the car up with the prodrive geometry settings, even better, if you have some cash to spend, get her down to powerstation for the T25 suspension upgrade.
You'll be having multiple O's for the rest of your drive in the Scooby. LOL
Welcome aboard.

anthscooby01

change the tyres if it has Bridgestones in any shape or form!!

badgersport

That's how I describe my Sti to my wife too - a sensible 4 door family saloon.

Let us know how you get on with it. I've got an 06 Sti and a friend had an 04 M3. He reckons he'd prefer the M3 on Motorways and A roads but on any sort of B road he'd take the Impreza.

The M3 definately gives better mpg though

Leeroy

Are they that bad? What's the way forward?

mattireland

PS3 - the bridgestones i have on them make it like driving on ice

slip'n'sliding!!!!

*AL*

IMO Bridgestones are terrible, had them on my WRX 03 PPP,they are only ok when warm in dry conditions.Damp or wet they are lethal!
Michelin Pilot sports(PS2) are superb

stevebennett

Must agree in dry conditions they are very good, but i have the RE070's on my 04 WRX, now getting used to going roundabout sideways. Good for a weekend hoon on the track but not goosd during rush hour around london.

andythejock01wrx

The Playstation 2's are great, but if you can't stretch to stellar bucks, then Toyo T1R's are a branded tyre that is superb in the wet.