Dave_yd

hi,
Im new to this forum and im posting on behalf of my dad,

he is very interested in going to look at this car:

Subaru : Subaru Impreza WRX STi Prodrive (305bhp)

just a few questions
are there any particular problems we should look out for?
are these a 2.5 ltr or 2.0 ltr?
what sort of scope is there for tuning?
this will be his daily drive and we have been looking at models in 2003 where the front end looks a little different, are the 2003 ones much better than the "bugeye" one?

Regards
Dave

craigyp

iTrader: (5)

hi
thats what they call bug eye
2003 saw the blob eye come in the headlights look like peanuts..
as for tuning how much money you got?????
the list is endless but 305 is good enough for alot of people.
as for everyday use there brill always a smile on your face..
just search this site m8 moat questions have been answerd if not theres always someone willing to help....
good luck wi the sale
and welcome to the site
hope this helps

STiFreak

iTrader: (4)

I think you can do better for the money to be honest.

For £15K you can buy a 500+ bhp bugeye scooby.
https://www.scoobynet.com/private-sa...geye-sale.html

For similar money, you can also buy a 2005 UK STi (blobeye), which IMHO are one of the best looking and driving impreza models (I am biased obviously, owning one).
On a Newage STi I would suggest you set aside about £1200 to get a good panel air filter, 3" exhaust and a remap. It will give you about 320 to 350bhp, better acceleration and improved fuel economy. Depending on where you are based, I would suggest Bob Rawle (down south), Andy F (up in Scotland) or Jolly Green Monster (south east, but will travel).

Best of luck and I hope you enjoy owning one of the best driving cars on the road

Have a look on the for sale area on this site, there are some bargains to be had!

Dave_yd

^ cheers lads, great help and sound advice,

just to confirm is the one in the link i put up a 2.5 ltr

bluenose172

iTrader: (2)

No just 2.0ltr. 2.5's came with the MY06+ Hawkeye's in the UK.

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

£15k might well buy you either of those, but the OP was talking about a £10k car, which suggests that £15k may be well over his dad's budget. And while the blobeye is a fair suggestion, Alan Bell's car is a specialist bit of kit for someone who has the money to sort the inevitable issues arising from running that sort of power.




Anyway, back to the original questions...


The bit about 305bhp suggests that the Prodrive Performance Pack has been fitted, so when he phones the insurers then it's a: "WRX STI Type UK Prodrive PPP". Some insurers won't like the PPP being fitted.

The good news is that Prodrive have got rid of one cat and uprated the fuel pump. All that is required for about 330bhp is a remap: prices run from about £400 and up. You only need a 3" exhaust if you plan for 400bhp. That will require a new turbo, because the default VF35 can only manage about 350 at best, and 340 more realistically. 400Bbhp will also probably need new injectors and an induction kit, plus the exhaust mentioned. The (2.0 litre) engine internals are good for about 430-440bhp: any more than that and he'll need an up-rated engine: budget £4k+ unless he can pick one up second-hand.

The limit for scoob tuning appears to be about 850-900bhp, but costs rise exponentially with power - that sort of power probably costs more than a small house. I'd aim for about 400-430bhp as the best compromise of money and power, together with day-to-day drivability.


M

Dave_yd

just to add 10k is the most he can manage

Dave_yd

We arn't looking at mega money tuning, i shaould have said my first post, ideally i was just looking for what can be got with a remap exhaust etc. and people have answered that, so cheers.
do people think that car is a little overpriced?
are there any problems specific to that model that we should look out for? its just i heard subarus had a problem with big end bearings a while back?

STiFreak

iTrader: (4)

Hi Dave, the one you listed was a bugeye (2001-2002) 2.0 litre. Blobeye was (2003 to 2005) 2.0 litre. Hawkeye (2006-2007) 2.5 litre.

STiFreak

iTrader: (4)

Agree, just trying to give him a realistic comparison of what could be had for slightly more money.
I think Alan's car is a bargain for the performance it offers, but I have slightly different ideas of where I am going with my car. Don't know exaclty what Dave's dad is looking for.

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

£5000 isn't "slightly" more money when looking at a £10000 car, its a 50% increase!!

As for the car your dads looking at; I have exactly the same model as that. While the PPP claims 305bhp, in reality your probably looking at a little less - mine recorded 297bhp shortly after I got it; and the operator commented that he considered that to be a healthy example.

As for the price of that car - its priced what I'd consider the higher-end of the private sale market for that car; but not massively over-priced or anything.. I think I'd try and aim for getting it at around £9200 (if the car didn't have any potential problems).

Only thing I will say about that car is that it's VERY close to 50,000 miles, the 50,000mile/5 year service can be quite (*cough*) expensive, as can the 60,000 mile service (your looking at around £550 or so at a dealership - get SIDC membership as the discount will pay for it and a bit more with your first service!). The 50,000mile/5 year service *SHOULD* have already been done due to the age of the car, so either ensure that this service has been done, or use it as a powerful tool to negotiate a good price, as your going to have an expensive service this year whatever happens.

As for if the blob is better than the bug - I'd say unless you can't stand the bug's look, I don't think it makes much difference; the few hundred pound you'll save buying a 2002 car rather than a 2003 one will pay for a good few bits of Whiteline kit, which will more than make up for any minor differences that Subaru brought in with the blob.

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

50k is a fanbelt change on a bug, so yes, it can be expensive. I think a main dealer will charge about £600?


Nearly forgot: the only known issue on 02 STIs (and 03 and 04s too, I believe) is the infamous rear struts. After a while, they start making an annoying "bonk" noise, especially when you corner at low speed over any sort of bump. It's annoying, but not (AFAIK) dangerous. Many cars have had the affected struts replaced, but the new ones can end up making the same irritating noise. As I said, AFAIK it doesn't mean anything, but it is annoying.


Everything else is the standard stuff you'd apply to any car, with the added issues down to the turbo. Get at least an RAC check, ideally a check by an independent expert.


M

Panthro

Buy mine, its better Subaru : *REDUCED* Subaru MY02 WRX STI Type UK PPP

As for asking £9200, youre having a laugh, thats well under the value of a bug STI, £10k is very well priced. Well, I would say that, however its true.

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

In which case mine was a bargain from a car dealer last year for £10500

WR 1mposter

iTrader: (1)

Looked at the advert for the 2002 bogeye, does anyone else use 0/40 oil in there Subaru sti ?

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

As said its PPP'd and 305Ps so quite a nice car it has all the components on it to get it just remapped to 335bhp (£400-600) but depends if the ECU was ECUTEK remapped or Piggyback chipped by Prodrive.

As said above common rear strut knock, usaully felt driving slowly on hard lock backwards/forwards, out of a drive for instance. It sometime feels like a car with DCCD, or wheels like 50p coins as said annoying more than dangerous

Not that much of a problem on the Newage(2001 on) STi's as with WRX's and earlier Models IMHO

They is little diferences bar form costmetics on a MY02 - MY04 STis

Tony

dantastic

Take a little look at Home of the Surrey Subaru Club!, there are a few very nice ones for sale on that site at the moment, and the owners have maintained them to the highest standards regardless of costs, they are spot on.

regards

Danny.

GazTheHat

This one lOOks much nicer and a better deal than the original one posted.

peterpeter

I have a my 05 sti ppp car and would say dont bother with panel filter exhaust etc.

Just get Simon from Jolly green monster to remap it..he is a great guy.

Mine went from 298bhp to 340.6 and was dynoed at Surrey rolling road.

Cost 650...I am a happy man.

Dave_yd

just thought i'd let you all know, we went and had a look at "panthro's" car and it was a fantastic example, so we sorted a deal and its now on the driveway, my dad absolutely loves it and so do i, such a good sound...thanks for all the advice lads.

finalzero

Great choice, happy motoring!

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Enjoy just take care and slowly get used to it

Tony

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

So it was his you bought - I didn't recognise it. Well done.


M

dantastic

Nice one mate im glad you got a good one.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Expensive fecking fan belt


Yup, I had an 02 STI, sold it nearly 3 years later and it had approx 6 goes at fixing the knocking suspension

Shaun