T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

As you may or not know i have owned four Scoobs and presently a MY06 JDM Type20. Since December last year I have already tested a MY08 S-ST, MY08 UK STi STD & one engine/suspensionTweaks. MY08 EU Sti (top spec) & MY08 EU Sti (std spec)engine/suspensionTweaks

Previuos MY08 Test Drives

The MY08 showed great potential, good power Delivey as std, driving position was excellent, boot was small but made up for with folding seats. Good leg room but Sadly disappionted by a few things.

• Chassis was far to soft (like an old Pram with springs)
• steering was so light and little or no feed back (to over "assisted" not quite as bad on the JDM) keeped looking if a "City" switch mode was on)
• 17" wheels were made for motorways not for cornering
• Extremly quite in the Cabin

To be honest, out the box the STD MY08 STi is in a better place than the STD MY07 Saloon. If you spent £2.5k on suspension, exhaust and remap tweaks the Saloon would be greatly improved but only slight gains on the MY08STi Hatch as it wouldn't cure the Traits above. So i'd stick with my saloon TA IMHO

New Litchfield Type 20 Test Drive

I'll get the bad points ouit the way first, it's not a Vauxhall( sial silver Photochop with VXL No Plate), BMW1, Seat, Focus or Audi A3 etc etc but it is a hatchback, now we've got that out the way, can we please move on

Looking at the Car it not cosmetically much different to any 08 Hatch but I had been eagerly awaiting to test the the improvents Iain had made to the car.

In the Town the car was smooth and very comfortable. Cabin was very quiet slightly worried I'd wasted my time re-testing a MY08 STi!!.

Steering

You instantly notice the slightly heaiver feel to the steering so things looking up, hopefully when pushing on, i don't get the "Chatter" up the column associated with heavier steering.

Power delivery

Driving out of town the throttle response was incredible with very little lag and once over 3Krpm the performance seemed much like a T25 mk2's.

Chassis

WOW, what difference a "Tweak" has made, the chassis, suspension and wheels were now accutally all connected. Previous chassis felt they were held together with bungee ropes. Pushing on, body roll seem nearly eliminated yet my dentures still intact.

Handling

This is so much improved over the old setups I've tried. Bumps, potholes and very uneven surfaces didn't seem to cause the Suspension any problems. On the one section of bumpy road my MY06 cannot get any more power down due to "bouncing".
Cabin comfort wasn't compromised by the Coilover suspension, yet still seemed firm enough for track use.

Grip

The tyres are just made for it no tramling to speak of and stacks of Grip

Braking

Brilliant, I'd love this conversion to my Car, brembo's can be a overwhelmed on tight tracks like brands Hatch.

Conclusion

Before Test drive would I swap my MY06 Type 20 for a MY08 STi with "STD mods"......... definaltely not. I'd probably gone for a RA or RA-R or Cossy engine for my T20.

After Test drive would I swap my MY06 Type 20 for a MY08 Type 20......... More than like Yes as the New T20 this has taking the "T20 marque" to another level. This is not a "poormans" T25 this is an awesome car in it's own rights.

OK £37K is shed load of pennies but seems spent in all the right places This Car works because it's a developed "Package" and not a "magnet" driven through Helfrauds

Some of the Specifications pinched of the Litchfield site

• 2008 JDM Subaru Impreza STI
• 400 PS @ 7,500 Rpm / 375lbft @ 3,500rpm
• 2.0 Litre EJ207 Engine with Dual Variable Valve Timing
• New Type-20 Twinscroll turbo with Zircotec ceramic coating
• Type-20 Turbo heat shield
• Litchfield cold air induction system with high flow filter
• Litchfield reprogrammed ECU with enhanced Economy mode
• Milltek 3” Exhaust system with 100 cell Hi-Flow Sports Catalytic converter (saves 20kg).
• Japanese STI quicker 13.1 Steering Rack
• Revised chassis bushes and up rated anti roll bar
• Increased Castor angle and wheel base
• Re-valved power steering system with increased feel and weight
• AST 12-Way adjustable suspension allowing lower ride height (-35mm over standard)
• STI front lip spoiler
• Litchfield front strut brace
• 18x8.5 Lightweight Rota alloy wheels
• High performance 245/40/18 Dunlop SP600 tyres
• 365mm Alcon Brake kit
• Engine Start button
• Red Maserati style tail light option
• Revised STI front grill
• Price: £36,995 OTR

TONY

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Heres some Pics













Tony

alpha charlie

Nice one matey, I'm sooo glad Litchfields are not on my door step!!
Cheers
AC

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Isn't taking long to get them sorted is it !

Still only seen one on the road, and one on a trailer...

DunxC - a bug-eye is for life, not just for Xmas !

corradoboy

Is Iain Litchfield becoming the premier Subaru tuner, regarded higher even than Prodrive ? And should Subaru UK, IM, STi and SWRT be considering him for future UK commercial development and marketing solutions ? I think he has more passion, drive, focus and commitment to the brand and its enthusiastic followers, and thus more potential for growth in all areas than other companies whom simply see the marque as a cash cow and provide bargain basement tuning at sky high prices.

juggers

iTrader: (1)

Umm i know i'd rather have prodrive on the back of my car then a litchfield badge. Think your forgetting that prodrive make the WRC car

Good write up Tony the new t20 does sound rather special.

Immy

corradoboy

Prodrive do indeed make the WRC car, and very good it is, but from a retail point of view a car like the Impreza seems to be better in every way when people like Litcho develop them. PPP's are done to budget, for profit, and with the every-present penny-pinchers of IM counting every bean. Iain is still a businessman and as such seeks to make a living out of what he does, but manages to fulfill more potential and release more from the same base item, and does not charge the earth for it. I have visited Prodrive, and Litchfield/Powerstation and know full well that Iain could in no way produce a car capable of competing in the WRC. For consumer, road-going, retail performance variations of the Subaru marque however, I think he is beyond what Prodrive can currently offer, mainly as Prodrive' hands will be contractually tied to produce the most profitable products, not the best they are capable of.

mickp

iTrader: (1)

Sounds great Tony but still feel £37k is an awful lot of money. Also needs a few ext body tweaks to make it stand out from the rest.

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

When my wife heard I was going she hid my credit

LOL I know what you mean

Tony

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

Immy, it might sound sitting on the fence but agree with both you and Corradoboy

Unfortunately Prodrive are on a budget. With a collapsing UK market and UK £ to Yen rates bad for the Uk, cutting margins even further.

I'm due to test a 330S in soon I have driven a UK with Remap and "the std" suspension mods but that didn't fix the poor steering feel. which a issue for both me and EVO COTY. IIRC


Thanks,

I expected it to be better than mine but not by that much


Tony

Shaun

I think we should leave the WRC out of this topic....... I can't say I would rather have anything WRC Subaru related on the back of my car after the past 5yrs results!

Tony,
Good innit!

Shaun

mickp,
Yes..... £37k is a lot of money, but this car is pitted against the X FQ360 price wise.

You pays for what you get and Litchfield's don't sell ****!

Looks like this is the first of many Litchfield's "turd polishing" exercises and they said it could not be done (polishing a turd that is lol).

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

It is Shaun seems to be nearly a big a queue to drive it as is to buy it

it is a great package that works so well together A lot of scooby owners would be suprised how good it is

As long as 1,3,5, 20, 40 & 49 come out tonight, he'll have another order tomorrow LOL

Tony

M535I

sorry id never spend 37k on a subaru doesnt matter who's been playing around with it .

mickp

iTrader: (1)

Understand what it is targeted at Shaun, but I don't see value for money.

No doubting it is a great car and that bit special but £37K takes us into many other special cars.

IMHO

scoobynutta555

£37k for an Impreza? There's only a couple of Imprezas I'd ever buy again and they cost nowhere near £37k!

I'd seriously think of what else you could get for your money, the list must be awesome.

I'd get another 22b again and they're nearly half the price of this.

Borat_Drives_A_Scooby

The problem you have with the new impreza is that it will always be a minger regardless of what you do to it, it will basically be mutton dressed as lamb. A perfect example is a girl i know round our way, she has a repuation of being a top performer in bed and apparently she goes like the clappers but she is a minger.

The question is, would you be prepared to sacrifice looks over performance when the thing in question is a right minger ?

corradoboy

Yes. I've never considered any Impreza to be a good looking car. They seduce you with their abilities, and you end up appreciating their appearance because of it, but compared to many, many other cars, they're ugly Jap saloons. The pink and gold just adds to the tatty image.

reano

iTrader: (2)

Great review Tony, I love my scooby and Subaru's in general but with prices now falling for most performance cars maybe if you can afford £37k maybe it's time to leave Subaru and go up market.

If you can get a reputable service centre (and of course depending how many miles your going to cover) too the prices for running these cars need not be so much.

1) BMW M3 MY57 - c£35k maybe less if you look around with following spec

0-62mph 4.8 seconds
Top Speed 155 mph
Cylinders 8
Number of Valves 32 V
Engine Power 420 bhp
Engine Torque 295 lbs/ft

2) BMW M5 MY06 - 07 <£37k

0-62mph 4.7 seconds
Top Speed 155 mph
Cylinders 10
Number of Valves 40 V
Engine Power 507 bhp
Engine Torque 384 lbs/ft

3) Porsche 911 carrera MY06 c£35k (could get the turbo in 02 - 04 depending on miles)

0-62mph 4.8 seconds
Top Speed 182 mph
Cylinders 6
Number of Valves 24 V
Engine Power 355 bhp
Engine Torque 295 lbs/ft

4) MY06 - 07 Audi RS4 <£37k

0-62mph 4.8 seconds
Top Speed 155 mph
Cylinders 8
Number of Valves 32 V
Engine Power 420 bhp
Engine Torque 317 lbs/ft

5) Various Ferrari's, etc (if your a weekend warrior).

Like I said love Subaru's but the way the market has moved in the last few months a whole lot of other cars are now available within this subaru price bracket.....

Red Rocket 11166

Well i have to agree with reano on this one.

For 37k i would want a car that stands out in the crowd as well as the performance, im affraid it looks like any other car in the carpark.

Great write up by the way Tony.

See you about Red.

M444GY

iTrader: (72)

looks nice , black is good , could do with a wash

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

I agree with the last 5 comments above as Subaru falls in the £16-33k car market (My STi02 PPP/PHP was £30K MY06T20 was £32K) the extra £5K takes into the next bracket. The type20 is aimed at a Niche market ,.


The best "New" Car for £37K......maybe.

The best Car for £37K...... probably not, i'd look at a s/hand T25 or a RA-R first

I'd just love a Ferrari although, i could never justify a £37K weekend toy I couldn't afford to drive or maintain. Just sat on my drive for the nieghbours to look at. My car has to be a workhorse, hobby and weekend toy all in one. I won't buy a £28K car that doesn't do it for me either.

Who in there right mind would buy a £37K Jap Sports car how much was a new 22B, T25, S204, RA-R, EVO FQ360/400, skylines & GT-R, there are many others.

Tony

renny

iTrader: (2)

Good stuff Tony.

I'm sitting firmly on the fence here and agree with all of the above comments (amazingly!!).

It is a lot of car and compared to the Evo FQ360 edges it for me,but......

As said above,37k is way too much money for a car that just doesn't stand out enough for me IMHO.Yes it's nice if it's had the 'polishing a turd' treatment but i just can't 'love' it and i would have to 'love' a car to spend that amount of money.

I aint creeping here at all Tony but your current T20 looks much better than the new one.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Agree with the above, an Impreza shouldn't cost more than 30k. The whole point of the rice rocket is near supercar thrills at near supermarket prices. When you move away from the sub 30k price bracket, other alternatives look more attractive.

Ns04

scoobynutta555

Buy a used FERRARI 360 Car - Auto Trader UK

Or a 996 turbo for a 'workhorse'.

Dan9106

Going for a remap 2morrow, so i shall be having a good look!

bluenosewrx

iTrader: (2)

Loads of commentd about this and all heve there + AND -, Its a very Niche market as Tony said, however how many is he likely to sell???

Its a very Ltd edition car really, how many T25's were there made and ppl still class them as a quality car.

Its very brave of Iain and should be commended and i wish him all the best.Its a shame Subaru do not show the same commitment.

Mac

Mac

scoobynutta555

I don't think anyone is disputing it's a niche market or that Litchfield should be applauded for doing what Subaru daren't.

The caveat is that at the end of the day it's a £37k Japanese hatchback.

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

I want one.

End of story, just like I wanted a MY07 Type 25.

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

LOL and yes I much prefered the looks of mine aswell

Untill I drove the new T20, all of a sudden "Toad of Toad hall" syndrome went over me "Beep" "Beep" "I want one" "Beep" "Beep"

Dam I hate you LOL

Driven a few Porkers and their an Awesome Car to drive but just hate their looks (and I bought a bugeye STi)

Tony