Hi
I'm pretty new here, I've heard a few of you say that the Scooby can be a little bit unreliable and that you sort of have to make the most of it when it's running right.
Does this genrally apply to an engine that's had upgrades I.E induction etc or does it count for the boxer engine in genral,
Obviously regular oil changes etc make things better.
I've always been led to beleive that the scoob was pretty bomb proof.

 

Scoobs are like women, if you pamper them they dont complain, if you dont pamper them they throw a wobbler

In most cases they are pretty bullet proof, but they need regular servicing (decent servicing and not short cuts) and no stupid mods (and the mods have to be done correctly and not overstrain any other parts of the vehicle).

Tony

 

It applies to poorly maintained ones and badly modded ones.

 

I thought so.
Does anyone know if there's like a yearly service plan on here that tells you what to do and when, like a tried and tested Scoobynet yearly service plan

 

Yeah - it's it your service book.........

 

touch wood I have never had any real issues with any of my imprezas, imho its one of the most reliable cars I have ever run

 

Treat em mean, keep em keen does not apply to Scoob's

A well maintained one won't give you grief, saying that; same goes for any car!
Dodgy modding kills it too.

 

Service book doesn't tell you to change oil every 3000 miles and best oil to use etc DOES IT

 

No it recommends certain oils that have been tested by subaru on their engine (grades) and that have proven to be the most reliable, and they also state the service intervals (10k/1 year on new age, 7.5k or 6 month on classics or JDM new age )

Tony

 

well im on 105000 fron 40000 5 years ago fsh no problems

 

And why should it exactly? I ran my Uk Classic from 27k upto 111k (with in excess of 300bhp - 300ib/ft from 80k) on the std service plan with no issues what so ever. I understand now it's done another 18k still with no problems

 

Most Reliable car in the world IMO ...... I've owned quite a few cars in my time and my Impreza is by far the most reliable.

Then again, I keep mine as Subaru intended ... I mean, why waste the ££££ billions Subaru spent on researching the best mix of power and reliability to change it and lumber yourself with TVR-like running!? Madness.

If I wanted a faster car, I would go out and buy one which was designed for the power I was seeking - not take mine out of it's design envelope and turn it into a chav-mobile.

 

Most people tell you to change oil every 3000 miles if you want to avoid engine wear etc, so is this not really esential ????!

 

......imo - no

 

Most engine wear is caused on start up so no point in changing the oil every 3k, especially with the thought that people think that when it gets a little dark they should change it!
Ragging the car from cold and changing the oil at 3k will be far worse than warming the car up and changing the oil every 7.5k

Tony

 

6 Months - 6,000 miles ... is all that is needed - the 3,000 mile brigade pay £50 for 5 Litres of Oil and soak their filters overnight ... also, an Axe Murderer hides behind every corner

 

I have found the Scooby to be very reliable and quite tough for an engine subject to 1 bar boost. I believe that the best you can do is change the oil as often as possible. I would say not more than every 6 months. Do it on the basis of mileage only if you commute in your car. Use the best oil you can. Fully synthetic ester-based oil. 5W40 is best, not 15W50 for general road use unless you live in Cairo or Nairobi or the car is primarily a Track Car. Use synthetic oil in the diffs and trans. Always warm the engine before boosting it. If you don't have an oil temp gauge, drive gently till the water is up to temp, then drive 3 miles more. A boost gauge is very useful. Never warm an engine up at home by idling and then drive off. Start it, drive gently, ensure no boost till the oil is at 70C then go for it.

 

in my experience the scaremongers who will tell you they killed 3 engines in 6 months and other silly things like that are blaming there own inability to drive and care for a car on the car rather than themselves

If you stick crap mods on it, dont get it mapped properly for your mods, thrash it and scrimp at service time itll punish you, but what performance car wont?

 

Cheers that's helpfull
I usually warm it up on the drive, I won't be anymore.
Are boost gauges easy to fitt, I presume the tube goes on a vacume pipe, where's best place to connect to power for elimination.
Are oil temp gauges hard to fit.
I'm learning too much on here, it's gonna cost me a fortune

 

Aslong as you have a scoob youll never have any spare cash, simple as

Boost gauge is easy to fit, mines on the circuit with the lights so its illuminated when the headlights are on, like the dash lights, dont ask me how, twas on the car when I bought it lol

 

Is that because I want to spend or have to LOL

 

both!!

 

Not entirely true. If you buy a badly maintained one, yes - but even then, you'll get on top of things eventually. If you buy a well looked after standard car you shouldn't have much bother.

 

ah, that's a different story.

 

Mines got cat back system, dump valve , that's more or less standard isn't it.
Only thing that concerns me is I only do 5 mile to work and 5 mile back a day, is this likely to do the engine no good such short runs

 

I was making reference to the fact you end up buying mods etc when your not due services or tyres etc

not the reliability

ive never had any reliability problems

coz I dont drive it like I stole it lol

 

short runs all the time dont do any car any good

get a push bike you lazy sod, 5 miles is nowt!

 

I do 1.6 miles to work and 1.6 miles back home ...... I do that journey 4 times a day, and have done for 9 years with the Scooby since new.

Not a spot of bother.

These are actually quite cheap to run as they are so reliable, as long as - this is important - you don't mess around with it ...... keep it as Subaru intended and it will be the finest car you have ever owned.

 

FFS, it's a Subaru not a friggin TVR. 5 miles there and 5 miles back every day for the entire life of the car ain't gonna kill it...............

 

I wouldn't lose sleep over it to be honest. Some people will say yes, but I think they're a bit ghey to be honest.

As for the mods, I'm not sure. Mine had an induction kit, full stainless decat exhaust system, and dumpvalve when I bought it. The car hadn't been mapped for those mods and after a diagnostic at a specialist it was found to be running rich, which wasn't doing any harm to anything...it just wasn't running to it's full potential. I had a new ecu fitted and mapped though, and everything's perfect now.

Should also mention that it had been running about for years with those mods on it with no mapping, and it hasn't done any harm.