JapFever

Hi all - I've just signed up and I'm looking to buy my first Subaru, and reading some of the problems and comments like "cranks like chocolate" Im starting to worry!

I'm stuck between a fresh import from SVA Imports in Dover - a standard '97 STI type r with 39k miles @ £5995, 12 months parts & labour.

or, buying something in good nick but high mileage and getting it rebuilt.

Im not intending modding or anything as I want to use it as an everyday car.

What do you think is the best option? I dont really want the hassle of running in a new engine tbh.

tia!

dunx

iTrader: (3)

The problem is our crap quality fuel.

A fresh import won't be mapped to suit, and hence all the failures.

They also don't like long high speed runs either.

You need to budget for an ecu that can be mapped to suit our fuel, IMHO.

HTH

dunx

jods

You may also find it difficult to get insurance on an import. I did find it a problem so ended up buying from my local dealership in Baldock.

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

There shouldn't be any problems running it on our fuel (Tescos 99 ron and V power) as these fuels are just as high as the fuel that the cars were designed to run on.

Ironically i'm looking at their website as well as i'm upgrading to STI,most of them aren't in the country at the mo though so personally i would wait until they get them in stock before putting down a deposit.

Japanese performance car specialists - Torque-GT.co.uk i was looking at this one and i know 2 people who've bought cars of them (350z and r33 gtr iirc)

mirrorman

iTrader: (2)

well im in the process of buying a skyline from them,which i pick up 1st Aug, and they seem to be realy good so far. Im dealing with Tristan and he is a sound bloke, very helpfull guy.

as regards to fuel, unless you really want a type r, and your that worried about fuel issues, why not buy a UK car? P1 is simular to a type r, or spent a bit of dolla on the type r ecu and have it remapped/changed.

ScoobyNudge

iTrader: (4)

P1 for the win mate limited editions of 1000 all the benifits if a jap spec car except dccd+ water spray but without most of the downsides its gonna go up in value mate

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Absolutely 1 benefit over the type R and that's because its built for the uk market, it then has zero other benefits, no climate control (removed and replaced with the crappy aircon you had retro fitted to uk classics) no folding mirrors, no dccd (but they do have abs) no 2 pot rear brakes, they still suffer the same inherent issues that type R's do (except that type R's have in most cases been remapped), their (P1) prices are higher, but they are dropping and they are catching the type R's up in prices now!
8k will get you a 100k mile example of a P1, or 8k will get you a version 6 sti type R with 60k less on the clock (and a year newer model )

Tony

EddScott

Does it have to be a 2 door?

I have a WRC edition Type RA for sale.

JapFever

cheers for the help guys - I'll take a look at torque-gt website definitely. Im looking for low mileage as possible tbh, but I cant stretch to 8 grand. Ill post up if I find anything interesting!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Personally despite the matching octane ratings, I think it should still be mappped for UK fuel.

I have issues with UK (and EU) petrol with the ways they use additives to achieve their high octane ratings with poor quality base stocks, which I suspect has different levels of benzene and aromatic solvents compared to the fuel in Japan.

The speed at which UK petrol "goes off" if left in the lawn mower for a month, when ten years ago it could be left for 6months with no issues adds to my concerns that quality and consistancy of British petrol is not as good as it should be (or used to be) despite it meeting the BS/EU octane requirements.

As such I've been investigating into petroleum alkylates, which is a much higher grade of petroleum by-product; When used as an additive, typical RON values are similar to forecout fuels, but usually have much higher MON values (maybe thats why fuel companies don't often quote the MON of their fuels?).

Its a long winded subject, but what I'm saying is RON values are only a small factor of the equation.

EddScott

So the feeling of my car not being quite so quick on the same tank of fuel a few weeks later isn't just me then?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Maybe so, Its been a long standing issue with our old Jagaur that only get used on sunny days. Although being old and British generally means there alot of other Lucas branded components messing up the engine's performance, making it impossible to blame any single thing in particular Thing is, its quite a serious issue, as being a lean-burn engine it can run lean on poor fuel without any obvious pinking or detonation. Instead the cylinder heads overheat and the valves seats start to drop out. The only audible indication that its happened is the tappets sound noisy.

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

P1s re Tony Burns post

Japfever the one i posted is the same price as the one you're looking at not £8K.

Ali, indeed petrol formulation is indeed varied and wide but saying that import impreza engines fail because of our poor fuel is incorrect imo.
My 93wrx (obviously cruder than the STI) had never had a problem with running on the SULs 97+ avaliable in this country (95 was definatley a no no though and BP Ultimate which no impreza seems to like).

JapFever

myblackwrx - that black one looks good. Killed me getting to Dover and back and torque-gt is near 200miles away :sigh: I know I'll have to get it mapped but I can get that done in Warwick,

Does anyone know if a version 4 STI ECU will need replacing or can it just be mapped?

TingTongPJ

iTrader: (24)

Does anyone know if a version 4 STI ECU will need replacing or can it just be mapped?[/QUOTE]


version 4 can't be remapped. it's new ecu time.

myblackwrx

iTrader: (1)

Fair enough that is a long way to go without buying it which sometimes means you may buy it just for the sake of it which isn't wise imo plus they only do viewing by appointment as well, i'm lucky because i'm a lot closer to both of them.

I think though when you get your mind around which car you want then a little bit of travelling may be your only option BUT the good thing is you may miss out on one but there will be other opportunities to buy what you want

do you definately want a Type R though?

EddScott

IMHO - a trip to sunny west wales from Coventry would be worth it to check my car out

I have a home in Cardiff I could meet which knocks 2 hours off the journey.

JapFever

Ive been down to Devon already and tried one of their Type R's, but in white. There's one coming in in blue, which I prefer because keeping white clean is a nightmare. Its got to be a Type R tho, heh, sorry. Ill see what its like first as Im not in a rush, but Im tempted to go look at that black one, even tho its 200 miles away.

I'll keep my eyes open anyways, cheers for the info on the ECU. I'll deffinately get it mapped aswell.