I think I've fallen in love with the hatch(spec c)
13 April 2011, 12:29 PM
#1
I think I've fallen in love with the hatch(spec c)
After slating the hatch for so long I am really impressed at how these babys handle. I find myself going much quicker through corners than in a Hawk spec c/S204. I don't know if it's down to the deceptive ride ,but you just don't realise how quick your going untill you look at the clock.
The car in question does have all the additional STI suspension upgrades (R205) so it might be down to that, but I am really enjoying the new hatch.
Obviously they don't look as good as the hawk ,but with a few choice mods they can look the part.
Never thought I'd find myself saying this!.
O yeh they are very practical to!
The car in question does have all the additional STI suspension upgrades (R205) so it might be down to that, but I am really enjoying the new hatch.
Obviously they don't look as good as the hawk ,but with a few choice mods they can look the part.
Never thought I'd find myself saying this!.
O yeh they are very practical to!
13 April 2011, 02:46 PM
#5
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in a track day we recently had, heavy rain started during the event. All the classics and the new age did fine but extra care was needed. Everyone was at least 3-4 seconds lower than normal. The Hatch STIs were the only cars that driven like normal. As if the wet road didn't exist. Their lap times were at the worst situation 2 seconds lower than what it used to be. A clear winner for wet surfaces!
13 April 2011, 05:57 PM
#6
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in a track day we recently had, heavy rain started during the event. All the classics and the new age did fine but extra care was needed. Everyone was at least 3-4 seconds lower than normal. The Hatch STIs were the only cars that driven like normal. As if the wet road didn't exist. Their lap times were at the worst situation 2 seconds lower than what it used to be. A clear winner for wet surfaces!
I certainly want one in yellow.
13 April 2011, 06:30 PM
#7
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You'll find so many guys sayin they "hate them, engines are **** etc"....truth is in my book, they are driving £3k 14yr old classics and could not even consider buying a hatch either way, so its a tainted opinion. I have an 07 Hawk, and for the record i like the hatch too, and did from the start (in sti format)......nice car, practical too, without being an estate!
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13 April 2011, 10:29 PM
#17
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You'll find so many guys sayin they "hate them, engines are **** etc"....truth is in my book, they are driving £3k 14yr old classics and could not even consider buying a hatch either way, so its a tainted opinion. I have an 07 Hawk, and for the record i like the hatch too, and did from the start (in sti format)......nice car, practical too, without being an estate!
TX.
13 April 2011, 11:06 PM
#18
14 April 2011, 12:01 AM
#19
Its not a suprise to me about the handling TBH:
Just by looking at the hatch's front suspension's construction, you can easily see that it has improved its lower arm design and mounting points when compared to that of older Imprezas. Basically they are now at the similar level to a PQ35 VW Golf or e46 BMW (although the E46 is still superior due to its second ball joint mounting within the lower arm and the PQ35 Golf has a far more superior and rigid subframe and mounting points)
The front suspenion IMO was always the Impreza's achilles heal; Basic mcpherson off a Ford Fiesta doesn't cut it in this day and age in this kind of car without improving its rigidty and mounting points. But the Hatch addreseses alot of its shortcomming, its still not as good as that found in the front of Nissans (yes, the P11 primera's front suspension is a unsung hero), e39 5 series BMWs, or even Ford's Revo-knuckle thingy, but its an improvement.
Rear suspension is also a vast improvememt - the wishbone arms mounted in a triangle (as opposed to parallel) gives better ridgity, compliance and the addition of a toe-link arm maintains a more favourable geometry when its loaded and unloaded - the result should give much less sudden 'snap' oversteer which is a known trait of older Imprezas as well as inducing a bit of rear wheel "steer".
Just by looking at the hatch's front suspension's construction, you can easily see that it has improved its lower arm design and mounting points when compared to that of older Imprezas. Basically they are now at the similar level to a PQ35 VW Golf or e46 BMW (although the E46 is still superior due to its second ball joint mounting within the lower arm and the PQ35 Golf has a far more superior and rigid subframe and mounting points)
The front suspenion IMO was always the Impreza's achilles heal; Basic mcpherson off a Ford Fiesta doesn't cut it in this day and age in this kind of car without improving its rigidty and mounting points. But the Hatch addreseses alot of its shortcomming, its still not as good as that found in the front of Nissans (yes, the P11 primera's front suspension is a unsung hero), e39 5 series BMWs, or even Ford's Revo-knuckle thingy, but its an improvement.
Rear suspension is also a vast improvememt - the wishbone arms mounted in a triangle (as opposed to parallel) gives better ridgity, compliance and the addition of a toe-link arm maintains a more favourable geometry when its loaded and unloaded - the result should give much less sudden 'snap' oversteer which is a known trait of older Imprezas as well as inducing a bit of rear wheel "steer".
Last edited by ALi-B; 14 April 2011 at 12:03 AM.
14 April 2011, 01:59 PM
#20
And me
With regards to the handling question.
All I will simply say, is that in my 330S when I change direction, the change is instant and sharp if that makes sense.
In my previous 05 STI, it just felt very different
Not understeer per say, but a delayed effect.
And before anyone says goemetry, that car was setup locally by a very well known place that prepare various type of rally cars.
However, what I would like on my 330S is a little less body roll, but I belive the prodrive springs come with different bump stops which address this
With regards to the handling question.
All I will simply say, is that in my 330S when I change direction, the change is instant and sharp if that makes sense.
In my previous 05 STI, it just felt very different
Not understeer per say, but a delayed effect.
And before anyone says goemetry, that car was setup locally by a very well known place that prepare various type of rally cars.
However, what I would like on my 330S is a little less body roll, but I belive the prodrive springs come with different bump stops which address this
14 April 2011, 02:36 PM
#21
Scooby Regular
And me
With regards to the handling question.
All I will simply say, is that in my 330S when I change direction, the change is instant and sharp if that makes sense.
In my previous 05 STI, it just felt very different
Not understeer per say, but a delayed effect.
And before anyone says goemetry, that car was setup locally by a very well known place that prepare various type of rally cars.
With regards to the handling question.
All I will simply say, is that in my 330S when I change direction, the change is instant and sharp if that makes sense.
In my previous 05 STI, it just felt very different
Not understeer per say, but a delayed effect.
And before anyone says goemetry, that car was setup locally by a very well known place that prepare various type of rally cars.
In all honesty, i find the hatch turns in more immediately than my Spec C. So what's all this review about the hatch having dull turn in and all that?
14 April 2011, 10:38 PM
#22
Its not a suprise to me about the handling TBH:
Just by looking at the hatch's front suspension's construction, you can easily see that it has improved its lower arm design and mounting points when compared to that of older Imprezas. Basically they are now at the similar level to a PQ35 VW Golf or e46 BMW (although the E46 is still superior due to its second ball joint mounting within the lower arm and the PQ35 Golf has a far more superior and rigid subframe and mounting points)
The front suspenion IMO was always the Impreza's achilles heal; Basic mcpherson off a Ford Fiesta doesn't cut it in this day and age in this kind of car without improving its rigidty and mounting points. But the Hatch addreseses alot of its shortcomming, its still not as good as that found in the front of Nissans (yes, the P11 primera's front suspension is a unsung hero), e39 5 series BMWs, or even Ford's Revo-knuckle thingy, but its an improvement.
Rear suspension is also a vast improvememt - the wishbone arms mounted in a triangle (as opposed to parallel) gives better ridgity, compliance and the addition of a toe-link arm maintains a more favourable geometry when its loaded and unloaded - the result should give much less sudden 'snap' oversteer which is a known trait of older Imprezas as well as inducing a bit of rear wheel "steer".
Just by looking at the hatch's front suspension's construction, you can easily see that it has improved its lower arm design and mounting points when compared to that of older Imprezas. Basically they are now at the similar level to a PQ35 VW Golf or e46 BMW (although the E46 is still superior due to its second ball joint mounting within the lower arm and the PQ35 Golf has a far more superior and rigid subframe and mounting points)
The front suspenion IMO was always the Impreza's achilles heal; Basic mcpherson off a Ford Fiesta doesn't cut it in this day and age in this kind of car without improving its rigidty and mounting points. But the Hatch addreseses alot of its shortcomming, its still not as good as that found in the front of Nissans (yes, the P11 primera's front suspension is a unsung hero), e39 5 series BMWs, or even Ford's Revo-knuckle thingy, but its an improvement.
Rear suspension is also a vast improvememt - the wishbone arms mounted in a triangle (as opposed to parallel) gives better ridgity, compliance and the addition of a toe-link arm maintains a more favourable geometry when its loaded and unloaded - the result should give much less sudden 'snap' oversteer which is a known trait of older Imprezas as well as inducing a bit of rear wheel "steer".
15 April 2011, 04:44 PM
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