Newbie needs advice JDM or not ?
15 May 2011, 06:27 PM
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Newbie needs advice JDM or not ?
Hi guys
Had a good look around the forum and done some searches and now i'm even more confused
Looking at buying an STI budget up to about £20k
So tell me if i've got this wrong;
UK 2.5 2008 - 2010 to be avoided due to engine issues ?
JDM more reliable, more power, higher cost to buy than equivalent UK model ?
I've seen a couple of JDM's advertised and trying to work out why they are substantially more than the UK versions even allowing for the extra power, can anyone give an opinion on these 2 cars and am I on the right lines with the above ?
http://www.litchfieldimports.co.uk/s...st.asp?inc=341
http://www.litchfieldimports.co.uk/s...st.asp?inc=332
I don't mind paying a bit over the top if it means buying from a reputable dealer and these guys seem to be very highly thought of.
Thanks in advance
Had a good look around the forum and done some searches and now i'm even more confused
Looking at buying an STI budget up to about £20k
So tell me if i've got this wrong;
UK 2.5 2008 - 2010 to be avoided due to engine issues ?
JDM more reliable, more power, higher cost to buy than equivalent UK model ?
I've seen a couple of JDM's advertised and trying to work out why they are substantially more than the UK versions even allowing for the extra power, can anyone give an opinion on these 2 cars and am I on the right lines with the above ?
http://www.litchfieldimports.co.uk/s...st.asp?inc=341
http://www.litchfieldimports.co.uk/s...st.asp?inc=332
I don't mind paying a bit over the top if it means buying from a reputable dealer and these guys seem to be very highly thought of.
Thanks in advance
15 May 2011, 07:02 PM
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I have a 2006 (Hawkeye) JDM Litchfield Type 20 Spec C. Suberb car!
The cars you are looking at are sitting at 350bhp and 400bhp, so are perhaps tuned to a greater degree than the UK cars you are looking at.
Obviously plenty of people go for the UK 2.5s without issue, but the potential for map related piston issues and head gasket failures did put me off. The JDM engines can happily cope with up to 500 bhp without rebuilding.
Hope this helps.
Andy
The cars you are looking at are sitting at 350bhp and 400bhp, so are perhaps tuned to a greater degree than the UK cars you are looking at.
Obviously plenty of people go for the UK 2.5s without issue, but the potential for map related piston issues and head gasket failures did put me off. The JDM engines can happily cope with up to 500 bhp without rebuilding.
Hope this helps.
Andy
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15 May 2011, 07:24 PM
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15 May 2011, 07:26 PM
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15 May 2011, 07:31 PM
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I must admit i'm confused by all the different specs.
So apart from the obvious which is it's running 400BHP why is that blue one at Litchfield so expensive compared to the average 55 plate hawkeye ?
Don't get me wrong i'm happy to splash the cash but I want to know what i'm getting for my money, i'm sure the dealer would explain but I don't want to call them until i'm armed with a bit more knowledge.
So apart from the obvious which is it's running 400BHP why is that blue one at Litchfield so expensive compared to the average 55 plate hawkeye ?
Don't get me wrong i'm happy to splash the cash but I want to know what i'm getting for my money, i'm sure the dealer would explain but I don't want to call them until i'm armed with a bit more knowledge.
15 May 2011, 08:00 PM
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The JDM cars are imports, hold their value better and are more reliable and higher specc'd than the uk equivelant car.
If your going to choose between a UK 2.5 and a JDM 2ltr, go for the 2ltr, its a sweet engine, twin scroll, stronger internals (they can run 420+bhp happily, do that with a UK 2.5 and anything over 350bhp your pushing your luck before the pistons fail!).
You really need to drive both but the 2ltr is a much more fun car
Tony
If your going to choose between a UK 2.5 and a JDM 2ltr, go for the 2ltr, its a sweet engine, twin scroll, stronger internals (they can run 420+bhp happily, do that with a UK 2.5 and anything over 350bhp your pushing your luck before the pistons fail!).
You really need to drive both but the 2ltr is a much more fun car
Tony
15 May 2011, 08:00 PM
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15 May 2011, 08:16 PM
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The JDM cars are imports, hold their value better and are more reliable and higher specc'd than the uk equivelant car.
If your going to choose between a UK 2.5 and a JDM 2ltr, go for the 2ltr, its a sweet engine, twin scroll, stronger internals (they can run 420+bhp happily, do that with a UK 2.5 and anything over 350bhp your pushing your luck before the pistons fail!).
You really need to drive both but the 2ltr is a much more fun car
Tony
If your going to choose between a UK 2.5 and a JDM 2ltr, go for the 2ltr, its a sweet engine, twin scroll, stronger internals (they can run 420+bhp happily, do that with a UK 2.5 and anything over 350bhp your pushing your luck before the pistons fail!).
You really need to drive both but the 2ltr is a much more fun car
Tony
Agreed (not that I prentend to have your Scoob knowledge!).
Can the 2006 Spec C take up to 500bhp on it's OEM internals, or are they the same as JDM STi's in that respect?
Andy
15 May 2011, 08:24 PM
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If you have £20k personally id even ditch the jdm spec c and go for a RB320 , top cars and hold value well due to being a special edition.
However failing that the jdm's are sweet cars
However failing that the jdm's are sweet cars
15 May 2011, 08:41 PM
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You'd be daft to go for an rb320 over a spec c IMHO. Rb320 doesn't have a sniff on a spec c IMO.
15 May 2011, 09:17 PM
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15 May 2011, 09:22 PM
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lol 
15 May 2011, 10:34 PM
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Whats wrong with the rb320's? they are great cars and in 5yr time will still be worth a lot. The spec c are without doubt also a good car, but should i have the choice id take the limted edition to retain some value.
Does the lightweight glass, bonnet etc make that much diff on the uk roads? Should it be a trackcar id understand
Does the lightweight glass, bonnet etc make that much diff on the uk roads? Should it be a trackcar id understand
15 May 2011, 10:52 PM
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JDM FTW without doubt. Spec C of course is a good choice, good handling, lighter weight, quick response turbo, stronger engine. rev all the way to 8000rpm, design for fitting a bigger turbo on the trackday. must be a good choice!
15 May 2011, 10:54 PM
#22
Whats wrong with the rb320's? they are great cars and in 5yr time will still be worth a lot. The spec c are without doubt also a good car, but should i have the choice id take the limted edition to retain some value.
Does the lightweight glass, bonnet etc make that much diff on the uk roads? Should it be a trackcar id understand
Does the lightweight glass, bonnet etc make that much diff on the uk roads? Should it be a trackcar id understand
Spec c has major tweakse to the chassis such as reinforced cross members a few more spotwelds and reinforcements to make the chassis more rigid. Then theres the engine and the list goes on. I think theirs a few spec c's in the UK than there are RB320's
15 May 2011, 11:06 PM
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Theres nothing limited about the RB320 other than a set of wheels leathers and springs.
Spec c has major tweakse to the chassis such as reinforced cross members a few more spotwelds and reinforcements to make the chassis more rigid. Then theres the engine and the list goes on. I think theirs a few spec c's in the UK than there are RB320's
Spec c has major tweakse to the chassis such as reinforced cross members a few more spotwelds and reinforcements to make the chassis more rigid. Then theres the engine and the list goes on. I think theirs a few spec c's in the UK than there are RB320's
15 May 2011, 11:18 PM
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15 May 2011, 11:22 PM
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I think either spec c or jdm sti, dependent upon if you want the extras the sti offers over the spec c, Rb320 is nice but is outclassed by both the above. But it really depends what you want. Do a bit of research before you decide what suits you.
16 May 2011, 04:58 PM
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The RB320 was £30k in standard trim, with no leather/sat nav etc. A standard Spec C from the same year was £28k.
Pop on over to the RB320 Owners Club and see how many there are for sale (plenty). Now try and find a MY06/07 Spec C, never mind a Type 20.
Pop on over to the RB320 Owners Club and see how many there are for sale (plenty). Now try and find a MY06/07 Spec C, never mind a Type 20.
16 May 2011, 05:08 PM
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However not to be confused with some JDM classics (RA's Type R's but V-limited can have long 5th etc.etc) which have VERY low gear ratio's that reached max 8000 Rpm at 125mph.
Totally theoretical speeds if limiter was set exactly acheived in all gears
UK STi 2.0ltr or 2.5ltr
Ratio's 3.636 / 2.235 / 1.521 / 1.137 / 0.971 / 0.756
1st speed @ max Rpm = 35mph rpm @ 60mph
2nd speed @ max Rpm = 57mph
3rd speed @ max Rpm = 84mph
4th speed @ max Rpm = 112mph
5th speed @ max Rpm = 132mph
6th speed @ max Rpm 170mph
2nd rpm @ 60mph = 7330
3rd rpm @ 60mph = 4990
4th rpm @ 60mph = 3730
5th rpm @ 60mph = 3190
6th rpm @ 60mph = 2480
JDM Sti, Spec C etc
Ratio's 3.636 / 2.375 / 1.761 / 1.346 / 1.061 / 0.842
1st max speed @ max Rpm = 40mph
2nd max speed @ max Rpm = 62mph
3rd max speed @ max Rpm = 83mph
4th max speed @ max Rpm = 109mph
5th max speed @ max Rpm = 137mph
6th max speed @ max Rpm = 174mph
2nd rpm @ 60mph = 7790
3rd rpm @ 60mph = 5780
4th rpm @ 60mph = 4410
5th rpm @ 60mph = 3480
6th rpm @ 60mph = 2760
this is fairly crude but will give you all a rough idea of the differences, this figures will also alter if running 17's, 18's or 19's as rolling radius will alter etc etc etc
IMHO
Tony
Last edited by T5NYW; 16 May 2011 at 05:11 PM.
16 May 2011, 06:21 PM
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One that im aware of !