NiallWRX

I'm often surprised how many people, including performance motoring journalists, profess to not 'getting' the scooby thing. They talk about the virtues and adjustability of a RWD chassis and harp on about how imprecise and blunt a 4WD, turbo-charged car is. Strangely, the same people rarely complain about 911 turbos.

I'm fortunate enough to have owned a 520hp 911 turbo for over a year as well as 2 blobeye WRXs and I think I've figured it out: The WRX is a 'poor man's' 911 turbo. When you look at it in these terms, what's not to get? You have a car which is practical, reliable, comfortable and powerful and which can annihilate virtually any road you throw at it in virtually any weather. Of course the subaru is slower and slightly softer but then the Porsche crashes and tramlines more. I'm of the opinion that a 911 turbo is the best daily driver in the world, but rest assured the WRX does all the same things 98% as well (not to mention with 4 proper seats and a boot).

This is why, IMHO, something like an RB320 or overly modified scooby is a flawed concept. Yes, it may be even faster and corner even harder but it loses that 'real world' clearance and ability to cope with pot holes, adverse cambers, ruts and crap that a rally car should have. The more you modify, the more of a weekend or track car you create and the less of a road/rally car you own.

Anyway, that's my perspective with the cars I've owned. In a sense, the WRX replaced my 911 turbo as a daily driver - I now have something entirely different (and RWD) for weekends. People who don't get scoobies and buy Focus STs and GTis instead, it takes all sorts but I feel sorry for them.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

so are you saying a wrx is better than an rb320?? if so utter crap, rb does the same as a wrx but is a faster better handling version.

EJ22 LAD

iTrader: (12)

[QUOTE=NiallWRX;10397746]This is why, IMHO, something like an RB320 or overly modified scooby is a flawed concept. Yes, it may be even faster and corner even harder but it loses that 'real world' clearance and ability to cope with pot holes, adverse cambers, ruts and crap that a rally car should have. The more you modify, the more of a weekend or track car you create and the less of a road/rally car you own.
QUOTE]
most subaru owners modify the suspension etc for more precise handling, and we poor men avoid potholes as we have greatly improved handling, to avoid paying for tyre damages haha

Mr moff

iTrader: (1)

To be honest I'm not quite sure why you posted this on a Subaru forum.this is a place where we all "get" the scooby thing.
You would've been better posting this on a 911 forum as I'm sure they probably don't get scoobies.



Danny.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

forget "for people who dont get scoobys"

i dont get this thread

IainMilford

iTrader: (15)

mmmmmmmm, bit strange, is the op trying to impress us all by telling us he now owns a 911?

Mr moff

iTrader: (1)

I think he just wanted to tell us he had a 911.

jh1-2009

I think the Impreza is a great all rounder thats why i bought one. I don,t see how an RB320 is flawed. Most people will test drive a car before they buy and imo i like a firm/sporty handling car. My current scoob i,ve owned from new and i bought it in march 04 and it,s the longest i,ve kept a car.

NiallWRX

Hmmm, I think this has gone down the wrong way Not boasting about the 911, in fact I sold it so it's a little late to boast. I was making the point that a WRX is an utterly superb daily driver. Is it better than an RB320? No of course not. Is it better as a daily driver? Yes it is - just as a 911 turbo is better in that respect than a GT3. The intention of the thread was a celebration of what a great car even a completely standard WRX is - no offense intended.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

in what way is it a better daily driver than an rb 320, the 320 has more power better brakes and handling and is no lower than a wrx.

NiallWRX

The things you mention are not what make a good daily driver unless you're 18. The RB320 most certainly is lower than a WRX! Harder also and less forgiving - perfect for the weekend but not so great for taking Gran to the shops or commuting. Anyway, I'll get my coat.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

I get exactly what you're saying Niall. No need for the coat. Purely on the cost factor I'd be more inclined to thrash a WRX knowing if something did break it would be cheap enough to fix. In the real world of urban city driving a WRX is a more every day car than an STI.

chopperman

Yes is is lower, 30mm lower on the front and 10mm lower on the rear . Still has no real adverse effect on it being a great daily driver apart from the splitter in multi story car-parks
My bet is the OP has never driven an RB320.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

i agree the sti and rb 320 are every bit as good daily driver, for example sixth gear makes motorway driving more comfortable.

they still have 5 doors and big boot but with the advantage of more power and better handling.

L.J.F

iTrader: (31)

A Wrx is a better daily drive than the Sti is what i believe he means

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

nope mentions rb320

Spivscooby

iTrader: (1)

+1

TurboAndy

iTrader: (1)

I'm not for one min having a dig at you owning a 911. It's your money and what you do with it is up to you.*

I wouldn't have a 911 if I was given one. They are way over priced for what they are and everything is an optional extra when you buy one. There are far better cars out there for roughly the same money.*

One gripe I do have with 911 owners is quite a few (NOT ALL) seam to have something to prove when they see a Subaru, Evo etc etc. We all know they are faster than most of our impreza's so get over it.*

ScoobySteve69

iTrader: (13)

Anyway everyone knows a Porsche Boxster is the `poor mans` 911

chopperman

I think it depends on what the op means by "daily driver". If by that he means hundreds of miles every day then i would agree that the RB is not the best choice, but then i wouldn't think a WRX is either. Sport suspension, fuel consumption, cabin noise and trim rattle would soon break your spirit .
If by daily driving he means 20-30 minute commute, school run, going to the shops ect then the RB is great. I use mine as a daily driver in the latter example. The suspension is hard but not spine jarring hard, the clutch is not to heavy nor is the steering. I have driven mine on a few long trips and it was ok but i wouldn't want the experience every day to be honest.

poolio74

Dont worry,i dont think he will be posting again!he was just expressing an opinion for god sake.Niall,you need to obviously keep your opinions to your self!

chopperman

Like some scooby owners when they see an M3

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

I don't think you've picked the best example there mate. The RB320 was designed to be an even better day to day proposition than the regular STi. More compliant suspension and better low and mid range torque and power.

I know what you're getting at with people who modify a car used 90% of the time on the road for the track - that is poor decision making IMHO. However, it is possible to "highly" modify a car for the road and improve it immesurably. It's about making intelligent decisions at the modification stages and obtaining modifications that will enhance the car's performance in its chosen application.

As an example I have a mate with a 997 turbo who I recently took for a spin in my 470bhp Hawkeye, which has a forged engine AP brakes, BC coilovers etc. His conclusion: "yours is just as quick and in the real world probably a bit faster!" This was because I specified it as a road car, not a trackday weapon. As a result, it spools well before 3k rpm, has 480ft lbs torque, a relatively supple suspension set at a sensible ride height and mighty brakes that just will not fade! And I'm not the only one with this kind of spec. Far from it!

Now, that might be a bit of a questionable road to go down if this kind of car after all the mods cost the same as a 911, but all in mine is a sub 30k car i.e. about 1/3 of the price of my mate's 911 turbo.

It is possible to highly modify a car and still retain the "poor mans 911 turbo" status. You just need to be honest about what you use the car for and orient the modifications appropriately.

poolio74

+1

chopperman

Spot on

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

I dont know why some of you guys are jumping all over this fella...

IMO this makes perfect sense...

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

most cars modified for performance will make them a worse day to day driver, so what?if it is comfort your after buy a bmw or merc.

i dont car what the journey was give me an sti or rb320 over a wrx anyday.
a standard sti is not far ifferent ride wise than a wrx anyway but with the added sixth gear makes motorway cruising more pleasant.

chopperman

Personally im not "jumping all over him" im just disagreeing. I actually own an RB320 and use it as a daily driver. I think this gives me more in site than most as i have experience in the points made by the op regarding the RB.

You say you agree, fine then please elaborate why you agree

Cannon Fodder

iTrader: (100)

Having owned a lightly modified Hawkeye WRX, Bugeye S202 and currently a modified Blobeye Spec C I have to say that as a daily driver I'd choose the Hawkeye WRX every time.

The more 'hardcore' STi's that I've owned have been great weekend cars but as a daily driver no thanks.

I did quite a run yesterday and clocked up some 200 odd miles on A roads, B roads and country lanes and my Spec C was great and I couldn't have wished for a better car BUT I have to admit I was cream crackered by the end of the run.

I agree that a standard WRX is a better daily driver but for those who use their Impreza's as a weekend toy one of the STi models is the better car.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

I get the Subaru or at least I used to; a cheap very fast family car..that at one point was fairly discreet (in 1995 ) hack, not brilliant handling or brakes but nothing for the same money could touch it or even sniff close to it.

It all went to pot when they came into the lime light, and now new models are too expensive: I have no interest in forking out over £32K on a new one; As its tipping onto Audi/BMW territory here which is a very different class of car (even if they maybe slower). Nor do I fancy throwing bucket loads of cash at it to make it brake/go/stop properly (or stop blowing-up in the case of hatches ).

I get it with the R32 all the time...people say why bother when a Golf GTi can be chipped to go faster, is cheaper and isn't so nose heavy blah blah. Fact is on a wet danp road (which is about 80% of the year) I'll plant my right foot when pulling out of junction or exiting tight bends/roundabouts and the thing just puts it power down and goes where a GTi would be scrabbling away with its traction control light going bonkers. So what? I could bolt on a turbo or supercharger kit and go even faster. But then I may as well buy a RS4.

I loved the scoob for the very same reason. I can't do that in any other high power FWD or RWD car. It cost me the same amount of money to buy as a mondeo and was almost as practical, bar insurance and MPG. But I never had any reason or desire to turn the car into somthing its not; a Porsche beater.


Go look at Trouts thread with his STANDARD 911GT3 with road tyres against a shed load of highly modded scoobs and EVOs at TOTB:

https://www.scoobynet.com/other-marq...-the-best.html

See, even heaviliy modded track scoobies still struggle to keep up with a standard car! And some of these guys budgets were alot bigger than many.