Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

Im torn on what to do..

Got a cuppa? good, then we'll begin..

Ive always wanted an impreza and looked at literally loads until i found my low miles 96 wrx completely unspoilt by chav tat and only been on our salty roads for 3yrs.

I love the look of it and the handling, but it just seems well rather slow.

I had a 340hp Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo before and that thing would eat this alive no problem obviously.

So i did a bit of tuning, It already had an expensive Symms equal manifold fitted, so i added a SPF HKS filter, a full 3" Cobra trackday exhaust, a genuine Polar Performance chip and recently added a newage bug WRX intercooler which has improved things.

BUT

Its nippy now 0-60 around 5s id say but after that it just doesnt feel fast, its running fine thats not an issue.

The issue is that i used to go for a drive in the Fiat and know that i could challenge most things after 60mph, Porsche's etc within reason and safe but with this it feels a bit like its mutton dressed as lamb

Do I spend the best part of £2k getting it upto 365hp or thereabouts or sell up and put the money towards an Evo 5 which i believe has more tuning potential and bettr box and more durable pistons when compared to my 96 WRX??

I REALLY dont know which course to take, I love it but feel let down a bit, if i hadnt had the Fiat it wouldnt be a problem, im used to a car doing 60mph-100mph in 6.2s ish and this aint even close, do i persist? are they actually quick at 350ish hp?

Sorry for the dribble, just in one of those moods...

cheers

Davey

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

I think until you get your classic to 350ish as a minimum you'll be very happy. Weight to ratio of a classic is good. What power are you running at the moment?

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

A fiat Coupe Tuned to 350bhp would be a very quick car (when it finally got traction). A classic tuned to the same level will have a better power to weight ratio and be quicker from 0-60, but probably not quite as quick from 60-100 owing to transmissions losses. That said, I personally have found the actually effect of transmission losses to be not as great as some would suggest.....although there are so many other variables that are not equated to be fair!

If you want to tune to beyond 350, jump ship I'd say. If not, stay with the scooby!

craigo

iTrader: (1)

You have driven an STI in comparison to your wrx ?

Ryan@Indigo-GT

iTrader: (4)

I feel your pain! If you pick up an Evo 5, with just a decat downpipe, Walbro 255, uprated air-filter and a remap, you'll happily see 370-380bhp, that's going to be the safe limit on a standard engine where as on a classic, that sort of power requires a fair few supporting mods and a bit of money to match as I'm sure you already know.

It's worth bearing in mind that Evo's are slightly heavier and in my experience cost slightly more to maintain in terms of servicing, I always found my Type R would out accelerate my mates Evo 6 up to 70 but after that, the Evo's larger turbo would give it the edge and they will keep on pulling at higher speeds.

It's a difficult decision to make, both cars have their positives and negatives when compared to each other, if you have any questions about Evo's then feel free to get in touch, we are widely regarded by Evo owners on the MLR as a reputable specialist even though both myself and Rob one of the directors here at Indigo are Scooby fans!

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

Im probably being a little unfair comparing the Fiat to the Impreza, as the Impreza is probably only around 280ish if im lucky.

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

This is another option, but it seems incredibly hard to find a 'good' low mileage example, i looked at maybe 30+ examples including V3/4 Sti and none were even close in condition to my current car.

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

Jesus that doesnt help!! Haha

craigo

iTrader: (1)

Do you have a budget to run with ? im sure loads can advise a way forwards then mate what is your car worth the way it sits now ?

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

I'm not sure how much it's worth tbh

It's a 406 silver 96 wrx on 51,000 miles

All import papers and hap docs
17" compomotive MOs
Wilwood 4 pot 330mm brakes
GAB adjustable suspension
Symms equal manifold
3" cobra trackday system
Polar chip
HKS SPF filter
Walbro pump
Sti v2 interior
Newage wrx intercooler fitted

You tell me?

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Have you been in a Evo??? Id try and get a passenger ride or drive in one before you make any decision, made mistakes like that before thinking the grass is greener on the other side!!!

About 4 years ago I bought a mint UK ralliart Evo 6 GSR which was running 330bhp 300lb/ft(rolling road printout) and at the same time my brother had a standard STi Version 4 wagon(standard 280bhp)(no mods) We had a few side by side runs and every time the STi would pull away from the Evo by at least a car length.

Also the power delivery on a Evo is a lot smoother then the Impreza, so does not make it feel as quick as it feels. Not knocking Evo's as they handle and personally look a lot better then a Scooby, but dont think your going to get the big Wow factor that your looking for!!!

jayallen

iTrader: (31)

I jumped ship recently, funnily enough with an EVO5, after 7 Imprezas it was time for a change.....I found out how good this car is on track at Japfest last Saturday and so far i haven't looked back and that includes looking back at my 400+ Bug STI and my 350bhp STI RA..

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Upgrade turbo
Injectors
Uppipe
And then a map, should see you pretty good

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Get it live mapped using a aftermarket Ecu like a Simtek, or Apexi Power FC etc, you will notice a big difference in a properly mapped car!!!

Essexdon

I have a 95 WRX at about 260 and the horror stories Ive read on here have put me off going much more power tbh, rebuilds, gearboxes etc etc.

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

^^^^^what he said.
I belive standard ecus on your version are not as mappable

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Keep your current car and take it up to 330-340 ish. If you take it beyond this, you'll need forged internals and potentially a 6 speed. Your car sounds like a minter and a keeper to me. There are not many of that era left like that.

Buying an Evo 5 will be a bit of a minefield IMO, given the car you already have. They've lost a lot of value in recent times, despite their rarity and there must be a reason for this.

Adam-M

I'd hazzard a guess that your WRX isnt pushing more than 260bhp, they do fairly shift at 350bhp but it comes at a cost as everythings at its limits. Ive been in a 340bhp p1and was well impressed.

Why not just buy an Evo, if you like it then good for you. If not then sell it and buy a type r with about 350bhp, on a back road it would leave most cars.

Are you judging the scoob by feel or figures by the way?

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

Not judging by figures more feel and max potential really

I'm really torn still

I have some ported and polished V3 sti heads in the lounge and combined with a map, injectors and front mount I'm sure it would feel fast but then how long till the box gives up being a 752 and how long will the engine take it before the big ends decide they've had enough?

It's a tricky one...

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

Anything over 350 in a classic is a mover that's for sure!
400+ is ballistic territory!
BUT as mentioned it's everything else needed where the money adds up!

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

A stand alone ecu mapped by a pro will transform your car.
Apexi PFC or simtecs are cheap now, money well spent IMO.

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

Not much point in putting those heads on until you get towards 400 bhp really. Current heads will be just fine.

tweaks

iTrader: (7)

I had a fairly well tuned 94' wrx that I bought standard so I relize how much it costs and got it upto 380/360,got bored with it bought a standard Evo 6 ralliart took it upto 404/385.
Now I'm back with a v3 sti that I bought with the bottom end gone.
Make of that what you will but both were fantastic cars and had their own credits but I found the Evo boring as everything just seemed to easy and took away the fun of a spirited drive.
My classic felt like you were having to drive it where as the Evo didn't.

Tim

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

Its shocking how many people say evo's even when tuned can be boring!

I'm wandering about this;

Buy an ok sti v7/8 bottom end
Put the v3 sti heads on
Get a 20g td05
A late 754 box
And esl but run mafless
Plus exedy clutch

400 capable?

I'm tempted to stick at it on the wrx as the handling and braking is all sorted and there no rust.

I find it hard working in the car with a small garage and use the car to get some 25 miles to work 8 days a month so it always has to be working and not in parts across garage floor lol

Wandering bout getting a little runaround so I can get stuck in now..

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

This guys the man^^^ you should be talking to. Ask him what his plans are with it. Don't want to spoil his project secrets

tweaks

iTrader: (7)

I've bought a v8 sti block for the v3 sti I bought recently after I sold the Evo.
I used an Aet td05 20g on my 94' wrx and got the figures above at 1.5 bar was a good turbo ! 20g will see you to the right side of 400 with the correct supporting mods.
Sounds like you've done your homework with the heads already.

Worry about the box when it/if it breaks,they're cheap as chips so you could even buy one as a spare.
I never had any bother with my standard box and the car wasn't just tootled round in.
I did about 30,000 miles in it at the figures stated.

Tim

Just remember they only feel quick till you get use to it,then you want even more !

john banks

Assuming your WRX is in really good condition, the big issue will surely be the gearbox?

With injectors and more tuning (could be on OEM ECU no problems, it is well capable, just whether your tuner is better on something else) you should be able to get near to the output and acceleration of the Fiat.

Remember what Andy Forrest did with no ECU tuning on a 95 WRX RA. I think with his chargecooler and 1.7 bar he did 369 BHP and 11.8 quarter mile.

Swapping for an Evo 5 is tricky. Many are rusty. A bit like finding a good old Scooby, but if you get a good one, the Evo needs so few mods. There are a lot going around with rolling road printouts that are unrepresentative of their true outputs, like Subarus. When I bought my IX it came with a dyno print out that said 380 BHP, it did 330 BHP on my local rollers, 400 BHP after I retuned it properly.

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

Sod it I'm gonna tune her up!

Thanks for everyone's input, I'm thinking I'll start a project thread aswell

Cheers

Davey

Davey96wrx

iTrader: (1)

That's a great time Andy F got there!

I am now thinking just to go for it and tune her up, I used to be quite good at this but age has made me forget I think!

I've got a good base to work on and I might try to remember some old tricks my dad taught me way back

bustaMOVEs

iTrader: (31)

Good luck mate keep us informed on how you go, don't think you'll regret it. Maybe a few hiccups along the way but it will pay off in the end