mjharper

iTrader: (1)

Hello peeps,

What are the advantages/improvements (if any) of the 2.5 Hawk eye compared to the 2.0 Blob/bug?

I have a 2004 WRX blob eye and I'm wondering whether to invest in what I have or keep it standard and save up my pennies for a hawk.

Obviously if there are no real benefits I can stick with my WRX and enhance her

Cheers

ronjeramy

iTrader: (1)

Wrx or sti?

daz b

More torque

daz b

The sti road tax is £460ish

adamroutley

you can get a 55 plate hawk in the lower tax bracket.

Markfey

iTrader: (7)

There is a sticky thread about 2.5 head gasket issues. This can be fixed by any good specialist.

If you're currently running a WRX, IMO, keep it as it is and save your pennies for a Hawk. Save harder and longer and buy a JDM Hawk 2.0.

The advantages of the 2.5 is the low down torque you get. However, the standard pistons are still only going to be able to cope with 360-380 bhp.

Just remember, spend the extra on the STi everytime. The additional extras you get far out way the cost difference.

fasteddie84

iTrader: (1)

My two pence, coming from a hawyeye sti owner, either get a JDM 2.0 Hawk or a 2005 wide-track blob STI.

The Hawk's IMO are the best looking scoobies but the engines are made of chocolate.

I bought mine about 3 months ago and driven it about 5 times! Since then, the engine has been out, sent to API for a complete rebuild and will be going back in within the next month. If you can get one that has had the work done then happy days other wise get a standard one and keep it standard!

LVC

Ignoring the mechanical differences the main reason I went for the Hawk was the exterior look - the front is so much more stylish and modern than the Blob, the HIDs do a fab job and once you add a splitter the whole profile of the front is sublime....personal opinion of course.

Don't get me wrong I like the blobs but they just look dated compared to the Hawk, then again the Hawk looks dated compared to the hatch and new saloon....evolution of the design.

DrDiesel

Stick with your 2 litre lump, or a JDM Hawk.

DeweyAXD

+1 for this.
My 2.5 Sti HG went after 3.5 weeks of owning it having been VERY aware of what to look for when I bourght it... just bad luck basically!
An API repair sorts it out but as you can imagine quality work requires deep pockets.
If you can find a 2.5 that has been repaired properly after HG failure (ideally with forged pistons but definatley with modded head bolts!) then you'll not be disapointed if you find a good'n but looking back a 2.0 JDM Sti twin scroll would have been well worth the extra cash (especially if u a going to tweek!).

DeweyAXD

Back in since the API rebuild? How come mate?

domino46

I had the choice and have just brought a 55 plate hawk that's in the lower tax bracket,,,but ill be keeping it standard as iv got another one with a 2.1 for racing around the track in so went for the 2.5 for the low down torque to make daily driving Easyier and it has

thenewgalaxy

I've had a few Subarus. Have enjoyed them all but when my 2.5 Hawk PPP blew up on me and I was not too impressed!

It was one of the Spec D cars and I enjoyed it at the time but I felt it rode harder and was more unsettled than the Bug STi before it. Yes, it had more torque which meant it pulled well in top on the motorway but it wasn't noticeably quicker through the gears.

I had a tough choice between a JDM Hawk and a Blobeye PPP DCCD a couple of months after I shifted the Spec D - didn't feel there was much in and went for the UK car. Both were chuckable and seemed far more composed. And although a little more reluctant to gain speed at low revs, certainly shifted as well in the power band. All Impreza STis are impressive at 30-70, regardless of the setup.

So I plumped for the Blob in the end and said I wouldn't get rid of it until I came across something special and that's what I did. Even sold it for a profit!

If we are limiting our talk to UK cars, I would plump for the DCCD blob every day of the week. If it has to be a Hawk, I'd say you were taking a risk unless the car came with a decent forged build and good service history.

fasteddie84

iTrader: (1)

Sorry, I live in Jersey so it was more cost effective for me to remove the engine myself, ship it over to API for them to work their magic and them to ship it back to me for me to refit.

It's sitting in my garage on an engine stand at the moment waiting for the time to fit it.

I could have gone down the cheapest route but decided to upgrade everything now i.e. new comp clutch, sump baffle, forged pistons, steel rods, uprated oil pump, uprated head bolts, uprated rod bolts, new race bearings etc.

I am also fitting new inlet pipe, ported headers, Harvey up-pie and probably other bits that I can't remember.

I really like the look of the Hawks, and as LVC said, a front splitter just sets them off a treat :-)

DeweyAXD

Phewww... had me sweating for a moment there (que David at API giving me a slap for being in the slightese bit worried!).

You did the same as me and then some it seems. Should be capable of some big figures with a new turbo now then!

OP - I love the Hawk look over the blob but its not worth it if you want to have fun without checking your temp gauge every 30 secs 'just incase'. You can always facelift a blob to a hawk front end... cheaper than a rebuild AND you get that 2.0 burble (in uk spec at least).

mjharper

iTrader: (1)

Does the hatch STI suffer the same head gasket problems?

chopperman

WRX 2.5 seems to be reliable as is the STi if kept totally standard. A set of forged pistons and ARP head studs fixes the 2.5 STi engine.
Advantage to the hawk is .
A. Newer car
B. stiffer chassis
c. driverbility due to massive torque
d. Drive by wire so can be set up to suit by mapper. Plus flat foot shifting, auto blip and launch control with the RaceRom.

DeweyAXD

Sadly not the case... My Spec-D was 100% original, FSH and 45k on it when it went

chopperman

Sadly the same could be said of all cars though. there will always be the odd one here and there that goes pop. Plenty of 2L cars also went bang for one reason or another.
This is in no way directed at you but i wonder how many of the failed cars only used 98 ron or above fuel throughout its whole life.
Out of interest, was yours HG or ringland? The HG on the MY07 was updated from the 06 cars. I have heard of several Spec D's with failed HG due to the earlier HG used on those cars.

MOTORS S GT

iTrader: (2)

No the Hatch does'nt suffer the head gaskets issues, it suffers from ringland failure more than the Hawk did.

cuprajake

iTrader: (11)

having owned a few imprezas from the sport to a 400bhp classic into a newage wrx with ppp then mapped and now a 2.5 spec d

i can say i prefer the drivabitlity of the 2.5 the torque makes it much more a driveable car.

mine has been run on 95 ron by the previous owner, dont know about the first owner, i intend to run on vpower. so far its standard power with fsh at 70k on the clock, time will tell i suppose, but every scoob i have had ive had fear of rebuilds, think its just an impreza think not only the 2.5 engine

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

YEP in capital letters, Sorry to disagree Paul.

PLUS chocolate pistons. Plus an oil pick up pipe made of rejected piston material. PLUS cracked turbos.

But HEY ! we can sort it out.

David APi

Dewey; reading and syntax lessons required

mjharper

iTrader: (1)

lol So all things considered I think I will keep my WRX standard and save for a low miles Hawk STI and forge it before any upgrades (if I bother)

jazzyjembreaze

iTrader: (11)

^
Yep , wise to build solid foundations on 2.5 before fitting bolt ons
Or it will just be a deck of cards waiting to collapse

Ps the earlier quote "looking at the temp gauge every 30 sec "
Made me chuckle lol

chopperman

The Hawk 2.5 STi is a great car but does need forged pistons to be worry free. Some will say there safe upto ***bhp some say not. All i will say is i had 2 pistons fail at 360bhp. Was a good excuse to get it forged

mjharper

iTrader: (1)

Yeah think I will play it safe and be standard until I save for the blacksmith

MOTORS S GT

iTrader: (2)

I my experience i have not had a Hatch in for headgasket failure, the pistons have always gone first, so gaskets outlast pistons, & as David says oil pick up pipes.

DeweyAXD

... damn it! My mum will kill me when she gets my report card now!

DeweyAXD

HG on mine. David (or the 'school teacher' today it seems!) had a listen for ringland before it went and it seemed to be clear. Does seem like the Spec D's had a bad dose of them but mine is a mid March 06 so an early(ish) example 2.5 maybe?
Oh and I agree 45k FSH + standard does not mean well looked after so it is always a gamble.