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Well I returned to Subaru again after a few years out. This time I fancied a Hatch, although originally almost 10 years ago I thought they were a mistake by Subaru, they have since grown on me
The car was completely original when I bought it as per below
Since buying the car a few months ago I have:
Complete service (ensure it's running fine)
K&N Filter, Decat, RCM pump and remap
Fitted XXR wheels
Fitted ZunSport grilles
Bought a ghey plate!
On-going:
Refreshing some new brake discs (been stored for 2 years)
Paint Chip removal!
Original wheels refurbished in Bronze and wrapped in Federal R-SR's
Polishing the Prodrive backbox.
I'm happy where the car is for now, but given this is my first hatch and 2.5 for that matter, i'll be looking to either push it to the boundaries on the standard 2.5, forging it, buying a built 2.5 short motor, or PX for a mates hatch STI when he's finished building it
Sorry no better pictures at the moment, but this is how it is now:
Nice! I'm the same with the hatch. Hated them but they've grown on me now.
You need to get some of those rear light stickers to de-halfordize the rear lights.
Yeah exactly, then all the bad hype simply made me think the same as the masses
Agree about the lights, where to buy?
Originally Posted by lewis87
The hatch shape has definitely been a grower for a lot of people, love them in red too
It needs some TLC on the body, but I'll get round to it.
Originally Posted by hedgecutter
Nice. And how does it compare to all the others that you have had, now you have made the leap?
It's certainly different but I like it. I miss the power I've had in others but the torque is certainly different. The ones that stand out is the classic 2.1 500bhp - remarkable machine but I just couldn't cope with the required upkeep it was going to need as the shell and chassis was ruined, shame really as the previous owner put his heart and sole into the build. A few blobs running circa 430 bhp that were in excellent condition, more show than go albeit they were quick enough for the road. Then a few others I'd played around with including a bug with a GT30, made 400+ at 6500rpm
Bit off topic but I've never seen that chipex before had a look at there website is it any good?
It okay for the odd chip at a time, I challenged too much at once and made a bit of a hash of it. Certainly best chip repair kit I have ever used. I've took some pictures of my repairs, I'll see if they will upload off my phone.
Not sure the light catches this very well, but there is one chip above the door handle. Still noticeable after, but I'll tackle it again later as you can continue to build up the layers.
Yeah salsa king is your man for the rear light overlays. Your have to buy a clear rear light cluster and change the bulb though before fitting the overlays.
Yeah
PM me Rob when you're ready.
Red with cut outs
Red with Smoked cutouts
Full Smoked
Smoked with Cutouts
Custom Red with Cut outs too, but I only have 2 sets of them
The small standard gravel rash vinyl over the back doors and lower arch are terrible, as is the paint, but I already know this as probably most of you do, however rather than have it repainted as the car will be seeing some track action, I was considering options, but I'm not convinced this looks good at all, so your opinion welcome please
Below is the passanger side I haven't yet tackled, soft road legal tyres are the culprit here! So I've ordered some mudflaps too!
Discs and pads now fitted, no judder and great stopping power finally!
Decided to do away with the idea of wrapping the back wing with carbon wrap as I'm not taken with the look, I'll do without any for now and look to get the areas needing attention looked at by a professional.
Anyway some good news is my spare track wheels and are back from refurb
Looks nice that... I'd have the roof done in a black wrap just to break up the red a bit more.
Good thinking Ditch
I have been pondering what to do with the whole car in terms of bodywork etc, however I have had my eyes on a another hatch now for a few months so this might be gone by the end of the year in place of another hatch, but lets see what happens. It's a built 2.5 with ABW arches etc, looks unique and really very nice.
Rob, how do you find the ride/handling on the hatch?
I've a hawk STi, and have the standard suspension which at 10 years old is needing refreshed. I have revised bump stop, special goo and RB320 springs in the garage with the plan to get the shocks rebuilt/regreased but I'm worried that although this may cure the bounce, it's just going to make it stiffer.
I'm getting old and wouldn't mind some more compliance around town and the crap roads we have up here in Scotland.
I keep getting my head turned by hatches and wondered if you had an opinion you could share?
I'm fully aware of the differences, but if you look at their website the Hatch states WRX, which the STI is albeit an uprated version of the WRX.
The picture on the link is an STI. When you click on the various options you can choose STI stickers, but there is no separate tab for WRX or STI, so you would assume it is one kit for all, and given that the arches are wider, BUT the fixing points are the same as an arch is an arch albeit on a wider stance, the flaps should fit the same.
I found the instruction about as much use as used toilet paper. The written wasn't accurate and the images look like that have been photocopied 100's of times in black and white and therefore extremely difficult to visualise. Luckily for me I'm relatively handy and I'm the type of guy that of the type that doesn't generally use instruction for anything However in this case when you know holes don't line up, a piece of useful information would have been an asset.
Rob, how do you find the ride/handling on the hatch?
I've a hawk STi, and have the standard suspension which at 10 years old is needing refreshed. I have revised bump stop, special goo and RB320 springs in the garage with the plan to get the shocks rebuilt/regreased but I'm worried that although this may cure the bounce, it's just going to make it stiffer.
I'm getting old and wouldn't mind some more compliance around town and the crap roads we have up here in Scotland.
I keep getting my head turned by hatches and wondered if you had an opinion you could share?
HI mate,
I think the ride is similar to that of a Saloon, but since it’sbeen around 4 years since I have owned a Saloon on standard shocks I can’trecall, the last Saloon I had was on Coilovers.
I’m not sure I can help on softening the suspension althoughI’m sure you may have more options to soften with a set of coilovers.
I generally add a set of coilovers to my cars at some point,but I don’t think I’ll be bothering with this one, I may just look to lower itslightly on a set of springs and add a little bit of camber. All this is notfor comfort though, just helps finish off the look of the car and add a littlebit of better handling.
Personally I think the car handles very well as it is now(poly bushed all round), and I don’t find the ride uncomfortable. I typicallyavoid pot holes and any other divets in the road anyway as I’m sure most enthusiastdo, but I do think the car is just as comfy as the Bmw 3 series Msport BusinessEdition I recently had.
17 July 2017, 01:32 PM
2008 Hatch STI - let the mods begin!
