Heading Into Mid Life Crisis - Newbie (stirling Area)

[Shandy]

Hi all,

Found this site yesterday and picked up my first Subaru today.

A: Hello, v friendly looking site by the posts.

B: I know zero about Impreza's, but am learning, so bear with me.

C: I grinned most of the way home and took HUGE detours around the backroads being amazed at the grip, brakes, handling etc.. Then I went home and rememered I had to go to the shops (in Callander) for a bag of crisps and some coke, so I went out and burned another tenner of fuel. :-)

D: The B@stard thing turns like it's on rails, I've had a family car for so long I forgot that left and right meant just that.

I used to have and love staging MK2 Escorts, 1275 GT Mini's etc. I think I'm going to have fun in this.

My car isn't at all hairy, it's an '02 GX (was redundant, got new job, 30k miles p.a, can't afford to fuel a turbo). I can't find any info on it, but it is badged as a Sports Special, has 17" STI alloys, sports seats and a momo steering wheel. It also has had the lights changed to a Pro-line double unit. Apart from the lights, are these things standard on this model?

Being a newbie, and old(ish), I'd fancy coming to the track days, but I'd probably be embarrased showing up in a GX and getting lapped time and again. Are there any other low spec cars come to these sessions?

oh yeah: D. This thing has full Subaru service History, does anyone know a good (read also cheap) Subaru mechanic who does homers and could have a look at it, do my services and put a dealers stamp in the book? As a starter for ten the ABS judders at the last second when stopping (no warning light), probably a dirty sensor. I'd do it, but I'd far rather give the car to someone who knows what they are doing (Big difference between Mk2's and this thing).

Finally, E: I noticed that SIDC has an agreement with an insurance company, what is it like in price compared to the high street?

Cheers for your help folks, and hello again.

Shandy

Edited January 12, 2010 by Shandy

[paul555sti]

Hello and welcome to the club Sandy.

Get yourself along to this http://forums.sidc.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=142613

Keep a look out for the sidc track days and you will be more than welcome.

[scooby222]

welcome along,youl tart eyeing a tubo before you know it lol

dont worry about trackdays,even the big boys can get lapped out there

[braveheart]

Hey Sandy welcolme to the forum get some pics up ....dont worry aout the power of the car tbh probally best starting in the car you have for the track days, get used to the car and know how to drive it, as you said a totally diffrent car to the Mk2, there is a few cars with not as much power as some of us however it all about your fun factor dont worry about any one else.. there is a track day 21st Feb Knockhill should be a few members there weather dependant..

Chris

[Phil MC]

Hi Sandy,

Welcome to the site and hope you enjoy your Impreza. You've arrived at the right site to help you get more enjoyment from your scooby ownership .

Here's a forum that might answer a few questions about your 2.0 GX Sport ownership and modding. It's not very active, but could be useful for model specific questions.

ImprezaSport.net Forum Linky

Phil

[Shandy]

Thanks for the welcome folks.

Fyi, here's an interesting link about the AWD which I found on the Sport link from Phil. It's worth a watch.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ooQRxlChvMw

[fai17]

Hi Shandy and welcome to SIDC

[sti pretender]

Hi and welcome, I started with a GX Sport Special. It came with morrette lights, aftermarket rear spoiler (fitted by subaru UK) momo steering wheel and think the interior was different from the normal 2.0 GX. Had standard 15" alloys but I changed to WRX ones.

[ton246]

Hi & welcome, if you need someone to work on your car i can highly recommend George of GP Motorsport (aka Cusco Kid),he does all the work on my car & a lot of people on here as well, really knows is stuff.

[scoob fae ork]

Hello and welcome to the SIDC mate hope you enjoy it as much as i do

[Shandy]

STI Pretender, my car is identical to that one, barring silver rims. Do the lights come as standard on the sport, I thought they were an add on?

[wrxmania]

Welcome along mate

For servicing there are several very good tuners around the country who can do the work for you if you want to avoid main dealer (Hypertech Bonnybridge or Extreme Motorsport in Whitburn), or Ian Grieve Subaru in Falkirk are very good.

As for info on the car, look at the top of the page and click "SCOOBYPEDIA" - a brilliant resource for info.

Brian

[mystery machine]

Hi Shandy,

Hello and welcome to the forum, glad to have you here

The GXes have to be criminally underrated motors (outside the Scooby fraternity) - surely a great buy for anyone who wants a fine-handling car with fantastic grip and reasonable engine performance - without the higher insurance/fuel/tax/maintenance costs associated with the turbocharged models

Cheers.

P.S. I had a cracking run up through Callander on Sunday in the Scoob - long sections of great twisty road and not a soul around!

Edited January 12, 2010 by Mystery Machine

[sti pretender]

STI Pretender, my car is identical to that one, barring silver rims. Do the lights come as standard on the sport, I thought they were an add on?

No came as standard, if you need any of the add-ons replace the the dealer has to talk to Subaru UK as they aren't on the standard Subaru database. Only now this as as I had to replace the brake light in the rear spoiler.

[scoobyseller555]

This was a dealer specific so called ltd edition by Town & County(perth and aberdeen)

consisted of the following

Morette headlight conversion

Sport special wing and boot badges(lifted from the parts bin of the classic sport special)

Copy STI 'style' rear spoiler

Subaru 10 spoke split rims(not prodrive)

Momo gearknob

This is from memory,and its not as good as it used to be.

Gav

[seafar99]

Welcome along, try and get some photos posted and i'll look out for you when i'm up callender way.

[Shandy]

Thanks Gav. The car came from Town and Country, Aberdeen. You got the spec spot on. Do you know if the suspension was upgraded, the ride is phenominal. Maybe I'm just too used to MPV's for my kids...

I"ll get some pic's up shortly

Cheers guys.

Edited January 14, 2010 by Shandy