scouk

As above... Well at least for the Green panel filter anyway... Cleaned my one a few months back using that method and no problems at all got the proper green filter cleaning kit from scoobyworld or ebay or something.. May be the same stuff as for the K&N, wouldn't have though it'd be too different

Have a good one mate! .. Whereever your floating around at...

Possibly one of the best bets is BHP Developments.. That's assuming Wuz is in the country at the time Failign that I believe T&C will still honour subaru servicing despite not being an official Dealer? I'm personally using AWD at the mo.. But may look closer to home after next service.. It is a fair trek from Elgin... BTW - WEre you up at the snowman rally last week? Thought I spotted your car up there somewhere..

L555 YEL or L555 TFB (The Fat Banana) FYI - http://www.dvlaregistrations.co.uk/ << For those who want to check

THat really sucks mate... Once, maybe.. bad luck.. 2nd time someone taking the piss.. 3rd time.. Yep need to do something.. Abolute bugger that it was done outside your place of work Do you have another wee runaround or anythign you can use maybe during the week? That'd make some sort of lockup more feasible.. I'll keep my ears peeled for anything!

*drool* Roll on summer for the bright sunshine and warm weather! Got at least two local car show type event planned in the summer and would be great to have the McRae along (assuming your in the country)

Hi Scott, Try here: http://www.sidc.co.uk/membership/signup.php £35/year

Hi mate, Sorry for the confusion, I was asking how high i coudl go rather than how low Realisitcally I woulnd't want to go any lower than it is on Prodrive Springs at the moment.. Althought he back seems to sit a bit high.. As I mentioned above obviously adjusting height by a few cm would totally mess up the geometry but any other himts/tips for makign such a change, please let me know.. Already starting to think about getting snow/gravel tyres and coilovers for next winter.. Both of which would help summer driving as I'd have less tyre wear and better balance on the coilovers.

Interestingly, there is not "standard" size of plate.. in the sense that it can be any size, (as long as the font & spacing is correct) but the only requirements for physical size seems to be the space between the edge of the font and the edge of the plate. So narrower plates are legal as long as they adhere to the spacing rules.. Mine is legal for that rason.. I have it narrower than the normal plates because of only 1 number instead of 3, looks better that way than all the excess white space.. But doesn't have the postcode at the bottom of hte plate.. just a website address.. But it does have the proper British standard Kitemark on it As mentioned above the only marks you are allowed are the psotcode of the manufacturer, british standard marking and the flag of nationality on the left hand side.. UK or EU.. if Sco, ENG or WALES is used then it much bbe accompanies with the EU flag as well. Strange one though because halfords make up the plates with just Scottish flag and no EU flag.. Which isn't legal.

Thanks for that! Yeah I know trying to make additional excuses.. Snow's on the mind just now

Quick one for for the guys who have coilovers.. I understand you can generally adjust the dampers and ride height of the springs.. Just how much can you adjust the ride height? Think I'm finding an excuse to get some.. I know adjusting the height is goign to screw up the geometry somewhat (which isn't ideal) but was thinking that it'd be damn handy to beable to raise the car up a wee bit for drivign in the snow, the roads are clear aroudn here but I work is located on an old fishing estate which means farm style roads for about a mile, which don't get cleared and build up a lump of snow in the middle of the road which the scoob scrapes along.. It would appear I have the lowest car at my work(just), and with warning of a few cm of snow arriving today I've a strange feeling it coudl be tricky getting out later today.. So was wondering.. just how much can the ride height be adjusted on coilovers (roughly) ?

Hubba hubba! I thought those wheels suited the car somehow....

Spot on!! Cannae wait to see that baby! It'll be in prestine condition after your finished with it thats for sure..

Yep.. Good technical explanation there! And yeah lifting off the acceleartor in showy conditions really slows the car down compared to normal weather.. Bottom line is, take it easy.... and as you rightly mentioned above, drive on the assumption the brakes don't work...

Holy crap!!! That's a freightening thing to happen! Glad your ok... But shame about the car....

From experience.. The ABS cuts in but doesn't help brakin in anyway.. All it seems to do is cause a fuss and NOT apply any braking at all. I think at the lower speeds that you shoudl be driving in snow I'd rather "feel" that the brakes were doing something than kickign back at me with no deceleration.. 100% If my scoob was on teh road at the mo I'd go out and test it with the ABS fuse in and out just to see... ABS doesn't give you any more braking than manual braking (infact gives you less, in theory), but what it really excells in is giving you stability while braking... Turn and brake on a slippy condition with "manual Brakes and yoru almost guaranteed to lock up, where as ABS will do the best it can to keep the car moving in the direction you ask it.. On snow a small "controlled" skid by locking a coupel of wheels (or more) can give you added braking because there is increased friction between the tyres and the surface, whcih ABS does not allow... Note: at higher speeds, yeah I'd much rather have ABS enganged for stability, lock up at speed woudl be dangerous and very difficult to control

I mentioned the ABS thing on another thread.. And although I fully understand taht the tyres most commonly used on impreza's are down right dangerous on snow. I do get the feeling that the ABS on the impreza is way to sensitive and kicks in early.. I've noticed it kick in on different surfaces much sooner than I'd expect. sure it may just be the case that the surfaces are slippier than I thought.. But I don't think so.. Particularly when it comes to snow. the ABS system can't seem to find any sort of grip at all and the majority of time just sits there flapping without applying any braking at all with only light pressure on the pedal! I'm almost certain that in these sort of conditions I could make better use of the brakes by using them manually as I believe I could apply a little more pressure to the brakes without locking a wheel, despite what the ABS thinks.. BTW - I do account for treacherous conditions and use engine braking as early as possible and only use the brakes if really necessary or just to hold the car at the end of the braking manoeuvre. But I have nil confidence in the Impreza brakes with ABS in snow to stop me.. I've mentioned before that the impreza is downright dangerous in snow and I stand by that... Hopefully I'll be able to get a new set of wheels and winter tyres to put on them before next year which should make things much safer...

Ok.. straight question.. What is the realistic lifetime for impreza suspension?.. So many incidents of dampers going pop after a few months.. Mine seem to wear out after a year.. And now coilovers need re-coned after 2 years!, THe Uprated dampers on the RB320's are dying on a regular basis.. Is there such a thing as reliable suspension for the Impreza?

Yeah how you drive is very important.. But just as important or maybe more so is the tyres.. They can made massive differences in snow/ice.. I.e. slippy slidy or havign grip! I've foudn the Impreza is awful for grip with the Bridgestones Re050's in snow, traction thanks to the AWD but very little grip for turning into corners. My last car FWD and all weather tyres was briliant in the snow! it was almost liek driving ona wet road there was dubious amounts of grip.. only thing I can put it down to is the tyres.. BTW - thank gawd the scooby is off the road this week.. Got into work with a "borrowed" peugeot 207 and how on earth it got throught eh 2ft of snow down the track to my work is beyond me... Even passed the snow plough which was stuck on a hill on the way in! If i was in the scooby it'd be more fun! but.. It woudl have buried itself in teh snow at only being a few inched off the ground with a splitter...

Great find! Nice one! The Impreza 555 Test video is as sweet as a deep fried mars bar! Such a shame that in modern rallying there is very little sideways action!

Will have to add that one to my list... New alarm system is on the list at somepoint.. BUt keeps getting pushed down all the time

Yeah soooo many peopel have been caught out by this.. They say they send out reminders but they only did that for about 2 months then decided it cost too much. <cynical mode on> they probably just wanted to force people into the fine by not informing them </mode off> And it's a bloody crime that they force you to pay "admin" fees for renewing your licence.. They are the ones who want to renew it!! Not the driver! It's up to them to pay for it! I'd much rather stick with the old paper licence, it's cheaper!!! Grrrr! ANDYJDMSTI - Yep you stil get both.. The paper one holds details of provisional licencing and any endoresements..

Not specific to skid pan trainiing but I beleive the guys a crail do a driving course of some sort possibly cheaper than Knockhill and bigger area for "playing"... Havent enquired about it yet, so dunno what all they do.. perhaps some of you guys closer know more..?