scouk

hah yeah, ground clearance is a bit of an issue for you on dry clear roads Can't believe you've lowered it further!

Got winter tyres on both cars. If it looks like it's very slippy/snowy, would consider using the Impreza depending on how well the Focus copes got couple hills and a humpback bridge on a bend on my way to work where the impreza will be much more stable and just wont get stuck thanks to Proper AWD none of this fancy shove power around the car which doesn't work as well when things get tricky! . Also I'm out on the roads before the gritters in the morning so makes things more interesting cutting grooves in the roads Although on the rare occasion you do meet someone they tend to get upset that you can overtake them safely I used the Impreza all last year with it's winter tyres and never put a foot wrong! Would only slide when provoked. Despite being lowered on coilovers it still runs higher than most other cars on the roads! Although that was helped when I swapped out the HT-Autos splitter for the proper Subaru one couple years back If it grounds now it's not due to bodywork hanging low. If things get apocalyptic then I've still got access to my dad's Series-II landrover (assuming it starts on a cold morning and the battery is charged)

LOL! try calculating the cost in your old WR1 ... Then look on it as just how much your saving! rather than how much it's costing

How about a bouncy competition instead :boldblue: .. Where's a 'skippy' emoticon when you need on..

Hi, They look simimar to ones the SIDC had a group buy for a while back.. They were of good quality and if you contact the seller directly you can probably get any design you want embroidered Only thing I remember was that there were issues with the boot mat on some hawkeye's.. There were problems with fitment, not sure if that was just down to the IC/Spray or not. There was a group buy on RB320 owners club and I don't think they had any problems.. So sounds like there were variations on other hawks for some reason. Worth noting just incase. But quality mats and clearly not your £10 a set budget ones.

Woohoo! my box of goodies arrived today! Tks all! Nice wew pack that's put together & some nice touches

Hi Gary, No worries.. I do understand insurance companies are regulated by FSA naturally. The above comment was a general rant about Insruance companies as a whole and not directed at Keith Michaels, in that some of the pricing between individuals seems almost random. Despite my comments I've continued to go with yourselves for the insurance on my Impreza.. Just wish it could be a little lower with the low milage and careful driver. Understand KM is a broker and you do you can to get the best deal for us.. As a general point of feedback is isn't always easy to get a hold of you and I've recommended KM to other people for modified cars and in most cases they gave up trying to call or left a message and never received a call back.. These comments are not intended as a rant, but feedback on the service. Hope you understand.

Never really used anything like that.. Despite that I would say it's not worth it.. Just remove some of the pebbles from your right foot 1 1% difference in throttle while cruising can make a significant different to fuel economy.. If you looking for saving fuel while nipping on with the car then that';s unlikely to happen. A remap 'may' aid economy as fuelling will be better optimised, but more likely when the right foot gets heavy you'll be usign more fuel. I've been runnign a ScanGauge-II device in my car for the lats couple years to so, and the most important readout I've found is the throttle position. As I say a 1% difference in throttle while cruising at a constant speed can make a world of difference! Yet still being able to maintain a constant speed I've found that there's about a 3% range in throttle at cruising speed where you don't get any extra speed but can use about 4-5mpg more fuel than if you lifted off ever so slightly! If you have a boost gauge fitted you can get build up a similar sense, by trying to constant low level of pressure with the throttle before you start loosing speed. Get a feel for the minimum amount of throttle you need to keep a constant speed more more! and take mental note of where the boost gauge reads. Depending on how the car is mapped the boost level can move about 5psi on even a slight change in throttle. Ok. that was a bit more of a schpeeel than I intended to write but bottom line if you want to save fuel, loose unnecessary weight from the car (also includes passenger weight ) and adjust your driving style. I thought I was a good conservative driver but since taking extra care when at cruising speed my average MPG has risen about 2-3 points. Makes a noticeable difference when at the pumps. Can get an extra 40+ or so miles out of a tank!

Any time COuld have been worse.. you could have been left at the side of the road... alone.... On a more serious note.. Was interesting to get your views after the fling and able to compare differences between what is considered a decent sporty road car and in Impreza Think first year we had laguna's wasn't it? 2013 brings on the BMW!

Admiral/Elephant I've found cheapest for standard or near standard cars.. Originally had the Impreza insured with them until the mods outgrew their policy (Still remember my first SIDC meet when I said I'd never modify the car because I wanted to keep the insurance cheap.. oh-well!) You'd think the two would price the same but I've always been cheaper with Elephant (Had the Ka and now the focus insured with them) but my bro has always been cheaper from admiral.. Odd.. Both being part of the same group do multicar discount, and named drivers build their own NCD on the policy! IIRC you can get away with up to 3 categories of mods with them, They were ok with new springs and couple body changes on mine but they wouldn't cover any more than that. Power increase is a no no.

@BrianM Quality advice there.. Amazingly, all true!! Seemed fine after this was added:

Different company but I had a similar sort of conversation with the apparently specialist insurance for IAM members when I tried to get my cars insured with them. Found them unhelpful and got told I would not get insurance cheaper elsewhere that what they offered because of legislation.. Ermm.. well I did get insurance cheaper elsewhere.. These companies really are at it and it's about time proper regulation came in for UK Insurance companies.. As you've discovered, they just make number up most of the time hoping youll take them on. And seem to get really arsy at the though you may actually go elsewhere for cover.. Currently with Keith Michaels and have been for a few years now due to being cheapest deal I could get, but will admit not the easiest company to get a hold of.. Fortunately I've only ever had to contact them come renewal time..

Good bit of feedback given KM is an official supporter of the SIDC..

Keep it shiny side up!, Don't get lost, dont drive beyond what you feel is safe for you, and most importantly DON'T start following honda NSX's thinking they are Big Yellow Impreza's!!! ... Oh an have a lotta fun seeing and hearing these cars burble around the hills!

HOly crap! check out all the new noobie-flingers! This is gonna be one to remember Interesting to see how the BMW copes compared to the Audi we had last year . Tiff Needell seemed to like it around them parts last year! Sadly Channel5 seems to have done a good job of cleaning old episode clips off the internet and I can't find it anymore

Damn! My winter project had been leaked :cussing:/> Where can I get some!!

Fair point.. i woudl take more attention to it if it was in physical form.. Interesting though.. wonder if its worth the club looking into opening up the mag to printed subscriptions for non members meanwhile paid SIDC members get it free electronically or can get a printed version for suitably discounted price.. I know TG is available in printed form at hte moment for a cost, but need to get some benefit to being a paid member

Same here.. but my subscription just ran out anyway Long Live True-Grip!

Online Report can be found here: http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/hurt-high-speed-crash-quiet-Plymouth-street/story-17361646-detail/story.html From the damage dispersal looks like the focus was traveling at speed down the hill and collided with the Impreza coming in the opposite direction.. Focus has travelled much further than the Impreza after impact even considering the downhill slope..Certainly a serious amount of damage considering it's a residential area! This should never have happened. But hopefully the innocent parties make a full and speedy recovery! For the rest, I hope they learn their lesson and can educate others! But sadly that rarely happens... (apologies if this point of view causes any offense)

£570 here on 2001 WRX various modifications (all declared individually, intake/exhaust/styling/suspension/wheels same turbo/engine as standard) & circa 280bhp, 32y/o, 8 years NCD, IAM certificate, kept overnight in locked garage, low mileage (less than 6k), Clean licence...

Yeah I dropped mine down to 6k annual milage 3 years ago after getting 2nd car. But made sod all difference

WTF! I'm still over £555 (pun intended) for mine and that's low milage I'd be happy with sub £500! let alone £400! Tried Shopping around last near but no one could come within £100 of Keith Michaels.

LOL! see the nice friendly and polite humour is still here! Ever better to see some of the members from Across the border putting theres names done too! Thanks guys n' gals! Yeah saw the post about the fling pop up on Twitter and thought I'd hop on board.. Naturally Scooby still on the go, thankfully.. Was close to having to SORN it this year in place for something else (don't think I could bring myself to sell it) been pretty boring trying to eek as much MPG out of it it this year as a daily drive Ka had to finally be scrapped at the start of the year and only just got a replacement a few weeks ago. So not been able to do any Scoobying this year, and have just been lurking now and again on here As for the replacement... It's a HATCH!!! 3dr, with Turbo! in Gunmetal Grey!... It's also a Diesel with a Ford badge.. But Never mind 54 plate, 55-60mpg on the daily B-Road commute, independent suspension, 115bhp and 184 lb-ft of torque isn't something to get too upset about Just need to be extra careful I fill the right car up with the right fuel Naturally not much change to the Impreza this year, although think it's got a new front grill since you last saw it and I'm considering putting a beefier backbox on it before the fling, but we'll see.. Still need to sort out the lousy brakes on the WRX.

Thanks for the reply. Car is out of warranty and naturally only fair to maybe shop around a bit more for garages to do work on the car.. Always handy to have any extra contacts for that sort of work. The car is currently up at Sparshatts at the moment after being transported via the AA the other day I know... Bit cheeky asking for alternative mechanics but always worth asking just incase I'll pass on your feedback! Thanks