Mike M

Love the mirrors!!

Frank, spent 2 full 10 hour days on the car, but in fairness I would say one of the days was fitting all the parts, getting the rear lights out the tailgate was a flamin' nightmare. Iain, I think most people are 50/50 with alloys, but I got them for a great price and couldn't be a***d getting the 14 spoke prodrives with all the cleaning involved!! As said previously, one day I may get advans, but I think it'll be when I'm next in the states, which could be a while away WRX04, I've only driven the new car a couple of hunderd miles, so can't make a proper comparison. But the main points so far are - quieter (not necessarily a good thing) more refined, so much easier for the Mrs to drive, very much like driving a "normal" car handling very good, as mine has had the whole whiteline back catalogue to get it handling right Very, very comfy seats, (they're not recaros) Fuel economy very good, running at approx 31mpg when motorway cruising Cheers Mike

Just a few wee points to add - Personally the 18's are my favourite's from the current range, as it's the wife's motor, I'm sticking to Subaru parts, so no messing about with the warranty ( wouldn't say no to a set of Advans if someone is feeling generous!!) I'd rather not need the mudflaps, but have to be realistic in this country. Subaru in America started fitting the paint protection panels on the cars as they suffered terrible from road rash up the sides and so I reckon mudflaps are the only way to go and tbh the rally armor are really good quality and look the best that I've seen. May go for a front splitter Colin, but I'm undecided on the exhaust surrounds as they seem overly chunky. Original plates are in the boot (just in case) but I specifically picked these ones as the last time I got pulled they reckoned the letters couldn't be recognised by ANPR, think you'd have to be blind not to notice these letters (unoficially the copper said he didn't mind the subaru badges at the side and bottom, although he obviously never told me this!!) Andy, the wife's favourite from the range was red, then the black one came up!! Couldn't resist having one of the only black type UK's in the country at the mo, although that will change as they bring more in!! Craig, as you know mate, I don't mind detailing people's cars, but the weathers starting to head wintery and although I have a garage you can get a car in, it's not big enough to get around, so probably will have to wait until early next year before I can do any more. Colin (playsatan 2) got really lucky as it was heavy rain in the morning, the rain went off just before he arrived, then started again when he left. lucky or what?? May have to consider one of those collapsible Gazebo's, like Halfords has!! Oh, and also, my wife's pregnant, so come April next year I may be very busy and it'll have nothing to do with cars!! Again, thanks for all the comments guys Mike

Yeah, I know mate, but as it's completely legible, hopefully they'll leave it alone!!

Cheers for the comments guys.

Picked up the wife's new car a few weeks ago and initially thought I'd give it a wee hand polish and fit all the accessories I'd bought, but after looking at the finish (someone at the dealers had machine polished it, even when I told them not to bother as I'd prep it myself), there were too many swirls and buffer trails to ignore, so out came the machine polisher to do the whole car!!! Before with 65 miles on the clock!!! So decided to give it a wash, but no need to clay bar as it's virtually not been driven, just from S&S in Ayr back home to Stirling Then all taped up for machine polishing Once it was fully polished it was time to add the accessories, strangely when the 08 STI came out I didn't like it much but when I saw it in the flesh and had a drive, I hanged my opinion, but I was still disappointed they didn't do it in black for the Type UK. However, S&S managed to get hold of a special order black, but there were still a few things I didn't like - moustache front grill lack of fogs 17 inch wheels max power style rear lights lack of mudflaps (white stonechips up the sides didn't seem appealing and I didn't like the mudflaps Subaru UK were selling for £150, so whilst on holiday got a set of rally armor mudflaps for £65 - result!! mudflaps on the car 17's 18's At the rear, not only do I not like the rear lights, but not keen on all the badging, I know it's an STI, you know it's an STI so what do I need all the badges for??? Before After, debadged and rear lights tinted (will go a bit darker another day, but didn't want to go too dark initially as it is the wife's car (honest) Finally, on the front I fitted fog lights, mesh grill and sorted my final pet hate - dealers details on the number plates!!!! It may seem a bit petty, but if I'm paying all that money to them for a car, I don't see why I should do free advertising as well From this To this (used german pressed metal plates, nice but different) The final finish, what a brand new STI should look like (in my opinion) Hope you like Mike

Looking nice, just got wife's STI from John at S&S and he is doing some very good deals just now!! (Love it in white!!)

Congratulations Chris!!!

Nice work Col, be nice to feel how she pulls after the map!!! Mike

My old man shut the garage door down on the tailgate of his car causing a scratch and a dent!! Believe it or not, he went to Halfords and they sent out a mobile guy and he made a superb job, and both me and the old man have very high standards!! He paid approx £140 due to dent and scratch, think prices start at £65 HTH Mike

Yes mate, it was my wife's car and while we owned it, it wanted for nothing, if you have any questions, feel free to ask and I'll update you on whatever you need to know Cheers Mike

Very nice, Gus, looks mint after the detail, I really like gunmetal with the white, but seeing you've already decided on white I'm sure it'll look great, just remember to keep 'em clean Cheers Mike

Thanks for all the comments guys, as said when the black is polished up, there's nothing else like it!! Colin put in a lot of elbow grease helping buff the car up, so he should take some of the praise as well. Hopefully when he gets his Dr Colorchip kit, we can go over the front end and get rid of all the stone chips, Col, when it comes in give me a shout and I'll give you hand if you need it Regards Mike

Yeah, first time I came across it all I was like a big kid in a sweet shop!! (ended up bringing home a TMIC and catch can in my suitcase!!)

Sorry to hurt your necks, but I don't know how to rotate some of the photos

Just back from my holibags in LA having picked up a few bits and bobs for my scooby and I'm always amazed at what the dealers over there have in stock!! South Coast Subaru (Costa Mesa) Parts Manager's track car!!! (He also has a widebody hawkeye STI track car!!) You can buy an 08 STI and they will fully mod it under warranty!!! They also sell some aftermarket parts, they will fit and give a 3 year warranty Then 1/2 an hours drive down the road there's Renick Subaru (Fullerton) They also sell one or 2 parts - Oh yeah, they also have a couple of badges in stock - To add insult to injury, most of the parts cost less than half of what we pay!! C'est la vie Mike

Yeah Colin, Scoobies are always that wee bit harder, but then that's half the fun!!!

Enclosed are some photos of my most recent detail - Colin (playsatan 2)'s Type R. As you'll know the car has been sitting in the garage for some time getting the monster engine built and so was needing a bit of a clean up. As Colin says it looked ok from 10 feet away, but he wanted it looking really good close up. I'll keep the words to a minimum as I know some of you only like the photo's, but I'll be doing a full breakdown on Scoobynet (car care) in a couple of days. BEFORE HYPERWASH'D WASHED, CLAYBAR'D, AUTOSMART TARDIS'd and DRIED (taped ready for machine polish) MACHINE POLISHED, POLISHED, SEALED AND WAX'D WHEELS Hope you enjoy Mike

Looking good Colin, was wondering when you were posting this up!! From what I've seen you keep the car very well, was there a lot of correction for PB to do??? Regards Mike

Strange, parked the Scoob there twice with no issues

won't make it due to holidays, (leaving tonight), so just wanted to wish everyone going all the best and a safe drive there and back!! Regards Mike

Yeah Andy, that was defo me!! Mike

Hi there and welcome!! Nice looking car Mike

Scotty, I go on holiday on Friday night for 2 1/2 weeks, so if you want a chat give me a buzz on 01786 469818 and we can have a chat before I go Mike

meant to say, sorry for hijacking your thread Scotty!!!