C_WRX

When I was thinking about getting mine I was doing many more miles than do now which wasn't so appealing, however explained to the wife that I'd always wanted one and our plan to have a family meant that if I didn't do it then I probably never would and didn't want to think in years ahead "oh wish I'd just gone and done it". Also has 4 doors so not completely impractical. She agreed and I bought my WRX. She had not long before got her TT roadster so was bit easier to convince. Now we have a baby girl, TT went for more practical family mobile, Scoob still in the garage. How about trying "all this snow the 4-wheel drive would be great" ??

Little bit of wetsanding in areas where more so needed, the car was at the time just over 5 years old, but mainly machining. I don't really enjoy wetsanding so where possible avoid, sometimes no other choice but to though. Car was garaged for about 2 months so took the opportunity to spend time working away on it. Was rather proud of it at the end but inevitably no matter how hard you try marks do come back. 8 days, wouldn't like to have seen that bill !!! Black shined is stunning, not very forgiving though when not looked after. Just love the GTR's .

Coming to a Shell garage near you...many times over the next few days...wrxcook First impression, all be it on low revs ? Glad its working out for you - it's an upgrade I'll get to one day I hope !

Is it a newage WRX, just that I recently bought a set of the grooved discs from Godspeed too, cracking price. Just waiting to get them on with the new pads, and a caliper piston refurb too. Had you been closer to South Lanarkshire I'd have recommended the fellow Subaru owner doing mine. Hypertech will do a good job I'm sure.

was the closest I could think of !! No harm meant, okay so it was a poor attempt, it's early

Agreeing that the graphics are a must now to finish it off, it's crying out for it Keira. Also agree not over the top or too much. Got JW with his Irn-Bru, you could be more towards the ribena flavour ??

Oh no, really, I couldn't !.... .....Oh, okay then, just a couple (aplologies to those bored of seeing these numerous times before) 6months after machining and just after a quick wax top up, was actually just trying out the new SLR.

Maybe misleading what I meant originally. It is the wax I top up on, not the Wet Diamond AFP sealant. Haven't used their polish, although believe is good for masking swirls (I go for blackhole for masking, Menzerna when correcting) and bringing out a nice glossiness pre sealant or waxing. The wax works for me being a little OCD with the car cleaning malarky, just personally don't find it quite as long lasting against other products. Does leave a cracking finish though which is why I have it on my car. Their gloss spray is also good, as you noted, after a wash and a lot quicker (obviously the wax has been done previous to needing a wash). Oh, tough trying to resist putting a pic up

Welcome. Enjoy yourself. Another Lanarkshire newbie, look out in the events section for the meets, Lanarkshire & Glasgow in particular.

Very nice looking and nice figures too. Not a model I know enough about, but I do know it's a cracking edition. Looks quite good bodywork wise from the pics anyways. Now listen to your wife...keep it for a while !!

Good man. Hope you have a lot longer of trouble free driving to enjoy its new lease of life. As said unless the gearbox has had a hard life that power/torque should be fine.

The black always comes up nicest !! I'll refrain from putting my "glass-like" pic up as think everyones seen it - but may upon request . The blackfire is very good on but I feel it is a product that needs a lot of topping up to keep it performing to its best, so if you're the kind of person that will keep on top of the cleaning and not afraid of adding wax once a month (at least) then go for it....it is what I use on mine ! . I buy mine from Polished Bliss. My advice is Wet Diamond AFP underneath then at least 2 coats of midnight wax. Make sure you clay as well, you said you know how so well worth doing. Is it just me or are folks getting in to the cleaning the car stage just a little early this year...it's still barely getting above freezing and the roads are filthy !!

Good man. You'll find it hard to stop now !!

If it is a 2.0 WRX then reckon there's about 4 to choose from. Think it was Cal that put a TD04 hybrid on his Bug with supporting mods and had around the 300 mark.Quite an old thread now but worth trying to dig up. A lot of folks, like Ritchie, go with the turbo from an STi. Believe the VF34 and VF35 are very similar in ability but seems the VF34 is that tiny bit more preferred for tad earlier spool??, but is harder to come by and usually costs bit more. The VF35 is still a very good option and likely be mine if ever get the cash together for that and other bits required to reach between 330 and 340. There is also a TD05-16g. Not as commonly found but think is okay. If you go up the TD05 range, to say the 20g, heading towards high 300s bhp I think you are risking your WRX (not STi) gearbox.

AndyF's sugestion is (have a read through Ritchie's original link to Andy's website): 290-310 bhp.... Full Decat or Sportscat exhaust from turbo back 2.5 or 3” bore. Decat uppipe Pre turbo Walbro 255 l/hr uprated fuel pump K+N panel filter Ecutek Custom ECU recalibration & Twin boost set up for high/low power switchable in-car AFP 04-H custom ported hybrid turbo High Flow multi spray fuel injectors 550cc (380cc as std) Uprated turbo to intercooler 'Y' pipe NGK PFR 7B uprated spark plugs but substitute the turbo for a VF34/35 or TD05-16G turbo to get 300-320, or my plan is all that plus STI intercooler should get me near 340 !

The plate I have in the front is shorter in length only, personal plate so less digits allows for it. Never had any bother - same with the wifes in fact. Think they are more interested in the lettering/digit spacing, and that the height of the lettering is standard so easily read. If you get pulled are you not told to get it MOT'd and produce the certificate at the station to prove you changed it. If it's in the boot they know fine well you'll swap it back over again !

Maybe one for off-topic, but vehicle related. In the process of looking at getting myself a little van run around and am finding some of the insurance quotes on the high side. Any folks have a van that they could let me know who they are insured with ? It is for private use not company/business connected.

You may have set yourself up there Barry - given the pending mechanical help from yourself I will refrain from commenting . If not an urgent photography session then in a couple of months there may be an evening run that allows for daylight pics, or even a weekend meet where there will be more cars from more areas...and given the weather maybe a few clean ones too !! Most folk are fine having their cars pic taken, just maybe blank out the plates??

Echo what the others are saying about get the bits-n-pieces done to make the remap worthwhile. I have a 54 Blob and had the whole exhaust done (decat uppipe, sports decat downpipe, decat centre, etc) panel filter and y-pipe then went for a remap to get an approx 279bhp/300torque - was the decatting that it's strongly advised you get the remap for. Suggested next stage is the STi route of intercooler/turbo/injectors/plugs (basically what Ritchie has) to get near the 340bhp mark. It's not cheap but you'll notice a big difference after remap the more you can get done - and of course saves on the ££'s. Sure there are folks around that would take you for a run in theirs so you can experience the difference - I was a tad disappointed in the feeling difference to my 279, but absolutely there is a difference, and that is what is driving me to one day go for the 340+ goal !

Welcome. You'll get a few comments about hiding the credit card, it's a bad habit all the changes we all seem to want to make !!!

This is a good topic. Personally I'd go painted. As others have said I just think the finish on powdercoated looks slightly dull. End of the day you know it's just a matter of time before you kerb it and I have heard that powdercoated can flake more in chunks. As for protecting them, get the wheel polish on there as often as you can, front and inners, and if you feel you have to use a wheel cleaner try for non-acidic but if the stronger one water down a bit. Shampoo and water should be enough if you get the protection on there and clean regularly. Wheel cleaner removes the polish lot quicker.

Ahhhhh, mine used to look like that - worse if you include the old pee-shooter exhaust it had!! Enjoy the transformation, and shop around for good deals, initially I didn't and ended up spending more than needed to.

Which one do you prefer tax aside ? Just a thought, have you checked out insurance for both, maybe there's a slight difference in price between the two ?? Are you planning on keeping as is, or is there a plan to change the car - just whether you want to hold back some of the money then blob way to go. If the warranty is a very important thing to have then a garage is the way to go. Seems a lot of the really good examples are being private sold recently so check around e.g. on here, SNet & pistonheads.

Think a few like C&C Hillington (or CC of Hillington ??), or there is Meercat just outside Glasgow. Welcome to the forum too !

Just a little envious you got a set of these on, been reading up on brakes and they're getting good write ups. Just a little more than I was wanting to spend.