Scooby JT

I agree the manual says the diameters should be the same, but its also a typical OTT statement that most manufactureres will put into manuals to cover themselves just in case. I wouldn't run 17" wheels on the front and 18" on the rear for example, but a few mm of tread wear difference front to rear won't make the blindest bit of difference, if it did we'd all be blowing our diffs up all the time as they'd be unbelieveably fragile. I bet everyone on this forum has launched their car off the line with out giving it a seconds thought and that would be much worse for the diffs, gearbox, shafts etc, than running part worn tyres. JT

I haven't read this all the way through so sorry if its been said, but I'd put the newer tyres on the rear and have the worn ones on the front. So long as you match the tyres on the axle you should be OK, I did this for years with no trouble and my Subaru dealer confirmed that its OK. I'd suggest that as most of the power goes to the rear it would be easier on the diff with the new tyres on the back.

The inlets on the engine should be red as well if its an STI. Looks like an unloved WRX with a few STI bits bolted on.

Proof! Apparently you can have as many laps as you like as long as you have enough vouchers to cover each lap.

Hi I've heard from someone in the know that Redline are doing a Nurburgring special next week with a free lap given away with each issue. I think a lap is something like £20 a shot so if any of you are planning on a trip it might be worth bagging a few copies! Cheers JT

The standard head unit has an auxillary input for an ipod or similar? If yes how do you get the unit out on an 06 car? Cheers JT

Bad Ass Performance - I think the website is getbadass.com or something similar. Seen their ad in Redline and he was at Japfest this year as well.

Totally hideous lights and very last year as well.

Sounds good. I don't normally skimp on parts, but with something thats likely to get a battering particularly with all the speed bumps round here it makes sense to fit something a bit cheaper.

ZCW have jsut brought out a new design called the Race, they look very funky and I would have bought a set had I not had the Inovits sitting around waiting to go on the car. http://www.fastcar.co.uk/04570735435455591...cw-race-09.html - This links to a small piece on the Fast Car website that I found with a google search. Although Redline has a product review on it in the current issue. Well worth a look I reckon. JT

I spotted that Revolution had one for £99. Seems good to me even if I destroy one every year I'll still be quids in for 4 years! Nothing against the Scoobyworld part, but £400 is excessive for a lump of black plastic even if it has come all the way from Japan.

They are, Inovit Tarmac 18"s in Anthracite. I am going to lower it a bit though as its riding slightly higher now than it was on the original 17"s. I know it s a rally car, but its higher off the ground than my old turbo 2000 on the original wheels and that doesn't seem right to me, plus they lower the WRC cars on tarmac rallys! Thinking I might get some tein springs and stick them on the origianl dampers as I'm not going to bother with tracking the car so coilover seem excessive. JT

Na mate you've just not found out how far and fast you can push the impreza round the bends yet. Get decent tyres though as the cheap ones don't help with confidence. Trick is don't go into a bend too fast otherwise it will understeer and might spit you off. Brake in a straight line and then power it through the bend, that way the 4WD helps you get the most grip by sorting out the traction for you. Ain't no way the Clio can keep up with a well driven Impreza, you've just got to work out how to drive it! WRX is more forgiving as the suspension is a bit softer than the STI so you should find it easy to explore the grip and handling, but it isn't as quick as the STI (more power, more advanced diff system, 6 speed box and stiffer suspension and anitroll bars). JT

Some of the old classic cars used to suffer from piston slap but this was sorted out years ago and the new age cars along with the last of the classics got a revised engine package which is pretty bullet proof. I've driven my UK spec classic pretty hard and its never ever let me down and with 90K on the clock still doesn't use much oil, so i'd say fill your boots its much tougher than any of the cars you have owned in the past. In terms of upgrading your WRX you'd probably be best putting the money into an STI, you'd get near 300 bhp as standard and all the running gear is tougher to cope with the extra power, 400bhp should be doable on the standard gear, though at that level it might be worh getting a tougher clutch as thats likely to be the weakest link. One of the biggest differences you will notice with the impreza is the cornering speed, in your old cars you would have had to have slowed right down for bends and then reaccelerated, in an impeza you don't need to slow down as much so theres less strain on the engine and gearbox as you don't need to accelerate as much to get back up to speed! Enjoy.

Hi all Just fitted these new rims and Toyo R888 tyres which sorted out my handling issue as per one of my previous topics. I'm interested to see what the opinions are on them. I like them but I think the profile on this set of tyres is too high and I'm also going to have to lower the car a bit to get the best visual impact. What do you think? JT

Could be the turbo is on its way out, they don't last forever and you have got over 100K on the clock, could also be that your dump valve has a fault and is leaking boost, apparently the standard ones have a plastic diaphragm and they can give out in the long run. or as oneone else said maybe you are just used to it, I know I am.

I changed my induction system on my classic and now I can hear the standard dump valve plus I get the induction whoosh as well. Might be worth doing this first as it might give you the noise you want while giving you a few extra bhp for similar cost. I went for a powertec unit as it doesn't mess with the maf sensor, but beware of dusty conditions though as it won't filter the really fine stuff out.

I had a feeling it might have been the tyres as the problem seemed to come on after I'd changed them. Must be something to do with the design of the tread pattern? These R888's are unbelieveably grippy though not sure how long they will last!

Just looked for my 06 hawkeye. How come they are £399 for the Hawkeye cars? Can't be much different to the other new age cars in design but massive difference in price....... Please advise as I'm not gonna pay that much!

The handling issue is sorted!!! It was the Pirelli tyres after all. I put my new wheels and toyo R888 tyres on tonight and took the car out for a spin with no hint of the sideways pulling feeling I'd been experiencing before. Pic of the car with the new wheels attached, better ones to come. Cheers JT

GB270 is a tarted up version of the WRX, it does have a smidge more torque than the STI, but a very simple remap would put the STI out of sight, where as the GB270 is already a remapped WRX and so couldn't be unleashed without needing to spend loads of money. If you want to keep the car standard, both would be decent buys and similar to drive, though STI badge has the kudos come sale time and has a bit more performance based kit.

Could it be your exhaust knocking something?

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, been out on the road the last few days. I'm down in the Bath/Swindon area. As far as I know we are devoid of Subaru Specialists down this way, even my local Subaru dealer is primarily a Fiat dealer with a bit of Subaru on the side, it's worrying when you have to help them interpret the technical drawings! Not giving up, just want the car sorted so I can crack on with a few upgrades

Yeah I've had the alignment done on a proper computerised system. It was quite out of line and was improved with some fettling however they couldn't get the settings quite right, possibly because the subframe isn't right?? The specialist who worked on my car said that my car wasn't the worst case he'd seen and quite a lot of newer Subaru's are badly set up even from straight out of the factory. My biggest problem is that no one seems able to give me a proper answer for whats causing the problem and I'm loath to spend pots of money on someone's guess work.

No not got around to fitting the new wheels and tyres yet. I did get a mechanic mate to jack the car up and take a look and he thinks the passenger rear subframe might be slightly out of alignment as well, which isn't impossible as I did thump a curb quite hard with that corner. All of that said the handling has been improving slightly as the tyres wear in so maybe its the rubber after all?????