monsterenergy

Fitting the lower grill is easy, on with some protective masking tape, bit of poking about with a long screw driver to latch it on, jobs a goodun. Scoop one involved removing the scoop and drilling 3 wee holes. My car came with the main grill installed so nae done it myself... I think it's a bumper off job - which sounds daunting, but looks nae bad if you check oot the instructions on iwsti website - the instructions are for an STi but guessing WRX is similar if not the same: Bumper Removal Link IWSTI is a great site for how to's for the hatches - probably to do with the americans having much more aftermarket products for the hatch. I just google 'iwsti how to ....' and usually it leads you straight to what you want to find. If you are taking the bumper off - a good mod to do at the same time is a horn upgrade, get rid of the toy car horn that Subaru's come with and put in something beefier. I was just gonna try and fit the fogs withoot taking off the bumer - cos heard ye can - but I reckon I will fit some Hellas or PIAA dual horns while I'm at it.

Well, finally did my first mod of 2012. Installed a bonnet scoop grill Think it's actually a Zunsport but it is a genuine Subaru accessory. Saw some DIY versions on iwsti but I wanted it to match my other black eens and couldn't be ersed with fabricating and painting and all that. Bit of a pain to install - WTF is a spiggot and how do they work?!? lol - I gave up and used a 4mm machine screw and bolt and used a Dremel to cut it doon. Next up is a genuine Subaru front fog lamp kit, some carbon fibre door frames thingies (once I wash the car) and a Perrin front strut brace (on order). Will post up pics as I do the work.

I'd be interested for sure, but with the same wee add on as alot of other folk in the Aberdeen area... "if I'm home". I don't usually seem to have much luck with that for SIDC events lol

Good idea - especially if it's in Aberdeen area and I'm nae away at work! Maybe the first one could be to show how to fit suspension upgrades to a hatch? lol I'd definitely be up for it cos I dinna trust mechanics or garages and would like to do more myself. And hope you get yer problem sorted oot Baldobaz!

Thanks for your answer too ScoUK! I've ordered the Perrin front strut brace - so I have a wee toy to install just when I get hame. Got some instructions off of iwsti site - so looks strightforward enough. I'll need to pop the bonnet to fill my scooshers up at every available occasion to show it off, lol I'm beginning to wonder about whether to go for dampeners/coilovers too while I'm at it.

Just found the strut brace I funcy - did say it was aboot looks! Red to match the inlet manifold... Perrin een...

Thanks for answers Davey! I'll give Clark Motorsport a call when I get hame. I also see Brian Downie is a Cusco agent - and I prefer the look of the blue anodized Cusco strut brace better than the Whiteline one. I did say I was after it as much for the look as any handling benefit! lol So might contact them when I'm back too. I think I'm gonna stop short of changing dampeners or opting for coilovers at this time. I think my plan is... Uprated rear anti roll bar (Prob Whiteline) Revised sub frame and chassis bush kit (Again Whiteline) Front Strut Brace (Cusco or possibly Forge/Litchfield, reckon Whiteline doesn't look as rugged?) Some lowering springs (Tein or Eibach - I think Pro-R use the Eibach ones) Geomoetry / Alignment Cusco: Forge/litchfield: Whiteline:

Well, here I am away at work again - wondering what I can do to the Hatch this time I'm home. Spent most of last time off workin on the missus car so now it's time to treat mine a bit. I'd toyed with the idea of trading in - even with the idea of a Cossie - but I dinna want to spend the cash on a car just now. I've got my engine running 343bhp so without forging I don't want to take that higher. So now I'm thinking suspension mods and have a few questions: 1. I fancy one of those front tower braces - as much for the look as anything else. Can I fit one of those by itself or will it throw the whole geometry setup out? Easy to fit? 2. Lowering springs - if I buy a spring compression tool, is it simply a case of wheel off, compress old spring off, compress new spring on, wheel on, bob's yer uncle? 3. Apart from the above 2 - is there a distinct order ye should do the upgrades in? 4. Are Whiteline the best? 5. Is it worth putting it into a performance shop to get it all done? 6. What's the difference between going for coilovers or upgraded dampeners and springs? 7. If I put it out to get work done, anyone in Aberdeen area recommended? 8. Are the Litchfield upgrades listed a good order to do things? What's you guys opinion - and no hatch jokes! lol

Thanks for the list Mr Braveheart. I have vouchers for tuition in my own car at Knockhill so will be using the list for advice! And Jef - Hope ye enjoy yer car... I like the project threads on here and looking at the pictures as it all comes together, even if I have no intention of doing the work to my car or the car is a different model! I want one of those front tower braces though - I'm beginning to sway more towards doing upgrades on the hatch!

I've been away at work for 7 weeks without my Hatch... this thread is making me homesick lol I'll get some foties up when I eventually get hame.

Cats and Hatches! YASS!

I'm nae going to bite I fancy owning what I reckon is another is a list of true special-edition Subarus - and there's no way I'd have ever paid the asking price for a new een! I also don't want to wait till it's lookin a bit worn, ken. I really like the look of the interior too. I know the mods could be done myself but that's not what I'm after just now. Somebody on Aberdeen Scoobies suggested I was certifiably mintal considering a CS400 over a Nissan GT-R, but the hatch is way more practical and I have surfboards to transport and need a boot for ma subwooooofer I'd really like een in red though - which with make me dither a bit more about it come the time.

sweet!

LOL @ Audi A3's

Got my heart set on one now... The love of Subaru sometimes does strange things to a man. Been lookin at GT-R's online as well but just nae feeling it.

Congrats!

Just wondered if it was anybody of here who bought the CS400 from Auto Ecosse? I'd had my eye on it since new year - it was the the carrot keeping me going through this 7 week trip away at work! And looks like somebody has got it. Dammit! I think the reggie was K18 SUB. Back to browsing Autotrader for another 3 weeks...

I used to worry about the 2.5L in the hatch. I read the scare stories and "borrowed time" forum posts and they all suggest some sort of inevitability about an engine failure - suppose it's like prophets of doom with their "The End of the World is Nigh" signs. Reliability is part luck of the draw - part engine care. I have mine up to 345bhp with some wee mods and an Andy F remap... the remap has 'safety features' built in so if yer really worried, maybe Andy F can tweak a remap to help ease yer mind. I don't even think about it any more, had the car 18 months and <touch wood> no issues even driving most of the time on S#. I'm now of the mindset that if it happens - it happens... I wouldn't let it put you off getting the car if it's the car you want. If you want reliability - buy a Volkswagon (but be warned... my old Golf had the bloody engine warning light coming on every other week! lol) Or have you considered buying a Hawk or Hatch that's been forged already?

The race car... nae bad. The road car... nope, just don't like 'em - prob the fact it's just a hatch with a cut and shut erse on it Would prefer a blob-eye to one of the new saloons, but nae to a hatch obviously

Candy apple red flake

Sweet - hatches are the business. I remember seeing 2 of the WRX-S in Ian Grieve's when I was buying my STi... was nearly tempted to go for cos I really liked the blue with the blacked oot windaes and dark alloys. Great lookin motor! Cold air <pssssh> induction will definitely give it more <pssssht> of the <pssssht> smile factor

I'm guessing here - but I think it might be to do with the loan type. HPI will shows finance used to purchase a car - this is a loan taken out secured against the vehicle which I think is different. Would HPI even know a loan had been secured against the vehicle? I'd be sceptical that the loan company had any right to the car once it had been sold... but could be wrong. Citizens Advice Bureau probably the way to go to avoid solicitors fees short term. Citizens Advice Bureau It sounds like a grey area to me - especially in Scotland where I'm pretty sure we're more protected than in England. Often these English companies just try to enforce their rules on Scotland without knowing the law - but again, I'm only guessing this might be the case here.

I always park dead centre on the white line - taking up 2 spaces. I always try to do this up the back of the car park but if the car park's full, I do it anyway and just park like a douchebag! Although - at Christmas, I did this and was in the supermarket for ages, when I came back there was a whole line of cars beside me all parked centred on the white line!

Worst on the road just now... Audi S3 drivers! Many see a hatch STi and want a race - idiots. I overtook an Audi S3 on a long straight on the South Deeside road... tiny cock driver of said Audi A3 then proceeded to get revenge by over taking me across the double whites approaching a bend, then to really hammer home the point S3 micro-cock then overtook the tipper truck that'd been in front of me on a blind forrested bend on a long double white section. These Audi wannabes think they've joined the keeping up with the Jones' mob because they've got a german car... big woops - So Audi S3 drivers... yer Audi's pish and I don't even pay it attention never mind even think aboot racing it!