johnmacdonald

Hi Adam, You know that the GB270 is 5 speed? Where are you? If anywhere near East Herts, you are welcome to pop in for a demo and then you can form further opinions. I do like ivtecs, but although our 201 BHP Accord 2.4 vtec is great in the vtec range, it does lack grunt! John

Hi Adam, Yes, it's only the STi that has 6 speed, but quite honestly, the WRX 2.5 PPP produces, on mine, about 270 BHP and with torque about 310 lbs/ft, 5 speed is perfectly OK. You will see below basics of my mods - the Prodrive spring kit, 18" rims, better air filter and massively improved brakes have made it a thoroughly enjoyable machine. Torque factor alone results in a car that is, I believe, very close to performance of my previous 2 litre wide track STi PPP, although not so frantic and positively a little more comfortable. I propose soon, to replace drop links and ARB bushes with Powerflex or Whiteline and later think of STi intercooler and Walbro 255 fuel pump (don't tell the Mrs!!). John

Nice one. Nowadays I just love donning my flat cap, drawing alongside a Corsa at the lights and blasting away up the road. Wife reckons I'm growing up disgracefully - quite a compliment!! Soon off to Brands for a blast round the Indy circuit...

Welcome aboard! Why do most of the Scoobies appear to live north of the border?! John MacDonald

The other option is to consider a low mileage WRX with PPP - same performance as the GB270, but with standard suspension. They are selling at rediculous prices, thus leaving you lots of cash for better wheels, spring kit, exhaust, struts (if they go), etc! Do agree with Matty though - STi is superb.. John

Hi John Mac. Nothing to do with the subject, but are you a MacDonald like me? John MacDonald

Hi Adam, Certain you will get more fun from a GB270! Main problem with that series is rear struts and possibly fronts. Otherwise an excellent and reliable car. John

Hi Nick, With AWD have always thought it wise to fit same make and series of tyres front and back. Have always done this since 1997 with no issues. John

Clearly should have gone to Specsavers!!! Appreciate your good wishes! John

64 today and can't contemplate the thought of not owning a Scooby for the long forseeable future. Any other old geezers out there who share the same sentiment?!!

Thanks for that Arch! And I have been recommended to use Millers gearbox & diff oils at next service.

2006 also a potential problem. On our WRX, rears failed at about 20,000 and fronts at 28,000! At least good independents can supply and fit up to 50% cheaper than main dealer.

Have you fitted lower springs? When I had Prodrive spring kit fitted plus Prodrive 18" PFF7s to our 2006 Hawkeye, advice was that the suspension geometry MUST be set correctly and inflate fronts to 35psi and backs to 31psi. Only noticeable tramlining is on roads very badly affected by heavy trucks (but this will affect any car!). Have run the WRX on 225x40x18 P Zero Neros for the last 5 years. No complaints...

Welcome. Still think that our RB5 PPP was, overall, the most frantic and enjoyable of the 5 Imprezas we have owned since 1997.

Agree with earlier comment. Previous classic turbo, RB5, and 2006 STi difficult when very cold. Oddly, current hawkeye isn't!

Here's a pic! I've had lots of Hayward & Scott exhaust bits over the years - always extremely good quality and importantly, a perfect fit. It's worth looking on eBay or Pistonheads for a Prodrive front sports cat pipe... John

Hi Jak, Cutbacks, I guess! My previous 2 litre wide track STi's PPP also retained OEM centre pipe, but had the extra benefit of an upgraded fuel pump. Both that car and the 2.5 included replacement front sport cats (but still can't comment on earlier blob eyes). I replaced the centre pipe with a Hayward & Scott decat and one of their jap style 4.5" exit pipe back boxes. The noise was awesome, but probably close to illegal! Again, matched with a decent replacement air panel filter, performance was fantastic. Rear struts are a known problem. On my 2.5, rears were replaced under warranty and when the fronts failed at 28,000, had my specialist fit superior KYB gas struts at less than half the cost of OEM replacements. By the way, be aware of new MOT regs regarding decats... John

Nice car. Welcome to the club. Looks even better clean!

We have two cars, a WRX PPP and an Accord 2.4ivtec. Both attract £260 road tax, even though both cover only about 4,000 miles per year. WRX has recently hit a deep pothole and nearside front has serious need of camber adjustment. Here in east Herts, they simply dollop a shovel full of dry black stuff into the hole and it's gone within a few days. What the hell are we paying for? Who will pay for cost of alingement? Not East Herts DC!

Further to earlier post, have now received 4 Falken FK452 225X45X18 95Ys for my Accord 2.4ivtec. Being fitted soon and will post opinion. Only £105 each from All New Tyres and Honda dealer fitting for £10 a corner! Impreza soon needing new rubber and will need to decide whether to stick with P Zero Neros or try the FK452s.

I had similar problem on previous STi PPP - proved to be centre decat pipe fouling rear heat shield.

I have been able to buy replacement Prodrive centre caps for PFF7s on eBay. Worth a look.

Hi Jak, Welcome!! A fair number of blobeyes appear for sale with PPP fitted and having had PPPs on three of our Imprezas, I have always been pleased with the extra BHP and torque. Not an expert on earlier blobs, but our current 2.5 WRX's PPP involved uprated ECU, front sports cat and s/steel back box, plus a high flow intercooler hose - nothing else. The standard centre pipe and its silencer were retained. Decent replacement panel filter helps, I believe - ours has a Pipercross foam version. I know rear struts can be a problem, but otherwise a hugely enjoyable and reliable cars. If you have the time, low mileage Imprezas do come up for sale - for example, our very early 2006 has only done 32,000 with full service history (but it's not for sale!). Love the 350... John

Only reason for suggesting PPP is that a high percentage of late STis came with "free" PPP and at least you know what you are getting - so many dogs breakfasts of performance upgrades out there! Didn't Subaru sponsor PPP within the basic price for a period of time? We love our current WRX PPP, but the STi was quite simply an awesome machine...

Prior to current 2.5 WRX, had a 2005 wide track 2 litre STi Type UK with PPP (300BHP), Prodrive springs, Green cotton panel filter. Definitely sub 5 seconds, with what I would describe as frantic performance. Also fantastic sound from de-cat centre pipe and Hayward & Scott jap style 4.5 rear box. Fuel consumption terrible, but worth every penny! And, standard dump valve is silent, although I did replace with a Forge VTA and liked the fairly "quiet" venting. So far as I am aware pre March 2006 models do benefit from £260 road tax. Others will confirm. STis had RAC Trackstar and Cat 1 security, so not so easily stolen. Finally, you must test drive a wide track STi and personally, I would go for an unmodded version with PPP. Not biased towards Scoobies - have only owned five since 1997!!! Happy hunting... John MacDonald