johnmacdonald

Sadly, it's that time of year again. V11 received today demanding £540 from my diminishing funds. STI covers about 4,000 miles a year - some may not agree, but isn't it time VED was abolished and replaced with extra fuel duty (or at least a discount on V- Power!!).

We had about an inch here in east Herts recently, but not enough to post an impressive photo or go out for a fun drive...

So, new Enduroline 75Ah/650CCA battery from Tanya fitted  today and initial impression very positive. Tanya have recommended using the CTEK charger whenever the STI is unlikely to be used for a few days...  This is the third battery on my March 2014 (2015MY ) STI.  Hope new one will last for  at least 3 years!

Meantime, little used Merc C350 7 year old battery fires it up still as if new...

Forgot to say that charged 2005 WRX OEM 005 battery installed and working perfectly today pending delivery of new replacement.  Amazing!

After an overnight charge, went to ATS for a battery check on Friday.  After a drive 10 miles, Midtronics printout showed voltage at 12.19 and CCA 321.  Check carried out less than 2 minutes of arriving.  ATS confirmed battery needed replacement, but Advanced Battery Supplies refused to countenance that, even though battery just over 2 years old with a 4 year guarantee.  After a polite discussion (I am never rude or abusive), rubbished my thoughts and finally put the phone down on me!  Not to be recommended.  Life's too short to pursue, so I have ordered a 75ah/590CCA from Tanya.  Hopefully, battery problems since buying the STI will now be resolved for a while!

So, Monday morning, garaged since Friday, STI just fired up.  Today, voltage down to 12v and CTEK employed again.  The Bosch battery has  4 year warranty and the suppliers have agreed to replace it if a proper voltage/CCA print out proves it's past it.  Going to ATS tomorrow, but after a full charge today and then a 10 mile drive, how can the check show up a problem?  Any thoughts?

Thanks all.  Skinny tyres definitely make sense.  Back in the mid 1960's through to the 80's when we had seriously heavy snowfall, recall that the Ford Corsair V4  and subsequent replacements always managed to get me from home to work and back with little drama. RWD, no weight, no PAS, no ABS, but not 300bhp/300lbs ft!  But lots of rust...  Those were the days!!

With its fantastic grip, I have never really felt the need to adjust the STI's centre diff settings.  However, in last year's snowy weather, 300bhp and all wheel drive in auto setting didn't inspire immense confidence.  Any recommendations please?

Our 2015MY STI has the unwanted keyless entry.  It is usually garaged overnight, but we have bought two Faraday pouches for the fobs and if out at night, a Stoplock Elite steering wheel bar is employed.  Can only do so much, but at least we live in a very low crime rate area. 

Hello Anthony, welcome aboard.  Still feel the 2000 turbos were  amazing.  Raw performance and without all of the unwanted and unneeded electronic kit of the latest STIs.

Last East Anglia post appears to be three years ago.  Are there any members left in east/north  Herts or west/mid Essex?

So, what are you running?

Problem is that with the 2015MY STI, if the battery is disconected/goes flat after two weeks holiday, I loose all of the settings, which are very longwinded and not entirely logical to reinstate.  Shall stick with my CTEK charger being connected while away! (Don's excellent suggestion).

John

Great!

Just like my 2006 widetrack STI PPP...

29 pics in today's EVO newsletter. I want one.  Failing that, I'm very tempted to have our dreary gunmetal alloys repainted in gold.  Didn't realise how well they go with white bodywork...

https://www.evo.co.uk/subaru/wrx-sti/22091/us-only-subaru-wrx-sti-s209-revealed-at-detroit-motor-show

Well Don, Prices appear to be holding well.  Our 2014 (2015 MY) has full Subaru bodykit, satnav and a couple of sensible extras, plus only 22,000 miles - no dents or scratches.  Aim to keep for at least eight years and hope to make a profit!!!

No, not for sale, just curious.  Our previous 2005 2.5 WRX with PPP, all available Prodrive extras, bought for £16,500 in 2006, sold in 2016 for £10,950. Thought we did well on £6,000 part ex. for current STi.  Hope the STì does as well- intend to keep it for many years yet!  So good to almost never see another on the road...

Just for interest, I went on Autotrader today to see what the STi could be worth.  None for sale throughout the UK.  Is that good or bad and if good, should I expect value to hold or actually increase as years go by?  Similarly, my Merc 3.5 V6 C350  AMG Coupe only one on offer with more than double 32,000 mileage of my fully loaded 2011!

Welcome back.  Nice car!!

Thanks Don, no doubt we shall be seeing more images from Detroit very soon.

Shame! Our STi does about 4,000 miles a year - not a significant planet destroying beast. Mind you, a hybrid STi could be very interesting, not that we are ever likely to see one...( reply to ScoobieFloz's post)

Evo mag newsletter 22/12/18 reports that a usually Jap only "S20" to be introduced at the Detroit motor show could hit the US market.  Camouflaged shots show, in my opinion, much more visually attractive wheel arches compared with the UK 2015MY.

Woudn't is be wonderful if we had an opportunity?  Evo quote "the campaign to bring the STi to the UK starts now"!

During the many years our six fast Subarus have all had H&S straight through centre sections and various back boxes.  Mind you the widetrack STi with Jap style Afterburner was simply too much.  Most mornings I would leave for work at 7 and I am certain neighbours weren't impressed.  Latterly refitted the Prodrive PPP backbox - much more civilised!  The current 2015 WRX STi with its bland OEM exhaust was greatly improved with the H&S desilienced centre pipe, with original quad exit back boxes retained.  Not too loud and good on motorways and fast A roads.  Great tickover - almost as good as newage 2 litre Imprezas...

Is Haward & Scott worth considering?