~ ~ Cal ~~

Unless I buckle the only mods shall be :-Uprated brake pads, fluid & braided hoses & discrete prodrive mud flaps. Not even going to upgrade the backbox. If I do buckle :- Solid drop links & ARB. No springs, Ride is plaint enough with the inverted dampers Plan to keep this car trade in friendly so that IF in the future I trade for another marque it's more marketable. My bugeye booked @ £5600 but had around £5500 of mods. No-one other than Subaru really understands these mods.... I was quite tempted by a Forrester STi at one point Thanks Cal

Esteemed brethren, It is with great delight that I announce the arrival of my new daddy wagon :- 2.5 WRX SL Wagon Prodrive Performance Pack ( more torque than the new BMW V8 M3) Black Leather with heated seats Auto Sunroof Lots of boots space c/w anchoring points Previously owned by a female chemist so alloys took a "hit for the team" so these are being swopped out accordingly by T&C. Always wanted an STi but I'd rather have my son/wife combo anyday so this again is a compromise. No gold, no spoilers etc is my wifes gripe. This time I shall try and do a "JohnS" and do zero engines mods /exhaust. Has enough power & decent handling " as-is" With the Td-04 and the 2.5L is spools very quickly although I'll miss the VF35 lag-bang scenario Cheers for all the recent advice folks Cal Pictures here :- http://calum-shand.fotopic.net/c1471346.html Don't pick her up till Friday ! Still needs valeted and polished hence s****e hawk deposit !

Having spent the last week stalking Scoobies on forecourts, I have obersved the new STi in the flesh one some 10 different occasions ( on road/static) It's definately growing on me and I love the cabin, quad pipes, diffusers and even the front scoop - it looks real swell in 80's Ashes to Ashes style white too I'd love to take one on my favourite back road ( Stockimuir Rd nr Bearsden ) and tear it a new one............ Scoobies have always been a tad fugly but they are undeniably unrivalled on rough and gnarly B-roads in my opinion. Has Dr Forrest performed any bypasses ( remaps) on any snake-eyes ( as I call the 2008 MY's) ? Would be interesting !

For me they are okay but styling is weaker than the concept car ( always the case eh !). Reckon the new STi ( & ecutek remap/zorst )shall own it on track/road but we'll see ? £44k though ! http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/406473.htm Cal

Easy tiger ! I used the Glass's guide which I emailed you and went higher not lower. I'll email you tomorrow fella. In fairness you started @ £11,400 which was pretty optimistic to say the least ( & yes you have gone lower now). I'll be in comm's tomorrow by email Roll on Saturday

Thanks fellas - great advice......... I am with you but my wife is not convinced. We travel around a fair bit and with a new pram/chassis it does become wearing. The envelop of the boot is limiting but the boot is plenty big itself. However, I only have one kiddie and in 4 months he'll be ripe for ISOFIX. More are planned though despite the fact I shall tie my willy in a knot after two ! Problem is ( minor) that the rear seat belts are a tad short ( bearable just though) and make firing in the babies seat a semi-nightmare in the rear. My wife complains of car sickness ( on occasion )& claustrophia ( bizarrely my Mother does too) John - I have felt the force of the 2.5L and jaysus it's torquey. 1st gear takes on from T-junctions can catch you off-guard if you nip out. Cheers Cal

Slightly out of my budget Captain. I dont want any stinking car payments now that we no longer have Natalies teacher salary coming in. Needs must.......life is a comprimise after all

Maaaaaaaaaaan that sounds and looks GREAT. Nice one squire

I have my ow brand dedicated to my gargatuan schlong ! Er......back on topic

32 yrs old last weekend ..........it's just a number but I still feel young, dumb and full of ***. Did you get that SAGA brochure I sent you ?

Colin - how much (%) did/does your insurance drop when you go to say 5000 miles p.a. versus 10-12k ......any idea ?

I am liking the phat flat four sound of Radio Either way I shall not be Scoobless although an R32 is tempting. Was out in a colleagues M5 today. It was the V8 version with H&S catbacks - JESUS ! did that sound good.

Nae so sure Guv ! This is more up her street http://www.newspress.co.uk/DAILY_LINKS/arc...08/54510sub.htm and I kinda like it but she has Audi Avant fever @ present

I had a look at this http://www.litchfieldimports.co.uk/stocklist.asp?inc=202 But it'll drink like Graeme after 4 weeks offshore !

That blows Graeme..................needs must though and STILL sweet figures

Alreet G-man, Read my last two points brother............a burble will be around ! A 2.5 litre is calling Whats new with your Spec-G ? Details extravagance please so I can chuckle @ your lame will power to resist modding ! yer still a TART ! CGS

Fark 22 views and nowt ! Maybe I am missing hee-haw .............

.......because of late I have been working like a dawg and settling with the new family addition ( Finlay). As a consequence I have dropped off the SIDC radar and lost touch with current banter, activity and political motions within the brethren I have been reviewing numerous family chariots of late and the death of the 2002 WRX was looking imminent . Of late I have been looking at :- WRX Wagon ( test drove ) Legacy GT 3.0 V6 estate ( test drove) 330 D Touring ( skin flint juice ?) Octavia VRS ( remap fodder but image issues - green calipers !?) Audi S4 Avant ( sweet but pricey) 5 series touring ( dont have a beard just yet !) and also an used Avant 1.8T TGS on sale in here. ( I have been to 3 Audi dealers of late so I have been teetering on the Subaru precipice I shall know by Saturday morning what the plans shall entail but there shall be burbles ! Natalie still has her beloved VW Golf 1.6 FSI Sport but I have whittled my options down to :- 1. WRX Wagon 2. Keep my current 2002 WRX and buy an older estate ( hey Steve !) Option 1 is contraversial in the Shandero household Option 2 is tasty too but more expensive in the long run. I "did the math" on my WRX and have spent £6000 on it in the last years on various mods, tyres, brakes - I still love it but it's 6 yrs old now. Shall keep you posted but............I'll be back Still got the Nordschleife to do ( May ) and also hiring those Caterhams again in the next few weeks...........gotta love the motion lotion Catch ye folks Cal p,s any advice from those with Scoobies and families welcome ! Baby seats, ISOFIX and boot space is new territory for me

I am on my 2nd TSL ThunderCat Sports Cat :- http://forums.sidc.co.uk/index.php?showtop...p;hl=thundercat They are immense pieces of kit and I notice no real difference versus my old H&S decat pipe CGS

from :- http://www.andyforrestperformance.co.uk/27671.html 06-07 STI UK/EURO 2.5 STD 265 BHP Level 1 290-300 bhp Sportscat Exhaust System EcuTek custom remap (compares to PPP) Level 2 340-360 bhp Full Decat turbo back 2.5 " or 3” bore Walbro 255 l/hr uprated fuel pump EcuTek custom remap K+N panel filter Level 3 360-390 bhp Full Decat turbo back 3” bore Walbro 255 l/hr uprated fuel pump K+N panel filter Ecutek custom remap Fuel Lab turbo specification fuel pressure regulator with fitting kit & gauge AFP 5-20G Ported Exhaust & wastegate sized to 2.5 and machined to suit TGV NGK uprated spark plugs Level 4 400-420 bhp Full Decat turbo back 3” bore exhaust system Tubular exhaust headers and flow matched uppipe Walbro 255 l/hr uprated fuel pump EcuTek custom remap Custom Cold air induction 650cc Injectors AFP 321T custom turbocharger with fitting kit NGK uprated spark plugs Level 5 420-460 bhp Full Decat turbo back 3” bore exhaust system Tubular exhaust headers and flow matched uppipe Walbro 255 l/hr uprated fuel pump EcuTek custom remap Custom Cold air induction 650cc Injectors Fuel Lab turbo specification fuel pressure regulator with fitting kit & gauge AFP 321T custom turbocharger with fitting kit NGK uprated spark plugs AVCR boost controller Optional FMIC Uprated clutch NGK racing 8 spark plugs Note On 06/07 WRX/STI 2.5 short engines the pistons run very tight bore clearances. On Level 4 and above we recommend a forged piston upgrade. The forged piston upgrade is also recommended for level 3 upgrages if used for sustained high speeds or if used regularly on track. Level 5 we also recommend steel conrods, ARP head studs and uprated head gaskets.

Not a book but it'll make you think about life :- http://www.westland.net/venice/art/cronk/consumer.htm

Welcome back G-man - I was actually thinking of you the other day as I drove towards Kirriemuir. Glad your back with the Phat Flat Four Club Cal

Spec C Type RA - R every time as featured in Evo Magazine. The perfact all round balance. Or as S204 http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/impreza_s204.asp

You'll hear the shocker son rough ground at low speed or whilts reversing slowly. My rear ones knocked for ages and I never noticed much in the way of handling issues When I changed the rear shockers I got Prodrive Springs and Geo - alignment done Hope this helps ? CGS

My WRX with basic suspension mods, VF35 & remap dispatched a RB5 with PPP with relative ease on a twisty section of B-road. An STi will feel more planted and quicker with the 6 speed box. If I were you I'd test drive one first. They are 250% stiffer too and WAY more reliable given that it's been 7 years since classics stop production Will it be a daily drive ? Cal