Carl Davey

My perception has always been greater bhp for top speed but greater torque for winning 'races'. Power to weight ratio also plays a surprisingly big part as i have found lately. I am enjoying having the use of two cars at the moment. The first is my run-around Cavalier Turbo which has 204bhp with marginally more torque, 4wd and weighs somewhere near the classic Imprezas 1250kg - doesn't have the chassis though! The second is my girlfriends Clio 172 Cup which has (they say) 172bhp with torque nearer 150lb/ft, Fwd and weighs about the same as a baked bean tin. Point to point the Clio is brilliant fun and puts a huge smile on your face, i honestly doubt i could keep up with myself driving the Clio if i were driving behind in my last Classic Impreza in 300bhp guise. It is ridiculously fast although being NA doesn't *feel* as quick as the Cavalier which will steam past the Clio at 140mph. In total honesty though the short gearing and torque steer make the Clio a pest to drive for any length of time. It all comes back to what John says about the power being useable, driver ability and road knowledge. A greater spread of torque will make the car easier to drive fast as this will help dig a driver with less road knowledge out of the hole of not being able to keep the car quite on the boil. To answer your question in my opinion big BHP will make for a fast road car in a straightline. Any other circumstances require the input of so many variables it is nigh on impossible to answer.

More than just a man, a fookin' legend as far as i'm concerned. All the best Doug, don't disappear altogether.

Glad you're happy Callum. Fuel rails due early 2006.

Shocking news. I met Tim a few times and we once tailed each other to one of the Knockhill days when he had his Impreza. Thoughts go out to his family at this time of year.

Hello, no email this end. Try carl@gc8.co.uk

Callum, i have a low level spoiler in 230 white taking up space... Yours for petrol/postage.

Nice one. I'd disclose all the mods on my high-speed taxi but you guys just couldn't handle it.

Inchyra Grange was my old stop over when i was block release at 'Fawkirk' college. Ten 19- 21 year olds in an expenses-paid hotel? Recipe for disaster! 1. Spooks and Rose 2. Gus and Mrs Bus 3. Carl and Emma

Have you actually got the car now Dave? What happened to the RA?

Black every time on silver for me.

Tough break. It's bad enough being fogged on for a few days but it's a total kick in the teeth when your BTB pulls a fast one like that. Best advice is to take it on the chin and get on with it, no point in whining as it's the nature of the game. If that doesn't work remind yourself of your annual attendance allowance.

I can't understand what you and Gummy are on about half the time but that post made sense enough. Can tell you've been busy there Callum and your efforts don't appear to have been in vain. I'm looking forward to seeing the car in action!

I'll be joining Russell in huffy mode. Back Wedensday. BTTT for all others!

Congratulations John.

Make your mind up Pete. I'm back on the 7th and will have these for myself (if they're still available) as they're such a bargain. I won't be having them powder coated either.

Best bet is to find a splitter that resembles what you are looking. Take that to a reputable body shop to have modified into what you have in mind. Bradley Allen was a name that used to crop up quite regularly with redards 'Max Power' bodywork - lots of fibreglass and filler, exactly what you need. He tarted up his girlfriends Saxo (might've been a 106, cannae mind) into a Max Power cover car. Wasn't to my taste at all but seemingly the workmanship was decent enough. He's a local guy but only has limited facilities, i reckon he's your best bet anyway. Searching on any motoring forum (particularly Pug ones) should pull up his name and number.

Just make sure you don't have curly hair or you may never be able to get up. That dash actually looks pretty neat in the flesh. Such an extent to go to to get the Defi pod to match though.

Couldn't think of a better person for the role myself either. Sorry to see you haven't so much time to dedicate these days Jools, all the same it's good to see you aren't going anywhere.

Just subscribe Iain, saves having to waste time looking for it. I seem to remember a mild discount is applicable if you do that too.

Fee, your car looks almost RB5 Grey in those last two pics.

Lol, Russ made it then.

Aye i read about your plans on 22B.com. Was that you that got the bargain STi 7/8 TMIC on eBay the other night? Even cheaper than my one but not much. Manifold spacers are in stock. Will have some 25mm thick ones coming in over the next few weeks if you're considering going front-entry at some point?

I'm sure they exist as the info came from a very reliable source. Certainly isn't the case for 95% of STi manifolds though. Like John says it's probably just STi Ver 2 RA's with the 5th injector - i don't remember yours having the injector Ken? Grab a pic next time it's off Kenny.

Fook me that's a lot of Scoobies, nice one guys. Plus i can see my old wheels.

I have a Phase 1.5 STi manifold here and also a standard WRX one. They are 100% identical, right down to the casting numebrs (AA910). I also have a Phase 2 STi inlet which isn't anything special and with the paint removed (as i have been doing today) could be overlooked for a UK one. I did hear a while back certain STi Ver 2 RA's manifolds had their runner outlets CNC ported/polished. This theory was then put into doubt when i saw inside a manifold from a STi Ver 2 555 RA which looked as though someone had kicked a lump out of the mould before casting nevermind point it at any CNC equipment... To answer your question i'd say no unless you find one of the fabled ones with ported/polished runners. Throttle body sizes are certainly identical at +/- 60mm.