RS Grant

Ah.... The June Run.... Errrr, I kinda want to go on that. [] Cheers, Grant

Neil - Black STi Type-UK Grant - Crystal Grey STi Spec-D Yea, up for that mate.. should be good craic, as long as the weather isn't pooooor, otherwise the car will be rank by the time it gets through to the photoshoot locations. [] Cheers, Grant

Out of that list mate, considering that you're likely to give the car a good kick now and again and are pi$$ed off with reliability issues... I'd think the most reliable one there is the Honda S2000. I had a friend that owned one for a while, it was quick, handled really well, sounded great in VTEC (even as standard) and rev'd until 9k. Do a wee search on Youtube and find out exactly how good these things sound with a filter and exhaust, they are mental. I would say that you should go and have a wee seat/drive of one though. The steering wheel is non adjustable for reach or rake, so might be uncomfortable and catch on your legs. Cheers, Grant

I have been known to jump ship when things are getting to me too mate... but I always return. [] I got to the stage that I was pi$$ed off paying out on repairs on older cars (not just Subarus) that I'd never see again come re-sale time... so I've bitten the bullet and gone for a Newage STi. Its been an awesome decision, all the power of my previous Imprezas, the flat-4 rumble, still very chuckable..... but comes with 3 years warranty, so the only costs I'm looking at are consumables (which you'd get in any car) of brakes/tyres etc. The peace of mind I've got driving this car is awesome, where as before, I'd be worried what that rattle or knock was. Depending on your budget or what you want to spend on your next car, I'd say you should give a Newage a bit of serious thought. Cheers, Grant

Yea, me and a couple of mates are up for it... was discussing it with Steve at the R/R Day in Abz the other weekend. [H] Cheers, Grant

lol, we'll be like twins mate... [] Thanks for the other comments guys, the rear lights arent as offensive as I thought they were when I first saw a Hawkeye and the STi High Level wing will never grace the back of my car if I've got anything to do with it. lol [] Cheers, Grant

I'm trying to stay away from the Group Buy Section at the moment... its proven quite an expensive read recently. lol [] Cheers, Grant

I doubt these are a 'direct bolt-on replacement' for a Scoob and you'd probably get an asbo for these but they are very cool. [] Cheers, Grant

I'll go have a wee look and send a reply back mate... [] Cheers, Grant

Thanks Mark.. [] Cal, that car is absolutely stunning and I'd love to park myself behind the wheel of one at some point.... not many cars pull that colour off, but IMO, that one does it perfectly!! [H] Cheers, Grant

I'm glad all you guys seem to like the change of look as much as I do... [H] The wee lip I was thinking about is the one that comes on the Impreza A-Line, its a very very subtle wee lip, but its just a little more than having nothing on there at all. Which I'm not sure about. Think I might unbolt the standard one and run without one for a few days and see how I get on with it. [] LOL @ Frank... I'm pretty sure this one is going to stay around for a while mate, it just ticks so many boxes, I dont know what I'd replace it with to be honest. Apart from.................. lol, joking. [] Cal, I'll look forward to a wee PM in 24 months time... [] Cheers, Grant

Its only the 99- onwards cars that have the ability to take the EcuTek re-mapping option... the older ECU's require something like a ScoobyECU chip like Gus has bought or a full replacement, like an Apexi Power FC etc. Sorry I cant help you out Gus, know of a guy through here that could do it, but thats not much use to you. Good luck sorting it out mate. [] Cheers, Grant

Keeping the stealthy look mate... thats what the Spec-D is all about. [H] Although, if I do change the spoiler, it's going to be one of two options.. a UK300 style Prodrive Rear Spoiler, if one comes up cheapy cheap then I'll probably buy it.. or, I'm also thinking about getting a small rear lip spoiler fitted but I'm not 100% on that look yet. [] Cheers, Grant

lol @ Ari... Overthrow him, honestly, I've never heard of a Secretary that has failed to read my impeccible handwriting... lol [] Cheers, Grant

Thanks Peter, your car isn't exactly a poor option to a Spec D mate... [][H] Chris, I'll go have a look mate. Frank, hahaha, aye.. that was my initial thoughts, but they're growing on me (slowly)... the only option I've got is to chuck on some MY03-MY05 rear lights, sure you can get aftermarket ones, but they're probably even more chavvy than the stock ones. [] Cheers, Grant

Thanks a lot for the comments, its a great drive, the 2.5 engine is soooo nice... overfuelling like a biach according to the Rolling Road results, but still made a fair bit more power than the book figures. Reading a Jap Performance Mag feature showed an '06 STi with a few basic mods making c350bhp and c410lb/ft after a re-map, which would liven things up a bit!! [] I love the look of the car now, wasn't sure what peeps would think, never really seen Bronze wheels being used before... but never know, maybe I've inspired some people!! [] The exhaust sounded great in the Multi-Storey.. and I must confess to giving it a wee blip or three on my way up to the empty floors. Well spotted Bandit, its where I took pics of my Grey Celica too, the lighting is great, really shows off reflections and lines of the car well. [H] Cheers, Grant

...but think they've made a massive difference to the look of the car, I was a little unsure of going Bronze after I couldnt find any pics of Crystal Grey cars with Bronze Wheels. I'm very happy with the look that the wheels have given me and like the fact I didn't go for the more tried and tested route of Anthracite which I was close to doing.. [] **There are quite a few pics here, 56k might take a wee while.....** Here are a couple of pics of how the car was when I got it a month(ish) ago: ...and here are the updated pics which were taken tonight: Spec of the car the way it is just now: General Info: - STi V-Limited Style Front Lip Spoiler - 300bhp & 282lb/ft (Rolling Road Proven) Engine Info: - Hayward & Scott Angled Back Box - Hayward & Scott Unresonated Centre Section - Green Cotton Panel Filter Chassis Info: - 18" Rota P1 Alloys in Bronze - 225/40/18 Goodyear Eagle F1 with XL Sidewall - Tein S-Tech Springs (-35mm Front and -25mm Rear) What do you think of it?? All comments welcome.... [] Cheers, Grant

Good wee progress report... would be brill if you could press a button that changed it from 215bhp to 305bhp and see the huge difference that its made in one step, cause I'm sure a wee bit of the impact has been lost doing it in stages. Its a damn fine looking Bugeye too. PFF7's really suit it. [H] Cheers, Grant

Aye, not bad for a stock car... bit down on the standard 290lb/ft, but certainly up on the standard 280ps. [H] Although, my AFR was so rich they couldn't measure it, was hitting 9:1 on the dyno as soon as it hit boost, but thats as low as they read so could have been worse than that!! Russ said that if it had been an Evo, it wouldn't have run at that AFR and would be misfiring like a bassa... haha, guess its given me an excuse for the poor MPG I'm getting anyway. [] Kloon mate, its FarNan. [][] Cheers, Grant

Great result today mate.. [H] Cheers, Grant

Dont suppose you guys need another car for the stand tomorrow... I'm at a loose end and am more than happy to stick my car on now I've got 4 wheels that look the same. lol [] Cheers, Grant

I heard that scoob is slow as death.............. just now. [] Will be good to see what the new spooler will do once all bolted up and mapped, specially if you're going to stick it all in a very lightweight shell. [H] Cheers, Grant

I've been really tempted to buy a new style EVO... 7 onwards... I really really like them, and they are very very tuneable. I also like the noise that comes off them, even as 'standard' with the HKS System they sound mean as F00K. <- had to get it past the swear filter. [8-)] From the new Impreza Hatch pics and the EVO 10 pics... If I was buying new in 2008, then I'd probably go for the EVO in all honesty. Cheers, Grant

Thanks for the breakdown of costs.. I was expecting it to just touch into four figures so I wasn't TOO far off the mark. Again, awesome write up, its made me jealous but very determined. [] Cheers, Grant

..........forgot to say, what oil is being used in the car?? If it is the incorrect grade then it could be passing itself through. Cheers, Grant