paul_dyson

Oops, typo, meant 650cc.

So I already had the Miltek 3" exhaust and EcuTek remap. Stage 4 adds custom-built turbo, 600cc injectors and bigger inlet hose to those.

I believe it is a larger hybrid twin scroll of Powerstation's own design but couldn't tell you the designation, just the effect of another 50bhp!

This week marks 5 years since I picked up my nice and shiny, delivery miles only, Impreza spec C Type RA WR Limited from Litchfields. It's not quite so shiny anymore and the odo currently reads a smidge over 45,000 miles but is still going strong and regularly putting a smile on my face. Since buying I've upgraded to the Powerstation 'Stage 4' (400bhp/350lb ft) package, Tein 16-way adjustable suspension and Performance Friction brakes but otherwise its as it was. Thought I'd give a quick summary of the experience. The Good Could write a very long list here but in summary it is by far the best car I've owned or driven ... which is why I still have it. I've driven faster cars (Ariel Atom, Porsche GT3), plusher cars (M5, M3, RS4), cheaper cars and more 'relaxing' cars. But IMO the spec C is the car that covers all the bases of speed and raw excitement, ability on local roads as well as the track, and ability to eat up long runs as well as short blasts (and pootling around town). It has been my family car, my commute-to-work car, my B-road blast car and my trackday car. We've enjoyed driving trips to the Nurburgring, Isle of Man, Scottish Highlands and Welsh borders, as well as numerous circuits in the UK. The spec C is comfortable enough on the trip there with plenty of luggage in the boot and then proves extremely capable once there, whether on lumpy, broken, twisty roads like on the Isle of Man (how the TT guys do the speed they do there I'll never know) or smooth open circuits like Goodwood. Highlights include overtaking two racing Ferrari 355's on the Nurbrugring while 3-up, and following Tommi Makkinen and Peter Solberg through the Welsh Hills (no problem keeping up going up hill, not so easy going downhill ... but more of a comment on the driver's skill rather than the capabilities of the car). Friends have given up asking what I will replace the car with because I have no answer. GT3 comes close in terms of ticking all the boxes but costs three times as much. Most likely I'll keep the spec C and buy an even more extreme toy for track days (the Atom really was very good). The Bad No one buys an Impreza if they're worried about MPG but the spec C really has taken fuel inefficiency to a new level. If I really try hard I can get 200 miles out of a tank (50l) and a recent day at Goodwood saw the tank empty by 1/4 on each 6 lap stint. Needless to say I'm on first-name terms with the bloke who runs our local Shell. The police around here *really* don't like the car. I've lost count of the number of times I've been stopped for some spurious reason so they can check my documents, kick the tyres and check I don't have a suitcase of crack or guns on the back seat. Occasionally p!sses me off but grown used to it by now. The Ugly Well the blob-eye Impreza never was going to win any styling awards was it? For its fifth birthday the car is getting a tank of Optimax and we're off for a run to the coast. Looking forward to the next five years! [Also posted on Scoobynet]

Been away for a few weeks and totally missed this. Must admit I always had excellent service from them and, for one, am sad to see them go.

Had my car in at Xtreme to have Tein electronically adjustable suspension fitted. Tein supplied the wrong parts and what should have been a one-day job was looking like taking well into next week with Xtreme being shut over the long weekend; a right pain for me as I have family visiting over Easter. But they managed to get Tein to deliver the correct parts on Thursday evening, worked bank-holiday Friday morning to get everything fitted and then came in specially this morning so I could pick the car up. That's what I call service ... thanks to Paul and Knowlesy for their efforts.

As in the registration was YE ?? UCH. Not particularly a fan of the new shape but I wouldn't go as far as to get a reg like that! Anyway, spotted at Colchester Tollgate a few days ago.

For such seemingly similar cars they feel very different to me. A pre-2007 scoob is analogue: very few drivers aids, very predicable on the limit, progressive over the limit. An EVO of the same age is digital: super-active everything, point and shoot steering, unpredictable when you push too hard. In the right conditions (smooth, dry roads or track) an EVO with the same power/weight ratio will be marginally quicker but the scoob will be faster the rest of the time and more enjoyable all of time. I had the choice a few years ago (and costs servicing and so on didn't bother me) and stuck with a scoob in the end. Agree that spec C is the way to go, with the various tuning options around you don't need to look at an FQ-360 (or even an FQ-400) with envy.

Graph and a pic or two on my website www.pauldyson.net - go to 'play'. No increase in peak torque over the stage 2/3 - Rich was upfront about this when I phoned for info. But peak figures are for the pub - the flattening and extension of the curve is what its all about.

Next month marks four years since I bought the spec C ... and very happy years they have been too. 40k miles covering daily driving, B-road blasting, holiday jaunts and more than just the odd track day. Not a cough or a hiccup along the way, in fact the only problem I have with the car is I don't know what I'd replace it with. The new Evos and Scoobs don't appeal, the GTR is quite astounding BUT all that weight and all those gadgets ... not really what I'm looking for. I got to drive an Ariel Atom a few weeks ago and was utterly blown away by it. Decision made: keep the scoob and get an Atom for (dry) weekends. The Atom completely redefines 'fast': its in the same league as the Formula Palmer Audis and JP1s at Bedford Autodrome but with two seats and number plate so you're not confined to the track. It is the only car I've been in that has ever made the C seem totally ponderous ... So I took the C into Powerstation for their full 'stage 4' conversion. I've been at 'stage 2.5' (3" Miltek exhaust, uprated filters and wastegate actuator) pretty much since I bought the car in 2004 so the price was merely eye-watering rather than prohibitive. The result: 400bhp and over 300 lbft of torque available from 3500 to 7000 revs. The peak torque remains the same, comes in about 200 revs later than it used to but remains pretty constant all the way to just below the red line. The effect: you can't feel much difference in first because the car was always through it so fast. Second, third and fourth now seem banzai-quick. Where I became used to the torque dropping off at about 5750 before, it now stays constant all the way through to 7000 for a shift at about 7750. The top-end acceleration is so good that the first few times I tried a full-bore blast I hit the rev-limiter (and looked a total idiot) because I wasn't ready for the shift. Getting used to it now and extremely pleased with the results. Still nowhere near as quick as an Atom but it will do while I get on with saving up.

I got an indicated 165mph out of mine on the autobahn. There was more there and the car felt very stable but the bonnet was flexing like mad and I decided next time I do a V-max I'm going to get bonnet ties fitted first.

How about Ugleye (I work with a Brummie so it sounds right to me)?

I'll keep my eyes peeled although I tend to be in the south of the country. Does 'doing your rating' mean you're getting qualified to fly a 737? That sounds incredible ... I think even driving a fast car must pale in comparison to piloting a large jet. Ill ask a friend of mine whose big into racing about Zandvoort.

They are rare over there although there is an active owner's club ... its just tiny. You don't have a stickered up blue blob/bug eye do you? Saw one yesterday driving when I was driving from Eindhoven to Maastricht (other side of the dual carriageway so I only saw it in a flash) which is only the third I've seen over there 'in the wild' in four years of working there on and off. Whereabouts in NL are you based?

I'm not there yet but we're moving up to East Yorkshire next May/June. Had a look around Holme-on-Spalding-Moore and Goole as well as further east. Well up for a meet or two when we get up there.