chiark

...that is, after all, what they've been doing for years

revitt

And you get an incredible 19 MPG

And thats while I am running it in.

[Edited by revitt - 7/8/2003 4:11:53 PM]

Sue Sidal

I've read through this thread and it's interesting to get a feel for what other people think of your car. In September 2002 I was offerred a job and part of the package was a sum of money to buy a company car. I'd been hammering an ST24 for a number of years so I looked around the market to see what was about. I wanted something quicker and better handling than the Mondeo, which I intended to keep for my other half. So I looked around and took out a number of different cars for test drives, one being the bugeye WRX. What I didn't want to end up with was a car that I drove like the ST24 all day, thrashing it to get the best from it. On the test drive for the WRX, I thrashed the **** off it. It was a great car, thoroughly impressive, certainly quicker and better handling than the ST24..BUT... I would have been thrashing the *** off it from day one and getting frustrated by the lack of performance so I didn't buy one. However, on the strength of that test drive I bought a brand new UK Import STi7, straight out of a local showroom. I can't speak of the WRX with PPP because I've never driven one. I can speak of the STi though - FANTASTIC. There is a significant performance differential over the WRX, it reminded me of my days on big bikes with corners rushing up on you before you know it and the brakes are incredible. It's a different drive altogether than the WRX.. BUT... having driven the WRX whilst mine was in service, the WRX is a much easier car to drive, everything is lighter, the steering, the clutch, it's much more SENSIBLE!! I've been a passenger in my car and it's horrible. The kids hate it, the missus hates it. It's a drivers car. The net result was that whenever we went anywhere as a family, we went in the ST24......(Thrash,thrash,thrash). So I changed that for a 5 series Beemer automatic, much more pleasant, no desire to thrash it... As an aside, the STi was rear ended in May, I've had it back and it's gone back again, 44 defects according to the AA so guess what I'm driving right now? A bugeye WRX.... (Thrash, thrash,thrash) so I was right all along...No comparison I'm afraid.




[Edited by Sue Sidal - 7/9/2003 12:41:12 PM]

Chins

Ive owned a bugeye which I had for a while std, before adding PPP. Driving a std bugeye and then a new shape WRX with PPP IMHO is a bit like light and day. I was never overly impressed with the bugeye WRX as std. The PPP made a difference, but the new PPP is a step above the old piggy back version.

I think Chiarks comments are a reasonably good interpretation.

If people think I treat the car as an investment, then I'm happy to show them how many thousand of pounds have been added to my mortagage due to my enjoyment in cars

One of my main points though is that I think that come the new STI, I will have to have it. Mabybe it will be more power, maybe better handling, but I would bet on something. Those that are in their own world of thinking the new STI wont affect STI 8 residuals could be in for a shock if they try to change cars. After 8 scoobies I have a little handle on the market

I decided that if I bought an STI (which I put my order in for as the thread title says) I would of left it without PPP ( IMHO I would lose another £1000)

The STI Without PPP is not as quick as the WRX IMHO - 99% of the time. Go look at Prodrives own figures it people dont believe me

http://www.prodrive.com/uploads/03MY%20STi%20PPP.pdf
http://www.prodrive.com/uploads/03MY%20WRX%20PPP.pdf

Most of us usually have the car with 2500-3500 rpm. The figures below to me at least illustrate the benefits day to day of a WRX PPP over a std STI. Add to this the 70kg weight advantage.

2500rpm

STD WRX 80bhp 170lbft
PPP WRX 90bhp 190lbft
STD STI 70bhp 150lbft
PPP STI 95bhp 200lbft

3500rpm

STD WRX 140bhp 206lbft
PPP WRX 170bhp 250lbft
STD STI 146bhp 250lbft
PPP STI 200bhp 300lbft

I would love to be able to buy an STI with PPP and 18" wheels. All in cost with discount £27,000 best case. Value in 6 months time £22k Max

Money isnt everything, and for those intending to keep their cars 3 years, it really shouldnt matter. I struggled to sell my P1 when 3 months old for £26k - cost new £33k ouch. If I'd kept it 3 years I would only of lost another £6-7k

Jonathan



[Edited by Chins - 7/9/2003 8:03:13 PM]

DanPhillips

You have a disease Jonathan.

I've seen you buy countless cars over the last five or so years
and just when you were thinking about buying it up until about
a week after you had bought it you have always said how something
is so much better than the last car...

I've seen the same argument about Sti/Non Sti when you went
from Sti5 to Rb5 and yet you went back to a P1...

I don't think anyone should listen to you...your bad for the bank balance

Sti with PPP is better.....for me.

Good to see your still enjoying your cars even if it still is for a short time.

Perhaps you should try the modding lark...that way you'll have to keep it
for a bit longer or loose a lot more (20 grand plus for 500bhp monster ?) :-)



Cheers

Dan


[Edited by DanPhillips - 7/9/2003 8:43:54 PM]

Chins

Dan

As for the next car always being better than the last, did you see my thoughts on the Cooper S

What I should of done was keep the RB5 WR as a day to day car, and have the P1 for weekends I might of been able to put down a 50% deposit on a Zonda by now

Its the fact that no bugger brings out the perfect car that keeps me changing. One day I like the big lag, the next it a bigger pain than my daughter choosing a burger a McD's

Ideal would probably be the WRX PPP for the week, with a P1 - full decat, ECUTEK etc for the weekends

I went through the modding stage Yes its a great way to lose money.

My ideal Scooby:

2.5 litre twin turbo (still miss the grunt of my RS4)
Lightweight leather Recaro Buckets
Avus Silver (nice Audi Colour) or Steel Grey
Bose Stereo
18" wheels - not Gold
Ride quality - in between the WRX and STI
Performance exhaust/ burble as std
Brembo Brakes (not Gold Calipers)
6 free driver training days at the Ring
4 new tyres for straight afterwards
Oh and 45mpg

AND last but by no means least - BRIGHT SWITCH

Maybe the new Saab will be the answer to my dreams



Jonathan

[Edited by Chins - 7/9/2003 9:45:53 PM]

EBR

Well I've had my standard 01WRX, with a few bodywork/spoiler additions, quickshift etc but no performance mods for about 16 months now. It was an ex demo.

Was determined not to invest in PPP until the novelty wore off (previous car was a Primera GT - excellent in its class but not in this class).

Well here I am 16 months later still waiting for the novelty to wear off. The handling is awesome as far as I'm concerned, particularly around corners. Best way to test this is to try driving nothing else for six months and then try corners in another car .

The power/turbo/drive of this car is more than adequate for me and it still has that warm satisfaction glow of watching the turning heads on the street.

When (if) the novelty wears off I'll stick a few mods on and I look forward to seeing the difference they make. I know plenty of Scoobynuts will disagree with and each to their own but I wanted to throw a different vein on the subject. I believe every mod I do will give me a new car feeling for a few months rather than cramming it all in under one or two upgrades.

If I'm having this much fun now life can only get better. The only thing I want addressed in the short term is the fuel consumption. Not for any monetary reasons but I'm still trying to work out whether my 14-18 mpg ave is a WRX standard or a problem with my right foot.



[Edited by EBR - 7/9/2003 11:14:55 PM]