russell hayward

Spec C doesnt have waterspray bottle in engine bay or rear wiper either. That definitely looks like a GL to me.

Phil

Spoke to Iain today and we hope to have it and him at Bedford on the 7th

johnfelstead

And he invited me to drive it at Bedford, oh the irony. Sorry i missed you Phil.

The car starts out life as a JDM GL, then has the 2.5 conversion carried out, this is not just a straight forward job of bolting up the 2.5 USDM block to the GL heads, there is work required in certain areas to make the two setups compatible. The turbo is a hybrid twin scroll that has been developed for this combination. Exhaust is a milltek assembly but is a diferent spec to the 2.0T milltek setup used on the Litchfield 2.0 spec C's.

Suspension is not Bilstein, i will leave Iain to explain what he has done with the development of this. The car is a very impresive package.

I think to compare the Type25 to the WR1 is a bit pointless, as the two cars are catering for two diferent types of market IMHO. The WR1 is a very impresive package for an oficial dealer Impreza, it has all the right components to give the normal UK buyer what they want. The Type25 is aimed to cater for the enthusiast who wants everything you can squeeze out of an Impreza package and still have a totally reliable, waranted car. There are reasons why both cars will be very successful IMHO and i think Prodrive/IM and Litchfield's should be congratulated on giving us a genuine step up in performance and choice.

The important thing for me is they both have DCCD-A, they both have improved suspension and they both have in excess of 300BHP straight out of the box, all these things the Impreza has needed in the UK since it's New Age Bug Eye launch in 2001.

The decisions as to which suits the buyer is going to be personal and governed by lots of variables, but at least now the UK buyer has some quality choices which have been lacking.

Phil

John you can always be relied upon to provide a concise and useful summary.[Must cut and paste it ]

Yep did look for you but Like an idiot didn't take your number with me , I did bump into quite a few people yesterday incl ChrisL [Nice to meet you].

Phil

johnfelstead

Thanks. Aparantly we were stood a few feet away from each other at one point. I met loads of scoobynet, race, rally people i know during the day, time just flew by.

If you are going to the show, get there early, its HUGE.

I'll mail you about this Bedford thing Phil.

kwakman

You might think its a pointless comparison but that wont stop people doing it.

It would be a shame if those in a position to buy a WR1 did not consider The T25. Theres something of David and Goliath about the simultaneous launch.

I'd quite like to see a head to head test carried out by one of the car magazines. Wonder if anyone will do it or if Subaru will let them?

johnfelstead

I would expect people to consider both, certainly the more knowledgeable enthusiasts will and Iain is doing a great job of getting exposure for an alternative way to purchase than the franchised dealer network, it's all very healthy for us.

Which way people go will depend on their own circumstances, the T25 is a step up in terms of price and specification compared to the WR1. I am very impressed with the work Iain and Powerstation have put into this, i cant wait to drive it.

LitchfieldImports

Can't spend to much time writing as I have a few emails to go through Just to say thanks to those that popped over to see the car yesterday.

We'll be on the stand tomorrow so come over and have a chat

The Type 25 starts life as a MY04 (STI10) and then we covert it, this way we keep all the luxury items and still get Spec C+ performance. There are to many changes to list here but once the show is out of the way I will get everything up on the website so you can see the amount of work that has gone into it.

Although it was originally my idea without Powerstations help and engineering ability it would never have got made. The journalists and racing drivers loved what they did with the Spec C's set-up but this new car is just amazing and testment to there months of hard work

If you have any detailed questons give me a call anytime.

Regards

Iain

www.litchfieldimports.co.uk

Glad the Yaris is going well Dave

nellie

do you do finance Iain??? hehe

Phil

Never mind John, look forward to your mail

AND Yes I'm sure Iain could sort finance

If he can't I'm sure there are plenty of people that can

[Edited by phil_stephens - 1/9/2004 4:00:21 PM]

what would scooby do

.. and what are the warranty options ??

flat4

looked good today












i think i might be repeating pictures but what the hell

[Edited by flat4 - 1/9/2004 7:38:52 PM]

Danny B

OMFG, that is just gorgeous

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

And insurance, for that matter?? ('Has the vehicle been modified at all, sir? ')

Blow

Looks like Ian is doing what a number of Japanese tuning Companies have been doing for years. 'Prova' springs to mind with their limited edition twin turbo 2.5 Legacy that they produced a few years ago. Nice one Ian.
Does it have the new indicators in the door mirrors to compete with the germans on looks !!!

AJbaseBloke

Iain - in short, fab!!

marklemac

Intersting to see the the Type 25 still uses a TMIC and a standard air box. Wonder what filter is in the airbox, and whether the airflow to it has been modded by removing some bits.

Just love all those Samco hoses......kerching..

Deep Singh

Sorry am I missing the point? So if you spend loads of money and stick in a bigger engine and turbo into a Jap car you get a faster Jap car? A faster Jap car that is difficult to insure,will not have gone through rigorous testing of an 'normal' car and hence I'm sure will have some 'issues' like all modded cars do. It will have a dubious warranty, and unknown resale value. It will also still have a Max Power image, with spotty kids giving it a thumbs up as you drive by
I've seen people on the bbs over the last 3 years pour tens of thousands of pounds into modding their cars and then say they its almost as fast as a Porsche Turbo, for that money they could have bought a second hand Turbo and not wasted a year of their life modding it. Just my tuppence worth.

ps no offence meant to Iain who I have met and think is a genuinely nice bloke. He is probably also going to make me look very stupid by saying the car retails at £20k!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kwakman

I think you might have answered your own question Deep! The car doesnt retail for 20k (sadly) but you certainly wont have to pour 10s of thousands into this one to make it go fast or waste a year of your life putting it together, its available out of the box.

Of course, there are those that would suggest putting it together is half the fun...........

The insurance issue is a valid point, I wonder if a scheme is available that recognises the car.

Not having tested the car as a system as thoroughly as a major manufacturer is also interesting, but the I suspect the components themselves are known quantities. Its not like it was conceived as a blue-sky blank-sheet kitcar.

G00ner

Tend to agree with Deep, we have both been out and spent £1000's on our cars and then a short distance down the road been rogered on the resale value when all the extras aint worth a penny.

Glad to say I have been through this faze, enjoyed it and now moved on.

Altho if I earnt considerably more money then I would find a space in my garage for this car tho.

Daz34

I reckon as it has a 2.5L lump it runs less boost than the standard 2.0L so the STI TMIC is just fine.
Maybe someone more technically minded can confirm this

Darren

IWatkins

Iain will no doubt put a up a big post answering all the questions after the weekend is over (he is at the NEC all weekend).

Deep,
Simple answer to all your questions. Don't buy one, certainly don't even think about testing one

Cheers

Ian

Edcase

Deep, you really can be a tit some times. I've ignored your posts for 12 months but you have crossed a line.

How dare you tar everybody with the same brush, just because you yourself have wasted countless thousands (in a completely uneducated fashion) on your STi7 in an attempt to make it as fast as as a 911 turbo. You really have some nerve making comments like that.

Do you really think people expect to get their money back from modifications? Have you ever thought that people actually enjoy building their ideal car, gradually changing its appearance and handling? The average Subaru owner does not just stick some body kit and neons on and 5k of ice, they start with the basics like making the chassis more neutral, better brakes, less restricted exhaust gases etc etc.

This entire community that I have watched you pretend to be a part of is built around people sharing their experience of changing the basic car and its appearance and handling according to their exact requirements, don't you dare belittle it.

Also your ignorant comment about buying a secondhand 911 turbo: how many people here can afford porsche servicing? Insurance? Practicality? I have spent £30,000 getting my car where it is now. In my hands it IS faster than a 911 turbo as was proven at Oulton Park in December when I caught and passed one in 4 laps.

Every single modification has been exactly researched and usually tested before purchase (hence my 2000+ posts in 12 months) and the only thing that has ever needed changing is a couple of sensors and tyres, brakes and oil. Do I care that it is faster than a 911 turbo? Genuinely, honestly not. I care that I have had 12 months of incredible learning, experiences, friendships and fun, and I have created my ideal car. How DARE you suggest I have wasted a year of my life!!!

Back to the T25, have you actually read the reviews of, say, the Spec C? Have you seen that it is almost as fast as a GT3 (and probably faster in the hands of the 'ordinary' driver? And for less than £30,000?

The T25 is not simply sticking a larger engine and turbo in, and without knowing what goes on behind Powerstations closed doors, and the testing and engineering work they are party to simply displays your ignorance to make such assumptions. The modified bilstein shocks are a perfect example of this.

As for the Max Power image, you will soon find that a much more friendly an experience than being a Porsche owner and having everybody looking down their noses at you, often including other Porsche owners. And when you can eventually afford a GT3, won't you look silly when you get left standing by 'just another' Japanese car.


[Edited by Edcase - 1/10/2004 5:44:17 PM]

YorkshireSimon

Well, just got back from the NEC, and all I can say is, what a bl00dy fantastic car that is! Many thanks to Iain for spending quite a bit of time talking to me on more than one occassion today (once with the car locked, and then again later when the keys had been brought from the hotel )

Deep, you are right to ask all those questions, and so did I today, and I got the right responses back that I would want to hear if I was to think about trading up for one, and I am seriously thinking about how I can justify £34k for, what would be my third Scoob. I have been reliably informed today that the insurance on the T25 is going to much the same as the WR1, possibly 5% on top for being a grey! Not bad for a car with a minimum of 350bhp. I get the impression that I could get the insurance on that for the same as, or less than my STI7 PPP.

I can't wait to test drive it, which will hopefully happen in the coming weeks.

And those instrument dials, on ignition start-up, OMG, superb. I thought my Defi's were good, but this STI's is very trick. Full needle sweep on startup, with no detail other than the needles, then all the numbers come on, followed by the STI letters in blue (colour blind so might be wrong on colour). Full backlit set-up. Pretty damn clever, if you like that sort of thing, which I do...

Never thought i'd want to go in for a silver scoob, but seeing this makes me want to chop my mine in tomorrow. Just wish that the car could sit that low on the road, however I am told it is slammed to the floor just for the show. Might be a harsh ride at that

Well done Iain, fab car, and thanks again for your time today.

Simon

Edcase

Right to ask, wrong to be such a pompous and assumptive git.

john coffey

Oh FFS, I wish that Evo article never existed. It's only almost as fast up until 60 and then the Porsche blows it away.
Anyway, even if it was faster I know what car I'd prefer to own



[Edited by john coffey - 1/10/2004 6:35:41 PM]

Edcase

John, I was talking about on a track / on normal roads not 0-100. 0-whatever tests are totally meaningless IMHO and in no way represent anything about a car other than people who spend their weekends at Santa Pod, which is the polar opposite of my prefence and how I spend my time.

As for which you would prefer to own, what sane person would not prefer a GT3 over even the T25. That was not anyones point, and is not relevant. Please either reread the post in context or stop trolling.

john coffey

Trolling? me? you gotta be kidding

Edcase

Deep Singh

Edcase, I think your long rambling post well and truly shows that you are the pompous one. Ignorance is also your trait not mine as you have decided to insult me personally. You also have great difficulty dealing with any opinion that does'nt match yours, as a result you rant,rave and insult. Were you not loved as a child?
As for asking me 'how dare' I ask a question or voice an opinion, who do you think you are? A self appointed Scooby policeman? Can you hear yourself? You sound like the biggest pompous **** in the world.
As for 'the community I pretend to belong to'. I have never said I
belong to any community here, especially one that you think you belong to. I just happen to drive a Subaru car. If I were to wear Marks and Spencer clothes I would'nt suddenly belong to the Marks and Spencers community. What planet do you live on?
As for how fast your car can do laps around a circuit all I can say is one thing. BORING! Actually two things, you are probably sexually inadequte! Who do you think gives a monkeys about how fast your car goes around a bloody circuit? You need to get out a bit more.
As for your comment about driving a Subaru is a far more friendly experience than driving a Porsche etc. D'ont you still get it through your thick skull that grown ups d'ont drive a car for its 'friendly experience' Get a life soon!
Oh and as for 'when I can afford a GT3' I'm sorry to burst your bubble but I can afford one now,with ease. Just d'ont fancy one.

You need to go back and examine the aggressiveness of your reply and your ranting and raving. Others have managed to disagree (or agree) without resorting to personal insults like you. Your true colours have become apparent.