Phil Harrison

I think it's entirely reasonable, GM, to ask if Prodrive are going to produce a retrofit upgrade at owner cost, same way as I upgraded my PC by buying a faster chip when one became available. What isn't reasonable, is to expect to have it for free, and I agree with you to that extent.

As it is, unsurprisingly, Prodrive aren't saying: I've asked a couple of times more in hope than expectation. In any case, as '02s and '03s age we get nearer to the stage when going to an aftermarket mapper makes no difference to the warranty anyway....
(unless you choose to extend the warranty, that is)

Phil

chiark

...could it also be that, included in the price, is a small premium that you're paying to warranty the extra map?

greasemonkey

I didn't say that asking was unreasonable Phil. What I did say was that asking Prodrive (employees) if they're going to do it is somewhat pointless, as it's not their decision to make, let alone announce.

Of course they aren't, as they are not in a position to make a decision on it, let alone divulge commercially sensitive information in a public forum. Prodrive develop a range of aftermarket upgrade parts on the behalf of International Motors, who then sell and warrant them. Prodrive don't decide what products are sold, they develop something according to a brief, and IM then decide (or not) to sell it.

We don't even know whether IM have enquired about the feasibility of a "320 upgrade" for existing cars, and even if they have, we don't know whether or not Prodrive have told them whether or not it's feasible. Even if Prodrive's people know, they won't tell us, as the answer is commercially sensitive. They'll tell IM, and they will make the decision whether to sell it or not, based on a variety of commercial considerations.

If you want to know the answer to this question, the people to ask are International Motors, who are the people who decide what is (and what isn't) offered to UK market car owners.

mikeswrt

My specC (not Limited) with only a stainless backbox (probably not as good as Bob R's custome back box) is putting out:

- 298 bhp
- 321 lbft

This was on Optimax only, not with octane booster, when I tried it with booster it didn't make any difference

There seem to be a lot of mad figures being shouted about for the specC / specC Limited (which are both identical in terms of engine/turbo, which some people seem to miss also), probably 'cos none of the magazines have been ars*d to test a standard one and instead have given the impression a specC is a Litchfield remapped specC - nothing wrong with reviewing a Litchfield specC, just think it's added masses of confusion to the power debate (old timers like me will remember how many years it took for the masses to get it into their heads that a 22B wasn't 350bhp simply cos one or two magazines like Autocar splashed mad power headlines on their front covers a couple of times and said things like "estimated to be a 350bhp monster" in their reviews).

I think some people think the specC Limited is a more powerful car, simply because every magazine tested Iain's red car, which is a Limited, and it came across as being somehow different to a standard specC! (it was, besides the luxury aspects, but only cos it was a Litchfield remapped car)

Just please take this into account when you are shooting down the WR1 figures with your 9mm canons!

londonpaul

hey, I'm all for the march of technology - and I'm never going to get anything near the best times from my car - but if this sucker is 0.5 seconds quicker to 60 when driven by a loon then its probably 0.5 seconds quicker when driven by a muppet like me. i wouldn't even try to match it - I cooked the clutch on my 2000 inside of 4000 miles, never again. If its a better car then bring it on. but stop teasing me - its like going out on a first date with a nice lady and wondering if she is actually as good as she looks or if she is wearing big pants

Nick Wadeson

I can assure you that in this case she is wearing a thong

Nick.

Gubbins

Wouldn't be surprised if when all WR1's are sold (already?) then come 6 months time, a 320ps map will be available for STI MY02/3's...after all, what do IM/Subaru care if the residuals of sold WR1's are affected? They'll just buy em back cheaper, and still make a tidy profit on resale. They'll also get some additional revenue from current STI owners, which is nice. Let's face it, something more powerful is likely to be offered as a UK model before long anyway...maybe a WR2 eh!?!!