[Davey]

The Impreza has a Longitudinally mounted engine, its basically a standard RWD setup but with a feed off the opposite end of the layshaft to the front diff which is part of the box..

The EVO is a standard FWD setup with Viscous coupling to a rear variable solinoid controlled viscous diff, the front diff is also variable, the YAW control system in effect can control the amount of power delivered to each wheel, in comparison the Impreza is farm yard transport.

johnfelstead

Hardly. The Impreza transmition has a longitudinal AWD gearbox with integral centre and front diff, the one in my car has an electrically controlled, variable torque split centre LSD that feeds the front and rear diffs via drop gears or propshaft, utilising a Helical Front LSD and a plated rear LSD. So thats 3 LSD's in my 1999 version, one of which is driver controlled varying the locking rate of the LSD and it's torque distribution.

Some of the later cars incorporate a steering wheel sensor, G sensor and lateral acceleration sensor to automatically choose the torque distribution, incorporated this with the ABS system.

The YAWN control on a EVO controls just the rear wheel torque delivery, not all four wheels. It's layout is inherantly unstable compared to the Impreza, which has a lower C of G and more even distribution of weight over the front axle line. The quick versions of the EVO do away with the YAWN control, the quick versions of the Impreza add the variable centre LSD system.

Pavlo

SO Davey,

Besides the basic similarities, what parts are common between the 1993 and 2006 Impreza engines?

As you seem so very keen on business sense, you should know that volume reduces price. I wonder how many poxhaul and GM cars share the same rear pads?

I just paid £33 for a set of rear handbrake shoes, which was trade price, for my 10 year old BMW, oh my god, let the riots begin.

Paul

[Davey]

We're talking about Special versions, every single recent EVO model has YAW control which is much more complex than a manually controlled torque ratio.


There isnt as much in common between the 93 model as there is on some of the slightly later models when they switched to Dis packs and re-vised various ancilaries but most of the basic block and ancillaries are the same or of the same design.

I am not saying they are identicle I am saying they are VERY simliar, not exactly "back to the drawing board" job, but I am not saying that is a bad thing either, all I am saying is if they have remained so similar why are the prices for labour still so extorcionate? If the mechanics at the dealers have been working on the same basic chassis and the same basic engine for the last 10+ years then not only will they know it like the back of their hands they will also know all of the short cuts.. Just the other day someone on here was quoting that they paid nearly £700 to have a clutch replaced, how can you justify that?

How many other BMW models share the same rear brakes components compared to how many Subaru models share the same rear brake components as the Impreza?

scoobyboy

subaru dealers don't have it easy they dont set the price of parts they just get a disc through from i.m with the latest parts prices on, maybe it's i.m you should be complaining to.

Pavlo

I would be very dissapointed if a good technician didn't know the shortcuts within a year or less of working exclusively on the same cars. However there seems to be a disparity between your opinions on what jobs should cost or how long they should take and reality. As you are at pains to point out, the Impreza is easy to work on, and so there aren't really many shortcuts that can save significant amounts of time. There are a few areas that are inherently more time consuming as a result of the configuration. The engine can take a while longer to take apart and put back together, it's not especially difficult, but you can only work so fast. Obviously cam changes or anything to do with valve clearances can be a bear. Plugs on the other hand can be changed in half an hour on some cars, longer on 2006 cars though as access is reduced.

While you argue that there haven't been "back to the drawing board" changes over the years, I beg to differ. So the basic layout is the same, woo bloody hoo.

Paul

johnfelstead

You obviously know nothing about EVO's either. The more performant versions of the EVO's, (the RS) including the latest EVO 9 GT do not have YAWN control (AYC).

All the STi's now sold have DCCD-A, a computer controlled active centre diff system with manual overide, not just the JDM TypeR/RA's of the 90's or Spec C's of the 00's. Even this system has gone through 4 evolutions, from Manual DCCD, to DCCD-A version 1,2 and 3.

Every area of the car can be looked at in detail and you can see changes over the years, major ones recently being the change in PCD of the wheels to acomodate larger wheel bearings, hubs and strut assemblies and the latest DCCD-A with revised centre diff design and torque distribution. This constant updating is why the Impreza is now the car to use in the PWRC, a few years ago it used to be the EVO.

It's called evolution of the model to integrate the best features that were once exclusive to the JDM homologation special versions.

[Davey]

Well woopdy do then charge loads for new cars because its new technology but this still does not explain the under-handed approach towards older versions that are a in-arguabley doddle to work on and use most of the same parts that have been in production since the early 90's..

But even independant mechanics are in on the act! Most of them will fill their customers full of woe and fear before comensing work on an early Impreza just so the (to be quite frank) insult of an invoice doesnt hurt so much..

p1mark

you are an idiot!

if its not Lewis you are definetly from his tadpoles

rsquire

Yeap.. Lewis spawn I reckon...

We need more Chlorine in the gene pool

[Davey]

You guys are seriously scar'ed by Mr Lewis.. Upsetting when you realise you've been ripped off for years isnt it

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

It's not as if removing the pistons and splitting the crankcase is that hard or long winded...certainly easier and quicker than some motorbike engines I've come across. And I certainly can strip and rebuild a Impreza flat 4 quicker than, say, a Rover V8 (another overpriced engine to re-build btw...that is if you source the parts and labour from the wrong places )

I remember doing my first clutch change on a Impreza many moons ago, I was thinking "ooerr, AWD and a transaxle gearbox..everthing is going to be in the way". Nope, it was a doddle!

banny sti

iTrader: (68)

Had my cambelt changed including belt for £120, which very fair considering the belt cost £45.

[Davey]

Yep thats a perfectly fair price for parts and labour! I assume that was a decent independant who knows their **** from their elbow.