v8voodoo

53,

I'll definitely be in touch soon. I'm only an hour or so away from the crossing, so not far at all. Thank you for the offer, I'm looking forward to finding the how much difference the changes make.

Also, thanks to everyone that has replied so far. I really don't want to get rid of my scoob (or blow my entire savings!), so any and all help is appreciated. Glad I'm not alone with the issues.

Thanks again,
Nige.

53

iTrader: (41)

No probs

I must confess though I am fitting a 'Cough' Blitz in the near future so it won't be as quiet as it was. I am keeping the STI one for family outings/track days and the Blitz will be purley for my weekend enjoyment.

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

Think you should go back to a WRX really - as said before - STI's don't do refined, relaxed and/or casual. They do tear your head off, I want to loon everywhere at mach 5, lunacy.

The STI takes that personality with it everywhere, and I think any attempt to water that down is a shame. If you want something less highly-strung, then get something else; don't go and put the STI on valium Please.

I should say I don't mean this in a bad way - I can fully appreciate that STI's arn't the easiest of cars to live with!

chrisola

i had similar issues when i 'upgraded' my Classic to a 55 plate 2.5 WRX.

It just felt wrong:
-seats uncomfortable
-suspension not as sharp as i'd like on the corners, and on the motorway it felt like it was bouncing ever so slightly? (hard to explain, it wasn't as if the suspension was broken, it just wasn't settled)
-light steering
-terrible low speed ride made commuting awful
-was FAR too quiet and dull, and the engine sounded a bit harsh when being driven hard
-mpg was utter crap compared to the classic

Sure, it was a bit faster, and on a proper drive you forget about the niggles.

After about 3k miles i swapped it for an Alfa Romeo 147 GTA....can't believe how good it is! The looks, noise, handling, comfort...it feels great...such a fun drive (the FWD nature doesn't bother me as i'll never push it that hard, it's just not my style of driving, and what you mention is why i chose a WRX over an STI...it had to be good all round like my classic was).

Sometimes cars just aren't for you...you should test drive a few and see if anything grabs you

I'll never get back into Subaru ownership (or bother with something like a Evo for that matter!) unless it's a classic, after driving the hawkeye and testing a new one, while not bad cars they have lost all their magic and become a bit dull in my eyes...although a nice classic or a P1 would be great if i had the cash!

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

It's probably worth mentioning: my '96 STI is actually much easier to live with than my '05 STI was. It's more 'capable', less 'highly strung and fidgety'.

I had AST's on the '05 car too... they helped, but not nearly enough.

zedy

super tuned international hand built rally car, hard, raw and flamin fast, you cant use these everyday, there just a fun machine for you to enjoy urself an relieve stress, something to look forward to after hard times at work,, STI's make it worth it believe,,,,

get a more sensible standard wrx and you will be fine for every day driving

v8voodoo

I most certainly don't want to go back to a WRX. If I was going to move on I'd look at a different marque I'm afraid to say. There are many cars out there that are near as dammit as quick as the STi. Maybe they offer more refinement when being driven normally..? It was just that the wrx was a great car and I wanted a quicker and more capable car for my hoon moments, hence my move to the STi. I wasn't expecting Lexus ride quality and luxury, but the car isn't set up right from the factory in my eyes. I don't think that it's reasonable for a £29k (list rrp) car, that you should have to change springs and remap it.

If I wanted a "rip my head off" car, I'd buy a Caterham, westfield, TVR, or walk down to my lock up and get the weekend vehicle out. I want a car that is bl**dy quick when I want it to be, yet refined and reasonably comfortable when driven normally.
The STi is indeed quick, but not reasonably comfortable when driven normally or on a motorway at speed.

It's no hand built rally car, it's a robot built production car, though saying that, some bloke called Solberg had some handling issues this past 12 months too didn't he..?

Thanks for all the comments so far, certainly given me food for thought.....

cw42

iTrader: (1)

ah, here you are I stand by what I said on pistonheads Give them a call, and they'll cure all your woes

v8voodoo

lol!! Hello CW42..!!

I'm going to start looking to get to the bottom of this car as I don't really want to change it tbh. That would be

And to those who were shuddering at the thought, I certainly won't be watering it down, just making it a bit more capable of travelling on a motorway instead of making me consider the National Express..lol!!

GazTheHat

I found my car to be a real pain in standard form. Chaning the wheels/tyres stopped the awful tramlining. The PD springs actually made the ride harsher, but the remap really made a difference to how it drove. Much smoother, less all-or-nothing, more progressive.

renny

iTrader: (2)

Maybe i'm in denial,maybe i have my rose tinted specs on but i have no problem with any of the afore mentioned 'characterisitics'.

Mine is a standard 07 Sti with 18" pff7's and prodrive springs - did improve ride over standard i must admit but i did it for looks as opposed to ride quality.

I came from an RX-8 which was quite stiff and maybe not as bouncy but i much prefer the Sti and still love it.

Yes it can be improved and maybe the PPP would be the way to go but not at £1700 it wouldn't.

Que replies regarding better / less expensive mods......

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

I think the RE070 tyres must be to blame for a lot. I sometimes with I'd tried changing them for something more conventional before giving up on the car.

For what it's worth, my 330D has 18" wheels and 35 profile tyres, but no tramlining at all (Michelin PS2).

53

iTrader: (41)

And there are always people who will buy used/part worn REO70's !

IN THE STICKS

For what it's worth I've got Vredestein Ultracs and have had the Geometry checked on my 05STI and it still bob's and weaves all over the place , I do find that it is reduced if I take the DCCD out of auto mode and put it in the forward(not locked) position, is this just me or is there a reason for this ?

Dave

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Like me

TX.

flashgordon666

if you dont want your car i know this really nice guy called nige just pm him his id on here is i think flashgordon666

no offance but if i get a car even if its only £3k ill want everything spot on. the amount of cars i tried before getting my celica was massive, ftos, 200zx's, gto 5000 think, hondas, accents(can u belive i was thinking about buyin one of them fuc*ing hell), saxos.

you got every right to complain its like a £30k car.you deceive the best for tht price. actually for tht price there should be a button where a women comes out and gives u a bj. well maybe thats only in Thailand.