As described in my 95 WRX wagon.

Down a nice straight bit of bone dry road at about 110mph, stood on the brakes for a nice right hander in 4th held the throttle at about 80mph and the tail let go BIIIIIG time on entry, i fed about 2/3 of a turn opposite lock and nailed the throttle it pulled itself back into line beautifully but i shat myself and rightly slowed down to about 50mph and my heartbeat upto about 300bpm!

Now i've read about scoobs sometimes being tail happy but is that normal for a wagon just to throw out the tail or am i just a tool with a lack of talent? I dont really give my car any grief so i want to know is it my fault or just the way the car is!

Cheers

 

Original suspension?

Possible worn shock/spring?

 

You're being a tool.
You want to drive at 110mph, book a track day.
May sound harsh, but there you go.
Wes

 

Sounds about right; Just without the "bite" back when the rear suddenly regains grip and fishtails you back the other way. Thats the normal fate of most Scoobs.

Often teh cuase is too much entry speed combined with braking to late and agressive steering input which will unsettle the car.

Even if it does stay in line on initial turn in, a slight lump in the road surface can throw the rear end out. Uprated suspension can make this more prominent due to the lack of compliance (stiffened ARB or solid drop links etc).


Simple solution; Reduce your entry speed; slow in, fast out. Just because the car can go round a bend at xxx speed, there can be no indication of how close to the limit you are, until you exceed it. And that limit can vary day by day on the very same bend.

 

Agree with above: you should probably consider it a very lucky escape and tone down the driving a little!

 

Managed to unsettle mine quite badly once braking from speed. Came round a sweeping bend using the fast in, faster out technique only to find I was heading straight towards someone on the same side of the road who'd left an overtaking manoeuvre somewhat late

Stood on the brake pedal and lost some speed but it then started snaking around, thought I was going to lose it for sure but somehow I held it and came to a stop. Luckily the car on the same side of the road as me had managed to get out of the way.

Left a blue ring on both my front discs

 

Eeeek... And a brown one in your underpants no doubt!!

 

nobody has mentioned tyres here yet. but it will only push the limit up a bit and increase your confidence untill you hit the new limit,which will now be at a higher speed

 

Believe it or not every corner has a critical speed no matter what car you are driving. Sounds like you were driving a little fast for that road. Ay least you got it back online and didn't stuff it

 

She is running completly stock suspension, wheels, the lot!

I was waiting for the book a trackday comment but to be fair how many people on here can say in TRUTH that thay have never been over 110mph on the road?

Cheers for the info though guys. I think the best advice is to slow down and stop being a fool! Though i am human and the devil gets the better of all of us from time to time! i'm just happy the car is still in one piece!

 

For reference, next time down there, from 110 (or significantly more) lift off in plenty of time, change down a gear and allow the engine to slow you a little more, as you turn in, reapply the power and grin as the car simply grips and goes. Practice to get used to what the car is capable of, and as your capability grows so will both your safety and speed. Try not to use the brakes at all when driving at high speed, it unsettles the car and the transfer of weight leads to the effect you experienced. Allowing the car to shed its own speed and then turning in on power keeps the weight planted over all four wheels and greatly increases cornering potential. When I was learning these techniques there was one corner I used to approach at 110ish, brake harshly to 70-80 and throw it through on the raggedy edge. After some Police tuition in Roadcraft and a few months practicing I could approach the same bend at 130+, lift and change down reducing to around 110 before hammering it from the apex back over 130. The first time the missuse was in with me afterwards she screamed, then burst into a fit of giggles

 

sounds like some of us (me 2) need some track time

 

some people might complain that these threads are irresponsible, but before (if) they show up, i'd like to say that they actually quite valuable depending on how you take them! I'm sure alot of us drive briskly quite a bit of the time with what feels supreme grip levels -- this kind of thread helps keeps my feet on the ground a little more, as this can happen to any of us!

Cheers Adam, glad you and the car are ok. I'll be keeping your story in mind if i go out for a drive tonight. Glad your still enjoying the wagon! Think i spoke to you on a thread a few months back when you just get her!

Ash

 

Cheers mate! Yeah i love the car! I just cant fault it! Had it for a couple of months now and proved to be dead reliable, fast and handles well. Loves petrol though! How are you getting on with yours? You got yours not long before i got mine IIRC.

 

yeah thats right mate! What you just said basically! started and ran first time no worries at all after being away on holiday for 3weeks too!

I went for a whiteline 22mm rear ARB and associated heavy duty droplinks after reading threads on here... Please do this!!! Handeling is really great now, a fantastic difference for not much cash at all!! can an estate be this good!?

might go for front ARB next and put some 4pots on her -- the two pots basically suck, and i cooked them a bit on the drive i just went on... pretty awfull! Also booking a rolling road session soon, will also be really usefull as they will check fueling, knock, boost, etc.

Did keep your thread in mind on my drive tonight too btw way -- fast, fun but safe so mission comlpete!

good to speak to you again
regards, Ash

 

Nice one mate! I often think to myself "an estate car just shouldnt do that!"

I was going to go down the ARB route but as circumstances have changed i may be selling my beloved scoob soon. I'm buying a trackday bike with a view of racing. A boyhood dream i suppose and at 25 years old i wanna do it now before i end up with wife, kids etc. That doesnt mean i wont have another scoob in the future though! I definatly agree with you on the brakes! They are awful! Might aswell use a G clamp and some round bits of wood!

But who knows if life financially changes i will be able to keep the scoob AND go racing, but as it stands the car is costing me too much to keep. My insurance is mental! :O

 

hahahahahahaha! "Might aswell use a G clamp and some round bits of wood!" classic, but sadly true!!

Well to be honest mate that sounds like good excuse to sell her up. If its a dream, then go for it and i wish you the very best of luck. Add to that that you can say you owned an impreza and more importantly drove it and experienced it properly! Thats what its all about

Do you have an eye on the TT one day then...?
Drop us a line if you go for it and like i say, good luck!
Ash

 

Agreed

 

oh god ive realised what im missing by selling the scoob

althought the 205 is really light, it wants to shed the rear before the front too

to the op, echo what others have said, tone it down and go give her some welly on the track. look at corradoboy, hes that good he sold his scoob and got a skoda for a real challenge

 

And I'm still quicker than most of the Scoobs 'round Blyton (in the dry)

 

Just goes to show, the best performance mod you can do to your Scooby is up your own game, so to speak!

Think how much quicker you'd be in the scooby though

 

Well thats my plan mate and it seems you are on my wavelength!
It is nice to see peoples faces light up when they ask you "What car do you drive?" "A subaru" I reply! Everyone always grins and either say they are awesome or my MX-5 would give you a run for your money! (I kid you not a chap at work said that to me! The worst about it is he meant it!)

Na i have no plans of doing the TT as its not a race but a time trial, and the expense would be huge! My aim is to do the North West 200 in northern ireland on a 600. I used to live 10 miles away from the circuit and worked opposite the pits. Ever since i 1st saw that race i wanted to do it! I'll probably be rubbish but i'll have a go at anything!

Even when the scoob goes i'll still be on here! Its the only forum i've been on where its not full of 14 year olds trying to get layed (pity ) or keyboard bandits!