M-Hit

Firstly, hello and happy Friday all.

I've been lurking for a while but now I am the happy owner of a 2002 Bugeye Wagon on about 99k. I bought it pretty cheap and as such it has a few niggles which I am going to sort out – mainly hesitation on light throttle openings, tendency to a veer to the left on (very) hard braking and a mild case of Subaru arch bubble rust disease but all in all it is not too bad I think.

I am always up for a bit of mechanical stuff anyway and I don’t mind spending a bit on her - hoping perhaps people on here could chime in with any suggestions on things I can do to get the car back driving like it just came out of the factory.

Here’s the old girl anyway:



I actually thought it was standard (aside from the headlights) when I bought it but after a bit of research it seems to have the PPP pack installed - it has the blue Prodrive pipe and Prodrive backbox in any case - is it possible to check the ECU?

Due to the lack of much history I’m going to start these weekend with oil, brake fluid, plugs, coolant etc. anything else I should check/change whilst I am at it?

I'm also going to look at getting the rust cut out - any recommendations around London / Bucks?

Lastly - the ditch-finder-special budget tyres have to go immediately. I was going to go with RE050 if I can get them, does anyone have an opinion on these?


Cheers All!

ScottyPPP

Pulling on braking is probably 1 or more seized pistons in the front calipers.

Godspeed do rebuilt kits for them with 8x new stainless pistons (so they don't get stuck again) and new seals. Did mine when I bought it for the same reason.

Nice looking wagon though, looks like it might be on prodrive springs too as its a bit lower than stock.

M-Hit

Just had a look at their site - £120 to make them new basically calipers isn't bad at all! I'll investigate the state of mine this weekend.

RE: Springs - the car is on 17" alloys, are these standard of a bug? Springs don't feel particularly stiff but I've nothing to compare it to - any way I can check?

ScottyPPP

Prodrive springs will be blue, my Blobeye wagon has them. Alloys are OEM.

modrich

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to the wagon brigade!

romford-boy

Nice wagon, welcome.

There is a fairly recent tyre thread on here. Personally I really like Goodyear Eagle F1's.

casasteve

Another wagon Welcome!

hedgecutter

iTrader: (5)

Welcome wagon!

GH80

Where do the newages rust? Mine was hesitant on light throttle. Seemed to do nothing on light throttle then if a little more throttle was applied it would pick up again, but it seemed like too much throttle was used. A bit like kangaroo petrol. If there is a VTA dump valve fitted return it to OEM, that cured mine.

Raptorman

iTrader: (1)

Check for rust on the inside of the rear arches up around the tops
of the suspension struts, that's where mine had gone.

hedgecutter

iTrader: (5)

Rust around the tailgate glass

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Looks good, My dad has the exact same colour bugeye wagon, he has owned it the last 5/6 years and its never missed a beat.
He also had the dreaded rust on the arches, but had them fixed and painted and had any car park dents removed and the car now looks mint!!