Hello everyone. I am a scoobynet virgin so please be gentle with me! Having owned a MY99 turbo for 3 years I have just traded it in for an RB5 with the Prodrive pack. I have been very pleasantly surprised with the increased performance but more surprised by the difference in handling. My understanding is that the suspension is identical to the MY99, but with larger wheels. The car feels much more stable over bumpy uneven roads (not that the old car felt in any way unstable) and turns in much better. Is this just due to the larger wheels? I am fairly sure that the car has not been modified. Or alternatively am I just kidding myself that the car is vastly better than the old one so that I feel better about throwing loads of money away???
Also, the original owner specified the normal MY99 rear spoiler instead of the high wing. I am reluctant to shell out the 1000 pounds my local dealer would like to relieve me of. Any suggestions as to where I can get one (I believe it is the same as the STI5 spoiler but with Prodrive on the uprights - is this correct?)

 

Hi mate

I own a RB5 WRsport and can confirm that the Wrsport spoiler is NOT the same as an STi one.

The STi spoiler has a lower section that fits onto the boot where as the Prodrive spoiler does not have this part.

Also the RB5 does not use the same body shell as the stnd UK car. It has a solid rear bulkhead like the sti's, this will help with the handling.

Finally the Larger wheels do make a lot of difference to the handling of the car.

Have fun

Mike

 

Hi,

The suspension on the RB5 is no different to a std MY99 car. There was some talk of it having STI or Prodrive suspension, but thats complete rubbish.

The 17's will make a big difference, especially with the wider tyres and lower profile (you'll not feel as much flex in the tyre sidewalls).

The bodyshell of the RB5 is the same as the 4-door STI, so has a solid rear bulkhead (that's why you don't have folding rear seats). That would make a difference in the handling too.

As for the spolier, shop around. It can only be bought new from a Dealer, but there's a very small chance of picking one up 2nd-hand here or from a Subaru breakers. These things are like gold-dust, so your chances are very slim indeed.

Alternatively, you can contact Performance Subaru in Ireland who can supply them at a lower cost

The Prodrive wing is very different to all the STI ones. It's like an ever higher version of the MY99 spolier. All the STI ones (apart from the STI 4) have a piece along the top of the boot itself.

Stefan

 

Thanks for the info chaps. I will get in touch with Performance Subaru and see if they can make me a good offer.
As for the non-folding rear seats, this did cause me to look a bit of a plonker in B+Q at the weekend while trying to fit a 2 metre length of wood into the boot.

Steve

 

rb5 has a jap shell with solid rear bulkhead and therefore has a stiffer bodyshell. How noticable this is on the road is debatable but i find my car more composed in SOME situations than a std turbo.

edited to say the time it took me to type this makes me look real stupid although i am at work and shouldn't be on here



[Edited by DMB - 8/22/2002 11:27:59 AM]

 

As an RB5 WR owner reading the original post whats your thoughts on the difference in value between an RB5WR and an RB5 with PPP assuming everything else is the same except for the rear spoiler and the speedo logo and an original WR cert.

Edited to say Wouldn't like to see someone sold a WR which isn't

[Edited by Scooby-Doo - 8/22/2002 12:39:22 PM]

 

Scooby-Doo. hmm. now you have me worried! I think what I should have originally said is that my car is (I hope!!!) the WR version in that is has the Prodrive upgrades and WR logo on the rev counter (not speedo?) with Prodrive certificate conifrming the power upgrade and rear wing, although the rear wing part is crossed out as apparently the original owner did not want this item.
As for the difference in value between an original WR version and an RB5 subsequently upgraded by PPP, I would expect the original with certificate to be more desirable to an enthusiast and should therefore be more valuable. Having said that, if the WR version was itself modified, this could then make it less desirable to an enthusiast looking for a genuine unmodified example, thereby reducing its value. I guess it all comes down to individual taste. Personally I was attracted by the rarity of the RB5 and was happy to pay a quite considerable figure on top of the value of my previous MY99. No doubt many other people would be more impressed by the various STI versions with more power etc which can be bought for a lot less.

 

A genuine wr will have the WR Sport logo on the speedo an rb5 with ppp won't, simple as that

 

oh dear. My WR Sport logo is definitely on the rev counter, not the speedo.

 

Just checked on my car the WR Sport logo is on the speedo between the odo display and the needle. i know mine in a genuine wr but i guess they may have moved the logo on later ones, i've not seen one like that tho, does anyone else know??

[Edited by DMB - 8/22/2002 2:01:14 PM]

 

thanks for checking. much appreciated. I have also just rechecked mine (for the 4th time!). the logo is in the same place (ie below the needle) but on the rev counter. seems a bit strange. I do have the original certificate though so am hoping this is just a peculiarity and that someone at Prodrive put the sticker in the wrong place after a lunchtime on the beers!

 

Just a thought but if the logo is on the speedo then the speedo head must have been new when it was fitted ie the car had 0miles on it. If its on the rev counter then the counter head would be new ie fitted when the car had more than 0miles.

As i say just a thought cos i don't know for sure, do you have a ppp certificate or an rb5 ppp certificate? wr's have a steel blue rb5 ppp cert

 

Yes I take your point. Rev counter could have been fitted any time. I will have to check out the certificate when I get home. I really cant remember just now. I suppose it should be possible to check with either Subaru or Prodrive themselves as to whether the car is a WR version.

 

im totally lost now ! i bought mine from new cant remember getting a cert at all!,will check when i get home
i -paid 27495 <approx> quenby in baldock said it was the prodrive version. high spoiler etc
approx 2500 dearer than normal rb5
so what version is it?
wr i think.

 

Would imagine prodrive would keep a list of the WR's

 

roy £27495 new is a factory WR the std was £24k ish

 

323roy - yes, 27k would have got you the WR version. Congratulations! I dont suppose you can make my day by telling me the WRSport logo is on your rev counter???
DMB - yes I think that is the best way to be sure. Will see what I can find out.

 

rb5320
will post and let you know as soon as i get home.

 

thanks.

 

OOps maybe I should have stayed silent, just don't want you paying WR premium if you shouldn't have. I can confirm the WR logo is on the speedo above the ODO and NOT on the tacho and you should have a WR cert from prodrive. Hope it works out for you, if not get back to the dealer and complain.

I'm in Surrey if you want to see the dash and cert, if not I'll try to post piccies later.

David

 

Dave i think you were right to mention it. Why should he pay for a factory wr if it isn't one. They are expensive enough anyway.

 

Hi David. I must admit I am totally confused about what model I have bought but I am quite pleased you prompted the various comments. To be fair to the dealer where I bought the car, they sold it to me as an RB5, no more and no less. I know it IS an RB5. In addition I have a Prodrive certificate confirming the mods, what I dont know at the moment is exactly what the certificate says, as I dont have it with me at the moment. Also, I dont think I payed a premium for a WR Sport version. I payed approx 16.5k and the car is immaculate, low mileage, full history etc and I got a very good trade in figure, probably comparable to a private sale price. Obviously I hope it is a WR version, but if it isnt then I still have a very nice RB5 with the benefit of PPP and it will have been my error for assuming that what I have is a WR.
Thank you for the offer of seeing the dash and certificate. Once I check what mine looks like that could be useful. Am just going to check the A-Z to see where Gonzoland is!

Steve

 

i tried an rb5 wr when i had a my97 with 16" wheels, the first thing that inpressed me was the difference on turn in compared to my car
mark

 

rb5 320
just checked mine bad news
the logo is in the middle of the speedo!

 

fair enough. thanks for looking.

 

Mine definitely isn't a WR, but I'd be interested is seeing piccies of the dash and certificate, just to see what they are like, if anyone wants to post any.

I paid £14 for an immaculate one with 37.5k at the beginning of July; the cheapest I could find at a Subaru dealer at the time. My second closest dealer (Yeovil) wanted £19k for a WR with 45k miles(!) so I didn't even go to look at it.

Fen

 

Morning all. Well, I checked the certificate when I got home last night. It has a grey/blue border with RB5 logo in top left corner and then has chassis number, edition number etc. There is no mention anywhere of WR Sport. This was fitted when new.
Also, just spoke to the local Subaru dealer who has never even heard of a WR Sport! "That must be an import sir, yours is called an RB5 Prodrive". Does this make any sense???

Steve

 

Good news if you have the rb5 ppp cert

I would say then that WR from new had the logo on the speedo head
Those with it fitted at a later date have it on the rev counter

Did that dealer sell a p1 and a p1 'prodrive' then and not a WR sport every dealer i've been to called it a WR Sport

 

Just realised yours was from new! now i'm really

 

you and me both!!!