As an avid reader of the fantastic EVO magazine, I was thumbing through the latest issue and came across this quote regarding the Spec C.

"Lightning sharp responses, awesome roadholding... The first of the new generation scoobs to convincingly raise the bar left by the RB5 and P1"

Now, most of that makes sense to me, the pros of the Spec C compared to the P1, the cream of the classic crop.... BUT what I dont understand is why the RB5 is held in such high company?

I am of the understanding that the RB5 was just a resprayed UK car with the solid rear seats (ala STI shell) and a few other non essential parts... in short, it was just a (lame?) UK spec 212 bhp car? I am aware a few cars were WR spec, these came with an upgraded suspension package and a backbox... wooo whooo!

So why the big fuss? (granted its not a big fuss, but this is not the first time I have seen comments like this regarding the 'special' RB5) I have driven, WR and non WR spec RB5, and they frankly felt the same as a std UK motor. So I am a little confused....

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Paul

 

The Wr car was a cracking motor but as you say just a Uk car with mods and nice paint

The solid rear seat is a bit of a farce as its just a bar that goes accross the seat

 

If I remember rightly the RB5 had the STI shell which was stiffer and hence on the limit made the handling sharper. I think it also had bigger wheels than the standard Scoob at the time which again made the handling a little more focused.

I guess it would also have had the 99 MY ECU which is considered much better than what had gone before and came afterwards for that matter.

It wasn't a chalk and cheese thing - just the ultimate UK dealer backed Scoob of the time. Yes there were quicker and arguably better imports, but thy didn't have the UK dealer network backing them up )like that's a bad thing ).

tiggers.

 

Maybe they're referring to the RB5 that was prodrived? Read about it somewhere i think!

 

That would be the RB5 WR

 

Ah i stand corrected!

So what power did it run at then cos i believe it had a new ECU, exhaust and filter and intercooler piping. The car being focused on mid range rather than topend (not copied this from anywhere!!! honest). Must have been running above 250 ?

 

Around 240 bhp afaik

 

Tis indeed, WR sport versions are PPP'd with different ECU, intercooler piping and a bacbox giving 237bhp and 350nm of torque with the option of a full lowering kit made by Bilstein ?!?
In issue 11 of Evo its rated as the best handling 4x4 beating Skyline GTR's etc.
In one of the later issues its tested against the UK300, WRX STI and P1 and it came a close second only just pipped by the P1.

Check out www.rb5oc.co.uk for more info

[Edited by RB5#111 - 12/3/2003 10:06:55 AM]

 

Just confirming that evo mag only ever reported on the RB5 WR, which they refered to simply as the RB5.

 

From memory of EVO's articles, the fact that it had 17" wheels as standard always seemed to play a big part of its handling holy-grailness.

This would add-up, as Mike Wood from Prodrive is on record saying you should upgrade to 17" wheels on a scooby before touching the suspension.

So is there much handling difference between a UK car with 17s and an RB5?

dela

 

Now i was considering getting 17's fer men but on reading some owners reviews, i'm not sure at the mo.
Should i get lightweight 17's ?
p.s. probably won't do anything seeing as i'm looking to sell mine anyway! and get an impreza already 'sorted'

 

i also saw an artcle regarding the RB5 in a Ford mag, saying how a cossie even beat the legendary RB5 on a track, why not against a 22B or Type R?

 

Still have that Evo magazine with that 4x4 shootout, another reason why I got mine.

Yes it was def a RB5 Prodrive and the mag did make it the winner in some pretty hot company, Evo's, GTR's etc.

Hasnt this thing about the RB5 not being special been done before?

 

I think Tigger summed it up best "best of its breed at the time" since then obviously the P1 & 22B superceeded the RB5 with much better power/weight/handling etc.

There seems to be a common mis-conception about the RB5 as some super subaru but its just a 'tarted' up UK spec built on the solid rear bulkhead STI shell (reason being that Mike Wood wanted a certain interior to fit and this was the only way.)

the WR version had the ECU/exhaust and bootspoiler upgrade but this was the same package available to any UK model. (only, to buy the package was £2k but the RB5 WR was an extra £5k!!!)

the suspension package was an added option for the RB5 just the same as any other impreza.


I think the RB5 upholds this reputation due to its different colour to most other scoobys and the stigma it had when released.

 

The other thing wrong with that statement is that hey're not comparing like for like, an' all that. If you're reviewing a Jap import, then it doesn't really mean much when you compare it to past UK cars. Saying it's the best thing since the S202, 22B, etc would be more appropriate.

Then again, the RB5 WR Sport was a special car, as far as UK cars go, as it did have improved performance over the other scoobs avaiable at the time. And I love the colour.

 

They are journalists, what do they know.
Everyone knows which is the highest performance classic, and it isnt a P1 or RB5.

 

Sport?

 

Evo tested the WR version with suspension package. The suspension was not standard with the WR upgrade.

With all the options the RB5 was £30K all together so same price as a P1.

They said that in the real world the RB5 wasn't much slower than the STI with 'Only 240bhp' because the torque figure was close to the STI. With the TD04 the turbo spools much earlyer so over a unknown b-road i can imagine that.

with the STI shell, 17's, Prodrive suspension, 240bhp a lot more torque and shortshift gearshift. I don't see how you can call it just a uk car with a different colour (which is the one they tested).

 

With all the options, a P1 would be late £30ks

If I remember rightly the RB5 had the STI shell

?

Never heard of that before, I would go along with it if u said typeR shell but, didnt the rb5 have 4 doors? And what was special about the sti 4 door shell (maybe ally boot and bonnet??)

And the P1 not the best classic shape? lol Maybe not on a track, but on point to point squirt on the UK roads I think it might scrape it

Especially those that are pussies with the diff controls and rear wheel type handling orf an RA or an R, like me lol

6 months i lasted in my typeR lol

 

STI shell = solid rear bulkhead = no folding rear seats.

RB5's don't have alloy bonnet and boot, they use the heavy ones

What was on the options list for the P1?

 

as stated in the other thread.

The problem with the TypeR/RA was a lack of information about how to use them, they have much higher grip levels and better balance than a P1 in any type of conditions if you get the diff setings correct. Hopefully i have helped some people get more out of them and as a result shown the real performance they have if you just apply yourself a little. The DCCD-A in the Spec C has gone a long way to taking away the mistique of the DCCD system and is pretty much idiot proof now.

Point to point in the UK, a TypeRA will wipe the floor with a P1, the gearing alone makes it much quicker, add to that a chassis balance that doesnt have you understeering, higher levels of traction, quick steering rack, better brakes, front LSD, IC sprays....so sorry, but it wont scrape it.

 

STi shell..... lol. It has a small metal bar that bolts across the opening behind the rear seats (which all jap imports have inc wrx....). The bolt holes are there on the UK cars. I know because i swapped my jap interior (no folding rear seats) with a mates UK interior. We swapped the rear brace too. Bit optimistic to call it an STi shell i think.

Tony.

[Edited by Tone Loc - 12/4/2003 7:53:40 AM]

 

So, are we all in agreement? The RB5 was/is nothing but a std UK car, therefore it is GAY

 

RB5 for you then POC

 

 

I wouldn't say gay as I have the RB5 WR used in EVO mag two years ago!! There's no difference really to a UK car though.

Just cosmetic things (i.e. Air con)

Phill

 

Tony, so true LOL

When I had my fuel pump changed, the dealer said he'd best remove the rear seat to get better acces.

I said "you can't, it's got a solid rear bulkhead"

He looked at me with some rolling eyes, removed back cover, removed teensy bar (ooh that must help chassis stiffness LOL, removed plastic like "solid" mat, voila. Felt a teensy bit stupid

 

Yep as Evil says the solid rear bulkhead consists of a 25mm bar

 

Don't forget the black plastic cover

Phill

 

POC,

Have any of your other recent fishing trips been anywhere nearly as successful as this one?

Matt

P.S. Another vote here for the "real" old shape Scooby, the RA