MattyRST

Hi all, im looking to buy a scooby, R to W Reg Turbo 2000 UK spec and i have a few questions......

1.How reliable are they ?
2.What mods do i need to make more power ? Id like around 300 BHP
3.Will the engine internals take 300 BHP ?
4.What will the drivetrain take before it goes bang ?

Anymore info would be much appreciated......

Sorry for all the questions i know nothing about scoobys and id like to buy a reliable car that i can have a nice power band and not have to worry about it going bang.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

It's a bit out of date now, but the SIDC FAQ (Subaru Impreza FAQ) has a pretty good description of cars that age.

The UK spec cars are generally pretty reliable, though I'd question whether that's what you actually want if you're after as much as 300bhp. A '98 R plate car, for example, only comes with 208bhp (or was it 215?) out of the box. A better bet might be an STI which is nearer 280, though classic shape STIs are all Japanese imports and only deliver that power safely on high octane Japanese fuel unless they're remapped.

I'm fairly sure you'll find it cheaper to buy an STI to begin with than to buy a UK and then modify it (and insure it as a highly modified car). What's your budget?

MattyRST

Im looking to spend upto 6K, ive heard that an import could be more on the insurance and id begrudged to pay more for an import when i can insure a UK car for less.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

You can insure a standard UK car for less (although not that much less) than an import - but if you want the same power in each case then you'll have a lot more modifications to push the premium up.

It might be worth calling an ins co. or two to check, but I strongly suspect that it'll be cheaper to insure a standard STI than a UK car modified to produce similar power. Also, for your 6k budget you'll get a nice STI version 3 or 4, whereas you'd need to pick up a UK model for about 4k to leave enough in your budget to tune it up to 300bhp.

s3emo123

Hi mate i have a 98 UK turbo i have spent a fortune on it take the above advice my98 was running 320bhp but to get anywhere near that figure first you will need to get a mappable ECU as certain year UK cars such as 98 and onwards do not have.
I have fitted an Autronic ecu which set me back £1500 before you start then the bottom end went basically the internals cannot take it so know had a STI7 block fitted with version 4 STI heads balanced crank cossie pistons cost me thousands. So dont do what i did just get a STI import and grin and bare the insurance your gearbox should be OK up to 400bhp

MattyRST

What power do the imports have then ? I may go for the import over the uk now, do they have a stronger bottom end ? as ive had some bad luck with bottom ends in the past...........

Thanks for the reply's

MattyRST

What does version 3 or 4 mean ?

s3emo123

Hi mate they are a stronger engine forged pistons uk hasn't the Sti heads are far better they have hydraulic lifters but the main concern is if you buy a UK make sure it has a mappable ecu because without that you cannot do anything i would have saved thousands if i had bought a import but their was not a lot about 5yrs ago and i wanted a red one

MattyRST

I thinking about having an import now, do the imports have 240 bhp as standard with the better pistons ??

s3emo123

They are different version 3/4 are the same its just the fittings mounting points are different. Sti import should be around 265bhp but the point is the internals are already done for you so its just a case of a bigger turbo bigger fuel injectors and re-map and your their.

MattyRST

I will look on autotrader then

Fantom

I think the best thing you can do is buy one that is already 300bhp. There are plenty of imprezas available. Just shop around. Look for ones for sale on this forum. You should be able to find one thats been well looked after and with rolling road proof of its power. Only the other day I saw one on here with 415bhp for just over £6k.

Steve

s3emo123

If you are going to buy a import get one fresh into this country their is plenty of dealers that specialise in imports and take some body with you that knows the difference between a WRX and a STI

MattyRST

415bhp for just over 6K, f**king hell !!!!

MattyRST

Can you list some differences between the WRX and STI ? I take it the STI is the better spec ??

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Every year around autumn, Subaru updated the car - so, for example, MY98 (MY = Model Year) was released late '97 and sold throughout most of '98.

In Japan, the STI models were numbered instead. The first STI was (IIRC) around '94 and is the STI version 1, the STI v2 was '95, v3 was '96 and so on. STI models have around 270-280bhp as standard, though later versions have more mid-range torque.

UK cars MY99 and later already have a mappable ECU, which you'll need anyway. For STI, certainly STI 5 and later are OK but I'm not sure about earlier models.

s3emo123

It is hard to tell the first thing you should look for is the inlet manifold should be red it should have STI logos on the seats the rest is on the Vin number sure someone on here can give you more advise on that if i was you i would join a local Subaru club those guys will put you right and maybe even check one out for you.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Suggestion: order yourself a copy of:

Amazon.co.uk: You and Your Subaru Impreza Turbo: Buying, Enjoying, Maintaining and Modifying (You & Your): Books: Chris Rees

It's a pretty comprehensive reference covering both UK cars and STIs - definitely a few quid well spent if you're not 100% sure which model you want.

MattyRST

Id like a V3 sti, anybody know of a subaru importer near the crewe/midlands area ???

trails

iTrader: (41)

MattyRST, you really need to have a read around the forum, not all the information you have been given above is correct

hth
Ian

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

https://www.scoobynet.com/private-sa...7-sti-3-a.html

STI V3, sensible mods - £5800.

fbladerrv900

Get a IMPORT m8,
Wish i had, i went with the UK cheaper insurance thing...... OooHHHHH how i wish i got a import,
Am now in the process of throwing all my wages at it to get to that 300bhp
2K spent already.
havin fun with it thou.........

MattyRST

All new to this and pc's !!!! What info is wrong from above ??

trails

iTrader: (41)

nice clean almost standard car AND a new engine...can't g wrong and should be good for an easy 300

s3emo123

You wont go far wrong with that sti3 of chrispurvis