gurdas

iTrader: (7)

Hi guys,

Have been away from the scooby scene for a while now, don't have my blob anymore but am thinking of coming back and treating myself to a toy for the weekends around December time.

I had a '55 STi with PPP, it was pretty much standard.

Now the thing is, I'll want to spend around £10k come December so do i go for another 2005+ STi or shall I check out some Hawkeyes?

What are the main differences between the 2 cars, I'm aware of the engine is different but can anyone tell me the pros and cons between the two, I guess the criteria will be based on performance/reliability/tunability(although I wouldn't really go nuts).

Also strange question, but my STi had a Blitz Nur Spec R, will the hawk eye with the 2.5 sound as meaty with the same exhaust?

Thanks,
Gurdas

Maz

iTrader: (34)

The 2.5 has a much better spread of torque and gives a more relaxed drive. Personally I prefer the two litre especially in the twin scroll form. It loses the burble but makes up in other areas. The 2.5 has a ring land issue and some have had pistons go. The twin scroll as far as I know is bullet proof. My recommnedation would be to seek out a JDM model. With your budget you'll get a post MY05 with wider track and revised interior. Then revel in the instant delivery and 8250 red line.

Steve T

iTrader: (14)

As Einstein says.

daz1968

iTrader: (13)

I must agree with above as well

gurdas

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for speedy response.

What does the JDM offer compared to UK Spec? I used to think insurance was an issue with JDM but I'll be 25 by December with 1ncb.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

With a specialist insurance should be roughly the same. In terms of goodies you'll get more with the JDM. Stuff like HIDs, bidet (rear wash/wipe), folding mirrors tinted glass etc. The most important thing from my view as a purist is a slightly more focused driving experience. Everything is just a tad sharper than the UK model.

wrx sti ppp

I agree with the other posters...however, I am not sure what all the fuss is about the JDM's tbh. would rather have a UK car for peace of mind.

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

I've driven UK Blob STi and also a UK Hawk STi both with PPP (both WR blue so the colour made no difference) and I quite liked the delivery of the 2.5 over the 2.0.

My bug is a 2 litre running 400 BHP .........even so I'm slowly getting the bits together to put a 2.5 in mine

I have no experience of the twin scroll but just thought I'd play devils advocate

Shaun

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

i love the looks of the hawkeye apart from the rear lights and ive got a blob

rickya

iTrader: (18)

Its the other way round, especially on a 2.5

topman2180

if its a uk hawk and your concerned about money dont forget you need to get an 55 plate to stay in the cheaper £260 a year tax bracket. Band K and not L.

acstua

iTrader: (1)

yup reg'd before apr 2006 gets the cheaper band
also a thing to note about the uk hawk (not sure bout JDM) is the bouncy suspension
its doing my nut in atm :/
still im loving my hawkeye and the look (but as above wanna ditch the rear crystal lights)

shurm

I think the date is 23rd March 2006, I looked at both cars recently and after talking to people I went for the last of the Blobeyes mine was registered in Feb 06. I've had two Blobeyes before with no problems.

I had the 2.5 engine in a Forester STI and the head gaskets went and with all the talk of piston problems on the later ones I decided to go for the 2.0 again.

The JDM sounds nice and you can get them in a Hawkeye shape but then your looking at £12k+ if your lucky.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

if it was my money i would get a jdm hawkeye without doubt.
the thing that would concern me about hawkeye 2.5s is the amount of engine failures they have had.
as you will be out of warranty the bill would be scary and i heard the 2.0 is bullet proof if treated well so if its a u.k car your after a my05 blob would be my choice

subeyman

JDM Hawk all the way! im gonna be selling mine v soon
If you live nearby drop me a pm and come have a look and a ill take you out for a spin

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

The 2.5 in UK cars has ringland and head gasket issues. There is therefore no peace of mind.
The JDM cars run 2l engines which don't have such issues and therfore provide peace of mind.
That's what the fuss is about.

tubbytommy

iTrader: (20)

if its a uk car then my05 blob is the answer

morpheus1870

So am I tempting fate by purchasing a very low mileage hawk eye wrx (not sti) running 340 mapped by jgp totally mint? Is it a matter of when rather than if? I can't afford a rebuild if the pistons go and can't afford a hawk eye sti jdm either. However I could go for another 2005 sti for the same price. I love the hawk eye that I have seen it has some lovely mods and is totally mint and a credit to it's owner who has zero problems with it, but am I tempting fate? What would you guys do? Sorry for hj the thread but it is related. Thanks

acstua

iTrader: (1)

i got paranoid as hell after buying my Hawk STI, but touch wood its been fine in terms of HG issues etc heh
now ive said that...

yes theres been alot of Hawk issues, but i dont know if theres a definte amount/percentage of issues from all sold in the UK
Bad news travels fast i guess, but it would seem they arent reliable as the bullet proof 2litre, but maybe that doesnt mean they are all completely knackered

Budgie

iTrader: (4)

06 sti type uk for me
cheap tax and the fastest thing I have ever owned
Out of your price range but open to offers

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

Seems to be the STIs having issues, not the humble WRX. Issues were put down to the standard UK STI map .

DantheMan2605

I have a 55 sti hawk uk and the head gasket is going on 47k miles at the mo. Unfortunately as i prefer the hawk over the blob i have to pay. But then you pay for what you want.

Before i bought i was the same... Blob or hawk? and tbh i really could not resist the hawk. especially with de-tangoed and chromed headlights and BC coilovers, its an absolutely stunning ride, like on rails.

Still, seeing as the gaskets will be done i wont be taking chances on rings so will be swapping for forged internals. Perfect excuse to start modding

Remember take your time with your choice you dont want to look back in 6 months and think i wish i would have gone for the other. I know i wont no matter how much it costs me

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Its got to be a JDM, either blob or hawk, much nicer power delivery, its the most powerful engine with the exception of the special factory editions (that means japanese domestic market cars and not uk ones as the JDM's are the ones that count ) with the highest torque/bhp figure.
Drive one and you will be hooked

Tony

andythejock01wrx

Well covered Maz.

Is the 8250 red line on your 2005 (?) JDM Sti marked at that point? It's marked at 8000 on my T20 but the one time I've been to the limter so far it seemed to kick in about 8250 like you say.

What does your dial say?

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

8k on my car but 8250 for the limiter, though I doubt anyone will need to be that high up the rev range

Tony

andythejock01wrx

Incidentally, I did rather a lot of research when trying to decide between UK Sti Hawk or JDM STi.

I did so not just by going through all the old threads on here but by emailing a number of engine builders and mappers to get an indication as to the frequency of the piston ringlands and HG gasket issues. In short, although you would more than likely not encounter these problems, they seemed to be a high enough probability for me not to risk the £3000 and £1500 costs repectively.

Ended up with a 2006 Spec C (ie JDM) T20.

Having said that, the UK Sti Hawk is clearly a great car and it's worth pointing out that many cars have known faults.

andythejock01wrx

Noo-o Tony! No-one would ever do that!

It's almost like having two cars. You can "pootle" around rather briskly without ever going over 5k revs, but unleash the beast by going up to say 7500 revs every now again, assuming it's all nicely warmed up, of course!

gurdas

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for the responses, money isn't really an issue however the inconvenience of something going back is a concern. I did really love the STi I had an actually like the look over the hawkeye.

Also, I had one with PPP, is it worth holding out for a PPP or just get a standard one and get RaceDynamix to remap it?

morpheus1870

So a properly mapped wrx running approx 340bhp 370lbft should be ok then, anyone know on any moded or standard wrx hawks having problems and reasons why (bad maps, crappy fuel, too much power etc?)

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Till the gearbox fails... but obviously when depends on how you drive it. The engines will be fine at around those figures.

IMHO.

dunx