Happy New Owner - Impreza WRX Wagon
Discussion
Happy new owner of a 2005 Impreza WRX Wagon checking in.
I've been running a 2014 diesel 5 series for the last 3 years and wanted something more fun and not on finance. Spent a bit of time in the bargain barge thread as really fancied an old Jag, but Mrs not keen and then stipulated an estate car was a must to accommodate the (small) dog. I set myself a £5k budget and went on the hunt for something that was in good nick, suitable to handle 18k miles in the next 12 months without being hugely expensive (fuel excepted), commuting on the motorway for 50 miles a day but still a lot of fun at the weekend. I think she had a diesel Volvo or something in mind. Certainly not one of these
Saw this low mileage (67k) wagon on the trader with full service history. Spoke to the owner, sounded like it had been well looked after. Only mods are a sport backbox, K&N filter and front strut brace. Was a 3 hour drive away so didn't bother viewing beforehand, booked a one way train ticket and went to buy it last Saturday. Test drove fine. Did the deal and brought it home.
What a great car! The bodywork and interior are in really good condition, just a couple of scratches which I think a good polish will mostly lift out. Underneath looked good and rear arches free of rust. Interior was immaculate. Cam belt done at 55k, two years ago. Brakes leave a lot to be desired and I know the front calipers are prone to seizing. Got it booked into the local indie (who happen to have a Subaru trained technician working there) for a once over next week. Oil and filter change and some new pads will hopefully sort it out. It looks like it has red stuff pads fitted, but they have at least 14k miles on them and are well past their best. Indie recommended Ferodo replacements so we'll see what they're like. Rear suspension has a slight squeak, seems intermittent so will get that looked at.
Tyres will need changing soon. Thinking Goodyear Eagle F1 AS3. Anyone using them or can recommend others?
I'm going to be well acquainted with the attendants at the local Shell garage I think.
All in all, very happy with my first Subaru. It makes me smile every time I drive it
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/z7Fp4anI.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/nQ8lx2FX" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/nQ8lx2FX.jpg)
I've been running a 2014 diesel 5 series for the last 3 years and wanted something more fun and not on finance. Spent a bit of time in the bargain barge thread as really fancied an old Jag, but Mrs not keen and then stipulated an estate car was a must to accommodate the (small) dog. I set myself a £5k budget and went on the hunt for something that was in good nick, suitable to handle 18k miles in the next 12 months without being hugely expensive (fuel excepted), commuting on the motorway for 50 miles a day but still a lot of fun at the weekend. I think she had a diesel Volvo or something in mind. Certainly not one of these
Saw this low mileage (67k) wagon on the trader with full service history. Spoke to the owner, sounded like it had been well looked after. Only mods are a sport backbox, K&N filter and front strut brace. Was a 3 hour drive away so didn't bother viewing beforehand, booked a one way train ticket and went to buy it last Saturday. Test drove fine. Did the deal and brought it home.
What a great car! The bodywork and interior are in really good condition, just a couple of scratches which I think a good polish will mostly lift out. Underneath looked good and rear arches free of rust. Interior was immaculate. Cam belt done at 55k, two years ago. Brakes leave a lot to be desired and I know the front calipers are prone to seizing. Got it booked into the local indie (who happen to have a Subaru trained technician working there) for a once over next week. Oil and filter change and some new pads will hopefully sort it out. It looks like it has red stuff pads fitted, but they have at least 14k miles on them and are well past their best. Indie recommended Ferodo replacements so we'll see what they're like. Rear suspension has a slight squeak, seems intermittent so will get that looked at.
Tyres will need changing soon. Thinking Goodyear Eagle F1 AS3. Anyone using them or can recommend others?
I'm going to be well acquainted with the attendants at the local Shell garage I think.
All in all, very happy with my first Subaru. It makes me smile every time I drive it
Your first priority must be to get it dirty!
Love mine which is my daily and has just tipped over 90,000 miles. The Eagle is a great tyre (had them on a previous car) but I've gone Uniroyal Rainsport 3's on the Scoob as great in the wet and muck. It's a PPP car which adds a bit to the fun. I don't see much more than 21mpg but that's all minor roads and town work, I've never taken it on a motorway!
Have fun!
Love mine which is my daily and has just tipped over 90,000 miles. The Eagle is a great tyre (had them on a previous car) but I've gone Uniroyal Rainsport 3's on the Scoob as great in the wet and muck. It's a PPP car which adds a bit to the fun. I don't see much more than 21mpg but that's all minor roads and town work, I've never taken it on a motorway!
Have fun!
It's picked up a bit of dirt this week!
Thanks for the heads up on the tyres, I'll check them out.
I tried to find a PPP car but they weren't many around and those that were had much higher mileage than I really wanted. I guess a remap will add a few horse powers and bring it a bit closer to PPP spec...something to think about in a few months maybe.
Thanks for the heads up on the tyres, I'll check them out.
I tried to find a PPP car but they weren't many around and those that were had much higher mileage than I really wanted. I guess a remap will add a few horse powers and bring it a bit closer to PPP spec...something to think about in a few months maybe.
mlatham said:
It's picked up a bit of dirt this week!
Thanks for the heads up on the tyres, I'll check them out.
I tried to find a PPP car but they weren't many around and those that were had much higher mileage than I really wanted. I guess a remap will add a few horse powers and bring it a bit closer to PPP spec...something to think about in a few months maybe.
A remap plus the same parts as a PPP will usually see you exceed the PPP figures. The PPP runs quite rich up the top (I guess to keep it safe for the sake of warranty).Thanks for the heads up on the tyres, I'll check them out.
I tried to find a PPP car but they weren't many around and those that were had much higher mileage than I really wanted. I guess a remap will add a few horse powers and bring it a bit closer to PPP spec...something to think about in a few months maybe.
PPP parts are.... backbox, silicone Y pipe, 3rd cat removal and possibly a change of waste gate bleed restrictor size. I've probably got a cat removal section kicking about in the garage. It'd be about an hour to fit those parts.
This is the official line on the benefits of a PPP from the Subaru brochure;
"The Impreza WRX Performance Package has been designed
to deliver class leading performance, boosting torque by
up to 25% and extending its availability across a wider rev
range than the standard engine.
The improved performance is produced through a carefully
developed combination of matched exhaust and engine
management modifications. This combination of enhancements
boost peak power to 265PS at 6,000rpm (previously 225PS at
5,600rpm on the standard engine) and deliver an impressive
348Nm of torque at 3,200rpm, an improvement of 16% on the
maximum torque of the standard car.
With the Performance Package fitted, the Impreza WRX has
more torque than the peak of the standard road car from
2,750rpm right through to 6,250rpm. These impressive statistics
ensure that drivers have the responsiveness required for
performance driving including all-important, mid-range
overtaking."
They list a re-map as part of the deal along with the intercooler pipe and exhaust mods.
As suggested, not difficult to replicate
"The Impreza WRX Performance Package has been designed
to deliver class leading performance, boosting torque by
up to 25% and extending its availability across a wider rev
range than the standard engine.
The improved performance is produced through a carefully
developed combination of matched exhaust and engine
management modifications. This combination of enhancements
boost peak power to 265PS at 6,000rpm (previously 225PS at
5,600rpm on the standard engine) and deliver an impressive
348Nm of torque at 3,200rpm, an improvement of 16% on the
maximum torque of the standard car.
With the Performance Package fitted, the Impreza WRX has
more torque than the peak of the standard road car from
2,750rpm right through to 6,250rpm. These impressive statistics
ensure that drivers have the responsiveness required for
performance driving including all-important, mid-range
overtaking."
They list a re-map as part of the deal along with the intercooler pipe and exhaust mods.
As suggested, not difficult to replicate
Thanks both for the info and suggestions.
I've just got it back from the garage after oil change, filters, couple of new belts and new pads and a general good going over. My local Indie has been working on Subaru cars for a number of years and spent time at some main dealers and a specialist near Chester, so hopefully in safe hands.
Wallet hurting a bit now and not done tyres or wheel alignment yet.
Goes into service as my daily from Friday. It already feels very different (better!) than my 520d auto so until the honeymoon period Is over it'll stay standard I think.
I've just got it back from the garage after oil change, filters, couple of new belts and new pads and a general good going over. My local Indie has been working on Subaru cars for a number of years and spent time at some main dealers and a specialist near Chester, so hopefully in safe hands.
Wallet hurting a bit now and not done tyres or wheel alignment yet.
Goes into service as my daily from Friday. It already feels very different (better!) than my 520d auto so until the honeymoon period Is over it'll stay standard I think.
a remap by a good mapper will change it from a fun car into something you will never want to part with! It will add a lot more poke in all gears but especially in 5th which is not that good on the standard map. it will also be as good if not better MPG......has to be done!
tyres wise look at Michelin cross climates, amazing in the wet and also means you can have fun in the snow if it comes! won't have he ultimate grip of some tyres but if you are pushing that hard on the road to notice then your probably gonna end up in jail anyway!
have fun with car......nothing for 5k will touch it for speed and fun!
tyres wise look at Michelin cross climates, amazing in the wet and also means you can have fun in the snow if it comes! won't have he ultimate grip of some tyres but if you are pushing that hard on the road to notice then your probably gonna end up in jail anyway!
have fun with car......nothing for 5k will touch it for speed and fun!
mlatham said:
Stop tempting me!
Without changing any of the components (it already has K&N filter and sport backbox) what would you expect to see from a remap? How much are they and who is best to use? I'm based in Cheshire.
The 3rd cat in the stock exhaust is a bit of a barrier.245ish would be my guess. The silicone pipes are used to because the factory plastic ones are known to pop once you start upping the boost.Without changing any of the components (it already has K&N filter and sport backbox) what would you expect to see from a remap? How much are they and who is best to use? I'm based in Cheshire.
Nice wagon - I'm another who made the move from diesel 5-series a couple of years ago. Mine does ~20k a year including towing duties. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... if you fancy a read
I can also recommend the Rainsport 3s!
I can also recommend the Rainsport 3s!
Thanks for sharing. I do like the look of the Hawkeye wagon in silver.
Whilst researching the car, yours was the thread that made me think, yeh this 11 year old motor can stand up to being put into daily use and 17k miles PA just as well as a diesel 5 series! So you're partially to blame for me ending up with one!
Whilst researching the car, yours was the thread that made me think, yeh this 11 year old motor can stand up to being put into daily use and 17k miles PA just as well as a diesel 5 series! So you're partially to blame for me ending up with one!
mlatham said:
Stop tempting me!
Without changing any of the components (it already has K&N filter and sport backbox) what would you expect to see from a remap? How much are they and who is best to use? I'm based in Cheshire.
I had a k and n, a prodrive backbox and the 3rd cat removed (as I had the centre section made in stainless) power was about 265-270bhp and I had andy forest map it who is one of the best mappers in the UK (I am lucky I am just down the road from him) yours should be similar as the main restriction in the downpipe cat (3rd cat is just a scrubber) makes a huge difference and felt like it had every one of the 270bhp (compared to other fast cars I have had) Without changing any of the components (it already has K&N filter and sport backbox) what would you expect to see from a remap? How much are they and who is best to use? I'm based in Cheshire.
Gassing Station | Subaru | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff