I am just about to buy a standard impreza Hawkeye, If you had around 1000 pounds spare to spend on it, what would be the things you would buy? (not including servicing or cam belt)

Cat back , pannel filter and a remap would be my choice [emoji6]

yup what Savage said would be my option as well

I would change the bushes to Powerflex or Strongflex (strongflex is less expensive but still good quality)

and the transmission mount to cusco.

This is not a fancy upgrade because no one will notice but you. This is a nice upgrade to change your car handling.

I would not upgrade engine or remap etc.

Me I'd go cat back exhaust, induction and remap.

2nd choice would be discs and pads along with the bushes and drop link Snoopy suggested. If a bit more power and crisper power delivery is not your thing.

3rd choice would be wheels and decent tyres. Just to make it a bit more individual.

It's got nice alloys, tyres I have budgeted, will get my fun out of what's on first.

Only problem with remap, cat and induction is impact on insurance as it is killer anyway as I'm only 20.

What kind of cost would I be looking for bushes and stuff? Is it mainly the time doing it. Also any other cheap and easy improvements I might as well do?

Does it have a stereo with USB? Scoobs do typically come with rubbish speakers and head unit.

You could save the £1k for any surprises

Saving for suprises is probably the best use! And I have speakers and amps fom my old car but a new head unit will probably be purchased.

Strut brace and anti roll bars !then a cat back exhaust and panel filter

...What kind of cost would I be looking for bushes and stuff? Is it mainly the time doing it. Also any other cheap and easy improvements I might as well do?

Strongflex bushing kit is around £350

Probably the work costs a couple of hundreds too.

Cusco transmission mount is around £170

What's the benefit of a transmission mount Snoop?

vibra technics do some great engine and gearbox mounts

Whats most important can do for exhast system without failing MOT?

Most i can do i mean. God knows why my auto correct changed i to important!

sports cat and system mate,

you can get a decat centre and a backbox tho

Still be close to the pass threshold with a sports cat, mine wasn't hot enough this time and failed. Que a quick rag down the motorway and back and re test [emoji16]

Thanks guys, is having a standard and sports system feasible? Swapping for mot? Or is that a stupid question

easier to find a friendly MOT man

[emoji16] I just didn't want to incriminate anyone

true ! yeah i got 2 friendly testers. but i would go decat centre and back box, maybe some suspension as the hawk sits too high for my liking

I belive the guy who is selling me mine does them so maybe I can work out a deal :)

What's the benefit of a transmission mount Snoop?

More precise shifting. With a stock mount the transmission is moving slightly as you changing gears. The Cusco one is holding the transmission house very tight.

Second benefit the Cusco is much stronger than the stock. The stock transmission mount is not last too long because of the poor quality :( ( Sorry to say but all the European model has this crap. The JDM version has a very similar to the Cusco its called Group N transmission mount )

 

Just to show the difference see below

 

Cusco transmission and engine mount. ( Very strong and last forever ... ;) )

 

 

 

Stock ( You can see the nice quality of the lousy rubber ) It looks like this after 60-70K miles ):

 

Thanks dude. Very interesting...especially as mine has done 68.

You will get a slight increase in noise etc if you went for the soild cusco mounts

Thanks dude. Very interesting...especially as mine has done 68.

Well. The condition depends on how the car was handled from new. The problem is even If the car is jacked up is hard to tell the mount is good or bad until you take it off. Some sign: if you change the gear sometimes you feel the stick is sloppy  or not in the right place properly.

 

Even the rubber is in good shape the transmission house can move and this causing less power on the drive train

 

Keep in mind because the Cusco mount holds your transmission house properly the vibration will be increased!

 

This is a really good upgrade if you use your Scooby properly ;) ( agressive acceleration, hard cornering  etc