Newbie seeking advice on maintenance

[Diz]

Hi all,

 

Yesterday I bought a 2004 Impreza WRX STI. It is in great condition, has been well looked after and I want to keep it that way. 10 minutes after driving off in it I was followed by an unmarked cop car for 6 miles on the motorway, which I took as a compliment. Just as well I was still getting the feel of the car and was bricking it too much to put the foot down!

 

I got off to a flying start by getting two new rear tyres fitted, plus the brake pads and discs the previous owner had bought but hadn't had time to get fitted. It's due an oil change at 100000 miles, which is coming up, I'll get the rear brake pads done then too.

 

However I've never owned one before and I realize this brute will need a bit more TLC than most cars. I need advice on what needs done and when. What fluid levels do I need to check, and how often? I've looked through the forum topics and can't see anything on this. Info on the internet varies a lot. Can anyone help? Is there a workshop manual available for this?

 

Thanks,

Diz

[Gambit]

Hi Diz welcome to S.O.C 

Just sorting out uploading some workshop manual's at the minute. :) 

And a very nice looking car if I do say so myself ;) 

And you will always get mixed review's on how to look after your car everything from what oil to use to parts and filters. And you are right they do take a bit more looking after then some other cars, but it's not as bad as you might think. More so if you can do some of the work yourself :D 

But please feel free to ask anything. We do try to help the best we can.

[Jay762]

Wotcha and welcome Diz - great looking example you have there!!

[Diz]

Thanks guys! I've wanted an Impreza for years, haven't had a car at all for 2 years and got fed up digging snowing to get one of my motorbikes out in winter. Bikes aren't much cop for shopping or taking cats to the vet either. So when I saw this car I went for it, and don't regret it for a minute. It's no. 81 of a 500 limited edition, 320bph and no mods unless you count the tinted windows.

 

Having not driven much in that time let's just say it was pretty exciting taking off in this baby. Getting the hang of it now, everything about it is very responsive, it's a lot of fun... I especially like the lack of arrogance from Audi and BMW drivers, who I suspect have learned it's not worth the egg on their face ;-)

 

Gambit, I'll look out for the manuals, that would be a big help. The previous owner pointed out a few things but I was so excited I didn't take it all in. Just thinking I could contact the Subaru dealer he was using for info too. 

 

I tinker with my bikes but know hee-haw about fixing cars. However I know a quite a few friendly mechanics who'll help keep the costs down ;-)  Looking forward to becoming part of the forum, I hope in time I can share anything useful I've learned with others.

[Gambit]

It's stunning looking car for sure and I like the tinted windows. And don't speak to me about Audi drivers they have become my pet hate in my area :D Plenty of bikers now Scoob drivers here too. I did ride bike's myself but only off road bikes KTM125 YZ500 list goes on, but not anymore :( 

And having friend's that can fix car's help a lot ;) I have a friend like that still costs me but he loses money with my car but I do pay cash ;) But I try to do most thing's myself if I can with lot's off tool's being thrown across the garden and many colourful words used at the car ;) 

Anyway hope you enjoy being here please feel free to look around and join in on other threads. Everyone here is easy going so feel free to join in on threads too you will see what I mean I'm sure :D 

[Jay762]

I also ride bikes and spend time pulling tehm apart fro various mods - if you can find your way around an inline 4 on two wheels, the flat four will give you no problems its all similar stuff just a few more pipes and wires ;)

[Diz]

I've pulled the straight two (CB500, economical and fantastic handling wee bike) apart but the VFR800 (V4, final pre-vtec model) looked like a spaceship when I pulled the tank up so I bottled it, put it back together and phoned a friend. The car looks much the same under the bonnet, with everything tucked in pretty tight. Then again the mechanics at the workshop who fitted the brakes and tyres were falling over themselves to do the work and test drive it, maybe I have something there...!

 

As noted above, a workshop manual would go quite a way in this respect, just off to have a lookie see if Gambit has made any progress with this.

 

I am really liking this forum. It was refreshing and classy not to be met with a big pair of !Removed! staring at me when I logged in, making me wonder 'Has my browser been hijacked?'. You folks really are friendly and helpful - thank you for your courtesy to us lady petrolheads xx

[Gambit]

I've posted a disc out for Steve today so he can get them on a server so you can all download them really fast. God we do look after you lot :D 

 

Big pair of tit's ? what sort of site's do you go on :D 

And thank you there is a fair few of you young lady's on here soon be able to do a spice girls tribute banned with extra's ;) 

[Jay762]

We aim to make this as friendly as possible - a comparatively new forum we are in a position to have the members shape it into something that hopefully appeals to a wider Subaru enthusiast audience.

 

Imagine your CB500 bolted end to end a little extra plumbing for the turbo as a loop back to the air box (a little bit of vtec with the cams but we'll ignore that for the moment) shaft drive to all four wheels instead of the chain and you have it nailed ;)

[Miggs]

howdo fella, welcome aboard, hope you have a good stay and i'd just like to say that's a beaut of a motor