Daz-RSK

OK folks - this is a Santa Pod meet but with a difference. This is a private hire day that we have organised here (just a group of 5 petroheads from completely different brands / models) and you all are welcome. First some background and why 5 of us are placing this together. I was wanting a stainless pipe fitted to my motor and I got to know of someone who was selling his. The deal was that it would be taken off his car and then I pay for the pipe. When I met him to have a listen to his motor to make sure it wasn't too loud, he made me aware that he owns a garage. So the deal then became that I buy the exhaust and fitting of it at his garage. Anyway, once all fitted, I asked him how much I owe. He then placed a proposition in front of me that has led to 5 of us organising what you are seeing above. For his concern, he didn't want paying for the pipe or the 2 hours labour - but could I donate to the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Charity in lieu of paying him. So after I argued with him that I must pay him something and the charity and he was having none of it - he kept saying, it is critical that the charity sees more money, he does not want paying. I asked why is this important ? One of his employees - Phoebe - she is an apprentice at the garage and learning the trade. She lost her husband to MND earlier in 2021, leaving her and their 2 children behind. She was not at the garage when I was having this pipe fitted so I was assuming someone later in life - maybe in their 40s / 50s perhaps older. Oh no. She is 22. He was 23 when he finally succumbed and left 2 children, one being 2yrs old and the other 4yrs old. When I opened the link that the garage owner had given to me for me to contribute, I could not believe it. Bearing in mind that only friends and family had been contributing, the donation to date was £11,000. That is impressive for a young person to have touched so many people, that they would donate as much as that cumulatively upon his passing. So a few of us were looking at stuff to do anyway last autumn - maybe a high speed runway run - V max day or something and thought why don't we dovetail something in with creating funds for this MND charity. So there you are and this is where we are at. We have booked the day at Santa Pod on private hire day for Fri 13 May. It is Pod visit with a twist that appeals to all. It is a car show - so a show and shine, you can meet as a Subaru group, Subaru stand, whatever you wish. No need to take your car up the strip if you don't want to. But for those who do, they can. The ticket prices are different for the pure show and shine and then the drive up the strip and this link gives you the information. It's also for the family as well if you want to bring partner and kids. If you don't want to either show and shine or race your car, come along as a spectator. Remember - everything goes to the charity - all of your money. The Santa Pod day has already been bought - so 100% of your sum goes straight through to this charity. If I place something here that I did not know about because I know of no one with MND. MND takes no prisoners as there is no cure. Nor is it something that is genetic, although they do say there is 5% more chance of you contracting the disease if someone in the family has had it. But not conclusively genetic. It is a rare disease and only 1000 people contract it each year in the UK, with roughly 5000 people in the UK who are suffering with the disease. It attacks anyone of us at random, at any age. This 23yr old lad was a fit tree surgeon, was fine one day and then lost the mobility of his arm the next day - then the steep decline to death 6 months later. There was nothing physically wrong with him the day before he lost use of his arm. He wasn't ill or unwell, totally mobile and able. But clearly his body was going to have other ideas. Some live with the disease for many years and decades (Stephen Hawkins) - some die within 6 months. There is no treatment or cure - just drugs to help the symptoms. There is no rhyme or reason why some people have the disease either. That is why this has become important to us, the organising group - and I hope you see the significance as well. It would be lovely to have your support on the day. A show and shine with motorsport viewing or motorsport participation day or as a spectator - whatever takes your fancy! Thank you. Tickets can be purchased here. Remember - 100% of your sum goes to the MND charity! The day has already been bought. Thank you. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gtg-powered-by-auto-linked-tickets-305737528177 Just an observation - should you be interested in this as a group of Subarus, I think the tickets aren't brand/model specific. Therefore, it might be the case that to show your cars as a group/as a club, you might need to park up and wait on the long entrance road to consolidate and convoy in. Apologies, one of the omissions on the ticket.

Hi Matt - sorry, late response to your question. I haven't been on here for a few years and a google search led me here. Then I saw you thread. There are very few of us on here - well there was not many the last time I posted in 2018 - so info / knowledge about these late WRX's (info specific to these) is thin on the ground. To answer your questions - no I don't think that the parcel shelf removes itself and as for carrying a dog in the back, it is unlikely. You really do need a hatch or an estate. It would ruin the rear seat / rear area, what you are thinking of doing here. Have you considered a Levorg ? I would suggest the STi, given the type of performance you have and the fact that the UK versions are a bit meek. But the issue is if you are comfortable with JDM's and also parts might be scarce as there aren't many Levorg STi's here (or indeed that type of lump here). The alternative - if you want a real bruiser and a wagon - is the Legacy. Take your pick of which generation although I would steer clear of the 5th Gen as it isn't much of a looker. The 3.0L Spec B Gen 4 (2003-09) is a real cracker and the twinscroll JDM as well of that era. They are 10+ years old now but they would suit your purpose and they have all of the manners of a typical Subaru to boot.

Slightly different to the tracks above and slightly different, total. I placed this up on another Subaru forum a few years back and generally received some good feedback. A lesser known band but very listenable, if you are into this sort of style. Great driving beat!!

There are a number of things that have forced Subaru here. The emissions bit is true and I don't deny it. But it is mere smoke (sorry, a pun there) and also their fear. You read in the press that the death (or dying) of diesel is going to create major issues for the European target of 95g/km across each brand's stable and then no one factors in that hybrids and electric cars are close to zero g/km which lowers the average anyway. So a stock of these sold from the stable would keep the average down. But you don't hear this in the press/ media - it's all doom once diesel has gone or been lowered in volume and how do we meet the target. The thing you don't read is that it is actual sales, not what the units the manufacturer makes to sell. Sounds the same ? But there are some subtle differences. I might build a stupid high emission motor of 600g/km. How it would pass any regulation, I don't know, but stay with me. I might sell one of these per year because these are ridiculously thirsty. To keep things simple for the maths, I sell 15 hybrids that pump 50g/km for the year. So totting up, my total emissions that I have sold is 1350g/km spread across 16 motors sold in the year. So my average is 84g/km and I come in under the 2021 Euro limit. Now the smoke is that you have probably never read that anywhere before (certainly not in the press). It's a bit like their banning of petrol and diesel in 2040. There isn't going to be a ban. It is only new sales that are banned. Unless anyone has seen anything different, if you are running a petrol Scooby of a few years old in 2040, keep running it. Also, plug in hybrids are still permissible and they would still have an engine. See how bits of info get out of control once the media and other forms get hold of it. I mention the fear factor above. Yes, because if people start demanding WRX's in 2021 and Subaru don't sell enough of the vehicles that offset the high g/km of the WRX, then there could be issues. So I recognise the fear factor but I think they have over-reacted. They could limit the sales to this country and then we at least have a fast product here but the average still comes in under the threshold. Maybe they believe they won't have enough vehicles under the 95g/km to offset. Or maybe they have tested enough to see that they can only get just under with the hybrid stuff. I don't know. But I sense there has been a panic, along with the bean counters working out how few units could be sold in the UK / Europe to throw in the towel. £32,000 is quite a bargain price for what you get from the WRX up until September and the weak GBP has not helped. Therefore, there would be a lot of bean counting I am sure. But this does sound a bit too knee-jerk to me. Never mind. We will never know.

No STI's after the end of 2018 ? They'll be lucky. Probably sold out in the next few weeks. There are 150 last editions and I already know 5 orders on Pistonheads - those who are vocal about what they have ordered. Loads are probably keeping quiet. This is just UK (& Europe) market though - Jap and US still get them and they have committed out til 2021 at least, when the next Gen comes along.

Right, better just nip down the Rover dealer then for my Rover 25 City. Their 10 years is about up. If they don't cough up any parts, there will be some legal ramifications. In seriousness, there is no law on this. It's a business case, not a legal aspect, as parts & service are after-sales and these provide good profit centres for dealers. With manufacturers changing their models, with different versions (SUVs / MPVs) all diluting the market even further, to hoard parts for any more than 7 years for the 15 different models they produce would be a mean feat.

People - I have had to duck out of this, therefore, Wes's wheels are still very much for sale. I have 365mm Alcon discs and brake set up on the front of mine and through checking with a mate who has 18's (on a Mazda 6 - but with same stud pattern), along with tape measure, along with guidance from the Subaru dealer, there is no way that 18's will fit on the front of my motor without me embarking on a complete front brake overhaul, back to standard. These are stunning wheels and will go on any Scooby with the 114.3 PCD. I reckon they would look blinding not only on the new stuff, but any Scooby with that arrangement! GLWS Wes.

Hi Wes, Do you still have these or have they gone ? Just to update you if they still are available - my car should be back in 2 weeks. I know where the price is falling out on the build (+ other bits) and I should be able to buy these from you. I can't be exact on the date yet but the guy said 2-3 weeks. A trip to Cumbria would help run the engine in for its first oil change, which is the reason for me holding off until then. Please just let me know. Ta

Think the Dunlops are not so good. I have seen on youtube how they feel the RS Focus is quicker because it has superior tyres. I wouldn't have said mine torque steers but it does tramline, I have noticed, certainly under heavy acceleration. If I get in a groove, I do have to give the wheel more of a shove to get across. But then they are running on 245's.

Some great pics there Tomas!

Hi chap - if no one has bought them within the next 3 weeks, I'll collect them and give you the asking price, if that is OK. Sorry that I can't promise much more than that at this stage. If someone buys these before, then it's my hard luck. But I need to get mine back to 18's, after I bought the car with Subaru 19's on. The 19 rims are too harder ride and also a fortune in tyre cost. So I need to get back on the standard rims. The reason for the delay in buying now is 2 fold - 1) My Legacy is having an engine rebuild in Bradford and with me being in the SE, that lends itself to a trip to Cumbria after collecting the Legacy in Bradford, as I need to place the miles on for the first oil change after build. It would pay me to stay in the north because I'll get the engine builder to do the first change. 2) Whilst I have a fixed quote for the build, these things creep along and if I commit to £400 now and find my Legacy build is also an additional (and unexpected) £400, I'll be in a bit of bother. So I'll know more in a few weeks. But if all goes well my side and you still have these, I'll buy them from you. You have exactly what I need - just unfortunate that I wasn't expecting an engine build simultaneously.

My Manta GT/E was useless in town traffic. But I was pumping 160 from a unit that was 110 standard. So quite aggressive. Also idle'd at about 1200, IIRC. Any lower and it was lumpy. So made for traffic creep issues.

Yes agreed with that. And car manufacturers are getting better all the time with trying to develop the best torque delivery. If you are old enough, you'll remember that the best and cheapest way to get performance out of n/a motors in the 1970/80's was through better carb and sorting the cams or even the head. I don't know whether they still do these - they would for older motors but I expect with the VVT and hydraulic lifters and other bits, it's more difficult today. But this cam modification in motors of the arc was a way of delivering good performance - but not when you are in town traffic because the only mod you'll have is to develop a different style of drive. They were hopeless off the mark and town traffic just became a nuisance. Gearing is another. Gone are the days where you had a 4 speed box and the cheap way of delivering better economy with better top end was to bolt on another gear. Now the gear ratios don't even meet a 1:1 in some motors in any of the gears, effectively there is no straight drive. But the days of old, they used to just bolt another gear on and with poor torque, that gear just became a lazy gear, no acceleration at all.

Yeap - totally agree with all of that. But it is difficult to find who is the best of the best of the mappers. I think we tend to go on experience, if we used them before, or others opinions like on here. It's quite subjective, IMHO. You raised a good point in the last paragraph there. 350bhp out of a non turbo 1.6L. Sounds a bit dodgy, doesn't it. Did anyone see the chart itself - the bhp line vs torque line ? It's probably not something you would remember, as the dyno people were doing it as a joke. What is difficult to manipulate though (and this is why I asked if anyone read the chart just from interest) is to manipulate the flow of the lines. Forget the Y axes of the chart up each side - the lines is what I am more interested in. 350bhp or 300lb/ft is a snapshot at certain rpms. It's how you get to these that shows the performance. Let me display something here. I mentioned my mate Joe before - Joe Smith. He placed his car on the rollers this weekend and got this out of it. Now, my other mate, John Smith, has this chart. Unfortunately, wasted £40 here because there is no indication as to what the chart is showing in values. What I do know is that cars pump out nearly the same bhp, but not so certain about the torque on this bottom one. The bhp would be iro 300 on this lower chart. With no figures above, this is where I start reading the lines. If you notice how high the torque line on this second chart is and how flat it is, from low down. To me, this is quite a fast car off the mark, needs little rpm and runs out of puff. It would be a good 0-60 car but might not have the top end. The 1st chart is spurious given that the 5252rpm pivot point looks to be near the start of the performance. This would indicate to me, given the torque remains stable from this point and the bhp continues to climb significantly that this is more of a racer and needs a lot of rev to get it to go. It probably has a higher top end, for its bhp output, because it pulls like a train in every gear at 5000rpm upward to 7000+. Admittedly, we don't know the numbers on the lower chart, so it could be out of 100bhp / 100lb/ft. But given I know these are Scoobies with similar bhp - and if this was a car you wouldn't know but were explained to what they were, you'd come to the same conclusion, the style of charts display a different type of performance. To me, this is meaningful. But to some others, it is not. I don't really care which one has the greater bhp or torque. The lines provide me the performance given certain rough criteria. If you now want to know what they are - the top one is a B4 Legacy with twin turbos that come on tune at 5000rpm and can see 170mph, but is hampered by the low rpm torque therefore achieves 60 in mid 5's. The bottom one is a modern WRX, extremely quick off the mark but once above a ton, would struggle with the B4. Tops out at 155 ish. I own (and owned) both of these. But I would take anyone's chart and describe what I see in terms of a broad performance - is it a good 0-60, good top end, good over-taker etc. 400bhp is excellent - but not if you have to wring every nut and bolt to get it.

Good find. I was only 4 years out with my 2015 guess. So anything that had a generation launch after Feb 2011 would need DRL's as legal requirement.