Daz-RSK

Yes, I respect that. Maybe there is some technical lack of knowledge here as well. I don't know the guy. So if some of you think I have an agenda here to support him, I certainly don't. I am not speaking of people here who have posted in this thread - but let me introduce something from other threads and forums I have seen. Let me also place my experience in to show what happens, rather than regurgitate someone else's experience. I took my Legacy to SRR and Charlie thought that there was a bit of det on the rollers. So I fixed with a mapper to have it set up again, as the car hadn't been mapped for 5 years and, perhaps foolishly, I thought that was the issue. It wasn't the issue and the mapper told me that he couldn't get enough fuel. He also told me to tread lightly as it was good for blowing up. That was entirely my fault. I should have got a fuel pump long before I had. I learnt my lesson there and then! Now I could have been a bit disappointed with the outcome. Let's say in all this disappointment, somehow (not quite sure how), I misinterpreted what he said through not listening properly. My car was on the line for some serious issue, even though I had seen him. The alternative thing that could have happened was that I listened to the instruction but once I got home, life had broken loose and getting a fuel pump plus another remap 150 miles away was not the high priority right now. It gets forgotten. Now I have an issue with the Legacy. This, folks, happens. Today's priority becomes tomorrow's "just something else to do" or "something forgotten" or "something not understood clearly". Then you read disastrous posts of Scoobies blowing up and the blame game starts. That is not a reflection on anyone posting here - it is what I see time to time elsewhere. We're all human after all. The mapper is banging out instructions whilst we are driving at break neck speed and we are supposed to be taking on board what's wrong. It's quite a human thing to forget the issue or the sincerity of the issue when being told. I have witnessed this happen. Someone started slagging off a company, telling us all how bad they are, don't touch this with barge poles, incapable bunch etc etc. Next thing, the company turns up on the forum, bit miffed about all of these negative posts, naturally, and starts to explain their view of the situation. Now everything is murky because what the claimer was saying wasn't quite as true as first made out. Anyway, I don't know this Duncan nor have I any experience of his work. As said above, it is a shame that A ) he doesn't come on here to defend his position or B ) if there is some wrong doing, correct the issues some of you have had

I realise that you have had a rough time with this mapper. I am not knocking that and frankly, I would be livid as well that he's told you the way it has been mapped and now you have to disconnect something to make the vehicle work properly. All I was doing was saying that there are a number of variables that can cause issues after a remap. Yes, the remapper is in there. But quality and age of items on the car. For example, all the fueling / sparking / airflow stuff is brand new on your car, I presume ? So who are these people then - these well respected mappers - who believe the guy is duff ? What is their agenda for dismissing this guy - not obviously to create more business for themselves, naturally ? And frankly, it is extremely dangerous for other experts to comment on 2nd hand information passed through forums - if there are other mappers doing this, I think they are on a dangerous wicket themselves for dismissing people in their trade based on, at best, vague information that they weren't there to witness and at worst, judging people without their own experience of them. Rushing maps and claiming to map around faults - that bit is subjective. I went for 2 remapping sessions and one was faster than the other - not with Duncan BTW. Was the shorter one an issue ? Can you see how murky this all gets ? I am just playing devil's advocate above. I am not suggesting that something hasn't gone wrong. But what people do is hear one piece of bad news and then the guy is tarnished completely with this one hiccup. Though upsetting for the "victim" agreed, it can damage people's reps forever. In answer, the people I know are not well known engine builders. They help the Legacy group with their motors, stripping and building engines. It doesn't really matter who they are, as such, as bad news stinks and good news is blessed. All I am saying is that I have not seen a bad word about the guy until here. But then, the UK Legacy bunch perhaps are a sheltered group, in that respect. A few twins to single tubby conversions fuel maps have been overseen by Duncan - no issues there. But maybe the breadth and depth of his work hasn't been seen. People - I accept that bad news has to spread about bad reputation. But as long as it is just 5 people in 1000 because then it comes down to misfortune, rather than the mapper being bad (or any business person being bad). Whilst you are in the middle of the disaster, you think this guy can't be for real. If it costs you, you then have an open case against him. But looking objectively and outside the box, think of all the people who use this guy - probably 1000's - and it is much like what the last posters have said. There is good and bad in everyone. You would hope the good shines through, as a mapper, and certainly on your car. But there is risk attached because we are not working with spring chicken motors here, often. People who are bad at their job don't stay in business long. That is a fair old moto. You can fool some of the people some of the time but you can't be bad all of the time to stay in this game.

Just to balance this out - on the UK Legacy forum, there is no bad word said about Duncan and quite a few people have used him - engine rebuilders as well - and believe he is a reputable guy who knows what he is doing. It sounds like a few of you have genuinely had a problem with this guy. Some bad things have happened to your motors after Duncan has remapped it and with him now receiving the blame. I have never used him - instead used Bob Rawle. But that wasn't out of reputation issues. It is a shame that he can't come on here and defend himself or explain himself. I am not belittling the issues some of you have had. But remappers are either the worst thing out there when it goes wrong after or God when it goes brilliantly. I suppose that's the challenge they have. I am sure the following is not lost on you all - your car is remapped by someone and goes wrong, it's always the mappers fault. But just throwing in that curve ball - could it be the age and ability of the motor and its components that was/is failing, not the mapper ? I respect the mapper should get the fueling right, the AFR sorted. But there are a number of other things that could "play up" or perhaps play into the equation. Just something for you to consider.

I might look at a remap. Not really for the ponies - just to get it all above board. As you say, it would sort out the fueling. Hmmmm........I don't know who the resident or respected mapper on here is and who you gang all like or use. But I used Bob Rawle a few times in the past.

For those of you watching in black & white, you need to retune your sets after this transmission error. Serious transmission error. I don't know what on earth is going on here - but we seemed to have strayed from a performance & horsepower forum into some green energy forum. Is that average mpg for real at the top of the screen ? Yes, that is what it is. Smooooooth driving is the only way you'll see 30+ mpg from these. That silly mpg I got above was the 20 miles from the fuel station to home tonight, whilst chasing down a Ford Kuga diesel that was severely on edge through the country lanes. What I mean was that it was getting away from me on the straights where the floaty Ford could have a foot put down but on the bends, I just kept the same mph and drifted around them with no input from the middle pedal. Anyway, enough of this record breaking mpg posting. I'll be kicked off and placed on the Hybrid and frugal owner's site. Thanks Brian. Yes, as said, there was no right or wrong and it sounds look you have a good plan there. Be re-assured with the mpg. Right enough of that - as this thread is going all wrong now.

Yes, that makes absolute sense Jay. Sorry, my error and that is enforced by muziqaz's post below. I thought it was more simple than that and it was only the position of the butterfly per throttle position. Yeap - that proves that boost is impacted by the mode position. Good test done chap!

I can see which factory option from the pick list you chose, Flowman. The frugal option. 32.2mpg!!! I thought I had a dog collar on, the way I drive and I am managing about 31. But 32+. Holy moly! Your car must be ill or running on 3 cylinders with the 4th on optional shutdown.

No, not as far as I am aware. You have boost limits that no throttle positioning will break through. I am learning as much about this motor as the next person, so could easily be wrong. But I would be surprised if a performance motor like these for less than £30k would have different fuel maps within their intelligence and to build those in would cost a few ££ that would have been passed on to the end user - you and I.

Having now had a chance to mess about with the different responses (I, S, & S#), yes I can confirm with a few of you that it is only sharpening the throttle response, not the performance. Well, the response on the throttle makes the car more lively but only because little foot travel give instant boost. You can try this yourselves (if not done this). Sit at a steady 70 on the m/way in "I" drive, hold the rpm and speed, switch to S# and you'll take off, yet you have placed no input through your right foot. It's just that on that mode, little throttle gives you a lot more push. As for floorboard throttle, I would doubt there is any difference between the modes.

A couple of things here chaps - from someone working behind the scenes (not with Subaru UK mind). Brian - I was faced with your dilemma - to buy used, new now or new next April. There are a couple of facts and a bit of speculation. The facts are that the new tax is about £1000 dearer in April 17. So you have got to keep your STi some time for the £500 vs £140 road tax to make that back. With a cooking conventional mass supply car, the dealer and manufacturer will wear that and the car price is unlikely to rise. But there is no chance with these STi's. The other one is that the manufacturers by the hoards are increasing their list prices since Brexit and the GBP getting weaker. Imports are becoming more expensive as are exports becoming cheaper. Subaru haven't lifted their prices yet, I have been advised and it is on the cards in early 2017. The fact bit is that they will have to do this. The speculation is by how much. Now Toyota have lifted some of the stuff - more expensive stuff - by up to £1000. So I took the gamble on do I buy at a price I know or buy at a price that might be higher - and how much higher. Don't get me wrong - there is no right or wrong here. But I probably thought I would stomach the £500 p/a, knowing that is my outlay, rather than wait to see what the benefits are (if any). But that isn't to counter what you have done - I did consider your route. I actually went used route in the end and didn't buy new at all. Another bit of speculation - but this is way more speculative that the Subaru price rise - there are some mutterings that if the new crop of vehicles are £140, why do we penalise everything post Mar 2006 with a £500 ticket if it is super thirsty. I think this is a watch this space because I can foresee that in 5 years, no car will have a balmy RFL like this. If you think, it makes no sense. At 40 years old, historic tax is £0. Surely, they can't think these cars will drop from £500 (or £1000/1500 in 30/40 years time) to £0 in one go. Re options list. Yes, demand from sales does help to build a big list of options. But the complexity is huge at any level of sales. The good thing about "This is what we built, so this is what you have" is that is saves all of the faff above the vehicle valuation when it is a used car. That is especially prevalent when taking a PCP as how much is each option worth as new ? Would you expect each new customer to pay for the £2000 add ons themselves out of their own money or do you figure that it is worth £500 or £1000 at 3 years old. That is the conundrum and Subaru with their STi have removed themselves from this a little - which actually is not a bad thing.

Thanks chap. I'll take a look. No, there is nothing in the paperwork. But that wouldn't surprise me if it was completed "in-house".

What you will find is that the European people have a different idea on quality and ride than the US. The US are catching up quick, but it has taken them a long journey (about 50 years) to do so. The yanks have generally found our lust for good handling cars that stick to the roads like on rails around bends a bit pointless. Well why would they think otherwise ? Their idea of a race track is either a standing quarter / standing half or an oval. Their roads are as straight as an arrow so why would a great road holding car be of any use ? Why not have the wallowy old dustbin that floats like a ship in rough seas ? So what this boils down to is that because of the different attributes the US people want from their motors, when something turns up to slap them about a bit, they start realising that there is more to a motor than zebidee springs all round. And that is what Subaru does best. Also, the yanks are simple in terms of technology. Even we have moved out of feet and inches....just. They are a very progressive population in many ways but actually like the simple things in life. Subaru's are simple and don't have all the "gear" that the German stuff has and that appeals. A lot of US engineering is actually behind European & Jap stuff and is a long way behind British innovation and engineering. Name me one car they make that would compete with our F1 set up and that gives you a clue. None of there IndyCars will as they are good for one thing - mostly ovals. The NASCAR is good but I would think the Touring Car stuff we have here is better. F1 technology is supposed to be the pinnacle of race car design and also what's on the F1 stuff today, weaves itself onto the road car over the next years. Britain has most of that technology in the backyard. Therefore, we crave great quality interiors with great handling and that is what all manufacturers compete for. It's a little easier to shine in the States, above all of the dross out there and Subaru does just that.

Pete - it's a shame that Prodrive are not willing to do this for 2017, 10 years after his death. If you recall though, when they did this 1 year after in 2008, it was a convenient point of time (the weekend after the bank holiday weekend) and not actually strictly 1 year later. They have a better chance next year to get closer to an anniversary as the 17th Sept is a Friday. Still not convenient, but the following day/weekend is close. What you might find is that once the ball is rolling about a big'un getting off the ground, Prodrive might get in on the act. I have been down that road before with Ford and Capri anniversary. Where there was reluctance to do something initially and I said I would do something personally, they then jumped on board, as it was a good idea after all. That was a hell of a weekend, that anniversary in 2008. Shall we just remind ourselves of the enormity of it ? I video'd this from a bridge over the M40, just north of the Banbury junction. It's slow to gather momentum at first but then you get the full force of Scoobies. I have never seen anything like it. Obviously it's quite dry as footage goes so I wouldn't expect you to watch more than 5 mins of it. It was immense being there that day.

I thought I would have a look at this ring land issue that some of you have been mentioning on here. Not surprisingly, this is all a bit new on me. Perhaps I have been blessed with motors where this type of failure can't be easily attributed. So having not really come across the term, I thought I would have a look. Funny what you find when searching the internet. The first site on the net links to our lot - Subaru's with the 2.5L lump. That's why it has bypassed me as I have only had 2.0L lumps. OK, don't tell me - they're prone as well and I have been ignorant of this. It may pay all of you to look at this if you don't know what this issue is or how it affects your motor. They seem to isolate the 2.5L Scooby lump as being a sucker for this - in stock form as well. But then go on to say all Scooby lumps. I don't know whether it is hype or not and I make my apologies if this link or others have been placed up previously. If it is not hype, then probably is worth flagging up every so often anyway. Hmmmmm.........another thing to keep an eye on. As you read through, you can see there is a swipe at Subaru's short cutting as well. https://www.maperformance.com/blogs/maperformance-blog/77034371-how-to-avoid-piston-failure-subaru-performance-tips

I am waiting to find out whether mine has this upgrade. The trouble is, I've not driven another WRX so I can't comment whether it is different or even whether it makes a difference.

Absolutely spot on. I was discussing this recently in a thread on another forum when there was confusion that the pick is at the bottom, therefore, always picking up loads of debris if it was floating around. As you say, it's the concentration level not where the pick up is Don't remind me! I have one of those and daren't look in the tank. I'll do so when it stops running, I think. A mate of mine has a 30k mile version. So seen nothing in its use in 30 years. But that is a problem in itself. Plenty of condensation above the fuel line rotted his tank like nobody's business.

I haven't found this, Flowman, no. I must admit to being a bit of a dinosaur with technology and stuff like this. So loading up an app is not one of my priorities, I am afraid. When I scrolled through the info area on the dash, I saw that you can place in memorable dates like anniversaries and birthdays. I assume that the morning you get in your car on one of these dates, it reminds you that it's someone's birthday. Might even remind me that it's mine. I am thinking that if the Scooby starts reminding me that it's my wife's birthday or our wedding anniversary, once I get in the car, it could all be a bit late and the packing suitcases might also have to be placed in the car simultaneously. Especially if it is at a weekend and I didn't use the car until Monday - it was your anniversary on Saturday. Worst still, they might already be in the car! I have 5 year old Samsung smart phone that just about works -- on a weds, around teatime. I'd throw that thing in the bin and take back my old Nokia if it wasn't for 2 times per year where the internet is useful when I am out. I love cars with 6 buttons maximum. I really am a dinosaur and actually, I thought that compared to a lot of other stuff out there, the WRX has the balance about right. My old man's new Mondeo makes breakfast for him, it's so blinking clever. And tells how to drive on the road. I don't need all of that rubbish - stuff that turns off your main beam because you forget to do it yourself or to warn you that there is a car in the blindspot. What is all of that about nowadays ? So in a long winded way, no I didn't realise there was this app. I'll have a look though to see if my life is enrichened for it.

Great write up chap. Having only had mine 3 weeks, I can agree with everything you said. I have a 2014 version. So I think my stereo is even more duff than yours, as far as I have read into this. I also bought mine by accident and wasn't really intending on buying one. I was running too many weekend cars, it was getting a bit silly that 3 of mine were doing about 500-1000 miles pa. But the plan wasn't a WRX. It was to keep them all still and to buy a car to replace the mileage muncher I have as well. My sights were lower than yours with just a bread & butter ST Focus. But the Ford dealer p'd me off - in fact 3 of them did. That is quite good going since I don't get p'd off that often. So I decided to take a plod down the road to pick up a bolt I needed for my other Scooby. The bolt was 70p and I ended up buying this WRX as well. Must be the Scooby sales practice:- "Don't let the customer leave without buying a car - even if he/she came in for a £1 token item." Like you, I am trying to find out what all the bells and whistles do. I've come out of a Legacy B4 into this and the power delivery is more what I would call normal in the WRX. Certainly was not normal in the twin blower Legacy. Nothing then everything -- a lot of everything to propel to over 170mph. It was as fast above a ton as below. But this WRX is quicker as it is linear and you can feel the low down kick. Although I was reading someone else's post on here that they were upset they gave up their Gen 2 RS Focus as the low down kick in the WRX is not as good as the RS. That could well be the case. I guess it depends on what perspective you have hit this model from. For me, I love the 6th gear pull from 2k - something that you needed to be way above 3k in the Legacy to hope for. But like you, I love the cornering ability. Whether it is 5 secs to 60 or not, I think you can embarrass some serious £££ motors out there on handling alone. My Legacy had billies all round as standard and that had pretty good manners on the road. This though knocks the spots off that. It is 16 years newer in design, of course, but my god, it is the closest thing to being on rails I have been in. Speeds through the bends where other cars were lunging a little, this seems to still have some surplus before being ruffled. The speed is good but it is the handling that I have been most impressed with. Anyway, I look forward to more of your tales Flowman as you get more used to the motor and see they align to mine.

Yeap agreed Tidgy. That's another way of doing this - one for the week / one for the weekend. I've actually just departed that scene for the 1st time since 1994 - well, probably not quite true. I had 3 weekend cars and one of those long standers had to go, along with the daily mile muncher, in order to get this WRX. Richard Burns once said:- "I save my speed for the rally stage. On the roads, I drive like a Nun. Doesn't mean I don't like fast cars - I just know where it matters to drive them fast". Love that quote.

People - thanks for your responses! You have sort of all confirmed what I thought. It just confused me because on the test drive of it from the dealer, the sales guy said we needed to stop at the fuel station before we do too much mileage and promptly placed 95 in there. When he got back in the car, I asked him why 95. He just responded that this was OK for this motor. Anyway, you guys know better and I had a suspicion that a 300bhp motor from smaller displacement requires SUL. So Shell / Tesco's 99 it is. Flowman - you're doing well to get 36. I thought I was creeping along nicely at 32 and that's sat at 70/75, 6th gear for 40 miles. But you thrash my economy! And I agree about your sentiments re the bollox the reviewers give out. I too was worried about 20mpg that they reported and decided just to go for it and see. Tidgy - for a decade, I spent trawling through 35k miles per annum in a diesel because economy was my no.1 concern. I binned that idea in 2013 and started running motors that could achieve 30-35mpg if careful, but still working through 30k+ p/a. There are 2 ways to this. If you are only concerned about economy, buy a boring Euro econo-box. If you are concerned about economy but want style, buy a Scooby. You can make a Scooby more economical by being a little gentler on the right foot - but get some shift out of it when required. You can't make a boring econo-box interesting or faster. That's my view. I think some of us can have our cake and eat it with these.

Sorry people - dumb question from the back of the class. I've just bought one of these late versions (post 2014) and was told by the dealer that standard unleaded fuel was fine. I've previously had 2 high powered Legacy TT's that were meant to be run on SUL, due to be mapped to 100+RON in the east. But that was specific to their mapping, not really their power. However, sometimes, these both crossover as many of you know with tuned UK Scoobies. The handbook does mention 98RON which is a bit of a giveaway. But I don't know whether that is just advisable or mandatory. I am now confused - are you guys running yours on SUL or standard fuel ? Thanks people.

Just as a recommendation on fuel pump in case people want additional suggestions, as Bob Rawle seems to always recommend these - HRC pumps seem good as well. I had one in a Legacy TT for about 5/6 years - no issues. You can find them on ebay or he does have a website. Rob is a good guy there and knows his stuff.

Hello Geoff - fancy meeting up with you on here. Well, it is a Subaru forum for all models, I guess, so shouldn't really be a surprise. Thanks Richie. Thought I recognised Gambit on here as well as he lurked on the Legacy forum as well, giving some good advice on meets around the country. Anyway, I'll sort some piccies out - here is one for the mo.

Hello people, Thought I would introduce myself and say Hi. I am known in other forums for my monologues - so please excuse the length of some of my posts. I bought this car about 2 weeks ago after being messed about by Ford dealers not wanting to sell me a new Focus ST and my god, am I please I am in a Subaru - both from the car and a dealer service aspect. I've been a long standing Subaru owner but this is my first in the Impreza / Forester / WRX size. I have been part of the JDM Legacy clan for many years, owning 2 x TT Legacies (GTB & B4 RSK) simultaneously for 7 years, when the GTB entered my fleet in early 2010. The B4 was a car I was never going to replace and was going to be with me until the grave. Having owned it since it was 3 years old and being (or thought to be) the longest owner of one B4 in the UK at 14 years, it was time to say good bye to it when the WRX turned up. Quite sad to see the B4 go as when I bought the car, McRae & Makinen (the Macs) were both charging around the world rally stages and Solberg was yet to win a championship in the Impreza. But that is sometimes how things pan out, as you all will know, and you leave behind the past into (hopefully) better motors. The dream of owning that one for 50 years was not to be and I am sure there will be some regret in time that I have sold it. Not because of the REX but because it was a garage queen car that did only 30000 in my ownership and was in really good shape. So onto this REX then. So I thought I had left all the strange and odd stuff behind me when I bought this standard old UK STi of 2.5 years old a couple of weeks back. Clearly not. The B4 had some stories to tell and certainly when it was in the east for its first 3 years. Only the people in the east understood them initially and when I placed mine on the UK roads, it was a bit of a sight, as there weren't (m)any about. So what's with this WRX ? Well, it's code as Ice Silver colour (or plain silver to you and I). Now, I have been told that these never came in that colour. They certainly aren't in the hand book. Perhaps they were and the dealer is spinning a yarn. But I was told that, as retail customers, they couldn't be bought new and only IM could have these cars for their own stock. (IM = International Motors or Subaru UK, for the few who don't know). That's not all. £3000 of equipment was placed on the car by IM at 18 months old - body kit, cat back pipes, Alcon front rotors and upgraded pads, 19" alloys, stereo upgrade (although that stereo has been removed - funny that). It's almost as if it had a service in Nov 2015 and IM have done a number on it (a car that's 18 months old). What was going on ? I am sure I'll unearth it when I get in touch with someone at IM. Another thing - it was sold new and resided here in Essex but was registered in B'ham. It should have a "E" reg for Essex but has a "B" for B'ham. It's done 4000 miles but belonged to a company 120 miles away. It belonged to IM Technical dept as well - a dept that doesn't have cars belonging to them. What on earth ??? I'll get some piccies up soon and then you can all tell me whether this is a strange one - certainly the colour - or not.