Subaru Version 10 STI - Hawkeye

[GregR]

Anyone know of any litchfield type 25 hawks or type 20 'sharks' please let me know! I posted on SIDC re car choice and got three replies over a month - was it always like that?

[Tommy Twist]

I've owned two 2.5L Impreza Hawkeyes - a WRX and an STI.

Litchfield rebuilds aside, I personally would avoid the 2.5L models altogether – the 2.5L was it seems nowhere near as robust its 2.0L predecessor, as a result of an inadequate cooling system and, IIRC, thin cylinder walls, and also cast pistons that have a tendency to turn to mush. Having said that, the piston failure is arguably a symptom of other shortcomings in the engine design than a weakness of the piston itself... nevertheless, repairs to the flat-4 are hellishly expensive – even head gaskets, which are an 'engine out' job... £££££!

Doubtless some would dismiss my comments as internet scaremongering, but (regrettably) I have personal experience and plenty of anecdotal evidence from other local owners and local repairers, all of which leaves me in no doubt that these issues are very commonly-suffered by Hawkeye and Hatch Imprezas.

2.0L STI9 would be my pick of the "newage" Imprezas – that's a "late Blobeye" in Scooby parlance. Other than the tougher (forged piston?) engine, it's mechanically almost identical to the Hawkeye model, and has a lot of features that the earlier newage Scoobies lack – DCCD, wider track, larger hubs... plus some other stuff that escapes my memory. Peakier torque curve than the 2.5L models, and arguably uglier than the Hawkeye, but better that than dipping into the mortgage for engine repairs! Cheaper road tax than the majority of Hawkeyes too

Fun car if you like the turbo thang - even the profoundest of diddies can easily drive one silly quick without getting into bother. Obviously extremely tunable too, being turbo'd (I never bothered - made do with 276bhp, still broke). Not very involving in standard trim though, numb and overly-light steering, nose heavy... even my current 'family barge' BM 330i SE is more involving (certainly more balanced). However, tightening the Impreza's suspension here and there helps bring it alive.

Give me a shout if you have any questions!

[gambler]

Anyone know of any litchfield type 25 hawks or type 20 'sharks' please let me know! I posted on SIDC re car choice and got three replies over a month - was it always like that?

It is worth checking scoobynet or possibly 22b.com Greg. There is not a lot of activity on SIDC of late.

Litchfield cars are a great package. If I was to buy an impreza, id be looking for a JDM (Jap import) SpecC or to give it the full name. WRX STI Spec C RA. They are the lightest and most hardcore models with quite a few trick bits, like different lower arms for more caster etc. A specC with a remap and some good suspension is a great alternative to a type 25 and probably faster too

[pete]

I had a 53 plate WRX PPP following advice from john.

Bought from S&S in Ayr. Great main dealer service. Very quick car, low key without the big spoiler. No issues at all with it - the main dealer warranty even had them changing brake pads after I cooked them.

The brakes were weaker than the STi and not up to track days. Otherwise the car was very very quick, a tad un-involving and liked a drink. Low 20s, high teens on fuel but bad weather had no effect on the speed you could drive it at.

The fuel economy was the reason it was sold (and needed the cash to build a garage) but I loved owning it. Bulletproof, very quick. And really practical!

[PhilA]

havent had that model, but have had a scooby - my99 uk turbo (with PPP, prodrive brakes and other bits).
2nd best car ive owned.
had it for 40k miles, 2 years.
nothing went wrong with it. quality car.
was fun to just get in and drive anywhere. The soundtrack is awesome.

i regret selling it as quick as I did. but then i needed to change direction, and get some money back... and I realised my dream of owning an elise (the best car ive owned) because I changed direction.

its also how i met John and other friendly folk

[Doc883]

Just read this over on Pistonheads:
RIP SUBARU IMPREZA = It's true, in the UK at least - due to falling sales, Subaru is pulling the plug to focus on its SUVs.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=26839

[campbell]

Quite sad to hear this.

[PhilA]

if they make an efficient engine, the rest was fine ...

[campbell]

Their Boxer Diesel seemed quite a good effort but doesn't have the cachet for STI models I suppose.

I always hoped they'd deliver a hot version with mega torques aka Alpina D3 or BMW 330D, but maybe the market research said "no".

Glad we owned a 99 wagon in its heyday...but also glad we didn't buy another with the heart (which we nearly did, more than once)...it would have crippled us.

RIP "Scooby".

[ClarkyBoy]

Thanks for all of your responses,

I tried to buy a black one today, 2006 STI wth factory PPP, however, due to my insurance not having settled the Discovery and it now being registered as a write off..... The finance has been rejected!

pretty gutted as i had manged to strike a pretty solid deal on the car

with a bit of luck it wont be sold come jaunary (whihc i have been told is the earliest that my finance will be shown as cleared for the Disco.

so p1ssed off about this!! i dont even have a courtesy car as they considered it a write off as soon as it happened, without an actual assesment - they just looked at 2 pictures i sent them (which surprises me considering value etc?)

looks like i am going to be slumming it for a while in an old T reg corsa 1.2 auto..... that my mate has let me use (thank god otherwise i would have no car at all!!

doesnt look like the police are managing to get anywhere with the other driver either, but my insurance now have his details also, so they will persue from their end....

its just just a long process... all i wanted to do was go to work! now i just want my disco back, you totally miss having such a practical car... especially while still moving stuff for the house etc.

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[scottishselise]

Feel your pain

[neil]

Does anyone know much about the new shape Imprezas? I've come to the conclusion that one of these would be an ideal daily driver for me

[Dark]

We've got a 2008 Impreza 5-dr (non-turbo).
The majority of the engine, gearbox & drivetrain is carried over from the old model.
Rear suspension is different, they did away with the McPherson struts & springs, the tail can feel a bit vague as a consequence.
Boot is a reasonable size but has a very high floor so doesn't fit as much as you'd think.
Interior space is good, seats are very good as always, trim is typical Subaru.
Petrol consumption on the standard 2.0 is 26-27 around town, 33-35 on the motorway. The WRX or STI is about the same unless you boot it!
There was a WRX-S model which I've driven and wish I'd bought. It's a great compromise of price, performance & economy if you can't stretch to a STI.
Don't buy the 1.5 unless 4WD is your only concern, very slow but still thirty.
The early 2.5 STI engines had issues with melted pistons, fixed by a remap.
The 2.0 turbo diesel is very good but still very expensive.

[graeme]

... Especially on avoiding early STis even if they have had the remap.

Nearly bought a new STi a few months ago. Really loved it, and nothing at all put me off it except the thought of monthly payments for a new one vs buying a used Hawkeye for cash.

Don't pay anything like list for a new one.

Cabin is a nice place to be... decent kit levels, nice design, usual crappy plastics. STi seats are fantastic!

4-door looks better with the optional low spoiler IMO.

[neil]

If I go for one it would have to be the STI. Fuel economy isn't a concern as I wont be doing a big mileage. I'd be going for a second hand one - £15k looks like enough to get a semi decent 2 year old which seems pretty good value on the face of it.