Trying to find a replacement for both the Impreza and EVO 6 was never going to be easy.  Like most when it was launched, I also didn't like the looks of the new WRX, although these could be improved with new headlamps, rear spoiler and some colour coding, the extra weight it now carried hadn't been balanced with some extra power from the standard engine either. 250 instead of 215 bhp would have balanced it up, like the Import WRX. The P1 was a beautiful car, and the ultimate for the classic shape, but the Impreza's original design was from 1992 and I thought it was time to move on to something new; likewise the 22b - a few years ago I would have cut off my right hand for one, but like the P1 it was time for something new. The irony was that the 22B the EVO 6 had originally been traded for, was up for sale late last year, but I only thought about it for 2 seconds until I remembered the life it had led. Oh well, that's what we buy them for.

That really left the EVO 7 or the STi 7. I did like the EVO 7, I drove one for an afternoon and was a passenger in another at a track day. And I was impressed, the handling and grip was better than the 6, and despite the extra weight and size, I felt it went better too. It really was a close decision, but I couldn't get it out of my head the problems and experiences I had with the EVO 6, once bitten twice shy I think the saying is. I wanted something to last me a good few years, and I didn't think the EVO was the car to do that without problems. It maybe is, but after the EVO 6, it was understandable I was wary.

So early 2002 I had a test drive in the UK STi 7. First impression was how well built it was and how solid it felt, quite an improvement on the classic Impreza. The brakes were the same Brembos as the EVO's so again quite an improvement on older Impreza's, but with only 261bhp and weighing in at 1470kg, that left it trailing behind EVO's , P1's, and PPP tuned WRX's or Turbo's. Sure the exhaust is very restrictive - replacing that along with an ECU-TEK conversion or the Prodrive pack would bring things back up to 300bhp. Fine I'll have one, £26k or £27.5k for the Prodrive styling. I'll take the standard one, fit a Rallytech rear spoiler and WRC front grille and save £1000, and that would go towards the 300bhp conversion. My mind was made up, I made a few phone calls for good deals since I had no trade-ins, then a problem, a big problem, I drove an Import STi 7 with a 300+ bhp as standard, this is how the car should have been. The best quote I saw was on Scoobynet (sorry I don't remember who said it) "They take an STI 7, take off all the good bits to reduce the power, then sell them back to you later for £2000." That got me thinking, and as I didn't have a trade in anyway, a car was sought. I bought a new imported STi 7, I had to wait for 10 weeks for it and some of the paperwork delayed things, but it was still less money than a new UK WRX. In total a saving of nearly £6k, probably more as I had intended buying a 300 bhp upgrade.

Being an import, it had no security, so some of the saving was offset on buying a tracking device and top of the range alarm. I won't say what ones, only that they are different to the UK STi's. So if a thief knows his STi's and where bits are hidden, he's in for a surprise. 

OK, so what about the warranty everyone asks, well I took out a 1 year warranty through the motor trade. To be honest, it's probably not worth the paper it's written on, so effectively it's worthless for any big problems, smaller problems will probably be okay. So what's the worst case scenario - Okay, I drop it from 6th gear at 70mph straight into 1st gear totally destroying the engine and gearbox, both only fit for the bucket. Well a brand new engine and 6 speed gearbox - trade from Japan with a 10 week wait - £4000.

So what's the differences between the UK model and the Japanese import car. I think I've spotted most of them, but there may be more. The main one is the extra power - 50bhp more (I'll come back to this later); Gas HID headlamps rather than projector bulb units; front titanium strut brace; shorter gearing /1000 RPM (22.7 against 24.5 for the UK); manual and automatic intercooler spray; tinted rear windows; rear wash wipe; coin tray in the dash next to the cup holder; electric folding exterior mirrors; warning buzzer for reverse; clutch only starting and 40kg less weight. 1430kg against 1470kg. I'm not sure were all the weight is saved from, but a few things the UK cars have that the imports don't. Folding centre arm rest in the rear seats together with a 3 point centre seat belt  - the import car still has the older style centre lap belt and no folding arm rest. And my biggest loss, which I suppose has to be balanced against all the gains - no bright switch. 

One of the first things done to the car, after the security, was to have the 2 front side windows tinted, more for looks since it looked a little odd than anything else.  Magma in Bathgate suggested a 35% tint - not as dark as the rears but still legal. They did an excellent job, and only £60. Next was the rear spoiler - now changed to a Rallytech spoiler and it fits straight through the original boot holes. I've also had a WRC front grille painted up for the car but it hasn't been fitted yet, as I've just acquired a front bumper from a WRC Rally car. Similar to the Prodrive style but with a few more vents to cool the engine and brakes, so we'll try this first. The only other change at this early stage was PIAA bulbs for the main beam, the HID units are for the dipped beam, but still stay on for the main beam also. The PIAA's have an output of 110w from a 60w unit and give a brighter whiter light.

The car had it's first track day at the end of September, and ran very well. The standard Subaru brake pads need upgraded for track days as they were a bit soft - fine for the road but not the track. Not sure what to go for yet, it's the same pads front and rear as the EVO, and that worked well with Mintex, so maybe those.

In October the car was still mechanically standard so I took it along to a rolling road day, to see what it could do. Now most importers quote 310bhp for a Japanese spec STi (the "official" figure is 276bhp), against 261bhp for the UK model. But is that just talk for sales? The car was the only new shape Impreza that took part that day, and after some of the classic Impreza's, it was duly strapped to the rollers. First run - it got to about 5000 rpm, then tried to jump out of the rollers. They tightened the straps and added some more to be sure. Second run - just short of 7000 RPM and the same again, it tried to jump out of the rollers. That was enough, but even without hitting maximum power - about 7500 RPM it still put out 296.5 bhp. So 310 wouldn't be far away if they could keep it down on the rollers. No other Impreza had a problem that day, and it wasn't until later that I checked some data - the new Impreza has a longer wheelbase than the old model , but the rollers were never adjusted to suit. I have since been told by another UK STi owner, his done exactly the same on a different day. 

I had been looking about for different exhausts for the car, but having read about the boost spiking problems after the catalysts had been removed on UK cars, I decided to play safe and keep the down pipe and catalyst for now, but to change the rest of the system. I looked at a few types but went for the ultimate, an HKS Drager. The quality of this exhaust is superb and the welding is a work of art, it's a pity it's tucked away under the car, it should be on view. The sound this exhaust makes is the best I've ever heard, not sure if the neighbours like it, but it also comes with an insert for the tailpipe that quietens it back down if your making a long journey and want to arrive without a headache. When this was fitted I decided to have another go on a rolling road - different place - for a before and after. Now I will say that all rolling roads are different, different days, different temperatures, etc. When this was done it was early December and the outside temperature was freezing. 316 bhp as standard, then after the exhaust was fitted 331bhp. Now I was happy. A 15bhp gain on an import car, for a UK car probably expect 25bhp more - more restrictive exhaust to start with. Changing to an HKS down pipe would add another 5 bhp or so.

Recently I had a look at the rear lights, ABCDesign have 2 styles - Lexus and Red/Clear. The Lexus look great on a silver or black car, but strangely I thought didn't match the WR Blue. However the red/clear ones do, so these were fitted. The bonus being they look very similar to the new rear lights fitted to the 2003 model.

So what next?   Does it ever end?   Probably not.  A set of gauges for the dash top is the first priority, then if there's a proper cure for boost spiking - the downpipe. I would be interested in other opinions on that one.

So is it the ultimate car I was looking for. Well for the money; Yes; it has the performance, sound, built quality, brakes and comfort. As for the looks probably not, the HID headlamps on the STi do make a big difference together with the rear spoiler and the car being colour coded as standard. If Subaru wanted a rounded headlamp - something more like the new Mercedes C-class would have been better. I've also seen the new 2003 Impreza and those headlamps could have been better too, they have a great lump of orange plastic for the indicators in them - what's wrong with a silver/orange bulb. I won't even mention the new US dragster bonnet scoop. I hope the 2002 one fits to change it back (no it doesn't). Anyway it will give them an excuse for another facelift.

APRIL 2003 Update. Well, the standard Subaru brake pads have now been replaced with Mintex 1155, and the improvement is night and day. I didn't go for dash top gauges but have instead fitted a PSi 3 data dash. This fits under the radio so it also gave me the excuse to change the standard stereo / speakers to Pioneer items. The PSi unit is a great piece of kit and simply plugs into the USB port under the dash. It displays everything the ECU reads and can be set to show alarm settings for boost spikes etc. It also has the ability to show any error codes - past or present. I've also fitted a new Front Lip Spoiler and as you can see from the new photos, it definitely finishes off the front end styling.

So back to the previous question. What next?    Driving Lamps into the fog lamp area, but small ones - P1 style.   Lowered, not sure with what yet - maybe Eibach's.  Longer term --- ECU up-grade and a front mounted intercooler. Is 400bhp possible?

September 2003 Update. Driving Lamps have now been fitted into the front bumper. I went for a set of small round Hella units to match the HID round lights in the main headlamp bezel. Also fitted are a set of mesh fog lamp covers, painted WR Blue with the STi graphic stencilled on. Probably not as good as a set of PIAA's, but they work well. The lowered springs are on hold now at least until I re-lay my drive at home. It slopes too much at one point and would rip off the front splitter.  Plans for the engine up-grade are moving along. It's likely to be done in 2 stages, the first being a replacement ECU along with a new fuel pump and fuel regulator. The second stage is a replacement turbo and front mounted intercooler.  Either that or a STI C-spec. 

I've had a Bell 855 radar detector for 4 years now, but recently I noticed it wasn't working very well, so took it along to Networx in Lanark. The radar trumpet had failed, so for £80.00 I traded it in for one of the latest Bell units. This now works on twice the distance of the older model. I've also now acquired (for research and trial purposes of course) a new Origin B2 satellite receiver. This is the replacement for the original Origin Blue i, and using pre-programmed positions tells you when you approach any speed cameras / accident black spot areas. So with both units, every type of situation is covered.

Last month, I noticed that all 4 tyres were starting to get a little low on tread. I priced up 4 replacements - total cost about £450.00, but paying an extra £50.00 I bought a set of delivery mileage STi 8 alloys with new tyres. So or £50.00 I've got a set of STi 8 alloys as spares or track day tyres. I've also bought the full Swissol polishing kit, and without a doubt the shine on the car is probably better than when the car was new. All I need to do is keep it that way with a regular polish. Easier said than done for me.  

2008 Update. Well it's been a while since this was updated, but anyway I still have the car.................... Externally, the car has had a few different specs. In April 2004, I fitted the Rallytech WRC front bumper. This was very similar to the Prodrive models bumper but had extra cooling slots for brakes and engine. This I kept on the car for about 18 months, when it was removed and replaced with the original STi bumper and lip spoiler. At the rear the Rallytech spoiler was replaced with one of our own STi 8 spoilers, not for any particular reason, just for something different. The rear also had a Lester rear window spoiler fitted, but this has since been replaced with a Hawk-eye roof spoiler as fitted to the 2006 models.

The HKS exhaust was also replaced with a Hayward and Scott one. My WRX ra track car had the Hayward and Scott exhaust on it, so it was just a case of swapping them over, and the track car got the HKS Super Drager.

Track days continued up until 2006 when I bought my track car, all without any problems. I continued to use Mintex 1155 pads all round, been very happy with these. I've been through various tyre brands; Bridgestone RE-70's, again bought with anthracite STi alloys (great in the dry, and actually better then expected in the rain for a tyre with little tread patern); Toyo T1-R's (great when new but performance dropped off badly when about half worn, very disappointing really); Goodyear F1's (great all round tyre, and far better than the Toyo's). For the track days I used Yokohama T-006 moulded slicks (not a bad tyre, but not the best out there, but I did get them very cheap, so good value for money and it did save my road tyres).

Mechanically the car has been superb, helped by regular servicing (every 5000 miles) using Millers oils and fluids. A recent bhp test showed the car was putting out 335bhp, up a few bhp from 2002 when the engine was newer.

So after nearly 6 years and 45,000 miles, the car hasn't missed a beat. And really for a car like this to have not had a single problem is very reassuring for the Subaru brand. It still looks in great condition, and I still use the Swissol Polishing Kits.

So what's next?.............. Well, probably nothing. After nearly 6 years, it's probably time for something else. I have been looking but nothing has caught my eye yet. I'm not a fan of the new hatchback, but it will probably grow on me. My wife does like it, so that's a start. I would like something rare, and I always liked the fact this car was slightly different from the masses being a JDM model with more power and a better spec. I seem to be setting a trend here; but both the EVO and WRX ra track car came from a good friend of mine, and he currently owns a very rare 2006 Hawk-eye Spec-C ra. So we shall see !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!