KiwiJoe

It comes stock with 134kW, with an overboost to 149kW (for 20 seconds when you jam on the accelerator, resetting every time you take the foot off, so pretty much always). Most of the OTT tunes bump it up to around 160kW (including the Mountune). I had a Bluefin tune (162kW claimed), Mountune short-shift kit, and a CPE engine mount. The factory tyres are RE050As so only 'OK' for grip, and not great in the cold (but still better than the Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres on the WRX: what were you thinking Subaru?) I was looking at the Quaife LSD, but soon came to realise that the two-door just wasn't family friendly (moment of realisation came a few months ago when I went to pick up some KEF floorstanders and had to use the wife's Honda Jazz because they wouldn't fit in my car. The embarrassment). I could see it wouldn't be a long-term ownership. I tried the updated Focus ST as well, but the FWD put me off, as did the problems I've seen with the 2.0 ecoboost (the 1.6 is totally solid in comparison, with people getting 400HP with totally stock internals). The WRX is a manual Premium. It's way more practical, much faster, but less goofy fun (brakes and gearbox are a big step down from the Fiesta, but I'll work on those. Not much I can do about the lightness and go-kart factor: WRX is the same basic size and weight as my old Legacy). I only have 250 km on it ATM, so hopefully shifting will smooth itself out a bit over the next few months.

If it had four doors like the US version I might have, but two doors with small ones is a pain. Plus a tiny FWD with 160kW meant non-stop tyre spinning any time it was wet, which kinda suck after years of AWD traction. Super fun little car otherwise.

After a year away from Subaru, when I went from this (Subaru Legacy GT): To this (Ford Fiesta ST): I just went to this (Subaru WRX):

Swapped this: For this: First time in many years I haven't had a Subaru in the garage.

Huh, so they do. Given the ratio of EJ25s to FA20Fs, that Trademe ad is doing a great job ensuring the exhaust doesn't get bought.

It's an exhaust for a JDM-only MY13 FA20F DIT Legacy (which is very rare here: just one on trademe at the moment AFAIK) and the OP has the conventional old EJ25.

Won't fit...

LOL. 240kW stock? Seller's been telling you porkies.

Goes hard for wot it iz.

All it does is change the throttle response (and shift points for autos), so use which ever you feel like. It's just a gimmick that has no impact on engine performance. Before I got custom tunes for each of them, I always found Intelligent too slow to react and Sport Sharp too touchy for stop start traffic, so usually used Sport 90% of the time.

It's really a bit of marketing smoke and mirrors. The automatic 03-09s are rated at 191kW and the manuals 206kW, but the auto power is rated at 6000 RPM while the manual is rated at 6400 RPM. In reality the difference is negligible (the pre-facelift manuals may have had a bit more on top with their bigger turbos, but after 2006 they both got the same units). Both manuals and autos are rated with the same maximum torque of 343 N-m at 2400 RPM, and it's torque that really matters (manufacturers trying to preserve their automatic transmissions drop torque, not horsepower). The biggest difference is the loss from the automatic box, not the engines themselves.

Might have already been posted, but I thought this was pretty good. [video=youtube;Dikq-9gLocs]

Got them on trademe. The brake bulbs are red 7443s with dual brightness. Insanely bright 30 Watt Crees. Can also get them in from deal extreme or gearbest. Quite a bit cheaper, but the usual long wait.

Replaced the reversing bulbs and the front fog bulbs in the BL5 with Cree LEDS to go with the brake lights I did a few months ago. Only park lights to go.

I have one from Jaycar. Paid an auto sparky to put it in. Takes a standard SIM card, so runs me about $20 every four months or so to run. I can check my car's location and journeys from a website, or on my phone. There are various companies that offer tracking services, but their monthly rates are stupidly high for what they provide.

I've got green stuff on my BL5 GT. They're OK, but dust like crazy and don't have a whole lot of bite when cold. Had a few interesting moments on long stretches on the motorway, but worked great on windy mountainous stretches of road (Chch to Akaroa) and aren't too noisy.

Because a $1000 stereo is worthless if you can't actually use it. I kept mine for a few months, but got so sick of not knowing what half the buttons did that I replaced it. Ended up a great decision.

I don't see may badly behaved Subarus here (at least during the day). Mainly tradies in their vans and Rangers/Hiluxes doing stupid ****, and people running red lights (red means go!). Nearly driven up the back of a few people movers driven by (I'm guessing) Philippino building crews. Usually crawling along at 30-40 in 60 zones.

Put in a dashcam. Now to record some of the awesome Christchurch driving I see most days!

No, he shut up shop a while ago unfortunately. There are a couple of alternatives about, but my experiences with them haven't been great.

Anyone know where I can get some dynamat (or similar) acoustic insulation installed in Christchurch? It looks pretty straightforward to install, but as I want to get rid of some rattles I don't want to go around pulling any panels off myself (and probably making things worse in the process). Any suggestions?

Pulled out the DAS6 random orbital polisher and gave it a full machine cut and polish. After using Meguiar's Ultimate Waterless Wash and Wax for the last couple of months, the convenience of the stuff is really starting to lose out to the annoying holograms and tiny scratches it leaves. All gone now!

I found a post from a JDM 5MT owner with a VF44, so it looks like both the VF44 and VF45 were used in autos and manuals.

My B was registered in Japan in Feb 07, so a MY06.

I have an automatic 2007 JDM facelift 2.0 GT, and decided to take a look, expecting either a VF38 or a VF45. Nope. It's a VF44. Here's a picture I took (which was an absolute bastard to get, even with a DSLR and a tripod):