GravelBen

Bigger doesn't always mean better - ie the BH has a thinner rear sway bar than the BG because it has a better rear suspension design and doesn't need it as much. As with anything in suspension there are compromises both ways, a stiffer sway bar does reduce body roll but at the expense of also reducing independent wheel travel and response over bumps.

That one doesn't sound like it! Some later Imprezas do but not sure when they started using them.

6-speed is strongest but a lot heavier as well. IMO you'd have to be running some serious torque (or abuse) to find the limits of the later 5-speed (TY754).

;D Can't believe I hadn't seen that before!

Comparing treadwear ratings doesn't always seem to mean much in the real world though, especially between different manufacturers. FWIW I got much better life from RE001 than I ever had from T1R or GSD3 - the centre of the tread probably wore at a similar rate but the soft sidewalls of the T1R and GSD3 chewed out a lot faster and were a lot more vulnerable to getting sliced up and punctured on gravel.

Giving possible troll the benefit of the doubt... Full cages are designed to be used with buckets, harnesses and helmets. A cage without those things (especially the helmet) causes much greater risk of serious injury/death from otherwise minor incidents when you smack your head on a bar. Half cage entirely behind the seats is ok though if your head can't reach it.

My 2002 GTB has a 64L tank, no reason any other BH5 should be different. Seems to be 10-12L left when the fuel light first comes on though. My old '97 TSR was 60L tank, think the '90 VZ and Leone were 60 as well. Dunno what the people saying 40 have been smoking! The MX5 has a tank that small ETA: '98 250T is also 64L according to http://english.auto.vl.ru/catalog/subaru/legacy_wagon/1998_6/28526/

dropped an 8mm spanner down between turbo and heatshield once, took ages to get the thing out! :-[ Managed to poke and wiggle it with a long piece of wire until it dropped out the bottom.

Depends on spec I guess, I think TS-R's have a viscous LSD.

Go to pic in fb, right-click and copy image location. post in here in between but with no spaces in between. Job done

Couple cm on the ground in southland, just been out teaching my bro how to slide his Silvia in it. Good fun.

That sounds about what I'd expect, slightly better than my '02 GTB. Best I've had is 8.7, and averaged 9.2 over a 2600km road trip while making pretty good time. Usually average 10-11ish with a mixture of cold start town driving and a few open road trips. I find around 10-12% difference between 95 and 98 too.

Some shots from saturday, good times as usual. Heaps more here: http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e392/GravelBen/Catlins%20Rally%202011/?start=all

A few bubbling/gurgling noises from the heater are pretty common and nothing to worry about AFAIK.

Whats with the BH-hate on here? Sure the 4th-gen might be a bit better but its not like they're bad cars, much better than BG's for a start! And yes I like the TT setup too, smooth linear power delivery from 2000rpm right through to 7500. As for problems, the only one I've had in 40,000km is a dud MAP sensor which I replaced for $40.

2002 will be Rev-D facelift as they brought that out mid-01. Maintenance-wise pretty much what others have said - don't drive it hard until properly warmed up, feed it 98 if possible, don't worry about turbotimer just drive gently/off boost the last minute or two of a trip. Use fully synthetic oil, I prefer 5w40 but some people go for 5w30. Factory schedule is every 10k but if you drive it hard often you may way to change it every 5k instead - generally I do oil every 5k and filter every 10k.

+1, mine was a shocker for this until I took them off.

I know how they work, I'm just stirring because it isn't really the same as ski skins which slide in one direction and grip in the other.

They only grip in one direction?

I've had T1Rs and Eagle F1 (GSD3)s previously, now using RE001 and wouldn't go back. Grip is pretty similar in general (RE001 better when warm, T1R slightly better cold+wet), but the real kicker is sidewall strength - in that regard T1Rs are hopeless. I found them too pressure sensitive, chewed out the shoulders pretty fast and were very susceptible to sidewall cuts on gravel, in fact I think they all died from punctures/cuts or uneven wear before the main tread wore out. Eagle F1s had a more consistent feel than T1R but were still vulnerable to punctures, and like the T1R are extremely floaty on gravel - no surprise when they have a very similar tread pattern. RE001 are better in every way except cold+wet grip as mentioned above, and there isn't much difference there either. I wouldn't mind trying the RE050 at some stage though, apparently they have similar performance but last longer.

Was a bit slippy there (much more than it looked), had it hanging a 45° angle on the camber for a good 100m+ along a straightish bit of road! Fun and games.

Bit of snow to slide around in today:

Maybe more XK8 for the grey one, blobbier than a DB7. Almost a bit of current model BMW 3-series coupe in th side shape too. Saw the same 550/575 in the black one tho!

Thanks, yep been shooting rally photos in my spare time for a few years now, good excuse to get out round the stages.

Welcome aboard