Simon C

I'm going to speak up as another V7 RA Spec C owner, but without all the smack talk I'm going to assume that you're like me here. Relatively novice performance driver, likes to go to the track but only manages to do so very irregularly, usually drives the car as a daily driver in town to work, occasionally likes to let loose on a deserted public road at night. If you want to do all of this in a quiet, comfortable car, get a V8. End of story. You can also do all of this in a V8 that has a piddly little fuel tank, lots of open road noise and tire roar, no boot carpet, harder seats, no remote boot release, no airbags. When you drive non-car people around as passengers, you will find yourself having to make excuses why it's so noisy and raw, and if they drive it, you'll have to warn them that the steering is a really tight ratio so be careful. Such a V8 is called a V7 Type RA Spec C. BUT you will also have several thousand dollars worth of saved money in your pocket, or you will have a V8 STi caning monster because you spent all the savings on a full 3" exhaust, reflash, some semislick road legal tires, and possibly some coilovers. This of course will all be a complete waste of money, because as a novice driver you never had enough testicles to take a V8 STi to its handling limits on a public road, much less a modified V7 Type RA Spec C. Now, the reverse. You're a lover of fast cars. You understand them, you relish the feel of chassis balance through the tactile surface of the c0ckpit, and you fulfil your urges by going to regular track days. You take your V8 STi to the track, and have a lot of fun until you notice that it rolls a bit in corners, understeers a bit, and that a hot blonde chick in the modified Evo 7 keeps passing you. Too bad, you spent your money on sound deadening, comfy seats, electric windows and a computerised differential. Or you could rock on up to the track in a modified V7 Type RA Spec C, spank the blonde chick as you come up her tailpipe while taking her from behind.... ;D Of course, if you have enough money, then all this becomes irrelevant as you can modify any car to get rid of its weaknesses and make it the way you like. The sky is the limit, but conversely I think using the success of $1m WRC cars as a way to argue the benefits of factory cars is pretty stupid. The fact is that as the owner of a modified V7 Type RA Spec C, given then choice again between a V8 and a V7 Type RA Spec C, I would go for a V8 Spec C or a V9.

Are you crazy? I'm not taking an explosive on an aeroplane or posting it in the mail! If some aeroplane goes down in flames, I want no guilt on my part....

I've just harvested the front passenger airbag dashboard cover to replace the one in my car that is covered in glue and boy racer emblems. I'm left with a canister of unexploded airbag explosive. What's the best way to get rid of it, aside from a Guy Fawkes stunt? Free to a good home in Auckland, BTW.

I have those pink bits. Yes, they are very nice

This is my understanding of how Spec C nomenclature works: V7 Type RA Type RA Spec C (applies to both 16" and 17" models) (there was no V7 STi Spec C, only V7 STi Type RA Spec C) What you're calling my car (V7 "Spec C") is clearly labelled WRX Impreza STi Type RA Spec C on the standard boot badging. My car didn't come optioned with a spoiler, and certainly the official pictures from STi clearly show the 17" model car as being "Type RA Spec C" without a spoiler. Also, I'm pretty sure that windup windows were the only thing you were able to get them with, electrics were not an option. However mine does have aircon, which I believe was a factory option. I will check the differences between my car and your old one as soon as Scoobydoo and I can get together. Regardless, both were a significantly different car from the plain old Type RA. This page best summarises the differences between Type RA and Type RA Spec C in the V7 cars: http://www.iwoc.co.uk/jpnewagera.html V8 Spec C (applies to both 16" and 17" model) I have only seen a few 16" V8 Spec C around. Like the 16" V7, they lack Brembos, but I can't comment on the electric windows. It also had a budget interior without the STi bucket seats. I have seen a few of and driven a 17" Spec C, and it has Brembos, airbags, central locking, electric windows, as well as black interior trim. Not sure if it had electric wing mirrors. V9 Spec C (includes WR limited special edition) Spec C Type RA Have never seen any of these in the flesh. I understand the standard Spec C to be the V9 update of the V8 Spec C. The Spec C Type RA was a fully optioned out Spec C with all luxuries ticked, including aircon and electrics, as well as carbon front spoiler, rear spoiler from the S202, upgraded Enkei silver alloys, and I think Arai tuned suspension which may have been four point damper adjustable. V10 Spec C Spec C Type RA-R Obviously, the Spec C was the homologation car as in previous years, while the Type RA-R was the special penultimate GDB consumer release.

Won't be there tomorrow, will be in Auckland.

DPI, you sure you're not getting the 17" Type RA Spec C and the regular Type RA mixed up? The Type RA was 90kg heavier than Spec C, lacked the lightweight body panels, etc. Mine was optioned with AC, yes. But I don't see how Subaru would have an options list that would include an aluminium boot lid.

Doesn't your car have an aftermarket Cusco plate diff at the rear? Would have thought it would be more aggressive than the helical unit that comes standard.

My Spec C is the soft one, and it doesn't have electric windows, and it doesn't have airbags. It still has the lightweight glass and panels, as the boot lid in mine is definately aluminium (weighs less than the bonnet!) and the glass is presumedly thinner (it's different to the stuff on normal STi). The only real difference between the hardcore and softcore V7 Spec C was 17"/Brembo/ABS vs 16"/4 pots/DCCD.

Basically a V9 Spec C with all the optional extras + Arai suspension and S202 carbon rear wing. Dependant on condition, looks like a steal for the price.

I'm doing 2900RPM on a Type RA Spec C gearbox.

I heard somewhere though that within reason, it doesn't matter so much what oil you use, as how often it gets changed. Midrange oil changed every 5000km will be better for your engine than top grade stuff changed every 10,000km. For the record, I use Castrol Edge 5-30W every 5000km. Engine ran noticeably quieter. Blew a whole lot of white smoke out the back at first, presumedly old engine deposits being burnt out as the new oil circulated and cleaned things.

It's not hard to get central locking solenoids fitted to go with the alarm.

They run about 20psi of boost, tapers back to 14psi or so at high RPM. Mine made 180kw ATW with a 3" turbo back exhaust, else stock. Leave the top mount intercooler alone, it can support up to 400bhp, you'll just make your car laggy with a FMIC. Go for a 3" turbo back exhaust and remap, that should give you the most gains for your money.

The HSV will probably have the measure of you unless you do a serious launch. I'd spend my money on turbo back exhaust, ECU reflash, and some used STi suspension. That's probably the biggest bang for your buck performance wise. Intake is apparently not a restriction on mildy modified engine.

Those wheels also came on the V9 STi Spec C Type RA, and the V10 STi Spec C Type RA-R. They're a generic STi aftermarket Enkei rim.

If you get another STi and want to fit your snowboard in, don't get a Spec C, as the intercooler spray tank is solidly mounted to the back of the rear seats. Spec C are great drivers cars though. I found the 350Z to be noisy, the interior to be a bit plasticky, the ride quality to be very firm, and the boot to be stupidly tiny. Driving dynamics wise they're very good, but you get very little else for your money. Buy a cheap daily beater, then get a little Lotus 7 replica as your play car.

Should bolt straight in. I don't think strength is really an issue, as long as it does its job acting in compression/tension without developing stress fractures or outright failing structurally.

I did the reverse, tried to put a Forester-spec aftermarket muffler on my V7. The Forester muffler hangs quite a bit lower, and about 5cm longer than what would normally fit a V7 Impreza. So had to get the hangers reattached.

17/20

Interesting. I parked my V7 STi out on the street there for 6 months, including overnight on night shift, and it never got touched....

My rear Bridgestone RE070 tires are into the wear limiters. Would be keen to go with these again. Anyone in Wellington able to source a pair at a good price?

As above, buy DPI's Spec C. Well cared for, very tastefully modified, and it's a Spec C. It's a nice feeling getting into something that's a little bit special.

Since no-one has yet asked the question, why on earth do the police need IS-F's? Something cheaper would do the job just fine.

There was a V8 Spec C on TradeMe for ages that not only had massive chromies, but was also dumped out so that all the Spec C suspension goodness would have been useless!