WTK: Impreza 2000cc N/A

[djcarbon]

I have the option to buy a 2000cc Impreza and wanted to know if they came that way or if it was a mod or something. I've never owned a Subaru - how are the Impreza parts in Trinidad? Available? Cost? Its a 5 speed manual tranny - could it take boost? How much safely without major engine mods?

[GTi Guy]

they are called 2.0R...if ur planning to boost why not just buy a wrx?

[djcarbon]

Thanks for responding.

Cause I am not planning too. I know that sounds fishy... plus budget... I am looking for an upgrade from what I am driving now. I would consider this to be that. The WRX is a little out of my price range right now. I was more trying to figure out if this Impreza was a good buy as I am getting it for a steal of a deal.

Any ideas on parts availability and so on?

[Flex030]

Just make sure it's a 2.0R and not a 1.6TS you are buying for a steal of a deal

[djcarbon]

All I have thus far is the displacement of the engine - 2000cc

any idea on parts/availability/cost of parts?

That of course is my main concern. Secondarily if there was a turbo kit for it if I wanted to go that direction.

[Flex030]

Subaru parts are accessible and not that expensive as ppl may think

Do not go down that road, it's better to buy a WRX if you want a turbo

[JWT]

Subaru parts are accessible and not that expensive as ppl may think

Do not go down that road, it's better to buy a WRX if you want a turbo

great advice


one of our members has a 2.0 N/A and it runs sweet and handles bess in solodex

[djcarbon]

Well then N/A it will stay. I am considering it heavily as I said and I am probably going to join the ranks soon enough... Any other advice or ideas for a Subaru noob?

[JWT]

yeah parts easy to get most if not all parts are wrx in terms of water pump and seals

just do not rough it up and you orn

enjoy the car

[djcarbon]

Thanks... Could you qualify "rough it up"? My foot is quite heavy...

[neatdrive]

how much a 2.0r sub normaly cost? a good second hand one....

[Alpha_2nr]

Parts for pretty much most Suby's out there are easily available from the firm, and used.

Of course, don't expect prices to be "B14" cheap, but they aren't bad. I've owned my WRX for going on 3 years (sole local owner)....and never had any issues with getting parts...both Gobin and/or the Motorist, will sort out any worries....easy

As for the rough it up comment, frankly, the construction of an Imprea (like most rally bred cars....e.g. an Evo) is far better than your regular gorcery getter. Folks who complain about breakages/swapping amillion parts either abuse their cars heavily (no car is invulnerable to that), and use the wrong parts the first time.


There are only 2 downsides to buying a 2.0GX (pre 06) / 2.0R (post '06)

1) You'll have no scoop => most folks might just think you're another TS

Or......If you do have a scoop, but get owned by a faster car, folks might think you have a riced-out TS.

2) As with most N/A Suby's, they don't give you the rumble throughout the rpm band like WRX's / older STi's do. It's all due to header design.


My 2c.

[djcarbon]

Thanks. Yup getting the car. Been talking to some Aussies on a fantastic forum and they have remedied the subaru burble for N/A engines ^ _ ^

GUIDE: Achieving the Boxer Burble on an NA Subaru

So I should/may be AWD soon... To be blunt though - I hope the car is at least as good as my '01 Lancer... My expectations are that it should be an upgrade as far as:-

FWD < AWD : 1600cc < 2000cc : CVT < 5-speed manual

*fingers crossed*

Car is definitely staying N/A the Brits, Aussies, Tuners here and 2 Mechanics can't be all wrong... ^_^ I am a little disappointed there though... Not because I am thirst for 5psi... but at the general consensus that the EJ20 is a weak engine and cannot take 5 psi. I've seen people do that with my old Lancer up to 7 psi (Malaysia, Singapore, etc.) so I guess if I ever want "more" power its an engine swap to a WRX EJ20T(?)... Question on this though is there an EJ20TT and if yes does it come in any Imprezas?

Thanks for the responses/views so far...

[Alpha_2nr]

^The twin turbo Ej20 came on the older B4 Legacy GT twin turbos.
And frankly, it's kinda lack-lustre performer...stock IMHO...fells just like the other EJ205's. People are often fooled into thinking that twin trubo stock = mad power. Not really......it isn't a parallel turbo setup!

Not much lag, but not much top end either. And there's a nice dead zone when right about where the second turbo kicks in.

Thanks. Yup getting the car. Been talking to some Aussies on a fantastic forum and they have remedied the subaru burble for N/A engines ^ _ ^

GUIDE: Achieving the Boxer Burble on an NA Subaru

Yep, that link doesn't say anything new to what's already been posted in thes section on 'tuner. It all comes down to unequal length headers (header design as I said above)....IF you're willing to change them (along with an ok-ish muffler). But most atermarket companies seem to make equal length versions, as those are the ones that make HP.....so unequal ones are hard to find (and a stock WRX unequal length header won't work on an N/A car.....different setup).

They said it themselves here:

You will never make a Naturally Aspirated Impreza sound exactly like a WRX. However, you can still achieve a nice boxer note. While fitting unequal length headers will give you the closest end result, they are very expensive to import and the improvement both in performance and note over a CAT-Back system with standard headers is simply not justified.

The note/sound just isn't the same.

[djcarbon]

Yah... So don't bother? I was looking at some aftermarket headers on ebay... Does anyone down here do custom headers? I was told that Zola's in El Socorro is a good place to do over the exhaust from headers to barrel. A couple things that I should clarify. I didn't know that there was a thread here on the boxer burble. I am new to the Subie forum. I also will not say aloud where I have come from. I also am a total car noob. I don't ever try to be a ricer so I ask questions most of the time. I don't want the exhaust for the sound only but for whatever minimal performance gains that are achieved. Plus the sound. ^ _ ^

Ok so lemme get this straight. Forget the headers on Ebay, cause they are costly - $240USD, and just get a CAT-Back system. Here's the best question...

What's a CAT-Back system/exhaust? I've asked and gotten nada already. I will do some net research in the interim...

Thanks again for the comments.

[Alpha_2nr]

A cat backl system is just that, from it replaces the exhasut system AFTER (back of) the cats. So in the case of a 2.0L N/A car, this CB exh system will replace everything under the car....except/up to the collecotr main pipe where the cats are.

As for catbacks that you find on "ebay" or on online sites, keep in mind that many of them are for the WRX / STi....and those setups are already too big (3") for a 2.0 N/A car (at stock power levels) and the fit up will be a bit different where it meets the cats.

You still won't get the rumble of the turbo-ed cars, but it should sound ok I guess. An "axle back" exhaust (that is the piping from the rear axle up to the barrel itself) is a shorter/smaller replacement piece, and frankly, is no different from welding on a muffler onto your car, nor does it give any performance improvement to speak of (on stock piping).

So maybe you should consider just going with a good brandname muffler on your stock exh piping, and see if you like how that sounds....as a first attempt.

[djcarbon]

I wasn't looking for sound primarily. Was looking for the usual performance gains of intake and exhaust... I know that you won't get that from a muffler... So I was figuring headers and a 2" pipe and a proper flowing muffler... I heard Zola's in El Socorro could do headers/extractors? Where would I get/make headers for an EJ20?

[bushwakka]

^check jforce i think in barataria

[djcarbon]

jforce? Custom or OEM headers there? and are you still driving the 2.0r? How much of a difference is it to the 1.6TS power-wise?

[GTi Guy]

djcarbon, my sis has a 2.0r 5fwd it feels much much better than a ts.... from the specs 157hp and 0-60mph 8.1s is comparable to a MKIV golf gti n thats a 1.8t so power wise i think is adequate

[djcarbon]

That's great to hear. All my Aussie and British friends find it to be a tad slow... So much so that I was contemplating a small turbo 5 - 7 psi. I keep trying to remember though that them fellas running 2.5, 2.5T, 2.0T and have road so their slow may be our quick and their fast may be our fastest... 157hp is more than my last car... I hope all goes well the ship should arrive on the 30th. I wonder how long to clear boy??? Cause this travelling thing just not cutting it...

[GTi Guy]

yup in austraila n stuff their base models are 2.0 ... but the aussie and brit press usually give the 2.0R a decent rating with decent torque throughout the rev range and with the wrx seats makes a nice package...but i still dnt think u shud turbo..when u fiddle around too much, things tend to happen..30th right there shudnt take too long to clear to i guess.. n parts easy to get from N&M (N&M not as bad as some say parts wise in terms of price and stuff) so no need to worry.... or u mite wana put a lil TS badge on it too and advantage the riced out ts men lol (jokin ah dont downgrade ur car)

[djcarbon]

No plans too... Chan in Sando gave me the best advice. Don't tinker with the car when I get it. Take my time. Drive it for a year or more. Then if I want something more (or else) make decisions. I guess its like the men who buy a car and then paint it immediately. I never understood that either... See the issue at the end of the day was the header. I would have changed the headers and opened the exhaust from the header-back... but if I was to turbo then I have to take out the headers that I would have made for it.... I dunno... But it seems that I will leave it n/a for sure. Intake/exhaust... nada mas.

[bushwakka]

^for real.....bess advice there....take time to learn abt ur car