DATInternational

Ricey’s Impreza

October Car of the Month

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Throwing Inhibition To The WindOctober 2008 Car of the Month

[ ]Its hard to be diferent in the world of Impreza’s

I’m not going to lie. I don’t really get on with Impreza’s, and for the better part what seems to be the majority of people who are now able to afford them these days with the prices of the Classic shape hitting the deck. I owned an 1999 Version 6 Sti for about 3 months which i had fully set up before i picked it up from the importers. Don’t get me wrong, this was an amazing machine and out-handled anything I had ever driven, but damn... it bored the proverbial out of me. I don’t fully know what it was but it just did.

But let me tell you, this Bugeye certainly has something different “on offer”.

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Throwing Inhibition To The Wind

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[ ]Inhibition To The Wind

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“Everything just works... making it one of my favourite Imprezas”

It really is so difficult these days to be different in the world of Impreza’s, with the easy access to cheap and readily available parts, but in my opinion this 2001 Bugeye Impreza pulls it off nicely.

The car started off life as a standard Impreza WRX but falling into the hands of Paul Murphy the car slowly started its transformation into what you see before you.

In 2001 when Paul picked the car up from the Eaglesham garage, he promised himself (and probably his girlfriend) that the car would stay standard for a while with just the Prodrive back box. That idea lasted all of two weeks when he ordered up a Scoobysport downpipe ad had it fitted to match up with the back box. After this point it was all downhill.

The car has successfully changed its looked nearly every year with is sporting 5 different sets of alloy wheels, of which 3 sets were rather unforgiving 19’s. It has also sported 5 different exhaust sytems in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Prodrive system, to a Blitz Nur Spec R and finally landing on the georgeous Kakumei 3 inch system.

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“Daring to be different”

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“Daring to be different”

For Paul, the exterior of the car and its looks have always superseded the performance aspect. Not only having a huge selection of wheels and exhausts the car has had a number of exterior changes with Paul now settled on the combination of Kakumei Racing Front Bumper and C-West side skirts and rear bumper spoiler. The combined look of the kit along with the Tein coilovers gives the car some serious road presence. In 2006 Paul searched high and low to get his hands on a Mine’s Rear spoiler. This really helps to set the back end of the car off as the low profile, almost despoilered look is so rarely seen on this shape of Impreza.One thing that you can not overlook with this car is the splashes of green decals and green Nukabe tow hooks. This colour coding continues into the cabin with the Takata green harnesses, and under the bonnet with the green Artel Motorsport silicone hoses and the replacement green horns. This really is daring to be different and helps to make this machine stand out from the crowd.

The interior of the car is far from standard as well with Paul replacing the standard steering wheel with that from a 2007 Sti Spec C. That was not the only thing transfered from the Spec C with him also getting his hands on the black carpet as well. This works with the touches of silver from the Agency Power gear knob and the pillar mounted Defi boost guage to continue the black and silver theme as so dominantly shown on the outside of the car. One of my favourite touches to this car is the flocked dash. This really helps to raise the profile of the interior giving it a completely different finish and helping to elimate some of the ‘platsic fantastic’ feel commonally associated with Impreza’s.

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Now, I’m not wanting you to think that Paul has left the performance aspect by the roadside, this car has recieved a list of performance parts that is as long as your arm. The exhaust system has been fully replaced wih the headers and downpipe being DEI heat wrapped and coated to help protect the engine from excess heat transfer. The car has also being fitted with and Autobahn88 intercooler to bring the intake temperatures down and allow for a denser charge of air into the engine increasing the potential output. To allow the pull potential of all of Paul’s modifications the car was given to the capable hands of Andy Forest who did a custom remap on the car using the latest Ecutek 3 ECU. The Impreza’s brake system has also not gone untouched with the front brakes being replaced with 330mm 8 pot K-Sport brake system, a Cusco Master brake cylinder brace and Goodridge braided brake lines.

At the end of the day I find that an extrordinary amount of work has gone into this car and that is something that no one can deny. With the Subaru world being full of purists these days, it is very hard to find someone willing to push the boat out and risk a world of pain from the online community but Paul has created something truely unique and of a very high standard that definately deserves respect.

Fraser Gordon

[Inhibition To The Wind]

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TECH SPECVehicleYear - 2001Make - Subaru Model - Impreza WRXEngine Code - EJ20

EngineEcuteck 3 ECU RemappAutobahn 88 FMICBlack Powdercoated PipesBlack Silicone Pipe joints with Mikalor clampsKakumei Stainless Headers/ManifoldKakumei Stainless Up PipeKakumei Stainless Down PipeKakumei 3” Stainless Centre SectionKakumei 3” Stainless/Titanium Tipped back boxDownpipe DEI Heat Wrapped & CoatedHeaders DEI Heat Wrapped & CoatedCusco Blue Exhaust HangersApexi Induction KitTEIN Bonnet DampersWalbro 255 Fuel PumpCDF Racing Lightened Pulley KitExedy Racing ClutchACT Streetfire Lightened/Balanced FlywheelNGK PRF7BsHKS SSQV II Dump ValveSyms Oil CapSyms Radiator CapSyms Brake Reservoir SockSyms Brake Reservoir CapSyms Clutch Reservoir CapGreen “Artel Motorsport” Silicone HosesGreen “Artel Motorsport” Silicone Coolant HosesParanoid Fabrications Earthing KitHELLA Supatone Horns Painted Lime GreenAgency Power Alloy Pulley CoverMotul - Fully Synthetic Engine OilMotul - Racing Brake FluidRedline - Gearbox OilRedline – Water Wetter

Wheels & Brakes7.5 X 18” Rota Sub Zero Powder coated Gloss Black Toyo Proxes5zigen Titantium Lightweight Wheel nutsK-sport 8 pot Calipers & Stainless brake linesK-sport 330mm Disce and BellsFactory 2 Pot Rear disc Painted Lime Green withGoodridge Braded Brake LinesCUSCO Master Brake Cylinder Brace

SuspensionTEIN CoiloversTEIN Front Strut braceTEIN Rear Strut BraceWhiteline Rear 22mm Adjustable Anti Roll BarWhiteline Front 22mm Adjustable Anti Roll BarWhiteline Steering Rack BushesWhiteline BalljointsWhiteline Track RodsWhiteline Alloy Rear Drop LinksWhiteline Rose Jointed DroplinksHardRace Anti Lift KitCUSCO H BraceProgrip Fast Road Geometry Set Up

InteriorSubaru OE Spec C Roof VentRoof Lining Wrapped in Red AlcantaraBlack Alcantara wrapped A, B & C PillarsRed JDM hazard Warning SwitchSubaru OE JDM 3rd Brake lightSubaru JDM Spec C Style Black Dash faciasJDM Broadway Rear View Mirror 270mm 2007 STi Spec C Steering Wheel2007 STi Spec C Black CarpetInterior/Doors/boot Sound ProofedFlocked 07 STi Centre ConsoleFlocked STi 9 DashboardFlocked Bottom Half of DashboardZerosports Leather Gear gaitorTakata Racing 3” HarnessesShort Throw KitZeroSports Pushbutton StarterAgency Power Alloy Gear knob2007 JDM STi Spec C Gauge Cluster (Defi style)Defi Controller Unit 2Defi BF – Boost Gauge 60mm

ExteriorRoof, A & C pillars painted Gloss BlackCustom Painted OE Bonnet Half painted Black & SilverLister WRC Style Bonnet VentKakumei Racing Front BumperC-West Side SkirtsC-West Rear Bumper SpoilerPerformance Creation Black MudflapsCarbon Fibre B Pillars Mines Bootlid spoilerSubaru OE JDM Door GarnishesSubaru STi 9 Rear wheel arch extensionsSubaru OE Carbon Fibre Boot trimJUN Headlight EyebrowsOEM Subaru Window Air DefenderZeroSports Front GrilleGandor Wing MirrorsSTi 10 rear diffuser painted gloss blackwith Cusco Bracket powder coated goldNukabe Front/Rear Tow Hooks painted Lime Green

KUDOSwww.flat4online.co.uk

www.artelmotorsport.com

Editing and Photography - Fraser Gordon

Motion Photography - Iain Carmichael

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