Looking forward to B Stock

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:55 pm

After all the talk on RRAX about these things still not having the ringlands issue fixed, I could see pulling the plug on this order. Hmmm. - AB

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:03 pm

Aaron Buckley wrote:

After all the talk on RRAX about these things still not having the ringlands issue fixed, I could see pulling the plug on this order. Hmmm. - AB

I was all set to get one but decided against it for the main reason you are finding out now. Subaru doesn't want to admit there is a problem with the engines.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:34 pm

I wasn't going to weigh in, as I didn't want to try and talk you out of something you've already put a deposit on. Here goes anyway. :lol:

If it were me, I'd let others do the R&D to determine if the 2010 engines will stay together. You're talking about this as a Pro Solo specific car, which by definition is going to see a lot of high RPM launches.

Here's a thought. What if you were to talk to Folger Subaru? It seems like they're supportive of the motorsports thing. Maybe they'd tell you that they'll help you keep the car nailed together. Or maybe they'll tell you that they won't. Either way, that might help you make your decision.

As much as I'd love to see you in a BS car, I'd rather it not be in something you end up hating because it spends a lot of time in a service bay.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:39 pm

I don't think the issue is necessarily the ringlands, but the tune required to keep the car ULEV2. The tune has some absurdly lean points in the rpm spectrum under WOT.

I guess they have to do that to squeeze the extra 40 hp compared to the WRX. The EJ255 and EJ257 have next to identical internals. The only difference is the doming on the pistons to make the compression ratios different. Other than the spun bearing problem the early 09 WRXes have, the WRX has been quite solid. I haven't heard of any ringland issues on them. I wonder if the STI pistons, due to the difference in geometry to change the compression ratio, has an inherent structural flaw because of it, which is causing weakness in the ringland which is compounded by the insanely hot/lean exhaust gas during the power stroke.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:47 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

I wasn't going to weigh in, as I didn't want to try and talk you out of something you've already put a deposit on. Here goes anyway. :lol:

If it were me, I'd let others do the R&D to determine if the 2010 engines will stay together. You're talking about this as a Pro Solo specific car, which by definition is going to see a lot of high RPM launches.

Here's a thought. What if you were to talk to Folger Subaru? It seems like they're supportive of the motorsports thing. Maybe they'd tell you that they'll help you keep the car nailed together. Or maybe they'll tell you that they won't. Either way, that might help you make your decision.

As much as I'd love to see you in a BS car, I'd rather it not be in something you end up hating because it spends a lot of time in a service bay.

As others have said, I think my best be would be go with a known commodity. I have call into Courtney Cormier along with a insider at Folger who should give me the low down, but I am leaning heavily towards finding the right '06 STi again. Everyone says that up until that year, the engines/trannies are bulletproof. - AB

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:53 pm

JamesShort wrote:

I don't think the issue is necessarily the ringlands, but the tune required to keep the car ULEV2. The tune has some absurdly lean points in the rpm spectrum under WOT.

I guess they have to do that to squeeze the extra 40 hp compared to the WRX. The EJ255 and EJ257 have next to identical internals. The only difference is the doming on the pistons to make the compression ratios different. Other than the spun bearing problem the early 09 WRXes have, the WRX has been quite solid. I haven't heard of any ringland issues on them. I wonder if the STI pistons, due to the difference in geometry to change the compression ratio, has an inherent structural flaw because of it, which is causing weakness in the ringland which is compounded by the insanely hot/lean exhaust gas during the power stroke.

According to the people I have talked to, they think it's more along oil starvation from hard cornering, thus the reason why the #4 piston is always the one to break. This would be really bad in an autocross situation, especially when you factor in that higher g loads will just exacerbate the situation... aka the Christopher Carris syndrome.

The good thing is that Niles is holding on my bar selection until I figure out what I will do. The FSB is different for each US generation of STi's.

Yeesh. This sucks, but in the long run, I would probably be happy. I had considered a 370z, Audi TT, and others (yes, none of these fit the right criteria), but when it all boils down, the '06 STI is the right machine for the task. - AB

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:59 pm

If it was just oil starvation you could just run it over full on oil right? There has been some speculation on the pistons themselves as Subaru changed suppliers during the 07 model year if I remember correctly.

I have driven an 08 STi and they work great, so I imagine that this car would be very fast with the stiffer suspension. My only worry is that the engine won't hold together for very long. I know Carris' went through 3 engines in the 08 season. Jadrice when through 1 engine before selling his and a guy in the DC area went through an engine as well before getting rid of his. All of these were MY08 cars though so I can't speak for anything newer.

I am still a big proponent of finding a 97-04 Boxster for CS Prosolo's. That is another car I would have looked into if it had been reclassed before I got the S2000.

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:01 pm

Keith Vail wrote:

If it was just oil starvation you could just run it over full on oil right? There has been some speculation on the pistons themselves as Subaru changed suppliers during the 07 model year if I remember correctly.

I have driven an 08 STi and they work great, so I imagine that this car would be very fast with the stiffer suspension. My only worry is that the engine won't hold together for very long. I know Carris' went through 3 engines in the 08 season. Jadrice when through 1 engine before selling his and a guy in the DC area went through an engine as well before getting rid of his. All of these were MY08 cars though so I can't speak for anything newer.

I am still a big proponent of finding a 97-04 Boxster for CS Prosolo's. That is another car I would have looked into if it had been reclassed before I got the S2000.

Were these 08s running the Subaru issued reflash? Or were they very very early MY08s?

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:04 pm

JamesShort wrote:

Were these 08s running the Subaru issued reflash? Or were they very very early MY08s?

I know Jadrice's car blew up before the reflash and he sold it once the new motor got put in it. Chris Carris' car had been reflashed at least twice. I think each time the engine went they reflashed the computer again. I am not sure about the other guy in the DC region.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:06 pm

I know you've got your heart set on AWD, so how about an R32? I even hear there's a guy somewhere that knows how to set up the Haldex, makes it launch real good. :lol:

JamesShort · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:11 pm

Honestly, I'd get an Evo 8/9. The 4g63 is a beast of perfection. The turbos are solid. They never have engine problems (even the new engine is rock solid). The drivetrain issues are few and far between but I've heard the transfer case can be iffy and the OEM clutch is weak. Finding a stockish one would not be easy though.

EDIT: Nor would finding a stock 06 Sti either, so I guess it's not a big point

.

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:23 pm

Aaron here is an 06 with low miles that looks interesting.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=27917018&listingRecNum=5&criteria=sf1Dir%3DDESC%26prMn%3D0%26mkId%3D20041%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21295%26rd%3D250%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-pseudoPrice%26zc%3D27312%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=triangle

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:33 pm

Keith Vail wrote:

Aaron here is an 06 with low miles that looks interesting.

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=27917018&listingRecNum=5&criteria=sf1Dir%3DDESC%26prMn%3D0%26mkId%3D20041%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21295%26rd%3D250%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-pseudoPrice%26zc%3D27312%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-1-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=triangle

Yeah, I saw that this afternoon

I may make a call.

I talked to the dealership and they have a rep from Subaru North America to talk with me about the technical changes that have been done to the 2010 cars. Supposedly something about a different head, oiling system and some other things. To me, it sounds like BS, but I will hear them out and make a decision. - AB

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:41 pm

Keith Vail wrote:

I am still a big proponent of finding a 97-04 Boxster for CS Prosolo's. That is another car I would have looked into if it had been reclassed before I got the S2000.

What are the pros and cons of the Boxster for CS? (sounds interesting).

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:45 pm

Chuck Branscomb wrote:

What are the pros and cons of the Boxster for CS? (sounds interesting).

The pros for the Boxster are that it is mid engine and very well balanced. It also has bigger wheels than the only other competitive mid engine car in the class the 91-95 MR2 Turbo.

The cons are that it doesn't have as much power as the competitors and it has an open differential which shouldn't be a huge deal if you set it up right with a bigger front bar and good race rubber.

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