beat an s3 today

[AndysR]

The S3 is four wheel drive, lighter and with comparable power, so you've done alright there mate.
Due to their weight, Volvo's are never to to lend themsleves to great 0-30, but once the inertia has been beaten, they do roll on well. And as for beating Scoob's, having come from one, you'll be spending out some money before you do, their power to weight is much better than ours. I still would nt go back to one though.

All I will say on the matter is you need to get your T5 chipped. Coming from a Subaru dealer they aren't all that unless it's a special or modified Impreza..

[Rob S]

Fair comment, I do have the base model T5. My Scoob was a standard MY99 with an exhaust and filter only, it still would have left my T5 wondering which way it went.
Which chip do you refer too, and what Impreza's do you have experience with?
Not being argumentative, just interested.
Thanks in advance

[AndysR]

Fair comment, I do have the base model T5. My Scoob was a standard MY99 with an exhaust and filter only, it still would have left my T5 wondering which way it went.
Which chip do you refer too, and what Impreza's do you have experience with?
Not being argumentative, just interested.
Thanks in advance

I worked for a Scooby dealer from 2000 - 2002.
The first standard UK Impreza turbo's were 208 bhp iirc and then the later turbo 2000 ones, up to 51 plate, were 218 bhp? You could do a Prodrive performance upgrade and it took them to 242 bhp iirc. At the time we had all sorts from the standard turbo 2000's to RB5's with PPP's through to the P1 with iirc 280bhp well that was the official power we even had a gun metal grey 850R auto N655 EKO on our forecourt at one stage, at the time it had 60k on the clock and I remember parked next to the Scoobies and Lotus Elise we also had at the time it look very smart

I took our then new demo 2000 X plated Impreza turbo X919 NTW, was the reg, in deep blue mica to Prodrive who at the time were doing a special PPP kit which was the power upgrade and a set of those 17" Prodrive alloy wheels which you could get in either gold or anthracit, think they were seven spokes?. Now that car was quick with the PPP but as a standard car a chipped well running T5 using any off the shelf remap would have shown it a clean pair of heals. Now don't for one minute mistake me as one of those, my T5 is the quickest things since sliced bread types... as I am far from it. The Scooby would destroy the Volvo on anything other than the straights as our beloved Volvo's aren't the sharpest tool in the box for handling. However one thing they are VERY good at is straight line speed pound for pound.

It might also be worth mentioning a very good friend of mine has a T registered turbo 2000 and he is in full agreement with me that the Volvo would show it a clean pair of heals...

[Rob S]

That's good to know Andy, thanks.
So what "chip" do I need then mate?

[AndysR]

That's good to know Andy, thanks.
So what "chip" do I need then mate?

Well that is a can of worms!!

In terms of chips I have the Rica 304, it has also had a full stage zero tune the turbo actuator has been replaced and the car holds a healthy/consistant 1.2 bar of boost, I have also had the injectors cleaned the fuel pressure regulator and lambda sensor have also been replaced. So I think it is fair to say that the engine is in a good state of tune, it also has a cat back exhaust system and BSR induction kit, probably make no difference to the power but thought I would mention these, so I would like to think probably, based on similar state of tune 850's that puts out somewhere in the region of 265-280 bhp. I have no proof of this as the car hasn't been rolling roaded and it's an auto so any rolling road result would be wheel power only, knowing my luck with this car it's probably closer to 220 bhp!!. However what I will say is it fairs very well against the usual and it certainly made a noticeable difference to the car's performance after having the Rica installed.

[Rob S]

Again, thanks.
I read most of the recent "which chip" thread, and can see it's a contentious issue.
I'll email my local agent and take it from there.
Cheers Andy

[AndysR]

Again, thanks.
I read most of the recent "which chip" thread, and can see it's a contentious issue.
I'll email my local agent and take it from there.
Cheers Andy

No prob's Rob as you have discovered it is a mine field and I am sure most of the "off the shelf" remaps/chips will give similar results. From what I have heard the Rica is the more aggressive of the two most popular the other being an MTE. I only speak from experience though and have to say my Rica is fantastic, definatley the best thing I have done to the car yet. Yes the Rica is more aggressive and causes wheel spin but isn't this what the T5 was all about and best known for? I wanted a more aggressive faster car and that's what the Rica made it

[T5 ROB]

Hi Andy, are you running 1.2 BAR with a 15G Turbo and are you still running stock rods.
At the moment i'm running 1 BAR and just wondered if 1.2 BAR is safe and you've had no problems.

Cheers, Rob

[AndysR]

Hi Andy, are you running 1.2 BAR with a 15G Turbo and are you still running stock rods.
At the moment i'm running 1 BAR and just wondered if 1.2 BAR is safe and you've had no problems.

Cheers, Rob

Yes stock rod's and no problems, touch wood

[stevie69]

mine is running 1.2 bar aswell.has been for about a year with no probs.

[T5 ROB]

I'll give it a go then, whats the worst that could happen

[stevie69]

seen one on ebay running 1.4bar.is this to much?

[PaulZX]

what's 1.2 bar in psi?

I've been running 12psi for almost 2 years with no trouble...

*EDIT - ADDED CHART BELOW*
PSI----BAR
1 = 0.07
2 = 0.14
3 = 0.21
4 = 0.28
5 = 0.34
6 = 0.41
7 = 0.48
8 = 0.55
9 = 0.62
10 = 0.69
11 = 0.76
12 = 0.83
13 = 0.90
14 = 0.97
15 = 1.03
16 = 1.10
17 = 1.17
18 = 1.24
19 = 1.31
20 = 1.38
21 = 1.45
22 = 1.52
23 = 1.59
24 = 1.65
25 = 1.72
26 = 1.79
27 = 1.86
28 = 1.93
29 = 2.00
30 = 2.07

[AndysR]

seen one on ebay running 1.4bar.is this to much?

Sounds a touch too high tbh...

[T5 ROB]

Hi, are you just running a MBC or a variable EBC with low boost in first and second, and is it a peak of 1.2 as mine peaks at about that then settles at a constant 1 BAR.

Cheers, Rob

[My T5]

Ive beaten a scoob in a straight line.The look on his face was classic! Best of all was a Porsche boxter,i sat up his arse at 14.0 mph and he just couldnt work it out! Im not a boy racer but i am a speed freak who loves suprising "fast" car owners !

[simpT5]

" Im not a boy racer but i am a speed freak who loves suprising "fast" car owners ! "

I couldn't have summed it up better myself! That for me is half the appeal of owning my T5, well, that and the noise it makes!

[stevie69]

i raced a standard subaru with a guy from work and he pulled a cars length from me.so i fitted a boost guage and saw i was only getting .8bar.i adjusted my actuator till it was 1.2bar.you think that extra will be enough to try again?

[danny-R]

i will confirm that having rica 304 chip installed is the best thing ever done.
i'v only covered 100 miles on chip its put the smile right back on my face,
hope i bump into an unsuspecting subaru on my travells this weekend.

[simpT5]

Hmm I might have to look into this rica chip business! Any idea what costs we're lookin at for a 99 ME7 T5? I've been on their website and they reckon it'll take mine from 240 bhp to 310bhp? MMMMM !!