Written Off Wrx...

[Gonadman2]

Hi Everyone, first post so I'm pretty new to the site.

My sister decided she would crash my reasonably modified MY00 WRX on the weekend, she was not hurt but car is a mess. Anyway, I will have to replace the car and given that my Brother and Father both have FPV's I was considering going down the Ford path. I am chasing a more 'Touring' oriented car, as the WRX is a little too much 'go-kart' for long distance driving (it was setup for track days).

My dad's car is a BA GT (Auto) and while its a very nice car, with a great note its pretty slow, thirsty and incredibly soft. Don't get me wrong - its a great touring car and that note is pure sex, but I can't help but feeling like I'm driving a boat. I could buy one but the suspension tune is way too soft, is it an expensive exercise to sharpen one of these up? What can be done?

My Brothers car is a BF Tornado Ute (Manual) although I haven't had a chance to drive this car, he has said that it goes pretty hard, but may be too soft for me still. Is there a difference in suspension tune between the Typhoon and GT?

I would probably look at getting a BA Typhoon, or BF GT (both manual), or the dark horse BF XR6 Turbo (and modifying it for more velocity). I'm not too sure whether to go new, or near new in any of these models, but am keen for a drive.

I am going to Perth this week to look at whats available, and check out the new VE SS, as well as the Liberty GT and Mazda 6 MPS. Its such a hard choice but any help would be appreciated...

[F6 UTE]

I have a BA F6 Tornado.

As far as go, and torque, very nice for an everyday drive. I came from AWD 2Lt aswell, mitsubishi though. It had adjustable Koni allround, was a good track car, but lacking comfort on long trips.

I've driven the GT, and it's nothing compared to the way the F6 drives. GT is front heavy, which doesn't help either.

It also goes, mine is currently quickest manual BA/BF recorded down the 1/4, and punted around Wanneroo last week in 61 seconds. Stock suspension and road tyres.. Also a bit quicker than the mitsi I had on the bigger track..

Consider I spent ~$3k to get that performance.

I went to Pemberton last week. 1000km round trip recorded 11.0L/100km and the wife was comfy, not whinging like she did in the lil Lancer..

edit: suspension can easily be improved with handling packs from Koni, Bilstein or Tein to name a few.. I'll just fit a whiteline swaybar, and that's all..

I'm in Perth, there's a few of us here that have modded cars, and all are great drives. Auto or manual, sedan or ute..

Take a stock one for a spin, then multiply the fun factor x10 when you get it tuned..

Good luck, the Ford aint that bad these days..

Edited 23/10/06 05:34 AM by F6 UTE

[GT290]

sorry to hear about the crash mate.. , but on the upside u have come to the right place.. all I will tell u is u won't look back if u buy a Typhoon (most people here would agree) and since u look like a keen mod person .. its only a couple of K to make the typhoon a weapon on the rd... good luck with it!

[Gonadman2]

Cheer's for the kind words guys. I enjoyed the WRX - AWD setup with a nice heavy rear swaybar will give you great turn in and rear steer effect in the right hands, but in my sister's inexperienced hands it probably wasn't...

F6 Ute// Is the suspension tune different in the Typhoon? What did you spend your $3k on to get it to go that hard? I'm impressed! I had to spend $10k to drop into the 12's with my car, but it did run 1:10's at Wakefield park, lineball with the EVO 8/9's and GTR's that lurk around there...

[Blonk]

Get an XR6T or a Typhoon, get a set of bilsteins, get a set of injectors, good edit and come back and tell us these cars are soft....

[Guest]

sorry to hear bout the accident but go the ford more fun less attension from the boys in blue!!!!

[F6 UTE]

Cheer's for the kind words guys. I enjoyed the WRX - AWD setup with a nice heavy rear swaybar will give you great turn in and rear steer effect in the right hands, but in my sister's inexperienced hands it probably wasn't...

F6 Ute// Is the suspension tune different in the Typhoon? What did you spend your $3k on to get it to go that hard? I'm impressed! I had to spend $10k to drop into the 12's with my car, but it did run 1:10's at Wakefield park, lineball with the EVO 8/9's and GTR's that lurk around there...

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My mods, like many others here consisted of injectors, tune and actuator. Not making heaps of power, but was the correct combination of power, power delivery and combined with ability to get it over the line.

I got injectors 2nd hand, and have mates 'in the know' to get good deals too..

I had a dump pipe and (no) cat, but the gains from the dump pipe alone are negligable. Geea runs 10's with factory dump pipe, in an auto.. and actuator is also here nor there to some tuners. Cat is a must.

Suspension is same as GT. ie, designed for touring.. Pretty sure there isn't much difference between them and XR's suspension either.

F6 comes with better rods, clutch and valve springs. Clutch and valve springs would be needed for an XR to get the same result.

It was run on MT street radials, my best on road tyres is 12.3

[JimmyXR6T04]

Get an XR6T or a Typhoon, get a set of bilsteins, get a set of injectors,  good edit and come back and tell us these cars are soft....

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I think by "soft" he means the ride and handling?? I dunno I don't think he'd call the performance of a phoon soft... wouldn't be if it was edited that's for sure

that's what I thought he meant anyways

[Gonadman2]

Sorry guys, I meant the GT's ride and Handling was 'soft.' And it is. I was asking if the Typhoon was as soft, but I was just talking to my bro and he was saying that it is very different to the GT. And that it goes.

[bugster70]

F6 Ute's advice is all good.

If you're keen to sharpen up the ride you can do anything from:

- getting stiffer springs and front (and rear, although not all think this is a good idea on these cars) swaybars - this is a very cheap (around the $500-600 mark, installed) but relatively effective option;

- getting yourself a set of Bilstein or Koni shockies - getting more expensive now (hmm, around $2K installed?), but the gains are apparently very worthwhile; and/or

- going the whole hog and getting a set of Tein coilovers (think the cost is around the $2.5K mark for the hardware, not sure what fitting would cost).

I don't think you'd call the handling soft after that sort of treatment!