DRIVE TO BELIEVE - SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CAR

Increase Peformance, Dcrease Weight on your SUBARU WRX STI CAR

2006-03-04T10:15:00.000+08:00

Decreasing the weight of your car will improve all elements of performance. You will accelerate faster, turn easier, and stop better if your car weighs less.

If you’re going to the race track, you’ll want to shed as many pounds as possible before pulling on to the track.

Some simple things you can do to reduce the weight of your car:

Remove any subwoofers or other stereo gear

Remove your spare tire, jack, tools, hatch cover, and rear carpet

Remove all floor mats (this is good to do anyway for racing, to avoid getting the driver’s mat caught up in the pedals)

If you’re really obsessed with weight reduction, empty the windshield washer bottles (every little bit helps!)

If you’re drag racing, run your fuel down to a 1/4 tank. (If you’re road racing, fill up so you won’t starve the engine as the fuel sloshes around in the turns.)

If you've got time and it's practical, remove the passenger seat, and the rear seat.

Greddy Profec B Spec II for WRX STI CAR

2006-03-04T09:55:00.000+08:00

The Profec B has long been a favorite boost controller for its simplicity and effectiveness. Now the Spec II improves on the original design.

As always, boost control is simple as a twist of a knob, with a high and low setting. A new backlit LCD display shows current boost -- and it reads in PSI! (Or KPa if you want).

Rims for SUBARU WRX STI CAR

2006-03-04T09:46:00.000+08:00

This seven-spoke wheel features a strong thick spoke design that looks great and has excellent brake clearance. They even fit over the STi calipers! The PFF-7 is a "flow-formed" cast design that, at 19.8 pounds, is lighter than a traditional cast wheel. The GC-07 is a forged wheel that is lighter still. PFF-7 comes in 18 x 8" size, and your choice of British Bronze, British Pewter, Bright Flitter (very much like Pewter, but a little more green cast), and Gold. GC-07 is available in 17 x 7.5", 18 x 7.5", or 18 x 8.0", and British Black, Metal Silver, or British Gold colors.

Rims

APEXI RSM FOR SUBARU WRX STI CARS

2006-02-27T00:28:00.000+08:00

The new Rev/Speed Meter GP is a complete multi function measuring device designed to measure and monitor data such as vehicle speed, engine RPM, and elapsed times. However, the strength of the new unit lies in its differences. Probably the most obvious being its completely redesigned look. This new aesthetically pleasing model was crafted to match the likes of other highly popular A'PEX electronics such as the VAFC (VTEC Controller) and the AVCR (Boost Controller). The new screen utilizes the easy to read VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) with built in light sensor used in many of A'PEX's line up.

The new unit also delivers a host of new functions. Standard features include: Engine RPM, Vehicle Speed, Travel Distance, and Battery Voltage (All which can be displayed in real time graph mode, numerical mode, or analogue mode; 1-4 channels at a time.), Peak Hold, Replay (With 60 second playback.), Speed Limiter Cut, 0-100m, 200m, 400m times with trap speed, 0-100km/h, 200km/h, 300km/h times, 100km/h, 200km/h, 300km/h E0 times, user defined Mid Range Acceleration, Stop Watch functions, Best Time Memory, RPM Warning, Speed Warning, RPM and Speed Outputs (For external devices requiring an RPM or speed signal.), Tire Size Correction (For acceleration and timing accuracy.), and Vehicle weight input.

One of the most exiting of the new features is the option to utilize the revolutionary A'PEX G-Sensor (Sold separately). The G Sensor allows the unit to measure G forces in 4-way front/rear/left/right directions. This data can be plotted in a graph display to map acceleration characteristics and lateral G's on the race track, or used in an array of new features including: Highly accurate 100m/200m/400m times with trap speed and wheel-spin correction, Horsepower Calculation, and Loss Power Calculation. By taking advantage of the optional G Sensor, the user can produce extremely accurate acceleration measurements. Usually, when measuring acceleration times using the speed sensor signal alone, the meter will end measurement too early (shorter distance) due to wheel-spin. Using the G Sensor modifies the speed sensor signal, compensating for wheel-spin and producing impeccably accurate acceleration times.
CONCEPT: Multifunction monitoring and timing device CHARACTERISTICS: Variety of functions such as tach, speed, 0-400m time, etcEin one unit.

APEXI

Lighting for SUBARU WRX STI CARS

2006-02-26T18:23:00.000+08:00

Check out this lightings for your WRX STI CARS

These fashionable head/tail lamps transform the look of your SUBARU WRX STI CARS. They feature plug-and-play wiring, and easy bolt-in installation. They're made of paintable black ABS plastic.

Engine Oil for your CARS

2006-02-26T18:07:00.000+08:00

A quick guide to the different grades of oil.

Fully Synthetic	Characteristics
0W-30 0W-40 5W-40	Fuel economy savings Enhances engine performance and power Ensures engine is protected from wear and deposit build-up Ensures good cold starting and quick circulation in freezing temperatures Gets to moving parts of the engine quickly
Semi-synthetic	Characteristics
5W-30 10W-40 15W-40	Better protection Good protection within the first 10 minutes after starting out Roughly three times better at reducing engine wear Increased oil change intervals - don't need to change it quite so often
Mineral	Characteristics
10W-40 15W-40	Basic protection for a variety of engines Oil needs to be changed more often

Tyres Size on your SUBARU WRX STI CAR?

2006-02-21T21:37:00.000+08:00

What do you mean when you say 185-65HR13?

185	65	H	R	13
This is the width in mm of the tyre from sidewall to sidewall when it's unstressed and you're looking at it head on (or top-down). This is known as the section width.	This is the ratio of the height of the tyre sidewall, (section height), expressed as a percentage of the width. It is known as the aspect ratio. In this case, 65% of 185mm is 120.25mm - the section height.	This is the speed rating of the tyre.	This tells you that the tyre is a radial construction. Check out tyre construction if you want to know what that means.	This is the diameter in inches of the rim of the wheel that the tyre has been designed to fit on. Don't ask me why tyre sizes mix imperial and metric measurements. They just do. Okay?

Decoding the information on the sidewalll of your tyres

2006-02-21T21:30:00.000+08:00

Ever wonder what does the coding on the sidewall of the tyres on your car means. Below is some information may be helpful.

Key	Description
A	Manufacturers or brand name, and commercial name or identity.
B and J	Tyre size, construction and speed rating designations. Tubeless designates a tyre which requires no inner tube. See tyre sizes and speed ratings below.
C	Denotes type of tyre construction.
D	M&S denotes a tyre designed for mud and snow. Reinforced marking only where applicable.
E	Load and pressure marking requirement (not applicable in the UK). These go from a load index of 50 (190kg) up to an index of 169 (5800kg).
F	ECE (not EEC) type approval mark and number.
G	North American Dept of Transport compliance symbols and identification numbers.
H	Country of manufacture.

Also on the sidewall, you might find the following info embossed in the rubber.
The temperature rating - an indicator of how well the tire withstands heat buildup. "A" is the highest rating; "C" is the lowest.
The traction rating - an indicator of how well the tire is capable of stopping on wet pavement. "A" is the highest rating; "C" is the lowest.
The tread-wear rating - a comparative rating for the useful life of the tire's tread. A tire with a tread-wear rating of 200, for example, could be expected to last twice as long as one with a rating of 100. Tread-wear grades typically range between 60 and 600 in 20-point increments. It is important to consider that this is a relative indicator, and the actual life of a tire's tread will be affected by quality of road surfaces, type of driving, correct tire inflation, proper wheel alignment and other variable factors. In other words, don't think that a tread-wear rating of 100 means a 30,000 mile tyre.

Encoded in the US DOT information (G on the diagram above) is a two-letter code that identifies where the tyre was manufactured in detail. In other words, what factory and in some cases, what city it was manufactured in. It's the first two letters after the 'DOT' - in this case "FA" denoting Yokohama.
This two-letter identifier is worth knowing in case you see a tyre recall on the evening news where they tell you a certain factory is recalling tyres. Armed with the two-letter identifier list, you can figure out if you are affected. It's a nauseatingly long list, and I've not put it on this page.

Prodrive P2 technology demonstrator

2006-02-19T18:26:00.000+08:00

P2 is a concept car developed by David Richard's racing and engineering firm Prodrive. Styled by Peter Steven, the car had design details similar to his MG SV. Mechanically, the car was based on Subaru Impreza's WRX STI engine and drivetrain, but the 2.0 turbocharged boxer engine is boosted to 345 horsepower, while the 4WD system added Prodrive's Active Torque Dynamics system (with active center and rear differentials like the rally Impreza). Besides, an "anti-lag system" is added to the turbocharger, which, like the afterburner of aircraft jet engines, burns the unburnt fuel in the exhaust manifolds to increase gas pressure to the exhaust turbine. The 1100 kg car claims 174 mph top speed and 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Surprisingly, Prodrive said the chassis was derived from the Japanese Subaru R1 Kei-car, hard to believe. Despite of its exciting spec, Prodrive cannot put it into production by its own. However, the Active Torque Dynamics system and Anti-Lag System could attract car makers to be its customers, which is the intention of building the P2.

SUBARU FINANCE

2006-02-17T00:09:00.000+08:00

WHETHER YOU'RE BUYING NEW OR USED, LEASE OR HIRE PURCHASE, SUBARU FINANCE IS AS INNOVATIVE AND VERSATILE AS YOUR SUBARU ITSELF.

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH SUBARU AUTHORISED DEALER TEAM MEMBERS, SUBARU FINANCE WILL ENSURE YOU ENJOY ALL THE ADVANTAGES THAT FINANCE PRODUCTS CAN OFFER.

For those who seek competitive financing, combined with responsiveness and service, SUBARU FINANCE is the smart choice.

2006 SUBARU WRX STI

2006-02-17T00:07:00.000+08:00

Impreza WRX STi is MOTOR's Bang for your Bucks winner
The Subaru Impreza WRX STi has won MOTOR magazine's gruelling 2005 Bang for your Bucks contest.

Impreza WRX STi topped a heavyweight list of 25 performance cars including the Porsche Boxster S, BMW 330i, HSV GTO Coupe, Volkswagen Golf GTI, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII and FPV Falcon GT.

Among STi's achievements was the fastest lap time of all the cars at Wakefield Park raceway, NSW - 1 minute 10.12 seconds.

MOTOR says: "Punt the thing hard and it rewards you like very few other cars. Learn to trust it and it'll match you dollar-for-dollar as it ratchets up the scale from hooligan to complete loony.

"Simply, there is nothing in this comparison that gives quite the same bang for the same buck. Oh sure, some get awfully close (and are better road cars) but when the chips are down, the STi always goes that little bit further and, therefore, takes home the silverware."

The car also won the $50-$80k sub-category, ahead of Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VIII, HSV Clubsport DTS and FPV F6 Typhoon. MOTOR said: "All hail the WRX STi in the $50-$80k category; the toughest BFYB category of the lot has a new king."

Since 1994, Subaru has won BFYB outright four times - more than any other brand.

Impreza WRX won in 1998 and 1999. Impreza WRX STi won in 2002 and now in 2005.

The event includes road and racetrack testing over two days, including 0-100km/h times, 0-400 metres and top speed.

According to MOTOR editor Jesse Taylor, the event is designed to find "the best-value road-rocket in Australia..."

Refinements to Model Year 2005 Impreza WRX STi include a driver control centre differential (DCCD) - allowing the driver to literally "dial up" the preferred torque split, when in manual mode, or opt for automatic mode.

A new front helical limited slip differential was added too.

Steering response also benefits from a "cannon mount" steering rack housing.

For the full 41-page report on 2005 Bang for your Bucks, see the September edition of MOTOR, out now.

SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI - ONE OF THE SAFEST CAR AROUND

2006-02-16T23:47:00.000+08:00

Subaru has been a champion of All Wheel Drive for over 30 years. Such long-standing commitment has given us the advantage in improving the technology still further and Subaru's Symmetrical All Wheel Drive system is our engineers' crowning achievement.

The horizontally opposed Boxer engine allows for a lower centre of gravity, while the symmetrical drive train allows for a well-balanced vehicle. The All Wheel Drive system then distributes power to all four wheels. For you, the driver, it means outstanding balance, and more predictable vehicle control in a wide range of driving conditions.

The feeling is one of safety, security, confidence and fun.

Even wonder what SUBARU CARS are you driving

2006-02-16T23:23:00.000+08:00

Based on the APPLIED MODEL number on you VIN plate you should be able to find out, your exact model type of your SUBARU CARS.

The 7 digit "applied model" code found on the vehicle identification plate inside the engine bay is decoded in the following way.
1.Series code G=Impreza S=Forester B=Legacy etc.
2.Body type F=Wagon C=Sedan
3.Engine type 8=2.0L Turbo
4.Year code A=MY93 B=MY94 C=MY95&96 D=MY97 (facelift) E=MY98 F=MY99 G=MY00
5.Number of doors 2=2 door coupe 4=4 door saloon 5=5 door wagon/hatch
6.Model type 8=WRX 7=RA type E=Sti D=Sti Type R & RA
7.Transmission D=5 Speed Manual AWD P=4 Speed Automatic AWD

Basics of Suspension On the WRX STI CARS

2006-02-15T01:25:00.000+08:00

Ride

Basically, suspensions are employed to deal with hump in road surface, in other words, enhancing ride comfort. When a car rides over a hump, the springs are compressed, store the energy thus provide shock absorption. The energy will be released quickly when the springs bounce back. Dampers are employed to smooth and slow down the bounce motion, this is called "Damping". Without dampers, the car will bounce up and down severely and quickly, this is perceived as uncomfortable. Study found that ride is perceived as comfortable by human when the bouncing frequency is 1 to 1.5 Hz. If it expeeds 2 Hz, most people feel the ride harsh. Therefore ride quality is mostly controlled by the selection of suitable springs and dampers.

Handling

In order to achieve ride comfort, we create suspensions and let the wheels movable with respect to the car body. Inevitably, this create many many problems in handling. When the car is turning quickly into a bend, centrifugal force will roll the car body resulting in a less safety ride. Body roll leads to the weight transfer towards the outside wheels, it also changes the suspensions geometry which changes the camber angles of wheels. Change of camber accompanies with weight transfer result in unwanted understeering or oversteering. If brakes are applied in the bend, castor angles will also be changed, that may further deteriorated understeering / oversteering or even introduces torque steer. (Don't understand ? No problem, you will have a clearer view in the following paragraphs)

Camber - Decisive to understeering and oversteering

This is a very important concept. We must learn this before going on our study.

As shown in below, if a wheel is not perpendicular to the road, then it is cambered. If it leans towards the center of the car, then it is negative cambered. If it leans outwards to the car, it is positive cambered (as shown in the following picture.)

When a wheel has positve camber, due to the elasticity of tyres, the wheel will be reshaped to something like the base of a cone. It will have a tendency to rotate about the peak of the cone, as shown in the picture. Now, you will see the wheel tries to steer away from the center of the car.

If both the right and left wheels are positive cambered (that means they lean towards opposite directions), the steering tendency will be cancelled so that the car remains running in straight line. If the car is turning into a corner, body roll puts more weight on the outside wheels than the inside wheels, that means the outside wheel's steering tendency will have more influence to the car. As the positive-cambered outside wheel tries to steer the car to the outside of the corner, the car will be understeered.

On the contrary, if both wheels are negative cambered, the car will oversteer.

A Good Suspension must :

1) Provide independent shock absorption to individual wheels. That means, when one wheel rides over a hump, the shock will not be transferred to other wheels.

2) Has adequate body roll. Excessive body roll leads to too much weight transfer thus influence the steering response. It is not comfortable too. Restrict body roll to minimal may create uncomfortable feeling because of excessive g-force. Moreover, body roll could provide information to the driver, telling him the state of cornering and whether the car has reached its limit. Completely eliminate body roll is not at all good.

3) Has a good geometry such that wheel cambers remain unchanged in all conditions, that is, acceleration, braking, cornering, load and bumps.

Body roll suppression usually conflict with ride comfort, because the former requires stiffer spring and dampers while the latter vice versa. Nevertheless, clever suspension geometry may improve body roll without altering the ride. Here in below we are going to discuss the most popular kinds of suspension geometry.

IGNITION VOLT STABILIZER RAIZIN SPARK FOR WRX STI CARS

2006-02-12T16:17:00.000+08:00

BRINGS OUT 100%YOUR IGNITION COIL'S PERFORMANCE : TYPE V

Until now, due to various types of load resistance and interference at the contact terminals, fuses, contact points and cords in the electric circuitry on the way to the ignition coil, major loss occurred and optimum combustion did not take place.

To help solve this the Raizin Spark utilizes a new approach in voltage stabilizer devices for ignition coils that brings out 100% of your ignition's performance by providing point blank power to the ignition coil via connection to our specially designed circuitry. This in turn gives you dramatic improvement in engine performance from optimum ignition to ideal combustion.

Easy-installation with couplers connected.

The installation is easy and does not allow for wiring mistakes. Simply connect by inserting the supplied coupler to the standard coupler and then connect to the battery.

Model Specificity ensures Proven Perfect Ignition Tuning.

Type V has been designed to allow for an even closer connection to the ignition coil than Type S, so that even a higher level of performance and flawless ignition coil voltage stabilization could be achieved. And because power and earth are handled from the battery there is no wiring loss that results in flawless ignition firing every time.

Nothing more can be done in the Name of High Performance.

To bring about the best results in voltage stabilization, we added stabilizing circuitry and dual relays and thick cables to connect the ignition coil to the battery at the shortest distance. This combined with the taking of earth directly from the battery has resulted clear improvements in performance, including almost no loss of voltage, a reduction in pulse noise, and a rise in voltage. Moreover, the waterproof coating and the internal fuse give you the safety and stability you need.

Engine room Installation.

Raizin

Pivot Raizin Voltage Stabilizer for the SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CAR

2006-02-12T11:41:00.000+08:00

Ever wonder how to improve the torque, save fuel, improve responses. Here is a gadget for ALL in just a simple connection.

- Increase torque at low and middle speed
- Stabilizes idling and engine kick-over
- Improve engine response
- Increase headlight brightness
- Improve Fuel Economy
- Improve Battery Life
- Improve Audio Quality

Pivot

Aluminum Manual Shift Knob for SUBARU WRX STI CARS

2006-02-08T23:39:00.000+08:00

Transform your Subaru Impreza into a hot driving machine. This Aluminum Manual Shift Knob for 2002 - 2005 Impreza WRX, STi is the THING.

Processed through a high quality cutting and finishing process using aerospace grade aluminum, the Cyber Speed shift knob facilitates shifting while enhancing visual appeal. Crowned with the Cyber Speed logo, the body has a 2 piece construction which allows up to 7mm height adjustment so you can set it to your own custom height. This Cyber Speed manual gear shifter knob for SUBARU WRX, STi available in the Cyber Speed electric blue or anodized silver.

HYPER VOLTAGE SYSTEM FOR SUBARU WRX STI

2006-02-08T23:28:00.000+08:00

Get the max out of your Subaru WRX STI CAR performance with the Subaru STI Hyper Voltage System ECO. It is a perfect add on engine accessory to increase performance, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

This Subaru STI Hyper Voltage System is easy to install, yet offers the performance of your WRX STI CAR you are craving for. Simply by connecting the Hot InaZma ECO to your Subaru WRX STI CAR battery, it helps the WRX STI electrical system operate at peak efficiency, thereby saving fuel and gain performance. The Hot InaZma ECO is also designed to stabilize battery voltage for enhanced electrical system efficiency, allowing your vehicle to operate at its full potential.

Hot InaZma ECO Voltage System features:

Improved gas mileage - "testing shows an average of 10% fuel economy increase"

Reduced emissions - "testing shows an average of 30% reduction of HC"

Brighter lights

Longer battery life

Improved engine performance

Reduction of radio noise

Simple, easy installation

Easy installation in any car, truck, or SUV with a 12v battery Start saving the money you spend on gas. Order one for your Subaru STI now.

SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CAR

2006-02-08T23:20:00.000+08:00

Willows, CA, Dec. 4, 7:00 a.m. PST — As the dawn broke, the ART ESX JustRacing.com Subaru WRX STi CAR that I'm co-driving lies in a solid 3rd place overall. We're six laps behind the second place car, a BMW M3, and seven laps behind the leader, a very strong running Porsche 911. We have a possibility of catching the 2nd place BMW on speed, but the Porsche seems out of reach unless it breaks. With five more hours to go before the race conclusion at noon, anything is possible.

Our car got through the night session relatively unscathed. My first session in the car came at dusk on Saturday when we were in fourth position; we managed to hold that despite running out of brakes towards the end of the two-hour segment. I brought the car in because the pedal was going to the floor while braking for corners and the inside front pads were so worn that the caliper pistons had left impressions in the pad backing plates.

After a new set of Pagid endurance pads and fresh tires, the car proceeded through four more reasonably uneventful sessions until I got back into it at 3:50 AM. (I actually got a few hours of sleep in the hotel between my drives, but responding to the 2:30 wakeup call definitely took some willpower).

During my second drive in the car, it was still running well. The brakes were not powerful, the gearbox and engine were solid, but the tires felt a little greasy. The car basically understeered everywhere and a good lap required a little trail-braking to help the car turn into corners and patience in applying the power exiting them.

In heavy traffic while driving through turn six (a medium speed left), the Mazda Miata directly in front of me suddenly slowed for no apparent reason and I tapped his left rear corner with my right front. The contact wasn't heavy enough for either of us to spin, but it did damage the mount for our light bar, which had been producing prodigious illumination.

Though the light bar was vibrating afterwards, the lights were still operating and the car was otherwise undamaged. But two laps later, the light bar lifted off the hook and folded back. Concerned that it would break free completely and kill the windshield, I immediately pitted and since I was more than an hour and half into the drive, we fueled and performed a normal driver change. Unfortunately, the light bar mount was too badly damaged to repair, so the crew removed the lights and with only about an hour left to sunup that solved the problem.

Overall, we are in great shape for the last five hours of the race. Despite the long night, the crew remains alert and productive. Marshall Pruett's thorough planning and preparation has paid off in spades in both preventing problems from occurring and making sure that the team was prepared to deal with the inevitable surprises that did arise. Most important of all, the car remains healthy and fast — ready for the sprint to the finish.

WRX STI CAR RALLY

2006-02-07T02:12:00.000+08:00

Al Attiyah prunes Khalid's lead in first leg

Al Ain: The 2004 regional champion Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi and British co-driver Nicky Beech held a 53-second advantage in the ADNOC Distribution UAE International Rally after the seven timed special stages of the opening leg in Al-Ain on Thursday.

The Pirelli-backed UAE driver had taken the battle to the defending FIA Middle East rally champion Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and Ulster co-driver Chris Patterson from the start and beat his rival by 11 seconds in the 39.24 kms Al Mishab stage yesterday morning, with Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi and Shaikh Suhail Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum trailing behind.

But Al Attiyah fought back on the subsequent two stages to take a slender six-second lead over the UAE's Shaikh Khalid into the Sweihan midday service point.

When the Qatar rallyist was forced to stop in the fifth stage to remove sand from a clogged air filter, Shaikh Khalid inherited a lead of 1m 17s, leaving Al Attiyah in a frantic tussle with Shaikh Suhail for second place.

Al Attiyah passed his UAE rival in SS6 by setting the fastest time and reduced Shaikh Khalid's overnight lead to 53 seconds after the seventh stage to set up a fascinating final leg of sixth special stages today.

A determined Shaikh Khalid said: "I was pleased with my start, but I don't want to take too many risks. We need to be fast to match Nasser, but there is a fine line between fast and reckless. Now I have to adopt a waiting game today. Now Nasser has to take the risks."

"I adopted a different strategy on this rally," said Al Attiyah. "Khalid started well, but I decided to push harder on SS3 and SS4. It worked and I took the lead again. But then we had to stop because the air filter was blocked. Now I have to attack today."

Shaikh Suhail and Shaikh Abdullah were third and fourth overall in their new Subaru Impreza WRX STis and Jordanian Amjad Farrah was the highest-placed Mitsubishi driver in fifth overall.

But the major drama from the opening leg revolved around the Bahraini driver Hassan Al Sadadi. He and British co-driver Keith Wake survived a high-speed crash accident, which destroyed their Subaru Impreza WRX STi. "It was a right turn after a long straight and I called this pace note to Hassan and then heard a loud bang," said his bruised co-driver.

"Then Hassan shouted out and we went over and over and over again. The accident seemed to go on forever. When I stopped, I noticed that the engine was on fire and got out of the car and switched off the master switch and activated the fire extinguisher. Hassan was very dazed.

"He had a bruised eye and I immediately summoned a nearby marshall to call an ambulance. A helicopter was with us in a matter of minutes and Hassan was taken to hospital for observation. Our car is completely finished."

"I would like to praise the speed and efficiency of our medical and rescue team and the work of the marshal on the scene for reacting so quickly," said Mohammad Bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Automobile Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates.

"We have worked long and hard with safety on our rallies and this proves that the work has been successful."

Auto Financing & Auto Insurance for WRX STI CARS

2006-02-04T15:27:00.000+08:00

Type in “auto financing” on any search engine and the list is endless— whether you have good credit or bad credit, someone out there is willing to finance your car for a price. Similarly, if you search for auto insurance companies, you’ll find many that offer you auto insurance coverage— no matter what your driving record is like.

Car dealerships try to simplify the car buying process as much as possible to encourage people with good credit to buy from them. However, even if your credit is less than perfect, some dealerships may still work with you to get the sale.

Keep these things in mind when you’re looking for auto financing for your vehicle:

If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Zero-financing and other offers may not apply to you unless you have excellent credit.
Some car dealerships that arrange financing mark up their rates by 2 or 3%, which can cost you thousands of dollars more to pay back. According to the Consumer Federation of America, marked-up dealer financing affects 1 out of 4 people— and it’s perfectly legal!

How can you get the best deal on auto-related costs, like financing and auto insurance?

Use the Internet to research prices, which will help you negotiate the best price. Web sites like Yahoo! Autos and The Motley Fool can help you figure out vehicle prices and financing.
Never be afraid to leave a dealership or seek another bank or credit union to handle your financing. All of these companies compete for your business— so you should never feel pressured to buy.
Obtain a copy of your credit report that includes your credit score and use it as a bargaining tool.
Apply these same principles when you shop for auto insurance. Shop around and always look for the best deal. (You can't put a price on loyalty!)

ACCIDENT ON YOUR NEW SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CAR

2006-02-04T15:15:00.000+08:00

Just bought a new WRX STI car? What if an accident occurred soon after taking your brand new ride off the lot? You have full coverage insurance, right? So, you're covered....maybe not.

When you drive your new WRX STI car off the lot the value of your vehicle plummets, sometimes as much as 20-30%. Take for instance you pay $25,000 for your new vehicle and have an accident a month later. You probably have only made at the most one payment and if you did not put any money down your loan amount is still close to the $25,000 purchase price. Unfortunately, even with full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision, you will only receive the market value of your vehicle which could be as much as 20-30% lower than the purchase price.

That means you may be stuck paying that 20-30%. On a $25,000 car, just a 20% depreciation would be $5,000! That amount could be more if you financed your taxes and license into your loan.

2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi VS 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR

2006-02-02T21:14:00.000+08:00

2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STi

Specifications:

Engine:
Type: Flat-4, Turbocharged
Displacement cu in (cc): 150 (2457)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 300(221) / 6000
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 300(407) / 4000
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Brakes & Tires:
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/disc
Tires F-R: 225/45 ZR17
Driveline: All Wheel Drive

Exterior Dimensions & Weight:
Length × Width × Height in: 173.4 × 68.1 × 56.7
Weight lb (kg): 3298 (1497)

Performance:
Acceleration 0-62 mph s: 4.8
Top Speed mph (km/h): n.a.
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): 18/24 (n.a.)

VS

2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR

Specifications:

Engine:
Type: Inline-4, Turbocharged
Displacement cu in (cc): 122 (1997)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 276(206) / 6500
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 286(388) / 3500
Redline at RPM: 7000

Brakes & Tires:
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: 235/45 ZR17
Driveline: All Wheel Drive

Exterior Dimensions & Weight:
Length × Width × Height in: 178.5 × 69.7 × 57.1
Weight lb (kg): n.a.

Performance:
Acceleration 0-62 mph s: 5.1
Top Speed mph (km/h): 157 (253)
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): 18/26 (n.a.)

CARBON WINGS FOR SUBARU IMPREZA WRC WRX STI CARS

2006-02-02T20:56:00.000+08:00

CHECK OUT THIS "WINGS" FOR YOUR WRX STI CARS

WINGS

HKS EVC CONTROLLER FOR SUBARU WRX STI CARS

2006-02-02T20:44:00.000+08:00

The HKS EVC-IV, and it's sister piece the EVC Pro, are the easiest units to install, mount and program into the WRX STI CARS. Moreover, they work day in and day out without any fiddling. Unlike the manual boost controllers, this unit has a unique safety feature built in: overboost protection. You select the maximum boost level that can be attained and the EVC-IV obeys your command.

HKS CONTROLLER

Subaru Impreza WRX STI Carbon Fiber Products

2006-01-30T21:55:00.000+08:00

Walking into the SEMA show this year brought me back to when I was a child at Christmas time. As usual there were several new cutting edge companies displaying thier products to the world. One company that made one of the largest splashes at the show was the new carbon fiber hood heavyweight Seibon. Over the past year Seibon has really gained recognition fast as a contender for the hottest carbon fiber products on the market.

I first heard of Seibon earlier this year when one of my suppliers introduced me to the product. I didnt really pay too much attention because I always hear about these new upstart companies. It wasnt until June when I had my first order from Seibon. A client of mine brought it a Import Tuning magazine with a gorgeous Subaru WRX STI in the centerfold sporting a sick new body kit and probably the most beautiful carbon fiber hood I had ever seen.

It took me a day or two to find out where the products on the pic were from (can you imagine that they didnt even say in the article..). The body kit was the new at the time Charge Speed lip kit, and the hood was the new Seibon CW hood, an agresssive and stylish carbon fiber hood with induction vents on both sides of the hood. This makes for an excellent hood for the turbo'd Impreza, WRX and STI models, and even better is the fact that the hood is availible for all three cars.

When the hood finally came in we were all shocked, in a good way. The hood was a peice of art and the glossy finish blew us away. In the photos this hood looked good but in person it was even better. That same weekend I coincidentally saw my client on the road twice and marvelled at the glimmer of the hood in the sun. The seibon gave off a slightly goldish hue under the sunlight.

We were to say the least very impressed with Seibon and its dedication to providing top tuning carbon fiber hoods and accessories for the WRX STI. They have 3 new carbon fiber lip spoilers for the Impreza, plus one for the WRX and STI. They also have an all carbon fiber rear spoiler wing that is strikingly handsome. Pair those with the VIS Carbon fiber trunk and your in Subaru heaven.

SUBARU WRX STI CARBON FIBER HOOD

FULL CARBON FIBER REAR SPOILER

FULL CARBON FIBER TRUNK DECK

Carbon Fiber

Subaru leads SAFETY charge in WRC

2006-01-29T23:49:00.000+08:00

The works Subaru team has introduced what it believes is a safer seat and safety bellt design in its all new, 2006-spec Impreza WRC SRX STI CAR. The outfit has made more robust seats for the driver and co-driver with added side protection, while the safety harness has been changed to decrease the risk of stretching in accidents.

Safety in motorsport has always been a hot topic- particularly in rallying- but the topic has become more fiercely discussed in the World Rally Championship in recent months following the tragic accident on last year's Wales Rally GB in which Markko Martin's Co-driver, Michael Park was sadly killed.

World motorsport's governing body, the FIA, is already looking at a number of ways in which to further improve side-impact protection for the driver and co-driver, but SUBARU has already decided to include findings from its own research in the design of this year's car even through they're not required by current FIA sules.

"It was clear we needed to make everything much stronger and stiffer, " SUBARU team boss, David Lapworth told Motorsport News this week. "Which led us to the shorter safety belts and greater rear support for the seats"

Greddy TVVC Manual Boost Controller for WRX STI CARS

2006-01-29T23:36:00.000+08:00

The Trust Variable Valve Controller (TVVC) is the ultimate automotive manual boost controller for WRX STI CARS. Designed specifically for automotive use, this unit is built form high quality billet aluminum and oil and heat resistant seals. A locking and clicking dial insure precise adjustments of boost in either Actuator /Integral or Poppet/ External style wastegates. Can be mounted in the engine or the driver's compartment.

HKS Header

2006-01-29T23:27:00.000+08:00

HKS Stainless Steel tubular turbo exhaust manifolds offer maximum exhaust flow for increased turbo spool up & phenomenal flow capacity. Fabricated of polished SUS304 stainless steel.

Buying a safety car can reduce insurance

2006-01-29T23:08:00.000+08:00

Ever wonder how a safety car can reduce you car insurance??

Choose Safety

Buying a car? Make sure you put safety first. It could help save your life, and will definitely help you save on auto insurance.

Getting Started

When you’re buying a car, it pays to consider all the information available before making such a sizable investment. You’ll be more likely to save money, and information from a diverse array of sources will help ensure that you get the safest vehicle available. Fortunately, a wide variety of consumer information is available online at Web sites like Yahoo! Autos. You can find all the information you need in minutes!

You can also see available safety features and select other custom features when you get hassle-free new or used car quotes online. Yahoo! Autos makes comparison shopping easy, without any obligation to buy!

Crash Test Performance

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and many other safety authorities run crash tests every year to determine how well vehicles protect occupants in frontal and side collisions. When you're car shopping, ask how well the vehicle you're interested in holds up in frontal and side collision simulations. Good performance in these crash tests is typically a prominent selling feature. If the seller doesn't know, or if you want to know more, you can research specific models and years on NHTSA's Web site.

Safety Features that Help You Save on Auto Insurance

Seat belts— On average, seat belts save more than 10,000 lives each year. (Because of this, you’re typically given an auto insurance discount for certain kinds of automatic seat belts when you buy auto insurance.)
Air bags— When used with seat belts, air bags increase safety for most adult passengers. Concerned about reports on air bag safety? Learn how to use air bags safely with Esurance’s extensive vehicle information.
Head injury protection— Head injury protection helps lighten the blow should your head strike the interior roof of the vehicle and has become standard protection in recent model years. Headrests minimize neck trauma in an accident.

Lovely Ladies of SEMA

2006-01-28T00:13:00.000+08:00

From the number of photo galleries now online, it sure seems the best examples of aftermarket tuning at the recent SEMA show in Las Vegas weren’t cars. The SEMA girls are considered by many to be the elite of car-show models, who now appear to comprise an industry rivaling, say, the auto industry in net revenues.

Sema

ACCIDENT OF YOUNGSTER DRIVING WRX STI CARS

2006-01-26T23:53:00.000+08:00

Yep. Responsible or not, real world experience is the key, and nothing will ever take the place of that.

Sorry, coulda been a little more clear with the statement, but yes, I didn't mean to say that 17 or 18-y.o. kids are irresponsible, but more to the point that because they are that young, they don't have enough real-world experience to deal with certain situations effectively... and it doesn't only apply to cars, but basically anything where you need a level of skill to operate (mechanics, plumbers, computer geeks, athletes, fighter pilots, boat captains, the list goes on and on).

I find the parents mostly at fault for lack of education and guidance, and for not realizing that their kids aren't at the same skill level as they when it comes to driving. As much as it sucks to not get your license until you're 17 (or 18 now I think in places), there's a reason for that.

That's why insurance companies charge more for younger drivers, because they are 'inexperienced', and because they are more likely to get into some sort of accident or bad situation within the first few years of driving. I did. I had an accident within my first year of driving, and it was in bad-weather conditions, where I slid into another car while driving on snow-covered roads. I can say for sure that I've had many other situations similar to that one, and now I can navigate safely in that situation, base upon my learning experience that night.

That's why I can't stand it when someone buys their kid a car (or even if the kid has worked hard enough to buy their own) which is as powerful as an SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STi, without the kid really knowing how to drive it properly. It's sooo easy for an inexperienced driver to make a wrong move at a bad time because they haven't encountered a situation like that yet... and having a car which can accelerate and corner like an SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STi can (or even a WRX, or EVO, or Camaro, etc. etc.) which makes the situation worse because the car takes the wrong move, and makes it so much worse, so much more quickly, that the driver cannot possibly correct it in time.

The kid could be as responsible as they come, be an outstanding person, always cleans their room, does the chores, manages his allowance perfectly, gets a job where he can afford a $30k car and all associated costs, etc. etc. He could be a 'responsible driver' and do the speed limit always, keep the fun to a track, use his turn signals properly, yield always to slower cars, and so on. However, being a responsible kid does not do anything when the driver is going down a rain-slicked highway in bad weather, a little too fast for the conditions (right or wrong, and knowingly or not), and instead of taking the foot off the gas around a corner, keeping it on the throttle. At that point the car goes on boost, accelerates much too quickly in the corner, starts losing control, and the driver over-corrects it in a panic, and they go backend into the guardrail.

So, there is where my issue lies. Things like this happen, it's a shame, and unfortunately, until parents actually parent (and I'm making a generalization here) it will continue happening at a more-than-normal rate.

Reduction of CARBON in your WRX STI CAR

2006-01-26T00:49:00.000+08:00

ITS TIME TO GO ON A LOW-CARBON CAR
(SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CAR)

Whether in coal, oil or gas, carbon is the essential ingredient of all fossil fuels. When these fuels are burned to provide energy, carbon dioxide (CO2), a "greenhouse gas", is released to the Earth’s atmosphere.

As we’ve become more dependent on carbon-based fuels, we’ve seen a rapid increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2; from around 280 parts per million (ppm) before the industrial revolution, to 370 ppm today. If current trends of fossil fuel use continue the concentration of CO2 is likely to exceed 700 ppm by the end of this century. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this could lead to global warming of between 1.4 and 5.8°C, more frequent severe weather conditions and damage to many natural ecosystems.

PLEASE REDUCE YOUR CARBON.

Types of BROQUET

2006-01-26T00:28:00.000+08:00

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BROQUET FOR CARS.

The B/2T is suitable for motorcycles and small combustion motors (i.e. Small generators, lawnmowers). Depending on the size of the motor and tank, additional units of the B/2T In-Tank units may be required to achieve maximum performance. Improved performance would include an increase in horsepower, a reduction of fuel consumption and a reduction in engine maintenance. Each unit of B/2T will treat 12 litres of fuel.

The B/5T is suitable for larger motorcycles and small cars. The ideal tank size one unit of B/5T should be within 30 litres for maximum performance. Improved performance would include an increase in horsepower, a reduction of fuel consumption and a reduction in engine maintenance. Additional units of B/5T can be added if the tank size exceeds 30 litres.

The BoostMaster 30 is easily installed directly in the fuel line typically before the injector rail or carburetor. flowing through the in-tank casing will be Fueltreated by the metal catalyst before entering the engine. Once treated, your engine will perform to its maximum performance, which would include an increased in power, a reduction in fuel consumption and reduced maintenance. This unit is perfect for cars producing 150hp or less. (i.e. Proton Wira 1.6) E

The BoostMaster 40 In-Line unit is a perfect fit for cars producing less than 200hp. Wide variety of car owners using the Boostmaster 40 experience unrivalled power, a smoother-quieter ride and improvements in mileage and more.

The Top Fueller RS in-line unit is designed for top performing vehicles. Vehicles like the BMW 328i or the Volvo S40 will experience a performance like no other. The Top Fueller RS will improve the quality of fuel that it consumes so that these engines can perform to its full potential. Improved performance would include an increase in horsepower, a reduction of fuel consumption and a reduction in engine maintenance. Tested and proven, Broquet will improve and extend the life of your engine.

Fuel Saver FOR YOUR CARS

2006-01-26T00:11:00.000+08:00

THINKING OF WAYS TO SAVE FUEL AND YET MAINTAINING THE RUSH IN YOUR CAR?
WELL NOW IS A PRODUCT DESIGN FOR NEEDS.......

- Reduces fuel comsumption
- More Power
- Reduce exhaust emission (hc & co)
- One treatment lasts for 40,00km
- Simply fitted and requires not maintenance
- Easier starting and amoother running
- Suitable for use with catalytic convertor
- Keep engine oil cleaner
- Eliminates engine 'coking'
- Quickly pays for itself

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

Broquet

HKS Fuel Cut Defenser

2006-01-25T00:15:00.000+08:00

HKS's FCD is an electronic device developed to properly raise the factory fuel cut level on your WRX CAR to a safe and higher predetermined point.

As modifications such as intakes and exhausts are made to optimize engine performance along with utilizing a boost controller to further raise boost levels, the conservative factory fuel cut is often triggered by the higher boost levels which activates a fuel delivery cut off as a failsafe procedure.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI CAR

2006-01-24T00:33:00.000+08:00

DIFFERENCES IN THE IMPREZA CARS

There are differences between the Japanese domestic WRX and the world version. When the reasons for these differences are taken into account, it is hard to fault our version of the Impreza WRX as in some way being a little sister to the Japanese WRX. It is as close as regulations have permitted.

There major changes in the way the new model WRX is marketed. The new STI cars now have have significant mechanical and structural differences compared to the normal WRX. The Japanese STI body shell has light weight panels and other weight savings, separate interior options and of course the now well documented six-speed gearbox and huge Brembo brake option. The most significant differences between the STI cars and the standard WRX are the high power 280hp+ EJ207 motors and the new six speed transmission. The STI type "RA" version is known to put out an easy 320hp. In sharp contrast all WRX cars in Japan have 250hp and worldwide have 228hp EJ205 engines and 5-speed gearboxes.

For 2001 Japan model year, the standard model Japanese WRX has been detuned considerably from its earlier 280hp 1997-2000 versions. The new standard WRX is fitted with a less powerful 250hp EJ205 motor very similar to what is now in the US and other export WRX models. Japanese engine EJ205 version has less horsepower, but substantially the same torque as the older WRX-STI version EJ207 engines. It still goes pretty good. The domestic WRX has a variable valve timing, which the world export cars do not get. It also runs a much better gas than we get here. This is the main factor for its higher power output and variable valve timing. It was felt that the benefits of variable valve timing would not be significant on low octane fuel combined with the mileage and emissions restrictions.

The Japanese 4-door WRX continues with the earlier mid-close TY754 model transmission and 4.44 final drive introduced in 1999. The 5-door wagon continues with its 3.9 final drive wide ratio transmission. This wide ratio gearbox is in all 4 or 5 door export versions currently sent to the US, Europe and Australia. Australia for 2003 will receive the closer ratio 4.44 drive train at the insistence of the importer. I suspect that our EPA mileage restrictions will preclude introduction of the 4.44 gearbox in the US.

Of the actual drive train and brakes, very little was changed. The new 5-door suspension is essentially the same as the old car, other than the need for different spring rates and shock valving. The four-door has longer control arms and drive axles to accommodate the wider track. There are larger front brakes on the turbo models for greater safety. Both cars can easily accommodate 225/45-17 or 225/40-18 tires. The 4-door will go even wider with careful wheel and tire selection.

We did not get the high bolstered seats of the Turbo WRX model or European WRX models, rather we have the seats from the Japanese "2.5RS" model. The reason is simple. There was no quick way to have side impact bags fit to the traditional high bolster WRX seat and the EPA crash dummy also comes into play. The Japan market WRX has the same brakes as we do, but gets 16x7 wheels instead of our 16x6.5. The Australian and European models are fitted with 17x7 rims and have the four pot front brakes as standard. What is going on here?!!

All but the Japanese and US/Canada markets are controlled by independent importers and they were given the choice of brakes and wheels. Japan and US/Canada are Fuji companies and they are just too conservative in their outlook to 'go for it' in our market yet. Our 16x6.5 wheels are no accident. It prevents the average owner from installing four pot brakes, comes on really bad tires to keep speeds down and encourages the wealthy Americans to sport for a proper set of wheels. Not to mention that all those 17 inch wheels Prodrive was stuck with until they sold them to the Tirerack when European WRX came with 17x7 wheels. The rest of the car is all pretty much the same world wide.

It is the body shell and interior that received all the attention. There have been years of evolutionary development of gear box synchronizer and gear arrangements, steady engine management evolution every two years, a major revision of the motor intake layout and a minor front end and interior facelift, but it finally came time to re-tool the production line, so why not incorporate chassis design insight and freshen up the car while you are at it?

The new WRX car has gained weight, but with this weight has come strength and rigidity in the chassis. The WRX chassis is vastly stiffer and slightly larger than the previous Impreza. It is certainly a more refined car. Solid is the best description. It has a total lack of chassis resonance that is a tribute to a computer analysis make over of the old chassis design. Consisting of little bits of added plate there, a more complex pillar shape, smooth hydro- formed large panels and other subtle changes have added substantial weight to the car in trade for its increased stiffness and strength. All these subtle changes translate to a quieter cabin and better handling transitions. It also makes the car harder on its brakes.

In comparing the power to weight ratio of the RS to the new WRX, if you account for the increased weight factor it looks like the new WRX develops a weight factored 200 hp, the other 27 hp is needed to carry around the new found weight. This statement obviously does not account for the much greater midrange torque of the turbo motor. You may sleep comfortably knowing a 200hp RS is not going to say with you, but the weight gain is telling in the acceleration department compared to the old WRX. Along this line of thinking we can also point out the Japanese WRX has considerably more torque and shorter gears than the world export models and will leave our WRX in the dust, especially above 50 mph.

Wind Splitters for WRX STI CAR

2006-01-23T23:01:00.000+08:00

Ever wonder what is the use of a Wind Splitter, well this wind splitter is designed to combat the effects of front end lift and help increase overall downforce on your car.

Xeigen

Apexi Turbo Timer for WRX STI CAR

2006-01-23T20:38:00.000+08:00

The Apex Auto Timer allows the vehicle to idle for a preset amount of time after the ignition key has been removed.

In turbocharged cars like the IMPREZA WRX STI CAR this prevents hot oil in the engine from coking up in the lines. Hard driving can raise engine oil temperatures to dangerously high levels. Proper cool down is essential for a healthy turbo and engine.

Pulley for the Impreza WRX STI CAR

2006-01-23T20:34:00.000+08:00

These lighter pulleys improve throttle response, as there is less Rotational mass for the engine to drive. No loss in alternator (electrical) generation.

SUBARU CARS VS PORSCHE

2006-01-20T23:52:00.000+08:00

What is the fascination in a Subaru newsgroup with Porsches? This
subject keeps coming up. Who are the Porsche owners who claim to not
be interested in Subarus, and yet post here? Who cares if someone
else thinks their car is faster? It's all just talk. Everybody has
thier pet vehicle, whether Subaru or Porsche or bike or other which
they think will 'crucify' everything else. Nothing can beat all
comers in all conditions, whether bike or car. Quoting maximum
figures is a naieve argument for superiority on the road. Driving
fast on the road is like being safe on the road - it's not about
getting it right, it's about not getting it wrong. You can be taking
seconds out of someone all over the place, but miss just one
overtaking oportunity (and if you think you can spot them all safely
when you're going over 100 mph faster than the surrounding traffic,
which in vehicles like this you will be, then quit your day job) and
they will come past you a hundred miles an hour faster, and no power
will make up for that. Anyone I put this argument to just comes back
with a load of figures, results which I don't see gettting acted out
on the road.

I can afford Porsche or Subaru, but the choice didn't come down to
studying figures in Autocar. I drove both and bought the one I
preferred, regardless of which is faster. And if one day someone
takes me out while I'm giving it my all, then good to them - maybe
they have a faster car, but more likely they know what they're doing
behind the wheel. More likely still, It will be because I wasn't
driving flat out. I'm an experienced driver, but now as I have a
really fast car I'm honest enough to say that I don't have what it
takes to use that performance to the full all the time - down narrow
roads, on wet roads, in the dark. I can't judge my braking distance
to within a few metres from 140mph, or guarantee that no one in the
line of ten cars I'm overtaking full whack will pull out without
indicating, and at these times a kid in a hot hatch would 'crucify'
me, probably by taking a few unrealistic risks along the way - just as
I used to do to fast car drivers when I was their age. Though I've
never had an accident or even come close in ten years, I've been in a
few and I've seen friends die, and this is what makes me and my car
slowest of all - even if you gave me an extra 400 bhp. I'm here to
enjoy myself, not to 'crucify' or 'murder' people.

Incidentally, did anyone watch Driven (on UK network TV) a couple of
weeks back? A friend told me about it, and through a chicane of 8
bends he said they timed some new turbo Audi as faster than the 22B -
even though the Audi had much worse 1/4 mile times etc. Of course
there is a way to make the Audi faster still - write Subaru on the
front of it. (joke!)

Rally Co-Driver Michael Park Killed in CAR ACCIDENT

2006-01-20T00:18:00.000+08:00

Rally co-driver Michael “Beef” Park was killed in an accident during the Wales Rally Great Britain, when his Peugeot 307 piloted by teammate Markko Martin slammed into a tree — predominately on the passenger side — during the race’s stage 15. Martin was reportedly uninjured. Park, 39, of Newent, Gloucestershire, UK, had been on the championship rally circuit since 1994, first co-driving for Mark Higgins, then for Martin with the Subaru, Ford and most recently Peugeot teams. The race’s remaining stages were cancelled, though calling of the winner was complicated by the tragedy: Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm withdrew, meaning Citroen’s Sebastian Loeb would have retained his world title — had Loeb not deliberately threw the race in deference to Park, leaving Subaru’s Petter Solberg as rally winner.

JALOPNIK

WRC ACCIDENT

2006-01-20T00:11:00.000+08:00

We mentioned a couple of months ago that motocross hero Travis Pastrana is trying his hand at rallying. Our man with the hip-hops, Brian hipped us to the fact that Pastrana’s effort’s got some serious muscle behind it, but muscle wasn’t enough to save Travis and his co-driver Christian Edstrom from what can only be termed as a gnarly roll when Pastrana carried too much speed into a corner. The footage is shot from three angles, so you can watch Travis as the car flips. And flips. And flips again. And again. At one point, his arm gets sucked out the window from the force of the roll. He’s lucky he was able to hold onto it.

Jalopnik

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENSE

2006-01-19T23:20:00.000+08:00

The International Driver’s document issued by the International Automobile Driver's Club is a translation of a national driver’s license which allows the motorist to drive in different territories (more than 200 countries) without experiencing difficulties with various language barriers. This international driver’s license is, however, valid only with the original driver’s license.

- Drive a car in almost any place in the world.
- Register the title, the insurance and the tag of a car.*
- Rent a car, wherever you are.
- No test, you only need your national driver's license.
* Only available in some locations.

- In the back of the license, you can find a 2D barcode PDF417 (Your information will be available for any police scanner in the world)

- Original plastic card with security shield hologram. - Valid up to 3 years. - It is printed in 8 languages - the six United Nations official languages document.

SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CAR ACCIDENT

2006-01-18T01:04:00.000+08:00

Building vs WRX STI

My wife and I were out late last night at a movie and came home around 12. As we pulled into the neighborhood we saw an accident. An STi plowed right into our neighboring condos. It was just some punk idiot kid. I called 911 and reported the problem and I checked up on the kid to see if he was ok and anyone else was hurt. Luckily no one was hurt, but I'm sure the kid is going to get a raping from his parents and insurance company.

fairfaxunderground forum

HeadLights On Your Car For Safety Driving.

2006-01-18T00:19:00.000+08:00

For sure every one of us knows how important the headlights are in our vehicle especially during driving at night. You can’t just travel that long or that far without having those proper headlights on your vehicle. At night, during rainy days or even during snowstorms, you will probably realize how essential they are to us and to our cars.

The headlights is a light that is usually attached to the front of the vehicle, specifically to a car that has the purpose of illuminating the road ahead especially during periods of visibility, just like at night or precipitation. The modern headlights nowadays are electric floodlights that are positioned in pairs, in one of each side of a moving car.

The headlights are usually the synthesis of multiple lamps and reflectors that can be switched between the two modes or configurations. These are the low beams and the high beams. Typically, the high beams cast more light at a higher angle while allowing the driver to see further away, probably at the cost of capable blinding drivers of oncoming vehicles. The high beams on a car also increase the reverie from the fogs, due to the refraction of the water and droplets.

For your own safety and insurance, you just can’t go out there up the road without having the headlights on your vehicle. If you lose one of your headlights, you need to fix them right away. The automotive headlights are usually the swords on most vehicles. They bring brightness, consistence, perfectly imperative and utterly fragile. It is an easy task when you got to replace your headlight on your car.

On some other cars, usually they replace only the small halogen bulb inside the larger glass headlamp. But speaking about the other cars, the inner bulb and the larger headlamp are one piece that you must replace.

For some instance when you need to replace your headlights on your car, you should determine first which type of bulb your car is using. You can open the hood and look behind the headlamp. But if you see a small, plastic, usually a black knob on the back of your headlamp, maybe your car deserves a small halogen replacement bulb. You can unscrew the black knob and pull it out, and you may have to push in and turn. The bulb that is attached to this knob will come out with it. If possible, you should avoid touching the glass on the new halogen bulb with your fingers, because the oil from your fingers can ruin the bulb and may cause it to burn out.

After doing the proper process, you can put the halogen bulb back into the headlamp and screw the knob. You can even check it after turning on the headlights to test if it works.

SO MAKE SURE YOUR HEADLIGHTS ARE IN TIP-TOP CONDITION BEFORE HEADING FOR THE ROAD. THIS IS SAFETY AND INSURANCE FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVE ONES.

Blow-Off Valve System for WRX STI CAR

2006-01-17T00:55:00.000+08:00

BOV offers adjustable sound and quick response. Two chambered body using an assisting vacuum hose. This unit incorporates a revolutionary design in boost pressure release systems. Blow Off Valves System allow built up boost pressures to escape into the atmosphere when the engine is no longer under load. This prevents the pressure from backing up into the turbine compressor housing, causing it to rapidly stop, and causing potentially destructive damage to the turbo.

The BOV is also adjustable to allow desired amounts of boost response between shifts. Unlike conventional single chambered blow off valves, the Twin Chamber Blow Off Valve System uses two separate chambers with an assisting pressure hose. This design allows for a short and highly sensitive spring in the first chamber that controls a piston and a valve in the secondary chamber. The result: quicker valve response under low AND high boost pressures. The blow off valve also gives the user the ability to adjust the blow off sound.

By turning a disk near the base of the unit, the exhaust gas release volume can be adjusted to normal, loud, and extra loud.

BOV

Carbon Eyelid for STI CAR

2006-01-16T22:50:00.000+08:00

The lighter the car the faster it can move, so how to reduce the weight of the car? Carbon Fiber is the answer, Carbon Fiber can replaced almost every part of the car without compromising on the SAFETY.

It comes in carbon fiber bonnet, trunk, wing mirrors, doors, spoiler and so on.

Below is a carbon fiber Eyelid fitted onto the Subaru Impreza WRX STI Car.

Xeigen

Carbon Wings for SUBARU WRX STI CAR

2006-01-15T16:02:00.000+08:00

The lighter the car the faster it can move, so how to reduce the weight of the car? Carbon Fiber is the answer, Carbon Fiber can replaced almost every part of the car without compromising on the safety.

It comes in carbon fiber bonnet, trunk, wing mirrors, doors, spoiler and so on.

Below is a carbon fiber spoiler fitted onto the Subaru Impreza WRX STI Car.

Xeigen

Subaru B5-TPH Concept Car

2006-01-14T22:48:00.000+08:00

The Subaru B5-TPH is a stylish coupe/wagon/crossover concept car that Subaru stresses is not the next Impreza. Its main focus is not the exterior styling so much as Subaru's Turbo Parallel Hybrid (TPH) powertrain, which is linked to the company's trademark symmetrical four-wheel-drive system. That's a shame, since the B5-TPH is the best-looking vehicle to come out of Subaru's studios in some time.

TPH places a thin electric motor generator between the car's 2.0-liter Miller-cycle flat-four turbo engine and the automatic transmission. The Miller-cycle technology, which we last saw in the mid-1990s Mazda Millenia near-luxury sedan, improves engine efficiency by reducing pumping losses due to a power stroke that is longer than the compression stroke. Often, this system makes an engine unresponsive at low speeds, but with the electric motor, Subaru claims, standing-start torque is better than even the turbocharged Impreza WRX's. The generator also acts as an engine-assist to boost fuel economy. The combined output is 256 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque.

2006 SUBARU R1e

2006-01-13T00:06:00.000+08:00

With hybrids all the rage, it seems that every company is rolling one onto a show stand or showroom floor in an attempt to change the face of energy consumption and transportation or some such blather.

Subaru itself has gotten into the act with the B5-TPH concept. But the R1e (based on the tiny Japanese-market R1) isn't some run-of-the-mill hybrid cliché: instead, it's an electrically powered cliché that "has been designed to meet the needs of city mobility." As it requires none of that political (and literal) firestarter, gasoline, the R1e runs solely on the power provided by its lithium-ion battery, which is estimated to last ten to fifteen years and can achieve a 90 percent charge in five minutes.

Subaru claims that charge will provide enough power for a daily commute (perhaps true if you walk to work) and also promises acceleration performance that surpasses gasoline-powered vehicles, although we suspect that group to consist only of riding lawn mowers and Volkswagen Microbuses. The R1e is scheduled for production this spring and will be available only in Japan. Early examples of the R1e are already plying Tokyo's crowded streets as they undergo final rounds of testing while serving as runabouts for--fittingly--the Tokyo Electric Power company.

R1e

2006 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CAR

2006-01-12T23:36:00.000+08:00

Check this 2006 model out
2006 WRX STI

Car Insurance for your vehicle

2006-01-12T01:21:00.000+08:00

If you’ve got your eye on a little red sports car as your weekend car, for every day, or to help you through a mid-life crisis, be warned that the flashier your vehicle is, the more you’ll pay for auto insurance.

Who Pays More?

Auto insurance protects your finances in the event of a loss. Because of higher repair and replacement costs when there’s an auto insurance claim, generally, fast, high-performance vehicles are more expensive to insure than 4-door family sedans. It makes sense that owners of more expensive cars have to pay higher auto insurance rates— these cars may cost more to repair in an accident.

Everyone notices a sports car— in fact, police officers are especially on the lookout for drivers in flashy vehicles. Or, perhaps it's just more tempting to speed in one! Drivers of flashier cars, especially red ones, are more likely to get cited for speeding and other violations. Speeding tickets on your driving record can really increase the long-term costs of your auto insurance.

Vehicle Features that Help You Save

Safety features are an important part of your vehicle— sports car or sedan. They could save your life in an accident and earn you auto insurance discounts, from auto insurance companies to auto companies. There may be auto insurance discount if your vehicle features an anti-theft device of some kind.

Online Research Saves You Money on Auto Insurance

Considering a new or used car? While you’re doing online research for the car of your dreams, get an auto insurance quote. You may decide that you’re not ready for that pricey toy when you see how much more it costs to insure!

Esurance

Engine Oil Changed for your CAR

2006-01-12T00:57:00.000+08:00

Engine oil lubricates the moving parts of the engine, reducing wear and tear. It helps keep the engine cool by dispersing heat that arises from the friction of moving parts. It also keeps dirt and deposits away from the engine, absorbing dust and other particles, and coating the engine parts to prevent rust and corrosion.

Engine oil has to be changed at intervals recommended by the manufacturer. The intervals also depend on your driving patterns. Constant stop-and-go driving and dusty conditions may require more frequent oil changes. Synthetic oil is usually 10,000km whereas mineral oil is 5,000km

Mineral oils are refined natural oils; synthetic oil is manufactured; and semi-synthetic oils are a blend of the two.

MORE "HORSES" ON YOUR WRX STI CAR?

2006-01-11T23:52:00.000+08:00

AEM Cold Air induction systems create MORE horsepower than EVERY intake system on the market by relocating the air filter outside of the hot engine bay. Only AEM induction systems feature CNC mandrel-bent 6061 aluminum intake pipes that are individually tuned in both length and diameter to maximize power in each application.

Every AEM intake is powder coated and has TIG-welded fittings and brackets. For filtration, AEM utilizes its new lightweight urethane, four-layer cotton-gauze filter that features a redesigned air horn that makes an additional 1-3 HP.

AEM

Apexi SAFC II

2006-01-11T23:33:00.000+08:00

The second-generation S-AFC is a fuel computer that adjusts fuel/air ratio by modifying the air-flow meter/MAP sensor signal.

The S-AFC features a user-definable, eight-point, adjustable fuel curve that can be set in 500 RPM increments. The range of fuel adjustment is 50% at each of the user-defined setting points.

On hot-wire vehicles, the Deceleration Air Flow Correction function is capable of curing the erratic idle and stall problems associated with open-atmosphere blow-off valves on hot-wire air-flow meter systems.

SO A SAFC ON YOUR SUBARU IMPREZA STI CAR?

safc

BODY KITS FOR THE 2006 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CAR

2006-01-11T01:06:00.000+08:00

Check out this nice body kit on the all NEW 2006 IMPREZA WRX STI CAR

INGSUSA

Tips to Insurance Claims Procedure

2006-01-10T21:59:00.000+08:00

What should you do when you are involved in a accident? Should you just zoom off in your ride?

Following are some tips to make sure that insurance claims goes off smoothly.

Following these tips will make the auto insurance claims process go more smoothly and help get you back on the road faster. (You may even want to print these tips and keep them in your glove compartment should you ever need them.)

Make sure everyone’s OK. If anyone’s injured, immediately call medical help to the scene. (If your injuries are minor, you may still want to have them checked out at a hospital or with your family doctor. Sometimes injuries that appear minor are really more serious.)
Try to remain calm.
Do not admit fault to anyone.
Seek police involvement. Police officers are trained to handle traffic accidents. They will also help determine who’s at fault.
Allow medical professionals and/or law enforcement officials to control the accident scene.
Discuss the accident only with the police and your auto insurance company. During the claims process, if another party to the accident or another auto insurance company contacts you, do not discuss the accident with them and do not agree to make a recorded statement. Simply refer any questions about the accident to your claims representative.
With the help of a police officer, gather information from everyone involved in the accident. Obtain names, addresses, phone numbers, and auto insurance information from all parties involved. Also, be sure to get contact information from any witnesses. It’s a good idea to store a pen and pad of paper in your vehicle. In the event of an accident, you can record the information your auto insurance company needs to complete your auto insurance claim more quickly.
If you have a camera with you, take photos to document vehicle damage, the intersection where the accident occurred, skid marks, and any other features of the accident scene. For this reason, we recommend you carry a disposable camera in your glove compartment, should you ever need it. Some new cell phone models have built-in digital cameras that can help document accidents.
Report the incident immediately.
As soon as possible, write down your own detailed recollection of the accident.

Sure hope the following tips and helpful.

Esurance

Carbon for your Impreza WRX STI CAR

2006-01-08T21:37:00.000+08:00

Weight of the car plays a part during street racing, the lighter the car the faster it is during pick up and acceleration. So how can we reduce the weight of our favourite ride. The answer is carbon fibre..

We can use carbon fibre for our bonnet and trunk. Thus reduction of weight is achieved.

CARBON FIBRE BONNET AND SCOOP FOR WRX STI

XEIGEN PRODUCTS

Brembo Brake Kits for Subaru WRX STI CARS

2006-01-08T20:50:00.000+08:00

Why Upgrade your Brakes?

Big brakes give your car greater resistance to fade by absorbing and shedding heat more efficiently. Racers upgrade because stock brakes were designed for a single stop from high speed, not repeated slow-downs with little time in between to cool off. For fade resistance, size really does matter. On the street, fixed-mount, multi-piston calipers give a firmer pedal and quicker reaction time in panic stops. As little as 0.2 second reduction in reaction time can translate into 21 feet of stopping distance at 70 mph. Reaction time is not as important to racers who can compensate by braking earlier. But on the street, in an unexpected stop, quicker reaction time can save your life. You don't need to be a racer to benefit from brake upgrades.

If you track or autocross your car regularly, your stock brakes are probably not up to the task. You can start off with better brake fluid, more aggressive brake pads, cooling ducts, and stainless braided brake lines. But as you progress from novice to intermediate skill level and beyond, carrying more speed into the braking zones, your track events will become characterized by boiling brake fluid, sinking brake pedal, and pad fade. Losing confidence in your brakes takes the fun out of a track event. Big brake upgrades allow you to dive deeper into the braking zone and brake harder than you ever thought possible.

Brembo Brake Kits for Subaru WRX STI CARS

Brembo Gran Turismo brake kits are an excellent choice for IMPREZA WRX STI CARS. Their fixed-mount, multi-piston calipers result in firmer pedal feel and quicker reaction time. The massive vented rotors give you significant improvements in thermal capacity and heat shedding ability over your stock brakes, resulting in much lower pad and rotor temperatures. Brembo brakes help make fading a thing of the past.

If you want quality brakes with better pedal feel, more progressive operation than stock, and more control under hard braking, then Brembo is the way to go.

Brembo Brakes

How Airbags Works?

2006-01-08T15:47:00.000+08:00

Ever wonder how does the air bag works in our cars?

Airbags were first invented in the 1950s and have been available in cars since the late 1980s. Today, they are standard safety features in most new cars.

PARTS OF AN AIRBAG
An airbag system consists of three pats:
- A bag made of a thin, nylon fabric which is folded into the steering wheel or dashboard.
- A sensor device which triggers the bag to inflate when there is a strong collision force.
- The airbag's inflation system set off by the sensor which combines sodium azide and potassium nitrate to produce nitrogen gas that can fill the bag rapidly.

HOW AIRBAGS PROTECT
While seatbelts are the primary restraint, airbags offer supplemental protection and lessen the risk of serious injuries by reducing the force exerted by the steering wheel or dashboard on any part of the body.
Additionally, airbags dissipate the impact force over a larger area, which reduces the severity of injuries. If the body crashes directly into the steering wheel, all the force from the steering wheel wll be applied to a small, localised area on the body. However, if the body hits an airbag, the force will be distributed over a larger area, resulting in relatively less serious injury.
In order for the airbag to cushion the head and torso for maximum protection, it must begin to deflate by the time the body hits it. Otherwise, the high internal pressure of the airbag would create a surface as hard as stone - not the protective cushion it's meant to be!
Crash tests showed that for an airbag to be useful as a protective device, the bag deploy and inflate within within 40milliseconds

SIDE AIRBAGS
Side-impact airbags, which debuted in the mid-1990s, are more often found in higher-end sedans and certain SUVs and MPVs. These work like front airbags, but are located in the door, seat or roof of the car instead. As their namce suggests, they are designed to inflate and protect vechicle's occupants in a side impact and cushion other parts of the body, Side curtain-type airbags protect the head and, in some models, remain inflated for up to five sceonds during rollovers.

WORDS OF CAUTION
While airbags reduce injuries in accidents, they are never a subsitute for seat belts. Children under 12 should sit in the back seat becasue their bodies are too small to withstand the tremerndous force of an inflating airbag. Infants in rear-facing car seats should not be placed in the front passenger seat with ana ctive airbag.

INGS BODY KITS FOR SUBARU WRX STI CAR

2006-01-08T14:41:00.000+08:00

EVER WONDER HOW A SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI LOOKS LIKE WHEN IS "DRESSED"

Check out this HOT RIDE !!!!!!!!!!!!

SO GUYS WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ????

INGS BODYKITS

TOKYO AUTO SALON 2006

2006-01-01T14:38:00.000+08:00

TOKYO AUTO SALON 2006

Race Queen of the Year 2005

2005-12-26T14:32:00.000+08:00

THE RACE QUEENS - AZURE

AZURE

APEXI AIR INTAKE SYSTEM

2005-12-19T14:30:00.000+08:00

This intake has dual stainless steel funnels to direct intake air smoothly into the throttle body. The air filter is made of an unrestricted race quality element and has one funnel at the top of the filter and one funnel at the base.

Apexi engineers noticed in tests that when the vehicle sucked in air from the side, an area of wind turbulence occurs in the middle of the filter. To cure this problem, a funnel at the top of the filter was added to channel the air down to the base of the filter. A shown

APEXI

NITRO IN TYRES FOR YOUR SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI CARS?

2005-12-12T14:27:00.000+08:00

NITROGEN GAS IN TYRES ???

Do you know how many revolutions a tyre makes on a F1 car as it races around a circuit? How does 3000 sound to you?

Any steering input from the driver is transmitted to the road via these thin strips of rubber. At speeds of up to 360kph, one better hope that the tyres do not rupture or punture otherwise it will result in a hugh accident! This constant risk means that it is essential to make tyres as safe as possible and one way to do this is put NITROGEN in them.

Nitrogen is a very unreactive gas. if you fill a tyre with dry nitrogen gas, it is possible to predict how much it will expand as the tyre heats up from friction with the road.

Air on the other hand is unpredicatable. While its composition of nitrogen and oxygen is always the same, the amount of water which makes the expansion of air within the tyre very unpredictable. Using nitrogen gas in tyres will ensure that this expansion is more predictable and consistent.

If the pressure in a tyre is too high or too low, the steering and handling characteristic of the car will change invariably. For example if the pressure is too high, there will be loss of steering feel as the steering will feel lighter and all round grip will be reduced due to the reduced tyre/road contact surface.The tyre will also wear prematurely in the middle.

Too low a pressure and the steering will feel excessively heavy and this results in sluggish steering response. The tyre will also wear prematyrely at the sides.

Another important advantage is that nitrogen expands less than oxygen when heated which means that there is less chance of the tyre exploding during a fire. Tyres can explode with the force of a dynamite detonation and this increases the risk already faced by the driver and passengers. Water present in the air oxidises the rubber in tyres causing them to corrode. Over long periods, gas also diffuse out of the tiny pores found in rubber tyres. A nitrogen molecule is larger than an oxygen molecule. Therefore, nitrogen gas leaks out of the tyres three times slower than air.

A tyre filled with nitrogen will maintain the correct tyre pressure longer and this means that a tyre will maintain performance longer as a result of slower wear.

All in all, advantages of using nitrogen gas in passenger car and race car tyres outweigh the only disadvantages, which are price and availability

APEXI N1 CATBACK EXHAUST SUBARU IMPREZA WRX / STi

2005-12-08T14:24:00.000+08:00

APEXI N1 catback exhaust systems were born to satisfy the need for a quick throttle response and to effectively handle the rigorous demands of high-horsepower engines.

Each APEXI N1 catback exhaust is built from SUS 304 stainless steel and features a 115mm exhaust tip with aggressive style.

The APEXI N1 exhaust pipes were engineered with the aid of sophisticated CAD systems to develop the straightest possible lines and least number of bends. The APEXI N1 straight-through catback exhaust projects from the car at an angle, which helps smooth the exhaust flow.

All APEXI N1 exhaust pipes are mandrel-bent to prevent any loss of efficiency.

All APEXI N1 catback exhaust systems have a titanium-particle-based high-temperature paint to protect the exhaust pipes.

The Super Silencer is included on selected APEXI N1 catback exhaust models, which can reduce noise levels by up to 7 decibels.

Apexi Exhaust

DIFFERENT TYPE OF GAUGES AND THE FUNCTION

2005-12-02T14:22:00.000+08:00

GAUAGES FOR YOUR WRX IMPREZA TURBO CARS

VOLTMETER

Allows the driver to monitor the voltage of the car's battery and gives an indication of the battery's health and the condition of the complete electrical system in the car. This gauge can tell if your alternator is charging the battery properly, preventing unnecessary breakdowns due to battery failure.

OIL PRESSURE GAUGE

This gauge measures the engine's oil pressure and alerts you before the warning light on the dasboard appears. A lower than normal operating oil pressure indicates a low oil level, incorrect oil viscosity (too thin), excessive mechanical wear of engine parts, oil leaks, or extreme

TURBO BOOST GAUGE

A vital item for turbocharged cars, this gauge measures the amount of boost that the turbocharger is providing to the engine. Boost pressures should remain constant and steady. Errartic boost pressure reveals problems with the engine management system or turbo-related components. More importantly, the boost gauge's function is to alert the driver of ecessive boost, which can lead to a blown engine.

AC Autotechnic Gauges

APEXI WRX/STI INDUCTION BOX COVER

2005-12-01T14:19:00.000+08:00

The APEXI Aluminum Induction Box effectively shields the intake filter element from power robbing heat caused by turbocharged engines and extreme under the hood conditions.

By fully enclosing the filter element and directing the intake air charge away from the heat soaked engine components, the APEXI induction box helps prevent the ingestion of hot, preheated air from within the engine compartment.

This reduction of intake air temperature promotes more efficient combustion, which in turn creates better performance and increased reliability

All new 2006 Subaru WRX STI CAR

2005-11-28T02:16:00.000+08:00

This 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI is all about performance. While it is indeed blindingly fast, the WRX STI is more than just straight-line acceleration. It is about truly exceptional handling, braking and all-road, all-weather performance.

After all, the WRX STI is an almost perfect simulation of our legendary Impreza rally car, which has dominated rally courses through every type of road and weather condition imaginable since making it FIA World Rally Championship debut in 1993. With striking new looks that include an aggressive new front fascia, stylish taillights and an eye-catching, functional roof vane, this WRX STI looks fast, even at a standstill.

More importantly, thanks to its performance-oriented symmetrical full-time All-Wheel Drive system and incredibly potent, 300-horsepower high-boost turbocharged and intercooled SUBARU BOXER engine, the WRX STI is more than just a car, it is an all-road, all-weather, all-conquering performance machine

Auto Insurance Glossary

2005-11-22T14:14:00.000+08:00

Wondering what all the terminology in your auto insurance policy means? Below is a glossary for your reference.

Accidental Death Coverage

Accidental death coverage is sometimes a part of your auto insurance policy's Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans.

If someone who's covered dies from accident-related injuries, this type of auto insurance coverage may provide a payment to the insured's designated beneficiary.

Actual Cash Value

You'll see this term a lot in auto insurance policies or if you ever have to file an auto insurance claim. That's because most auto insurance coverage reimburses you only for the actual cash value of your car. Your car's actual cash value is calculated by determining its original value, minus the amount your car has depreciated since you bought it.

Adjuster

An adjuster is the person who investigates and settles auto insurance claims.

Agent/Broker

Agents and brokers both sell and manage insurance for their customers. Agents are the authorized representatives of an insurance company or companies, while brokers are the authorized representatives of people looking for insurance.

Anti-Theft Recovery System

These systems consist of an electronic device that's installed in a concealed area of your car. If your car is stolen, you can activate the device and it will emit a signal that can be used to locate your car.

Anti-theft recovery systems can be effective over a radius of several miles, depending on local geography. Ask your car dealer or nearby police department which brand of recovery systems are supported in your area. By installing an anti-theft recovery system, you may be eligible for an auto insurance discount.

Benefit

A benefit is the amount paid by an auto insurance company to you or your beneficiary when you file a claim.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

Bodily injury liability coverage protects you if you are held responsible for injuring someone in a car accident.
This coverage helps pay for the injured party's medical expenses and lost wages. Bodily injury liability may also help pay your expenses in a related lawsuit.

The amount covered is capped at the limits you select when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Broadform Collision Coverage

This auto insurance coverage is available only in Michigan.

Broadform works like standard collision coverage, but also pays for collision damage to your insured car regardless of who's at fault.

Although this auto insurance coverage will pay up to your car's actual cash value regardless of fault in an accident, you'll be responsible for the deductible amount you select if you're found to be more than 50 percent responsible for the accident. If you're less than 50 percent responsible, you won't have to pay this deductible.

Business/Commercial Use

This classification means that you mainly use your car for business purposes (such as sales, service, and delivery calls) or work-related errands (like trips to the bank or post office), and other work-related driving. Commuting to and from work is not considered business use.

Esurance doesn't currently provide auto insurance coverage for vehicles driven primarily for business/commercial use. (Not sure if this applies to you? We show you a checklist to help you figure out if business/commercial use applies to you when you get your auto insurance quote.)

Card ID Number

When you pay for your auto insurance policy with a credit or debit card, we ask for the card's ID number. This 3-digit number is printed on the signature strip of cards with the MasterCard, Visa, and Discover logos. American Express card ID numbers are 4 digits long, and are printed on the card's front side, immediately above the actual card number.

To better safeguard your security, many businesses like ours are starting to ask for a card ID number. The card ID number helps ensure that no one is able to make a purchase without having an actual credit or debit card in their possession.

Claim

An auto insurance claim is a policyholder's request to be reimbursed for a loss that's covered by insurance.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage helps pay for auto repair or replacement costs if your car hits another vehicle/object or if your car rolls over.
The maximum amount paid for repair or replacement is the car's actual cash value, minus the amount of the deductible you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Collision Deductible Waiver

This auto insurance coverage pays the deductible for your collision coverage if you're involved in an accident in which an uninsured motorist is held legally responsible.

This particular auto insurance coverage isn't available in all states. If it is available, you have to buy this coverage with collision coverage when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Commuting

If you primarily use your car for commuting, this means that you mainly use the car to drive it to and from work or school.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage helps pay for damage to your car resulting from fire, certain natural disasters, falling objects, and vandalism. Theft's also covered.

The maximum amount paid for repair or replacement is the car's actual cash value, minus the amount of the deductible you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Continuously Insured

The length of time you've been continuously insured is the number of years you have been covered by one or more auto insurance companies without a lapse in your coverage.

Deductible

For some types of auto insurance coverage, you're asked to choose a deductible. A deductible is the amount of damages you agree to pay for if you file an auto insurance claim.

Though choosing a higher deductible can substantially lower your auto insurance premium, if you file an auto insurance claim, you'll have to pay the full, pre-established amount of the deductible out of your own pocket in order to receive payment from your auto insurance company.

Declarations

The declarations page of your auto insurance policy summarizes the factual information essential to your auto insurance coverage: the policyholder's name and address, a description of the insured vehicles, the auto insurance premium, as well as the coverages, limits, and deductibles.

Defensive Driver and Driver Improvement Courses

These courses consist of defensive driving training for drivers of all ages as well as "mature driver safety courses" intended for drivers age 55 and over.

In certain states, you may qualify for an auto insurance discount if you're in the eligible age range and if you've taken one of these safety courses.

Depreciation

Depreciation is the decline in an object's value due to age, wear and tear, or obsolescence.

Effective Date

The effective date is the date your auto insurance coverage begins. You are not covered by car insurance prior to an auto insurance policy's effective date.

Emergency Road Service

This optional auto insurance coverage pays a fixed amount toward vehicle towing if your car breaks down or if your car gets disabled in an accident.

Endorsements

Also known as riders, endorsements are changes to the original insurance contract. In auto insurance coverage, endorsements may include changing your deductibles or adding a new car to your auto insurance policy.

Exclusions

Exclusions are situations that are not covered by a given auto insurance policy. Specific exclusions are listed in your auto insurance policy.

Extraordinary Medical

Extraordinary medical coverage is sometimes a part of Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans.

Extraordinary medical coverage protects you in the event you suffer accident-related injuries that require serious and/or long-term medical care. Extraordinary medical coverage begins once you have exhausted the limit on your standard medical benefits coverage.

First Party Benefits

First Party Benefits, or FPB, is a kind of optional auto insurance coverage available to Pennsylvania drivers.

Depending on the specific FPB coverages you select, if you're injured in an accident, FPB covers you and relatives residing in the same household for medical expenses, lost income, accidental death, and/or funeral costs. The amounts covered are capped at limits you select when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance

Full coverage auto insurance denotes an insurance policy containing all auto insurance coverage legally required in a given state. The term “full coverage” does not imply the policyholder will always be fully covered.

Funeral Benefits

Funeral benefits coverage is sometimes a part of your auto insurance policy's Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans. If a covered individual dies from accident-related injuries, this auto insurance coverage pays for a portion of funeral expenses, regardless of who is at fault in an accident.

Covered costs are subject to the limits you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Garaging Location

The garaging location is where your insured car is parked most of the time. This location is usually indicated by the ZIP Code of the policyholder's primary residence.

Income Loss

Income Loss coverage is sometimes a part of your auto insurance policy's Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans.

Income loss coverage protects you if you're unable to work due to accident-related injuries. This auto insurance coverage helps you recover portions of your lost salary and other expenses you may incur as you try to return to work.

Indemnity

An indemnity is a pre-determined sum paid for a covered loss.

Insurance Claim Report

Insurance claim reports provide details about auto insurance claims you or other insured drivers have filed with insurance companies. These reports are provided by independent consumer reporting agencies that collect auto insurance claim information from a variety of insurance companies. One of the most common agencies issuing such reports is C.L.U.E., the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange.

Insurance Score

Insurance scores are based on analytical models that objectively measure the relative likelihood of future insurance losses based on your credit history. These scores and analyses of their significance are provided by independent consumer reporting agencies.

Insured

The insured is an individual covered by a given auto insurance policy.

Judgment

A judgment is a final decision rendered by a court of law. For example, in a lawsuit related to an auto accident, where Kate hit Eric’s fence, the court determined that Kate was wholly responsible for the accident. The judgment determined that Kate should pay for the costs of repairing Eric’s fence.

Liability

Liability is a term that broadly means legal responsibility. If you run a stop sign and hit another car, you may be found liable for the damages to the other driver's car.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage protects you from having to deplete your assets to pay for damages if you're held responsible for injuries or damages arising from a car accident.

The two main types of liability coverages in an auto insurance policy are bodily injury and property damage.

Limits

Limits are the maximum amount an insurance company will pay for a covered loss. Though you can choose your limits for certain coverages, some states require you to buy certain levels of auto insurance coverage. In such states, you'll have to choose limits that at least meet your state's auto insurance requirements.

Medical Benefits

Medical Benefits coverage is sometimes a part of your auto insurance policy's Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans.

Medical expenses that are the direct result of accident-related injuries are covered. Covered medical expenses are capped at the limits you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Medical Payments Coverage

This auto insurance coverage pays medical bills and/or funeral expenses if a covered driver and/or accompanying passengers are injured or killed while in an insured vehicle, regardless of fault in an accident.

This may also cover policyholders and their family members when in others' vehicles, or when policyholders and their family members are on foot and hit by a car.

The amount paid by medical payments coverage is capped at the limit you choose when your buy your auto insurance policy.

Motor Vehicle Report

A Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) provides information on your driving record. This report includes accidents and moving violations. Auto insurance companies obtain MVRs from states where you or other insured drivers have been licensed to drive.

National Credit File

The National Credit File provides objective consumer information regarding the financial history of an individual. Information contained in this report is often used to calculate insurance scores.

No-Fault Insurance

If a type of auto insurance coverage is described as no-fault, this generally refers to the way the insurance company settles a covered auto insurance claim.

Generally, if a certain coverage is no-fault, responsibility doesn't have to be assigned before an auto insurance claim gets settled.

No-Fault States

In some states, called no-fault states, insurance companies are legally required to pay a policyholder's covered losses, regardless of who's held responsible for an accident.

Some no-fault states also restrict the right to sue for damages. In states without no-fault regulations, the insurance company covering the person who caused an accident is forced to pay for covered losses.

Non-Passive Alarm

A non-passive alarm has to be manually activated every time you leave the car. If someone attempts to open your car, the alarm sounds, and the system disables the automobile's starter, ignition system, and/or fuel circuit.

You may qualify for an auto insurance discount if your car is equipped with such an alarm.

Passive Alarm

Passive alarms are automatically activated and emit warning sounds when someone tries to get into your car. Once the passive alarm has been triggered, the system disables the automobile's starter, ignition system, and/or fuel circuit.

You may receive an auto insurance discount if your car is fitted with such an alarm.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, is a kind of auto insurance coverage available only in certain states, where it's often mandatory. PIP generally includes expanded coverage of accident-related medical costs. In some states, PIP also pays for lost wages and similar losses.

Specific protections afforded by this type of auto insurance coverage and limits on PIP payments vary widely from state to state.

Pleasure Use

If you use your car for pleasure, this means that you typically drive it for fun, with no regular commuting or business use.

Policy Expiration Date

Your auto insurance policy's expiration date is the date when auto insurance coverage ends if your auto insurance policy isn't renewed. The expiration date can be found on the declarations page of your auto insurance policy, on a proof of insurance card, or on a recent auto insurance renewal notice.

Policy Term

A policy term is the length of time an auto insurance policy is valid. Auto insurance policies from Esurance have a policy term of 6 months.

Primary Driver

The primary driver is the person who drives a car most frequently.

Primary Use

A vehicle's primary use is how the car is typically used. Auto insurance companies usually classify primary use as commuting, business/commercial, or pleasure use.

Primary Policyholder

The primary policyholder is the person who serves as the main point of contact with Esurance. Since he/she is the main point of contact, we need the primary policyholder's valid email address so that we can send account updates, auto insurance renewal notices, and other policy-related communication.

Typically, the primary policyholder is also the person billed for your auto insurance policy from Esurance. If you prefer, any other person listed on your auto insurance policy can also be billed for your auto insurance premium.

Property Damage Liability Coverage

Property damage liability coverage protects you if you are held responsible for damaging someone else's property in a car accident.

Property damage coverage helps you reimburse another person for their damaged property (such as a car, a fence, or a home). This type of auto insurance coverage also helps pay your expenses in a related lawsuit.

The amount covered by property damage liability is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Rental Car Reimbursement

Rental car reimbursement is an optional kind of auto insurance coverage that helps pay for your rental car expenses if an insured car is damaged or stolen and you need a rental car.

SR-22

An SR-22 is an official document that shows proof of financial responsibility. Courts may require an SR-22 or a similar form for people convicted of certain traffic violations.

Secondary Driver

A secondary driver is one of the drivers listed on your auto insurance policy who's insured for driving an insured vehicle. However, this driver is not a car's primary driver.

A secondary driver is also sometimes known as an occasional driver in auto insurance terminology.

Supplemental Spousal Liability

Supplemental spousal liability, or SSL, is an optional coverage, available only in New York State.

This type of auto insurance coverage protects you if you’re found to be at fault in an accident resulting in injury or fatality to your spouse.

The amount covered by SSL is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Stacking - Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

Stacking is an option available when you buy uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage. Stacking changes the limits for this type of auto insurance coverage.

When you choose stacking, uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury limits increase by the number of cars you're insuring. If you buy $50,000/$100,000 limits for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage, choose stacking, and insure 2 cars, stacked limits for this coverage then equal $100,000/$200,000.

Steering Restraint

A steering restraint is a durable collar or shield fitted to the upper and lower casing of your car's steering column. The collar makes it harder for potential thieves to access, or "hotwire," your car's ignition system.

You may qualify for an auto insurance discount if your car is fitted with a steering restraint.

Tort

Tort is a legal term used to describe instances when someone is deemed legally responsible for injuring another person or damaging his/her property.

Some states ask you to select a tort provision. In these states, you can limit your right to sue for non-monetary damages (like pain and suffering) in exchange for a reduced auto insurance premium.

Towing Coverage

This type of auto insurance coverage is optional, and pays a fixed amount toward towing if your car breaks down or if it's disabled in an accident.

Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage is available in some states, where it's often mandatory.

This type of auto insurance coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages when you or your passengers are injured in an accident caused by a driver who has insufficient auto insurance coverage.

This kind of auto insurance coverage typically pays the difference between the coverage limit you select and the other driver's bodily injury coverage limit.

The amount covered by underinsured motorist bodily injury is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage

Underinsured motorist property damage coverage is available in some states, where it's often mandatory.

This type of auto insurance coverage protects you if your car is damaged in an accident caused by a driver who has insufficient auto insurance coverage. Other specific protection afforded by this type of auto insurance coverage varies from state to state.

This kind of auto insurance coverage pays the difference between the coverage limit you select and the other driver's property damage coverage limit.

The amount covered by underinsured motorist property damage is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is available in some states, where it's often mandatory.

This kind of auto insurance coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other general damages when you or your passengers are injured in an accident caused by a driver who has no car insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage also pays for injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents.

The amount covered by uninsured motorist bodily injury is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage

Uninsured motorist property damage coverage is available in some states, where it's often mandatory.

This kind of auto insurance coverage protects you if your vehicle is damaged in an accident caused by a driver who has no car insurance. Other protection afforded by this type of auto insurance coverage varies from state to state.

The amount covered by uninsured motorist bodily injury is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy. In some states, you'll need to pay a deductible each time you file an auto insurance claim.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

In some states, both uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury are bundled into a single coverage. In the states where this type of auto insurance coverage offered, it may be mandatory.

This kind of auto insurance coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages when you or your passengers are injured in an accident caused by a driver who doesn't have enough car insurance, or who completely lacks auto insurance coverage. This type of auto insurance coverage also pays for injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents.

The amount covered by uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

VIN

The VIN, short for Vehicle Identification Number, is the unique 17-digit number found on every car. The VIN contains the vehicle's serial number, as well as abbreviations for the make, model, and year.

The VIN appears on your vehicle registration card. It's also engraved in your car, near the base of the windshield on the driver's side dashboard and/or on the edge of the driver's side door.

Auto Insurance Glossary

WRC TIRES

2005-11-21T14:13:00.000+08:00

BFGoodrich Tires replaces Michelin in WRC for 2006

BFGoodrich Tires will replace its sister brand Michelin in the FIA World Rally Championship with teams Ford and Skoda in 2006. And rally fans say the move might ignite a tire war with the WRC's other rubber supplier, Pirelli.

BFG already participates in the Dakar Rally, and North America's SCORE Desert Racing Series, so it brings extensive off-road racing experience to the multi-terrained World Rally Championship. The WRC runs events on mountain, snow, gravel and rocky roads on four continents.

BFG also competes in American drag and stock car racing.

At this time, BFG has a three-year contract with the WRC. Sister brand Michelin will continue its participation in Formula One and Le Mans 24 Hours.

What this means to SUBARU FANS:

BFGoodrich is the industry standard for most American muscle cars, don't be surprised if you start seeing BFGoodrich tires on the next Subaru WRX

Tips and Advice to Auto Insurance

2005-11-20T14:10:00.000+08:00

FOLOWING IS AN ARTICLE ON TIPS AND ADVICE FOR AUTO INSURANCE. PLEASE READ ON AND WHO KNOWS WE CAN BENEFIT FROM THE TIPS.

Many people stick with the same insurance carrier year after year without ever shopping for a better deal. Blind loyalty to one insurer can cost you dearly. In a recent survey, Consumer Reports found that some drivers were paying twice as much for a policy than they would have with another insurer.

Finding the best rates

Comparing premiums is easier than ever, thanks to online services such as Quicken Insurance (www.quicken.com/insurance) and InsWeb (www.insweb.com). While you can also use the Yellow Pages to canvass local insurance agents for quotes, online services let you compare multiple price quotes in minutes.

You should make this price comparison at least once a year. Still, it may not be a good idea to switch companies too often or arbitrarily. Sometimes loyalty pays. For instance, if you've been with one company several years and maintained a clean driving record, you may qualify for a safe-driver discount, which substantially lowers your premium. But if you're contemplating a switch, the new company may be willing to classify you as a safe driver. In addition, you can often get a discount for insuring more than one vehicle—or your home—with the same company.

To get an accurate quote, you'll need to provide information on the car or cars that you intend to insure: the make, model, year, trim line, and the vehicle identification number (VIN). You'll also need to give the age, sex, and recent driving record of all potential drivers. Some companies may also ask where you normally park your car, and inquire about any aftermarket accessories you may have installed to prevent theft. The insurer may independently check your driving history using public documents such as police records, and your insurance history through your current and former insurers.

Buy the right amount

Auto insurance is meant to protect you against catastrophic losses, such as a major accident or the theft of your car. Be prepared to absorb minor losses yourself, and you'll save a lot. Here are tips on separating the essentials from coverage you can probably live without.

Coverage you must have

Bodily injury liability. Should you cause an accident, the "liability" part of your insurance coverage pays the medical, rehabilitation, and, if necessary, funeral bills of your passengers, the other driver, his or her passengers, and any pedestrians involved. It also covers pain and suffering awards as well as legal costs.

Buy coverage that will pay at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. If you have sizable assets, consider increasing those limits to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident. Such added coverage will raise your premium at least 10 percent. Consumer Reports recommends that people with a high net worth have a separate "umbrella" policy to insure against a lawsuit seeking an amount beyond their auto policy's limits. You may need to buy higher insurance limits to qualify for an umbrella policy.

Property damage. This coverage pays to repair or replace another person's vehicle or other property damaged by your car. States typically require only $10,000 to $25,000. We suggest buying coverage of $100,000.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This covers medical bills, rehabilitation, and funeral costs, as well as losses for pain and suffering for you or the passengers in your car when an accident is caused by a hit-and-run driver or someone who has little or no insurance. Get the same amount of this coverage as you do bodily injury coverage. That way, if someone who has no insurance hits you, your medical costs will be covered.

Coverage you'll probably need

Collision and comprehensive. Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your car no matter who or what caused the accident. Comprehensive pays to repair or replace your car if it's stolen or damaged as a result of a storm or other natural event. Coverage kicks in for the amount above your deductible. Choose the highest deductible you can afford to pay out of pocket—at least $500. Once the cost of this coverage equals 10 percent of your vehicle's book value, you might want to cancel it, since you will collect no more than your vehicle's market worth. Antique vehicles or cars with collector value sometimes are insured through a separate rider; or you may have to find a separate, specialty insurer.

Personal-injury protection. PIP reimburses you for lost wages and in-home care needed as a result of an accident. If you have separate health and disability policies, you can buy just the state-required minimum for PIP. The other policies should cover the balance of your needs.

Medical-payments coverage. Sometimes called med-pay, this covers medical bills for you and your passengers, regardless of who's at fault. When this coverage isn't automatically included in your policy, its costs are minimal. You may not require any if you have good health insurance. To protect passengers who may not have their own health coverage, you may want to carry at least $5,000 of this coverage.

Additional types of coverage

Roadside assistance. This coverage pays to have your vehicle towed. If you already have an auto-club membership or your car's manufacturer provides this service for free, don't buy this extra coverage.

Rental reimbursement. This coverage typically costs $30 per year and pays for a rental car—usually for up to 30 days—if your vehicle is stolen or is in the shop for repairs sustained in an accident. There's usually a cap on the amount you're reimbursed per day and per occurrence.

Money-saving tips

Ask for the top tier. Insurers sort customers according to their likelihood of filing a claim, then assign them to one of several categories commonly referred to as tiers. Top-tier customers who have had few or no claims in the past several years and live in neighborhoods where auto-theft rates are low, for example, can easily save 15 percent or more off the standard rate. But simply because you qualify initially or improve your driving record doesn't mean you automatically get top-tier status.

Check rates before you buy a car. The difference in premiums between one car or truck and another can be substantial. Much of that has to do with the cost of repairing collision damage, which can vary greatly even among seemingly similar vehicles.

Get equipment discounts. You may qualify for extra discounts if your car has current safety equipment such as air bags or antilock brakes. Also check about anti-theft equipment such as an alarm system, which can get you a break on the comprehensive part of your coverage.

Group your policies. Most insurers will give you a multiple-policy price break if you let them write your auto, home, and personal-liability coverage.

Improve your driving skills. Completing a certified defensive-driving course can reduce your premium in some states.

Kid factors. If you have children who drive, you'll save if they get good grades or if they attend a school located more than 100 miles from your home and don't use the car there.

Group discounts. Insurers award discounts to low-risk consumers who share a common affiliation such as a membership in an employee group, a company pension fund, or an alumni association. These so-called affinity discounts can be sizable, so if they apply to you, it pays to take advantage of them. Ask your insurer if any groups to which you belong qualify for such a discount. Alternatively, ask representatives of the groups if they work with any insurance companies.

Keep repair options open. Some insurers insist you use generic replacement parts or encourage you to bring your vehicle to certain body shops in an effort to cut claims costs. While this arrangement may lower your premium, you may want to preserve your flexibility by insuring with a company that lets you decide which parts are used (original equipment or aftermarket copies), and who does the repairs. In tests a few years ago, Consumer Reports found none of the aftermarket replacement bumpers tested fit as well as factory-original bumpers or stood up as well to low-speed impacts. We also had trouble making generic fenders fit properly

"NEW" Front Lip Spoiler for Subaru Impreza WRX STI Car

2005-11-14T14:07:00.000+08:00

FRONT LIP SPOILER FOR WRX/STI CARS

Brand new from STI of Japan is this front underspoiler for 2004 WRX or STI sedan. This original spoiler is a factory STI part. Made from urethane. Best quality and fitment.

High Performances Spark Plugs

2005-11-08T14:06:00.000+08:00

How a Spark Plug Works:

The basics of a spark plug is that it must perform two primary functions.

To Ignite the Air/Fuel mixture
To REMOVE the heat out of the combustion chamber

Spark plugs transmit electrical energy that turns fuel into working energy. A sufficient amount of voltage must be supplied by the ignition system to cause the spark to jump the across the spark plug gap, thus creating what is called Electrical Performance.

Additionally, the temperature of the spark plug's firing end must be kept low enough to prevent pre-ignition, but high enough to prevent fouling. This is called Thermal Performance and is determined by the heat range of the spark plug.

It is important to understand that spark plugs CANNOT create heat, only remove it! The spark plug works as a heat exchanger, pulling unwanted thermal energy away from the combustion chamber and transferring the heat to the engine's cooling system. The heat range is defined as a plug's ability to dissipate heat. The rate of heat is determined by:

The insulator nose length
Gas volume around the insulator nose
Materials and/or construction of the center electrode and porcelain insulator

Now to the actual function: As the Ignition is triggered it sends the spark through the rotor, to the cap, down the wire and then it jumps the gap of the spark plug, a spark kernel is created that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Proper timing of this spark is not the only concern as described above. You must have the proper heat range as well as the correct gap.

STI JDM IRIDIUM SPARKS PLUGS FOR WRX STI CARS

Spark Plugs from STI Japan. These iridium super cold spark plugs will help in your ignition system and the overall operation of your car. Quicker throttle response.

SO PLEASE HEAD DOWN TO THE NEAREST WORKSHOP AND GET YOUR SPARK PLUGS CHANGED FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE.

SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI MUFFLERS

2005-11-07T14:04:00.000+08:00

THE ONLY UNQIUE MUFFLERS FOR SUBARU WRX STI.

STi Sport Muffler T304 stainless steel sport muffler w/ 120mm tip diameter. Cherry red STi logo on tip. Free flowing straight-through muffler design and larger diameter (65mm) piping reduces backpressure and enhances the deep exhaust tones. Lightweight design is 1/3 the weight of the original component. Polished for good looks.

STi Factory Muffler Section The STi factory muffler used on the New Age STi models provides a slightly deeper, more agressive sound then stock due to the big bore & a near straight through design. STi logo is embossed on the tip (single polished tip w/ rolled edge).

Intercooler for your WRX STI CAR

2005-10-24T14:01:00.000+08:00

INTERCOOLER FOR YOUR WRX STI CAR?

Brand new front mount intercooler for your 2002-2005 Subaru WRX and STI is now available from TurboXS. Very affordable and efficient for your high horsepower cars. This front mount is much larger then the original TXS kit. It bolts on with no cutting except to fit the front bumper. In additional this new FMIC includes a TurboXS blow off valve.

The TurboXS Subaru WRX and STI front mount intercooler kit includes:

Front Mount Intercooler Core
Front Bumper Support Beam
Intercooler Piping Kit
T bolt Clamps
Radiator Overflow Bottle
TXS RBV34 By Pass Valve
Fuel Line Hose

TurboXS

Subaru's Car Intake System Design

2005-10-17T13:58:00.000+08:00

Subaru's Car Intake System Design

The following is an opinion on why different year model Subaru's react differently to modifications to their intake system. Primarily we're focusing on the late model Subarus which used either an air-flow system (up to 1999) or the speed-density system (2000+) in the North American market.

Before we discuss the technical details of the Subaru Intake System, lets first get familiar with the two ways Subaru has used recently to measure air flow. The first method discussed is MAF Sensors which were used on all late models until the 2000 model year. From 2000-on Subaru has begun using a speed-density system which primarily relies on a MAP sensor.

MAF Sensors
Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor is used by the engine control unit (ECU) to determine the weight of the air going into the engine. To do this, Subaru uses a cylinder shaped sensor mounted securely to the stock air cleaner box behind the passenger side headlight assembly. Inside the sensor there is a special wire or film which is kept heated to a certain temperature. As air passes through the sensor, this wire or film is cooled and the sensor determines how much electricity is required to keep the wire up to temperature. This enables the sensor to determine how much air (in weight) is passing through the sensor at any given moment. This signal is then sent to the ECU which it compares to a preprogrammed map to deliver fuel and ignition spark, taking into account other engine inputs such as engine RPM and temperature.

Pros:

Highly accurate A/F Ratios for a wide variety of driving conditions

Cons:

Present a restriction in air flow
Fragile

MAP Sensors
Speed-Density systems (used on the 2000+ models) calculate the weight of air going into the engine by using a Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor, the Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor and the Perfect Gas Law. To accurately determine the correct weight of fuel needed, the ECU has a Volumetric Efficiency map stored in it which it uses to calculate how much fuel must be added for a proper Air/Fuel mixture.

Pros:

Easy and inexpensive to implement
Very durable

Cons:

Does not compensate very well for changes in VE
Not very accurate A/F Ratios under transient driving conditions (ie: non-WOT street driving)

The whole reason behind all these sensors is to maintain a proper ratio of Air to Fuel. As you might have noticed with the explanation of how the sensor's work that we stressed the goal was to determine the weight of air entering the engine. This is because our Air:Fuel ratio is based on weight, not volume. For example, a 12:1 ratio could mean we're using 1 gram of Fuel in 12 grams of Air. Since the weight of air can vary depending on altitude, temperature and other factors, you can see the need for sophisticated sensors to maintain a proper A/F ratio.

Intake Design Observations
Now that we have a basic understanding of the differences between the two methods of measuring air, let's take a look at how Subaru has built their intake system. Regardless of MAF or MAP, all late model Subarus have a similarly designed intake manifold which resembles a four legged spider. This is the aluminum piping mounted directly on top of the engine. Facing rearward we have a single butterfly throttle body with a 60mm internal diameter. Attached directly to this throttle body is a easily recognizable black plastic chamber. Piping then snakes across the right hand side of the engine to the passenger side of the engine bay immediately behind the passenger side headlight assembly. All of these items combine together as a complete intake system and each serves a specific purpose.

Lets start with the intake manifold which is designed with long runners branching off of a relatively small plenum chamber in the center. The long, small diameter piping works well to provide low-mid range torque by improving cylinder filling at low RPMs. At high RPMs though, this long tube design can eventually become a restriction and would need to be addressed. Don't necessarily think you need to go out and spend your hard earned money on a new intake manifold quite yet though. The cylinder heads are still the biggest restriction in the intake system so you're better off addressing that first before swapping over to another manifold. If and when different intake manifolds become available, be sure they are part of a system which also includes a matched cylinder head and cam. Otherwise, you might end up with a intake manifold designed to work at high RPMs and a cylinder head and cam designed for low RPM torque. Unfortunately, there is no one manifold design perfect for every application and be wary of manufacturers who claim otherwise.

Next we have the throttle body which is what you control with your right foot on the accelerator pedal. As you press down on the accelerator, a throttle blade inside opens accordingly allowing more air to enter the engine. With more air comes more power. Subaru uses a relatively nice sized 60mm throttle body to feed the engine. With a sub-6500 RPM 2.5L engine using a stock cylinder head and cams the need for a larger throttle body is minimal but as you improve air flow into the engine, we feel some gains can be made by enlarging the throttle body opening slightly.

Mounted directly behind the throttle body is the mysterious black plastic plenum whose function has been the subject of much debate. This box was completely empty inside, serving only as a chamber, until mid-1999 when Subaru included a secondary air filter inside. While we haven't discussed the details of this design with the engineers at Subaru, we can make some assumptions as to the reasons of this layout based on some theories behind intake systems. One of the primary reasons for this chamber is to act as a supplemental intake plenum to improve throttle response. When you go from low throttle to wide open throttle, the engine's demand for air increases drastically and the stock intake manifold with it's small plenum lacks the necessary volume to satisfy the engine's demands. To remedy this, Subaru uses this secondary air box as a supplemental plenum to supply this sudden demand of air. This gives us the throttle response we want and keeps our engine happy.Another feature of this plenum as well as the strange tubes which hang off the intake piping are to tune out frequencies found in the intake system. As RPMs increase, there is a frequency created in the intake system causes primarily from the rush of air bouncing back every time the intake valve closes. Most frequencies don't make it out of the black intake plenum but those that do are tuned out with the lengths of pipe placed in the intake tubing. Just like a trumpet changes notes (frequency) when the length of piping is changed, same goes for this frequency seen in our intake system.Why all this concern with the frequency of air bouncing back up through the intake? Well, as can be seen when you install an aftermarket intake system (shown above) on a 1999 model which eliminates the stock piping and plenum box, the air flow meter becomes confused at higher RPMs causing it to give incorrect data to the engine's computer. The air bouncing back through the intake system eventually creates turbulence inside the MAF sensor itself. This is why some people state that the 1999's run lean when using an intake and need an additional device such as an Apex Super AFC to richen things up. In actuality, the engine would still run slightly rich (as it does on all other models) when upgrading the intake if it were given the opportunity to see the real weight of air passing through the sensor. The issue lies with an improperly designed intake system, not necessarily the MAF sensor.

MAF Sensor Failures
While this air reversion might cause erroneous readings of the air flow meter, it's not solely responsible for their failure. No one situation can be contributed to the high failure rate seen with the 1999 series MAF sensors but rather a combination that is the cause. Our opinion is that the number one cause is vibration. Many of these aftermarket intake systems and even turbo kits do not properly mount the sensor in a way to prevent them from receiving quite a bit of vibration. As you drive, the engine bounces and vibrates around which is torture on the electronics inside the sensor. We've even seen some kits which bounced the MAF sensor against the engine bay whenever the engine torqued over. Other various reasons have to do with poor intake filtering, sudden pressure changes (ie: blow off valves shooting hot air into them from the back side), and heat.

How do we solve this? Well, we have to understand we're dealing with a delicate, precise piece of electronics that needs to be treated with some care. First, properly mount the unit firmly to the body and use rubber bushings between the MAF sensor mounting bracket and body to reduce vibration transferred through the body. For those of you who want to instead mount it to the engine, make sure you don't have a problem with the MAF sensor hitting anything else in the engine bay and use the same rubber bushing trick to dampen the constant vibration the engine produces. Second, use a quality filter element. Cloth elements from K&N, A'PEX, and others work well when properly oiled. Even foam elements from Amsoil, Greddy, and others do a fair job of filtering. We recommend against using HKS filters and Weapon-R filters as we've had too many instances of foam degrading and getting into the intake tract (they also don't filter very well). The absolute worst though are the Blitz Stainless Steel filters. These might look better than just using chicken wire but they filter about the same. Lastly, if you're turbocharged make sure you run a blow off valve but don't have it discharge right into the backside of the MAF sensor. It doesn't appreciate too much when you do that.

Do these things and you should enjoy a long (longer?) MAF sensor life. For those who've tried all these methods and still have problem, we are working on an aftermarket replacement which will be much more durable. If successful, they will be make available in Fall 2000.

So which is better, MAP or MAF?
While Air-Flow systems are still favored by most manufacturers due to their accuracy, speed-density systems are slowing gaining favor once again due to advances in electronic engine management. In order for a speed-density (MAP) based system to offer the accuracy in A/F ratios to pass the stringent vehicle certification tests, advanced ECU technology must be used to cope with the speed-density's inability to optimally handle transient driving conditions (compared to an air-flow system).

Starting in 2000, Subaru went to a sophisticated speed-density system in the North American market while retaining the air-flow system for their turbocharged Impreza, Legacy and Forester applications sold overseas. We can only make assumptions as to Subaru's reason for switching to speed-density but our guess is was done to reduce cost while improving reliability. Also making guesses, we expect you'll see the air-flow system return when the WRX is introduced here in the US though the non-turbo applications will most likely retain their speed-density system as thus far it's proven very reliable. Why not use the speed-density on the WRX? Our assumption is based on the fact that Subaru has been using the air-flow system quite reliably in other countries and as there will be no major drivetrain/engine changes for the next generation WRX, they might not want to incur the added development costs involved in making a speed-density WRX pass the tough US emission certification tests. Again, these are just assumptions. We'll find out for sure next year.

The facts remain the same though, the air-flow systems are slightly more accurate at calculating proper Air/Fuel ratio under a wider variety of driving conditions. At Wide Open Throttle (WOT) though, they are both very similar. It's primarily under transient conditions (partial throttle changes/city driving) where they differ the most. Again, the differences are primarily in theory and hardly sometime you'll notice by the seat of your pants. Those of you with speed-density systems don't think your system needs to be improved by going to a air-flow setup. Keep this comforting thought in your head; nearly every aftermarket engine management system uses a speed-density system (ie: Haltech, TEC II, Motec, EFI, etc.).

Subaru Cars as the official patrol fleet

2005-10-03T13:53:00.000+08:00

Even the highway patrol in Japan chooses the SUBARU WRX STI as the official fleet...

2005-09-26T13:49:00.000+08:00

Pirelli P Zero Nero Tyres

THE tyres for WRP10

Drivers' needs and expectations are becoming more sophisticated, especially at the top end of the car market. Increasingly, fast trackers, the primary target for Pirelli, require ultra-low profile tyres with larger diameter wheels as well as higher tyre load capacity.

Ultra-high performance tyres are no longer confined to the world's most prestigious sports cars. They are increasingly in demand for powerful, new generation saloons, station wagons and estate cars.

Increased section widths and rim diameters, lower aspect ratios and higher speed ratings mean that tyre behaviour can be strictly controlled, resulting in better handling, faster steering response and shorter braking distances. In other words, greater driveability at extreme levels of performance. Ideal for original equipment applications, these products are also in great demand for specialist tuning operations involving +1, +2, +3 diameter rims.

In recent years, innovations in structure and compounds have satisfied the requirement for hitherto unattainable levels of comfort - a significant accomplishment for sporting super-cars. Not least, ultra-high performance tyres add that finishing touch to any car in terms of visual appeal.

Subaru Impreza WRX WRP10 Limited Edition Car

2005-09-26T13:43:00.000+08:00

What would happen if you took a Subaru Impreza WRX, added key STI components, Australian planning, design and engineering?

The result is Subaru’s new Limited Edition Impreza WRX WRP10 – a model exclusive to the Australian market.

The WRP10 will be available from late January 2005 and is limited to 200 units, featuring individually numbered badges.

“The “WR” represents Impreza WRX’s success in World Rally competition, “P” the enormous rallying contribution from Pirelli tyres and “10” the years since launch of the original Impreza WRX”.

Available exclusively as a Crystal Grey Metallic manual sedan, the WRP10 includes a STI engine performance upgrade kit increasing peak power from standard WRX’s 168 kW @ 6,000 rpm to175kW @ 6,000 rpm.

The kit includes a replacement Electronic Control Unit, upgraded exhaust components and a unique large single tip muffler.

Combined, these additions give WRP10 more responsive, linear engine performance when accelerating into the higher rpm range.

A carbon fibre strut brace and WRX suspension lowering kit, with stiffer springs drop the car’s ride height by 15mm.

Together, the STI sports parts increase rigidity for improved ride and handling and give WRP10 a more aggressive stance.

WRP10 is finished off with high performance, lightweight five-spoke forged alloy RAYS wheels and Pirelli P Zero Nero tyres (215 45Z R 17 91Y).

2005-09-12T13:41:00.000+08:00

What is the purpose of the air filter?

The primary function of an air filter is to deliver both airflow and superior dirt protection. Air filters is to provide minimum restriction allowing airflow into an engine. In the vast majority of cases increased airflow will increase engine performance measured by horsepower and throttle response (torque).

K & N Performance High Flow Air Filter

More air entering the engine increases the efficiency of the combustion process creating more horsepower and torque. Horsepower is a measure of the engine's maximum power while torque measures how quickly you can accelerate.

The K&N High Flow Air Filter is unique in all the world. It uses premium quality oiled cotton gauze sandwiched between layers of wire screen. This special design permits very high flow rates, minimum restriction, maximum filtration, and very long filter life. When dirty, simply wash, re-oil and install.to increase engine performance in both horsepower and throttle response by reducing air flow restriction.

K & N Performance High Flow Air Filter for Subaru WRX STI

With the installation of this high flow air filter, the my Subaru sees a immediate gain of 10 horsepower with a much smoother and faster throttle

Babes of the 2005 Tokyo Motor Shows

2005-08-29T13:39:00.000+08:00

October 21, 2005 - The Tokyo Motor Show is a classy affair -- all the world's major auto manufacturers are there after all -- so it isn't the massive display of flesh and vinyl that the Tokyo Auto Salon is. That said, there were still plenty of hot ladies around.

More Hot Ladies..