Hi, recently sold my MY99 GF8 WRX and I'm looking at going for another Subaru, this will be my 4th.

I know I've been around the forum for some time but I've never delt with some of the bits that are on these two cars.


Ok I'll start with the MY98 GC8 - has the following: fitted with a VF 34 Ball Bearing Turbo, front mounted intercooler, aliminuim radiator, STI low ratio gear box, full stainless 3" exhaust and boost controller. Also comes with service history.
^ owner doesn't know what ecu tune it has and the car has 250'000ks on the clock.

Test driving this car on Thursday. ^


The other option is a 2001 Bugeye with the following : front mount intercooler,
3" exhaust, dark tint, 18" rims, after market clutch. Also new engine was put in last year in feb by previous owner its done about 100k less than the car. Owner has the change of engine number details from the lisensing department.

Again.. This ^ owner doesn't know if/what ecu tune has been done.

Now I've taken the Bugeye for a drive and the car itself is nice - slight shudder from the heavy duty clutch when taking off - wont take long to get used to, I've had HD clutches in two of my other wrxs.
But damn this car feels slow... I've never had a WRX with a FMIC and I'm guessing this is what's causing it???

Stock MY01 is 13.5psi but pushing the air down all that pipe work and past a large FMIC would surely yield a performance drop? Would it be safe to say a boost gauge + EBC unit would fix the above mentioned problem? Maybe setting it at 15psi. Then looking at a verso tune sometime down the line ( ~$1000 ) from what I've read.


Anyway it's up for discussion both cars are around the same $$$'$$$ mark so both well priced, The MY98 has a VF34 and that gets me excited but at the same time the engine has 250'000ks on the clock...

Can the MY01 just have a tune or does it need verso/ECUTek? I'm used to dealing with GC8s and having no option but to replace it.

Thanks for any advice/comments I've been searching for ages and it's doing my head in, hope I've got this in the correct section!

Bugeye is a heavier chassis - if your used to GC's that maybe what your noticing.

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250,000kms = Death Imminent I would say.

Not sure Rossco, I had one "bugeye" with a TMIC a few years back and she seemed a lot more responsive.

I'm convincing myself that it's the FMIC causing more lag and maybe the boost pressure being a bit lower than my GF8 which was running 15psi that and it possibly not having a tune done at all.. "Palm/Face"

True but the turbo isn't as old as the car. Having said that I imagine the seals would all be getting a "bit" worn down.


The gear box has also been changed in the gc8.

270~km and going strong

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My first Subaru "Legacy GT import" had almost 400'000km but was a non-stop money pit. I've heard many people claiming these engines are good for 400'000kms + if you treat them well. I'm just concerned about that many kms with those mods.

I'm thinking the 2001 bug - shame its not the 02 with the better ratio gear box but still.. I'll get a gauge in it and a quality EBC fitted at STechnic. Will I require a verso/ECUTek or can they just tune the car with the stock ecu?

^^^^^^^^^^
both verso and ecutek are a tune on the car with the stock ecu

don't even push the boost up till it's tuned imho tbh, and it might be tuned already

i doubt anyone would have any reason/be stupid enough to put a front mount while running a td04
and if it's not a td04 there's a 98 per cent chance it would be tuned

unless i've missed something

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Ive seen a fair few wrxs with FMICs and stock TD04 turbos, I wouldn't call it a great mod but it's a mod I've seen a few times now.

Will have another look at the car tomorrow and grab the model number from the turbo.

big front mount & 3" tbe + stock turbo & no tune, no wonder it feels to terrible