NormantheDog

Which do people consider to be the better model and why? Which will hold their value better? Presumably the RB320 is still prone to the 2.5litre engine problems? I also guess there are the additional specs with the JDM as well such as the Ra. Any advice appreciated thanks.

LUCKO

iTrader: (3)

Cheaper tax
Faster car
better interior
rb320 grille not nice

Range of colours



Regards jdm hawk owner 🔰😃

jazzyjembreaze

iTrader: (11)

JDM

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

RB320 is a tarted up black UK hawk STi which carries a extra £4-5k premium over a standard UK STi from what I can see in the classifieds, engine. turbo gearbox and brakes are the same you get on any UK hawk STi, so basically your getting different wheels, interior, suspension for the extra money!!

Personally I would have a JDM hawk STi over a RB320 any day!! Seen some RB320's being sold for £16-18k This is hawk Spec C money!!

NormantheDog

So is this just a 'standard' JDM and not a spec c?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/subaru/impreza-sti/subaru-wrx-sti-jdm-twinscroll/2676525

BBB3

iTrader: (7)

That's a standard JDM, a spec c has a roof flap along with loads of other bits.

NormantheDog

So roughly £15k standard, £18k spec c? Was quoted £15k all in to import an RA so that sounds a good deal then? This included all taxes and conversion.

LuckyWelshchap

Way overpriced imo.

There's a T20 Spec C on here for just £4K more.
I say 'just' because if you read a recent thread there's discussion as to whether that's at the top end of the range or over.

Whatever, comparing the 2 it's FAR better value.

(17 months ago you could have had a T20, same age, double the miles for just £1.5K more).

I'd say whoever paid that would have an instant £2K loss, probably more.

Carnut

But how much would it cost to give a standard hawk sti the extras that the rb320 has?

Wheels £££???
interior £££???
grills/splitter £££???
extra bhp £££???
Often come with better ice £££???
Comes with a nice gear *** and some nice badges, not to mention exclusively.

Even if it would be a bit cheaper to upgrade a standard hawk sti the money you would save you will lose in the re sale.

richie001

iTrader: (3)

Don't wish to turn anyone to the dark side but that sort of money you could get an Evo IX,better than both cars.

thenewgalaxy

JDM boys will tell you how awesome the JDM car is.

RB320 owners will jump to its defence and tell you it's the best thing since sliced bread.

At the end of the day the RB320 has uprated suspension, a very nice interior and 320bhp from factory. And is a limited edition to boot.

The JDM car isn't as nice inside but has that all important rear wiper blade.

The major difference in terms of outright tuning potential comes from the twinscroll engine in the JDM car, which can be more safely taken to a higher power output than the 2.5.

But as we all know, once you start spending big money on these things a 2.0 can be strokered to big power and a forged 2.5 can be made pretty epic. From experience I can tell you how good they are to drive at 350/400/bordering on 500bhp.

NormantheDog

How does this sit in the pricing
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/subaru/impreza-sti/subaru-impreza-sti--s204-7-of-600-very-rare/2135034

Shaun

That statement is about as subjective as it gets!

By better do you mean the EVO IX is prone to AYC failure (costly), has a clutch that can't take much abuse and also a gearbox that is no where near as strong as the Newage 6sp?

That aside, both marques are very nice..... but also quite different (even comparing the JDM vs JDM versions).

Mangoletsi Subaru

Not sure if it is my place to chip in on this, but, my personal favourite has to be RB320. I'm a big big fan of these. There is an absolute beaut of an RB320 local to me, putting out 500bhp, 520 torque, and it is absolutely stunning.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I'd go with the JDM every time over a Uk, greater tuning potential out of the box, I'd also say as above RB320 is JDM Spec C money and I'd much prefer to have a Spec C in the garage.

Ultimately it depends what you want the car for, I'm more motorsport, trackday, and fast road orientated hence opting for the Spec C, but if you want a garage queen for hay days and shows etc that's going to hold it's money then RB320, daily driver would be a UK STI and for something in between I'd go JDM STI.

Carnut

My thinking with this is.....if I wanted something a bit more focused than a type uk sti then instead of moving to a spec c I would go to the dark side.

I've not even been in a spec c so only a guess.

richie001

iTrader: (3)

I wouldn't disagree with anything you posted Shaun,my point is if you put all three cars on a track/private road an Evo IX would be quicker of the three,I would even be confident that my IX would give a similar powered Spec C a run for it money.

If you take spec into account an IX has a better spec than a RB320 but isn't as nice to be in.

fawor

iTrader: (3)

2 weeks ago on pistonheads was jdm hawk for 9k,
Will buy spec c hawk as is lighter ,better car
Best deal I've seen to date was rb320 with forgd engine 411 hp, plus ap racing brakes all round for 14k
About evo 9 ,gt version has strong 5 speed and no ayc

Shaun

Hi Richie,
In stock form, like for like, you're going to be talking tenth's of a second around a track. It's a pretty moot point imo.

The Subaru has more grip than the IX, whereas the IX is more tale happy. If you're a "driver" you'll prefer not to have AYC imo.

The Subaru is (imo) a much better car to live with day to day, and if it's a JDM more reliable (and cheaper to maintain) than the EVO IX.

Both great cars for what they are, and an element of chosen ownership will undoubtedly carry some form of emotional tie with it.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Joking right!!

Had a Evo IX and thought it was boring, should not even be in the same sentence as a JDM hawk STi!!!

Infact I would not waste my time with a Evo unless it was a proper one like a 9 GT or MR RS, or any of the RS edition Evo's, all the GSR FQ variants are really disappointing in my eyes!!!

fat-thomas

iTrader: (4)

The rb320 has the poo.5 engine.....the end

Carnut

I've only experienced standard type uk sti and fq evos in terms of handling but from what I have seen/felt the evo's BLOW the subaru into the wind when it comes to handling.

For me that alone isn't enough, I like subaru's and evo's for there day to day ability ie can fit the family in etc, the type uk subaru's for me do that best.

John a question for you, having had a lot of experience with both sti's and evos is it possible to get a Subaru to handle similar to a evo with out making the ride more punishing? For example, getting rid of the understeer and getting the noise to turn in a bit tighter.

BBB3

iTrader: (7)

Each to there own, if you want a nice car to pop to tesco with the family RB320.

You want something to pop to tesco then go to a track day JDM spec

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Dont get me wrong the Evo does out handle the Subaru from experiences of both cars(not driven or been in a Spec C though) but have owned/driven plenty of UK and JDM newages, on a track yes you would probably notice a difference, but on the road as a street car(which most of my cars spend) are you really going to be pushing either cars to the point that the other one will out handle the other, I think not!!

Straight line power delivery and the gearing I prefer the JDM hawk STi to any Evo I have owned or been in!! but in the real world put a Evo 9 with a exhaust and a remap next to a JDM hawk STi with a exhaust and remap and there would be nothing in it, but like most jap cars there is always one modified more then the other then the results will be different as expected!!

I dont want to sound like im knocking the Evo as it is a very capable car in the right hands, and ive explained the Evo handles better and side by side there would be nothing in it so sounds like the Evo is the better car, but it just didnt do it for me from a personal point of view.

I guess the Evo has the same effect on me and some people I read about the Nissan GTR, its a great car, but it lacks something thats hard to put a finger on, I guess its probably too good that I find it boring!!

Carnut

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Anti-lift kit, poly bushes and roll bars along with a specialist geometry session do the trick, have a chat to one of the specialists to determine exactly what it is that you want to achieve / how far you want to go and the sacrifice it will involve.

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

JDM all day long!

Depends on the model but A-Dccd reduces under steer a lot compared to some models, Anti lift with castor adjustment will also help...Saying that ANY car will understeer, It all depends on how fast you are going and how good your tyres are

richie001

iTrader: (3)

I complete agree with that....We've both posted on other thread's which is best Evo or STi.I do find my Evo not much fun compared to my Type UK's I've owned.Unlike my Sti's where you knew you were going fast with the kick and noise you get,with a Evo you don't notice the speed until you look at the speedo,It's a really hard thing to explain.

To be quite honest,What make's my Evo fun is the handling.I spent over £2500 trying to dial out the understeer in my STi,Litchfield's Bilstein B14 kit with every whiteline part i could buy,4 wheel alignment and corner weight and it still understeered.My Evo with just standard suspension handled better and with just some Eibach lowering spring is even better.The tale does step out but it's controllable(imo)

I didn't want to turn this into a which is better thread,Evo or STi,lots of thread's on here and MLR for that.Just wanted to get the OP thinking,If your going to spend that sort of money on a RB320 or JDM STi,why not take a Evo out of a test drive and see what he thinks.

Back to the question...RB320 or a JDM STi,I would have a JDM,better spec and the RB320 is just a breathe on Type UK with orange stickers.

scoobyboy1

iTrader: (16)

Fair play mate, good to have a point of view where its not all biased to the one car!!
I find the opinions on here between the two cars are better then on the MLR, think on MLR its you got a Subaru because you cant afford a Evo attitude!!!

Luckyscoob

iTrader: (2)

I have a bit of a different opinion when looking at a RB320 (or UK STI for that matter) vs a JDM. I accept that the JDM is the 'better' car for all the obvious reasons. And also that the 2.5 is it seems prone to problems though I never had any problems with mine in 7 years, JGM mapped to 350bhp But, if used as a daily driver which mine always have been, with the odd track day and trip to the ring etc, personally I prefer the UK variant. I did consider a JDM this time around just before buying a widetrack Blob STI but I found it noisier, less comfortable (if thats possible lol) and most of all, NO NOISE, at least not at low revs. i love pootling round listening to the flat four burble, its one of the reasons I like the car, and to drive one and not have that just didnt seem right to me. Admittedly on full chat the JDM sounds awesome. SO, for me I would have the RB320. Actually saying that, for me I'd take the widetrack UK . Just my input!.