get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ?

Beladi Nasralla wrote:
> I would like to buy a few year-old Subaru Impreza WRX with automatic
> transmission, no rear spoiler, no sports exhaust, with ordinary steel
> rims. I would like to have an inconspiciously looking car with the
> power of WRX.
>
> I thought there should be such cars in Japan (their market is huge).
> The WRXs with automatic transmissions are not imported to down under.
> But this is good, because this means that such a car is qualified for
> 'grey' import.
>
> Am I right in my thinking (i.e., would it be possible to get such a
> car in Japan, and it could be imported over here) ? Thanks.

A sleeper WRX? That's just not sik enuff!!!
Actually, a WRX without drainpipe exhaust, spoillers, and running
steelies would probably stand out more! ;-p
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

On Nov 28, 11:12 pm, Beladi Nasralla <nasra... DeleteThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
> I would like to buy a few year-old Subaru Impreza WRX with automatic
> transmission, no rear spoiler, no sports exhaust, with ordinary steel
> rims. I would like to have an inconspiciously looking car with the
> power of WRX.
>
> I thought there should be such cars in Japan (their market is huge).
> The WRXs with automatic transmissions are not imported to down under.
> But this is good, because this means that such a car is qualified for
> 'grey' import.
>
> Am I right in my thinking (i.e., would it be possible to get such a
> car in Japan, and it could be imported over here) ? Thanks.

The local blue-slip/performance shop was telling me there is a large
market in importing engines to turn a subaru RX into something with at
least as much power as a WRX. I think he was talking about twin turbo
motors. Maybe this is an easier option?

If the engine is the same spec as a local engine, then it should be a
very easy conversion.

Dale.
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

On Nov 29, 10:25 am, Patrick <doctor....TakeThisOut@bigfoot.com> wrote:
> Clifford Heath wrote:
> > monsya wrote:
> >> The local blue-slip/performance shop was telling me there is a large
> >> market in importing engines to turn a subaru RX into something with at
> >> least as much power as a WRX. I think he was talking about twin turbo
> >> motors. Maybe this is an easier option?
>
> > A friend of mine bought an early WRX new from Subaru in sleeper
> > form. IIRC it still had the bonnet scoop, but the boot lid was
> > from a non-WRX, etc.
>
> > If doing the engine transplant, do you need to add a bonnet scoop?
>
> Give it a front mounted intercooler. Less conspicuous (especially if
> black) and more efficient in city driving.

That reminds me - a lot of ricers have been fitted with unpainted
'carbon fibre' bonnets. I know how my car (very dark blue) gets much
hotter than a mates white van when the summer sun is blazing. If
turbos perform better when the intake is sucking in cooler, denser
air, wouldn't a black bonnet do the opposite? (I realise it probably
only makes a poofteenth of difference being black, but it would likely
outweigh any advantage the lighter part may have in the first
place).
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

"monsya" <dale-google RemoveThis @monsya.net> wrote in message
news:5ff6b997-d24d-4ae3-a8c6-352e138351f2@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 28, 11:12 pm, Beladi Nasralla <nasra... RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
>> I would like to buy a few year-old Subaru Impreza WRX with automatic
>> transmission, no rear spoiler, no sports exhaust, with ordinary steel
>> rims. I would like to have an inconspiciously looking car with the
>> power of WRX.
>>
>> I thought there should be such cars in Japan (their market is huge).
>> The WRXs with automatic transmissions are not imported to down under.
>> But this is good, because this means that such a car is qualified for
>> 'grey' import.
>>
>> Am I right in my thinking (i.e., would it be possible to get such a
>> car in Japan, and it could be imported over here) ? Thanks.
>
> The local blue-slip/performance shop was telling me there is a large
> market in importing engines to turn a subaru RX into something with at
> least as much power as a WRX. I think he was talking about twin turbo
> motors. Maybe this is an easier option?
>
> If the engine is the same spec as a local engine, then it should be a
> very easy conversion.
>
> Dale.
>

yeah, just get an RX and spend a few grand on tweaking the engine to give
WRX performance, probably cheaper in the long run as well.

--
"Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color."
Don Hirschberg
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

On Nov 29, 8:35 am, "Atheist Chaplain" <ab....DeleteThis@cia.gov> wrote:
> "monsya" <dale-goo....DeleteThis@monsya.net> wrote in message
>
> news:5ff6b997-d24d-4ae3-a8c6-352e138351f2@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Nov 28, 11:12 pm, Beladi Nasralla <nasra....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> I would like to buy a few year-old Subaru Impreza WRX with automatic
> >> transmission, no rear spoiler, no sports exhaust, with ordinary steel
> >> rims. I would like to have an inconspiciously looking car with the
> >> power of WRX.
>
> >> I thought there should be such cars in Japan (their market is huge).
> >> The WRXs with automatic transmissions are not imported to down under.
> >> But this is good, because this means that such a car is qualified for
> >> 'grey' import.
>
> >> Am I right in my thinking (i.e., would it be possible to get such a
> >> car in Japan, and it could be imported over here) ? Thanks.
>
> > The local blue-slip/performance shop was telling me there is a large
> > market in importing engines to turn a subaru RX into something with at
> > least as much power as a WRX. I think he was talking about twin turbo
> > motors. Maybe this is an easier option?
>
> > If the engine is the same spec as a local engine, then it should be a
> > very easy conversion.
>
> > Dale.
>
> yeah, just get an RX and spend a few grand on tweaking the engine to give
> WRX performance, probably cheaper in the long run as well.

What do you mean by "tweaking the engine to get WRX performance" ? You
hafta put a turbo. If you get to keep the atmospherically aspirated
engine, then whatever you do (tuning the computer, polishing the
pistons, changing the valves and so on) will yield you only up to 20
hp. For these money, it will be possible to install the turbo engine.
Howere, the better brakes, suspension and other structural elements
have to be improved, too.
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

On Nov 28, 7:12 am, Beladi Nasralla <nasra... RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote:
> I would like to buy a few year-old Subaru Impreza WRX with automatic
> transmission, no rear spoiler, no sports exhaust, with ordinary steel
> rims. I would like to have an inconspiciously looking car with the
> power of WRX.
>
> I thought there should be such cars in Japan (their market is huge).
> The WRXs with automatic transmissions are not imported to down under.
> But this is good, because this means that such a car is qualified for
> 'grey' import.
>
> Am I right in my thinking (i.e., would it be possible to get such a
> car in Japan, and it could be imported over here) ? Thanks.

Wonder how long they have been available in Japan. Maybe it is a time
factor.
My knowledge is not recent but I understand that government mandated
car maintenance in Japan is so expensive that older cars are
exported. Because of left hand drive, Oz and UK would be obvious
export sites. I had a friend that tried to get in the used Japanese
car business importing to US. The cars had to go back to the factory
to switch driving sides. He gave up the business because it was a
regulatory nightmare as every single car required a vast amount of
paper work whereas you could import hundreds of the same model new car
with one set of papers. What you want may not be available for a year
or so.

Frank
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

Beladi Nasralla wrote:
> I would like to buy a few year-old Subaru Impreza WRX with automatic
> transmission, no rear spoiler, no sports exhaust, with ordinary steel
> rims. I would like to have an inconspiciously looking car with the
> power of WRX.
>
> I thought there should be such cars in Japan (their market is huge).
> The WRXs with automatic transmissions are not imported to down under.
> But this is good, because this means that such a car is qualified for
> 'grey' import.
>
> Am I right in my thinking (i.e., would it be possible to get such a
> car in Japan, and it could be imported over here) ? Thanks.
>


It's a huge trade but you might need to have some association with a
vehicle trader to get in.

You could have a look here:

http://www.showatrade.com/stock/

http://www.j-garage.com/index.html

http://www.showatrade.com/
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

monsya wrote:
> The local blue-slip/performance shop was telling me there is a large
> market in importing engines to turn a subaru RX into something with at
> least as much power as a WRX. I think he was talking about twin turbo
> motors. Maybe this is an easier option?

A friend of mine bought an early WRX new from Subaru in sleeper
form. IIRC it still had the bonnet scoop, but the boot lid was
from a non-WRX, etc.

If doing the engine transplant, do you need to add a bonnet scoop?
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

Clifford Heath wrote:
> monsya wrote:
>> The local blue-slip/performance shop was telling me there is a large
>> market in importing engines to turn a subaru RX into something with at
>> least as much power as a WRX. I think he was talking about twin turbo
>> motors. Maybe this is an easier option?
>
> A friend of mine bought an early WRX new from Subaru in sleeper
> form. IIRC it still had the bonnet scoop, but the boot lid was
> from a non-WRX, etc.
>
> If doing the engine transplant, do you need to add a bonnet scoop?

Give it a front mounted intercooler. Less conspicuous (especially if
black) and more efficient in city driving.
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

On Nov 29, 6:31 pm, Clifford Heath <n....RemoveThis@spam.please.net> wrote:
> jackbadger56 wrote:
> > air, wouldn't a black bonnet do the opposite? (I realise it probably
> > only makes a poofteenth of difference being black, but it would likely
> > outweigh any advantage the lighter part may have in the first
> > place).
>
> You're going to get less than 2KW from the sun, even if you absorb it all,
> whereas you might get 20x that from the engine. In general, if you care
> abut induction, you'll vent the intake to clean air somewhere, it does
> make a noticeable difference.
>
> Clifford Heath.

A bonnet that weighs 5 kgs makes so much difference over one that
weighs 10kgs? Whooda thunk it! ;-p
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

jackbadger56 wrote:
> air, wouldn't a black bonnet do the opposite? (I realise it probably
> only makes a poofteenth of difference being black, but it would likely
> outweigh any advantage the lighter part may have in the first
> place).

You're going to get less than 2KW from the sun, even if you absorb it all,
whereas you might get 20x that from the engine. In general, if you care
abut induction, you'll vent the intake to clean air somewhere, it does
make a noticeable difference.

Clifford Heath.
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

"jackbadger56" <castle56 RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3268ce7e-132f-4457-80fb-54a7eb50da56@d27g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Nov 29, 10:25 am, Patrick <doctor... RemoveThis @bigfoot.com> wrote:
>> Clifford Heath wrote:
>> > monsya wrote:
>> >> The local blue-slip/performance shop was telling me there is a large
>> >> market in importing engines to turn a subaru RX into something with at
>> >> least as much power as a WRX. I think he was talking about twin turbo
>> >> motors. Maybe this is an easier option?
>>
>> > A friend of mine bought an early WRX new from Subaru in sleeper
>> > form. IIRC it still had the bonnet scoop, but the boot lid was
>> > from a non-WRX, etc.
>>
>> > If doing the engine transplant, do you need to add a bonnet scoop?
>>
>> Give it a front mounted intercooler. Less conspicuous (especially if
>> black) and more efficient in city driving.
>
> That reminds me - a lot of ricers have been fitted with unpainted
> 'carbon fibre' bonnets. I know how my car (very dark blue) gets much
> hotter than a mates white van when the summer sun is blazing. If
> turbos perform better when the intake is sucking in cooler, denser
> air, wouldn't a black bonnet do the opposite? (I realise it probably
> only makes a poofteenth of difference being black, but it would likely
> outweigh any advantage the lighter part may have in the first
> place).

A decent cold air intake pulls from the guard. Not under the bonnet.

Fraser
 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ? 

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 >> Stay informed about: get an inconspicious WRX from Japan ?