TOPIC:

I've bought a new, unused (but built up) Tamiya TB-01 Subaru Impreza (2000 Arai version) complete with Acoms radio gear, ESC, battery, charger, cockpit set, spare (new) Lotus Elise Motorsport HPI body shell,  spare wheels etc.   It was a great price - the guy just wanted it gone I think,  despite literally never using it.    The Subaru shell is still new and unpainted.   It's all currently in transit - hasn't arrived yet.

I did a fair bit of reading and from what I can tell, the TB-01 is pretty robust and has a strong following.   But I'm a bit concerned about spares availability.   And I really want the '99 Monte Carlo (Richard Burns) decals on the shell, rather than the very busy looking Arai ones.   I loved going to rally in the 1990s / 2000s and it would be a great nod to Burns, who is sadly missed.  Plus I had a rally blue Impreza Turbo back in the day too.   

So I started looking at the TT-02 as there's a '99 version.   Then I read reviews saying it's entry level and after spending on upgrades (bearings, shocks, rally block tyres etc) I may as well buy an XV-01.Thing is, there's no XV-01 Impreza with the '99 shape/decals.    The Lancia Delta Integrale is however very appealing - it's just as iconic as the Impreza...So I figured I could buy an XV-01 Integrale, sell the TB-01 on, but keep the radio gear, ESC (perhaps - depends what it is) and the body shell.  

But that still doesn't give me the lovely '99 Impreza decals.....After reading this far you're all thinking "what do you want to use it for - display, bashing, rallying or light road use etc" right?     Well it's a bit of everything I think - whenever I have time/inclination, I'll jump in the car and take it out for a blast somewhere.   But I want to keep it nice - like my cars (I'm a Lotus nut!).

Anyway - I'm a bit confused about what to do - so my first question is this - will the Impreza body shell with the TB-01 kit fit the TT-02 or XV-01 ?    Is it basically the same as the one on the TT-02, or is it narrower (I'm sure I've read somewhere that a 190mm body is too wide for a TB-01)?

Any help would be much appreciated, it it will greatly help me to decide what to do.   My head says keep the TB-01 , heart says pinch the body, radio, wheels etc and get the XV-01 Integrale and a '99 Impreza decal set - that also gives me the nice job of doing the build............here are a few photos showing the options that I'm talking about.....(yes I know the Integrale has been lowered, but boy,  does it look good!)

The burns body fits all the touring and rallye chassis from the first release on the ta03f and the last ones. It fits on ta01 and ta02 to.

Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear - although it will cost me a heap more money if I buy the XV-01.....!