Hi Rob,
Welcome to IMOC.
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The good thing is that you've got until October to do your research.
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For your money you'll be able to buy a very nice rev3
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(maybe a rev4 which is practically identical).
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Funnily enough, the brakes and suspension are the one thing that rev2 and 3 have in common
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(I did hear that rev3 have improved rear sub frames, though).
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Rev3s have a viscous LSD as standard too.
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The engines are completely different
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(better turbo, strobger HG, better cams, improved ECU, bigger injectors 550cc, MAP sensor instead of AFM, better flowing inlet manifold), so don't get a rev2 unless you're buying a highly modified one.
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Even with a rev3, however, there's a bit of a tuning brickwall money-wise at around 340fwBHP.
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Above this and everything needs attention, i.e.
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forged re-build, injectors, turbo.
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With a stock rev3 you can get to 280
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- 290fwBHP by doing the following:
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- De-cat
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(buy a 1994 car or earlier and you use the cat loophole on the MOT to pass without a cat)
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- Free-flowing exhaust
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- uprated intake panel filter or induction kit
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- turn boost up to 1.2bar
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(fuel cut is about 1.25bar) with an EBC ideally
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That's it! Although an uprated intercooler is recommended.
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Good luck with the search.
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