piston slap on V3/V4 is normal when cold.

Only engines I really like on the Imprezas are the V2 and V6 engines.

If an engine ever let go on me I'd buy a complete new built bottom end from America rather than getting a rebuild, they don't seem to last long once rebuilt for some reason.

A lot of Type r's do seem to have had rebuilds.

There's gotta be more to it than just the small bearing design because if you look on ebay there's dozens on 120k mile+ Uk imprezas on there.