Questions about MODS?

[AkocJabba]

I'm new to the membership forum and just want to know better...

Thinking of a couple mods...

-Cobb Exhaust system or axle back? I want to know which one would sound much deeper....
-Cobb access port
-Cobb intake
-Cobb BFV
-18 Inch ROTA PWR Rims

[wrxtreme06]

Welcome.

I'm not sure what you mean by Cobb exhaust system or axelback. Do you mean catback vs axelback?

I've also never heard of Cobb BFV

[AkocJabba]

Subaru exhaust system that will make the car much deeper and louder...

plus I mean a Cobb XLE BPV

[wrxtreme06]

Okay. Do you mean a full exhaust (catback and downpipe) versus just getting an axel back? Sorry. Just trying to understand what you are specifically asking.

[MainFrame]

I am personally not a big fan of Cobb products and services.. but to each their own. There are certainly worse brands to go with.

[wrx1234]

If you are going to get an AP then get a down pipe first and tune to stage 2. If that's isn't loud enough for you go with the CBE. CBE on its own doesn't do much and all you will be able to do is tune Stage 1 (which is a decent jump), but you can go stage 1 without anything added to the car.

I was in your same boat when i bought my car wish i had done some research first...

Your first purchase should be a method of tuning the car since all future mods will require tunes... don't risk the engine. You mentioned "Access Port" which isn't bad you will end up selling it and wishing you did option 2 after 6 months... Open source tuning Read: where to begin with open source tuning - NASIOC

Tuning is required for just about everything but a catback exhaust. CBE is nice, but if you are getting it just so your car is loud save your self some money go to a muffler shop and ask them to delete the resonator and send me the $500 you saved.

I would recommend with the mods you show interest in to first go to the site i linked above and undersand what Open source tuning is, if you still don't feel comfortable with it find a Subaru meet around your local area and find someone who has the cables and ask them to show you how it all works... these guys will always have the cables with them and a laptop usually covered in Subaru stickers.

Once that's done get a downpipe (non catted DP will be louder than a catted) and tune a stage 2 tune. If you like it then your set if not get a CBE. You will hear everyone tell you that you need a Turbo back exhaust for stage 2... all you need is a downpipe the restriction at below 300hp to the wheels is the factory cat and the crappy factory plate on the DP that covers half the exhaust not the mufflers.

Don't get rims... its winter you live in Colorado you will smash them.

BTW everything i said is assuming you have a 2009+ WRX or STi

[11blackwrx]

i prefer invidia exhausts and i wouldnt worry about a BPV the stock will hold up so i would spend the money on other mods

[MainFrame]

Your first purchase should be a method of tuning the car since all future mods will require tunes..

I'd have to disagree with this. Unless you are a professional tuner yourself then you don't really need to purchase the hardware to do the tuning. Assuming you are going to pay someone else to tune the car, they will already have the required hardware themselves. If your local tuner of preference only uses the AP then I guess you would have to buy one, but at near twice the cost of a tune I would just skip it and find someone that does Open Source. Any map you get from something like an AP or off the internet isn't really a tune for your car, it's just a base map that should be safe to run with the exact mods it was designed for, but it is far from ideal.