Getting a WRX?

[SpeedStar]

...What sup guy?....I'm a new member here , hope that I can get some good advise here. I have been to this website many times and seems like there are many people who are nice and knows things about WRX/STi...so i finally just got myself registered. Anyway....I got a few question hoping someone could help me out. I am thinking about getting a WRX, but i want more power...probably around 350, but I'm not sure if the transmission could handle that. I have been reading many reviews on Edmunds and Intellichoice...there are many people who complain about weak transmission...but i don't know if those people do some heavy mods to the car or transmission just sucks. Don't get me wrong, i never think Subaru is a bad car....it just that i never own one...so I just want to know what you guys ( the Subaru enthusiastic ) have to say. I believe you guys sure have mods you WRX, so I'm sure you guys would know lots more about WRX compared to those average drivers.

And one more thing....what are the chepest way to get to 350 hp ( without NOS )?

Thanks

[IHRTWRX]

Welcome to the club. First off you lookin for 350 AWHP? If so then that is a tall order for the stock tranny. If you want that kinda power you are probably looking to shell out quite a bit of cash then correct? Why not start with an STi? It has 300 ponies, and a stronger tranny to go with it. If you dont mind me asking, what kind of car did you come from. Are you sure you can even handle that kind of power?

[TurnWRX]

the wrx tranny isn't very strong. With mods it'll get worse. Some have upgraded turbos and do just fine on the stock tranny, while others break. It all depends on how you drive. If you abuse the car repeatedly, it'll break.

The STi tranny however, is pretty strong.

As for 350 hp, crank or wheel? Former is easier, the latter is much more difficult (also depends on the dyno you're using, as some read lower/higher than others). If the latter, you're probably better off buying an STi instead of purchasing a new, regular wrx. The costs of buying a new wrx and getting it to STi specs will exceed the price of an STi.

As for the cheapest way with a regular wrx, there really is none, except if you buy all of your parts used. You'll need a turbo upgrade, full turboback exhaust, engine management, injectors, fuel pump, stronger tranny gears (or a full sti tranny that costs around $6k alone), tuning, and installation. All of these parts brand new will set you back anywhere from $4-7k, higher if u buy the sti tranny

So basically if you are thinking of power, handling, and possibly looking to dress up your wrx with exterior mods like a body kit, wheels/tires, brakes, etc, you might as well save up and buy an STi instead

[IHRTWRX]

the wrx tranny isn't very strong. With mods it'll get worse. Some have upgraded turbos and do just fine on the stock tranny, while others break. It all depends on how you drive. If you abuse the car repeatedly, it'll break.

The STi tranny however, is pretty strong.

As for 350 hp, crank or wheel? Former is easier, the latter is much more difficult (also depends on the dyno you're using, as some read lower/higher than others). If the latter, you're probably better off buying an STi instead of purchasing a new, regular wrx. The costs of buying a new wrx and getting it to STi specs will exceed the price of an STi.

As for the cheapest way with a regular wrx, there really is none, except if you buy all of your parts used. You'll need a turbo upgrade, full turboback exhaust, engine management, injectors, fuel pump, stronger tranny gears (or a full sti tranny that costs around $6k alone), tuning, and installation. All of these parts brand new will set you back anywhere from $4-7k, higher if u buy the sti tranny

So basically if you are thinking of power, handling, and possibly looking to dress up your wrx with exterior mods like a body kit, wheels/tires, brakes, etc, you might as well save up and buy an STi instead

Well Put. The exact point I was trying to get at but a tad too lazy to type as I am getting tired.

[ScoobVee]

Welcome to the club

I say if youre wanting 350whp, save your self the trouble and spend the extra cash on an STi

[TurnWRX]

Well Put. The exact point I was trying to get at but a tad too lazy to type as I am getting tired.

me too. I'm tired and not thinking correctly. It took me like 10 minutes to type that post

[IHRTWRX]

me too. I'm tired and not thinking correctly. It took me like 10 minutes to type that post

[SpeedStar]

I was thinking about 350 hp theh crank...cause I'm sure 350 at the wheel would probably gonna break the transmission for sure. I also thinking about an STi, but my insurance gonna cause like $500 a month if not morre ( i got 16 speeding ticket ), plus...I like the look of 02-03 WRX better. From what you guys have to say seems like if I really after the power, I should go for the STi....or I may be I'll just put some basic mods like ECU, intake, cat-back exhaust, turbo inlet pipe....hope that wouldn't be any problem for the car. How much hp you guys thinks these mods gonna make?

Quote from IHRTWRX:

"Welcome to the club. First off you lookin for 350 AWHP? If so then that is a tall order for the stock tranny. If you want that kinda power you are probably looking to shell out quite a bit of cash then correct? Why not start with an STi? It has 300 ponies, and a stronger tranny to go with it. If you dont mind me asking, what kind of car did you come from. Are you sure you can even handle that kind of power?"

I come from many cars...92 Eclipse GSX, 98 Accord EX, 03 Evo VII, 93 MR-2 Turbo, 03 Benz C320 Sport Sedan. The car with the most power is the MR-2 I got around 290 Whp for that car.

Quote from TurnWRX:

"me too. I'm tired and not thinking correctly. It took me like 10 minutes to type that post"

Thanks for the trouble everyone

[TurnWRX]

i got 16 speeding ticket

I'm surprised your license hasn't been suspended yet

btw if u were to get a wrx, stay away from an CAI.

As for hp numbers with those mods, you'll probably make about 260 crank hp lol
As for whp, probably around 185 on a dyno dynamics.

[wrxaddicted]

you can get up to 350 hp at the crank with teh stock WRX tranny and be fine. As long as you don't launch every and power shift all the time.

[wrxaddicted]

you can get up to 350 hp at the crank with teh stock WRX tranny and be fine. As long as you don't launch every and power shift all the time.

to get 350 at teh crank:

uppipe/downpipe/exhaust = $500 - 900
engine management = $300-900
injectors and fuel pump = $200 - 400
vf34 turbo = $450- 900


with a good tune that can bring you above 350 crank hp with not that much cash. all these people that say getting a standard wrx up to STi specs will cost more than getting the STi are morons. That is complete BS. You can keep up with an STi with about a lil over a grand if you know what to buy. Trust me. I'm on my second WRX.

[STI-51]

"all these people that say getting a standard wrx up to STi specs will cost more than getting the STi are morons"



Ok,

Add to that a 6 speed, 2.5 liter, 17 in. BBS, new interior, upgraded suspension, larger brakes, intercooler spray, DCCD, labor, etc., etc.and tell me if you still come out less than the cost of an STi. Yes, what morons we are?

[wrxaddicted]

"all these people that say getting a standard wrx up to STi specs will cost more than getting the STi are morons"



Ok,

Add to that a 6 speed, 2.5 liter, 17 in. BBS, new interior, upgraded suspension, larger brakes, intercooler spray, DCCD, labor, etc., etc.and tell me if you still come out less than the cost of an STi. Yes, what morons we are?

I'm not talking about completely the same specs. I'm talking about making a WRX faster and Handle better than an STi. 6spd is not needed. DCCD is not needed. 17inch bbs wheels are not needed. ic sprayer not needed.

all you need is the mods I stated below and some RA gears and you will be smoking STi left and right.

[TurnWRX]

all these people that say getting a standard wrx up to STi specs will cost more than getting the STi are morons. That is complete BS. You can keep up with an STi with about a lil over a grand if you know what to buy. Trust me. I'm on my second WRX.

not everybody buys off of Ebay and used products and install and tune everything themselves.

[TurnWRX]

to get 350 at teh crank:

uppipe/downpipe/exhaust = $500 - 900
engine management = $300-900
injectors and fuel pump = $200 - 400
vf34 turbo = $450- 900


with a good tune that can bring you above 350 crank hp with not that much cash. all these people that say getting a standard wrx up to STi specs will cost more than getting the STi are morons. That is complete BS. You can keep up with an STi with about a lil over a grand if you know what to buy. Trust me. I'm on my second WRX.

I'm talking about making a WRX faster and Handle better than an STi

Let's see, average price using your numbers:
tbe: $900
EM: $900
Injectors/fuel pump: $450
VF34: $900
RA Gears: $1300
Total: $4450

Oh you said a wrx could also handle better? Let's add some coilovers:
$1500
Then you need an alignment, don't know how much that costs. For the moment I'll just assume $100

Nobody who focuses on handling are going to leave the stock wheels and tires on. Add some Rotas and some falkens and you still end up paying roughly $800-900. But for really cheap people, we'll leave this out of the equation.

You said "with a good tune"
$150/hour dyno tuning

Not everybody can do installs by themselves:
$500? Possibly more?

That adds up to over $6k in costs. For the price of a new wrx, I don't see how a wrx would be cheaper than an STi with all those mods. With an sti, you get the extra brembos, wheels, tires, 6-speed, and a bigger tmic.