Hi from another newbie

[ohnonothimagain]

Hi folks-I hope that people take my questions seriously as I'm considering the purchase of a '10 WRX Premium, not sure of 4dr or 5dr. It is possible to get 350-400 whp from the stock set-up with proper tuning, or would I have to upgrade the turbo/engine mgmt ? And what kind of torque boosts can I get ?

One more thing-can the HID lighting from the STi be retrofitted to the WRX Premium? I like the idea of the HID lighting, but don't know if aftermarket kits are available. Thanks so much from a newbie who like the WRX line.

[wrxtreme06]

You cannot get that much hp with just tuning. You need a lot of supporting mods as well as an upgraded turbo. Also keep in mind the reliabilty of your car as well as your clutch and transmission will all be compromised at that point.

If these are your goals I would not start with a wrx platform but with the sti. Even then it will still require a decent amount of work and money to get to 400whp

[ohnonothimagain]

Thanks so much-I just needed some initial info. I like the features on the WRX prem that the STi doesn't have. I happen to like things like heated seats and foglights standard. the heated mirrors and the sunroof too aren't available on the Sti.

I know it's picky, but the price difference tween the WRX prem and the STi means more mods for the Premium model, right ?

[zax]

keep in mind that the STi has forged internals and the wrx does not. Forged internals = handles more boost pressure more reliably. And that's not the only difference between the WRX and STi. The newest EJ257 has AVCS on both intake and exhaust among other things that differ from the EJ255. Check this link:

Ej255 Vs. Ej257?? - Subaru WRX Forum: WRX Forums

EDIT: A lot of ppl go hybrid EJ257 Shortblock with forged pistons on a standard WRX, but it's expensive and you'll need a nice custom tune. Not to mention what wrxtreme06 said... you'll need a new clutch to handle that much torque and they don't call the 5spd a "glassbox tranny" for nothing!