Thanks ATOT! New Subaru Mods

[RGUN]

If anyone recalls I purchased a Subaru in December and had a poll asking for your opinion on whether I should invest in removing the spoiler or start with performance mods.

Well Ive been busy since then. I put in a Kenwood DX7100 head unit with nav and still didnt like the sound of my stock system. So I decided to upgrade the door speakers as well. I ended up going with MB Quartz Premium 6.5" component with external crossovers. It sounds a lot better now, but Im not quite done with sound yet. Im thinking that a subtle subwoofer and a new amp for the sub and speakers will make me happy with the system. Ive been debating going with a JL 10"V6 sub and a JL 500w mono block amp, as well as an MB Quart premium amp for the door speakers. Any opinions?

Anyway, I spent yesterday with DaTT bringing my car up to stage 2. Took us 4 hours, but when it was all said and done the car still ran, so Im happy with it. It also sounds a lot better with the new muffler. If I believe whats published then I should almost be competitive with the Vette.

So whats next for me? Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[T2urtle]

what did you get again?

i'm assume newer STI for a stage 2 to be anywhere near a vette. Define stage 2? Cobb AP, up and down pipe with CBE?

Well in reguards to your first statement did you ever get rid of the spoiler?

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
what did you get again?

i'm assume newer STI for a stage 2 to be anywhere near a vette. Define stage 2? Cobb AP, up and down pipe with CBE?

Well in reguards to your first statement did you ever get rid of the spoiler?

2007 STI

Stage 2 is really just a marketing gimmick Im sure. What it consists of in absolute lowest terms is simply a downpipe and an AP. Ive got the AP, downpipe, high flow cat, cat back exhaust, intake, new heat sheilds, lightweight crank pulley. Once I install the rest of my equipment Ill be taking it to an authorized tuner and putting a protune on it. I might get a water/methanol kit, because Im running near 20psi on the turbo.

I have not gotten rid of the spoiler, its surprisingly expensive and I really dont want to spend money on something that doesnt add anything except appearance... but I suspect Ill have to soon.

 

[Demo24]

ok, first of all an intake really wasn't a wonderful purchase so unless you got a great deal on it really not worth it. Otherwise most of the other sounds good. Where are you located?

I'm not fond of meth simply as it's another thing to keep up with, also some people have problems with them and they are a pain to fix! Plus if you run out then you have to change the map and detune it for awhile..ugh.

Getting rid of the spoiler is easy, go trade with a wrx or rs. I personally like the look of STI's and the wrx spoiler. Just go hit up your local forum.


I would recommend you go to suspension next. Sure the STI corners ok, but theres a LOT of understeer. It's not very hard to dial that out. I would recommend some swaybars for one, preferably stiffer in front and just a couple mm lower in back. You can do equal if it makes it easier. Then I would recommend either getting new springs (so you can get rid of the 'bounce') or new struts + springs. Will probably lower it a bit and should corner significantly better, a new alignment will help as well.

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: DEMO24
ok, first of all an intake really wasn't a wonderful purchase so unless you got a great deal on it really not worth it. Otherwise most of the other sounds good. Where are you located?

I'm not fond of meth simply as it's another thing to keep up with, also some people have problems with them and they are a pain to fix! Plus if you run out then you have to change the map and detune it for awhile..ugh.

Getting rid of the spoiler is easy, go trade with a wrx or rs. I personally like the look of STI's and the wrx spoiler. Just go hit up your local forum.


I would recommend you go to suspension next. Sure the STI corners ok, but theres a LOT of understeer. It's not very hard to dial that out. I would recommend some swaybars for one, preferably stiffer in front and just a couple mm lower in back. You can do equal if it makes it easier. Then I would recommend either getting new springs (so you can get rid of the 'bounce') or new struts + springs. Will probably lower it a bit and should corner significantly better, a new alignment will help as well.

Supposedly unlike most intakes that mess up the metering of the air this one is designed to work properly with the Subaru intake system. I just went for the Cobb intake package, which includes a new intake and intake box.

As far as meth, Im not completely sold on it yet. Ill need to talk to my tuner. I would put a level sensor in there so that I would never run out (presumably). Detuning wouldnt be a problem either, the AP is going to be mounted in the car.

Im not sure if I want to get into suspension just yet. I want it a bit lower, but Im not ready to make that change.

I dont want to swap trunks with an RS, I want to have the option of switching back if I dont like it.... plus Id be losing out huge in that trade, the STI trunk is worth darn near twice as much as the RS.

 

[RGUN]

Picture of Car

 

[T2urtle]

buying a trunk door shouldn't be that much one...

a STI trunk isn't WORTH double a RS. highly doubt it. unless there is a material diffrent its just badging and the actual spoiler. either way..


the intake even if its cobbs will hurt it one way or the other but since your getting it protuned it should be taken care of. after the protune.. your kinda at the peak of the stock turbo on that car. unless you want more performance i would look into maybe little interior toys or suspension. upgrading bushings, endlinks. a more traction friendly alignment...

you go racing ? auto-x , drag anything?

seems as if you gotten down the bolt-on portion of the car. maybe lose some weight on the car or yourself to make it faster..

my personally i'm looking to get a LGT which is pretty much a detuned STI but in a far less racing trim. my intentions for it is just barely a stage 2 which is AP, up/down and a stage 2 map. Lose about 100lbs off the car and a set of lighter weight wheels for the summer. say 50lb combo rim/tire on the corners if possbile. These are what my plans are, most likely stick to it as i dont track, race in any way. might show up at the track for fun but nothing serious.

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
buying a trunk door shouldn't be that much one...

a STI trunk isn't WORTH double a RS. highly doubt it. unless there is a material diffrent its just badging and the actual spoiler. either way..


the intake even if its cobbs will hurt it one way or the other but since your getting it protuned it should be taken care of. after the protune.. your kinda at the peak of the stock turbo on that car. unless you want more performance i would look into maybe little interior toys or suspension. upgrading bushings, endlinks. a more traction friendly alignment...

you go racing ? auto-x , drag anything?

seems as if you gotten down the bolt-on portion of the car. maybe lose some weight on the car or yourself to make it faster..

my personally i'm looking to get a LGT which is pretty much a detuned STI but in a far less racing trim. my intentions for it is just barely a stage 2 which is AP, up/down and a stage 2 map. Lose about 100lbs off the car and a set of lighter weight wheels for the summer. say 50lb combo rim/tire on the corners if possbile. These are what my plans are, most likely stick to it as i dont track, race in any way. might show up at the track for fun but nothing serious.

The trunk is $300 and the STI wing is $300... thats where I got double...

Keeping in mind Im in Canada.

Yeah this will be it in terms of performance. Im still not happy with the sound system, I need to add an amp. So thats next I guess.

 

[thirdeye]

Sounds like you're on the right track. You can always get a Spec-C aluminum trunk. They're not exactly cheap, but they're lighter and wingless to boot! Check japanparts.com I've seen them there before.

If you're looking for springs the RCE springs are definitely the way to go. I just put some blacks on my Ohlins fixed perch struts. Quite the phenomenal setup.

 

[Arkaign]

Jeez, what's that thing pull in the 1/4? 11s?

 

[DivideBYZero]

RE-MAP!

NOW!

 

[ayabe]

Stage 2 isn't a gimmick, and if you can't feel a difference your butt dyno is out of spec or you aren't hitting your boost targets.

Intake won't do anything for you with the base map, once you get it protuned you might get a slight bump. Supposedly the new air box will lower ambient intake temps over the stock air box, whereas before with just the short ram it was a lot higher and thus borderline on being 100% safe.

I'm running a VF43(your turbo) on my WRX, haven't been to the track but I suspect I could get into the low 13's with that setup. I really don't like doing hard launches but from a 30 roll I can walk my friends '06 Stg2 STI up to ~100mph because I have slightly better gear ratios.

You have a much beefier tranny so launching isn't as much of a problem for you, if anything will break it's the rear half axles.

I'm waiting for my tranny to grenade any day now.

Enjoy it man.

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: ayabe
Stage 2 isn't a gimmick, and if you can't feel a difference your butt dyno is out of spec or you aren't hitting your boost targets.

Intake won't do anything for you with the base map, once you get it protuned you might get a slight bump. Supposedly the new air box will lower ambient intake temps over the stock air box, whereas before with just the short ram it was a lot higher and thus borderline on being 100% safe.

I'm running a VF43(your turbo) on my WRX, haven't been to the track but I suspect I could get into the low 13's with that setup. I really don't like doing hard launches but from a 30 roll I can walk my friends '06 Stg2 STI up to ~100mph because I have slightly better gear ratios.

You have a much beefier tranny so launching isn't as much of a problem for you, if anything will break it's the rear half axles.

I'm waiting for my tranny to grenade any day now.

Enjoy it man.

The notion of the gimmick is that stage 2 in itself really doesnt relay any information and is more of a marketing term. That is what I meant by that comment. "Stage 2" has been invented by a company (in this case Cobb) and really means nothing.

Also, I dont think Im hitting my boost target. From talking with the tuner, 16.5 is the max the different restrictor pill on the 2007 STIs will allow. Thats why I need to do to the MBC or EBC, so I can get it up to 20psi as I intend to. Have you ever seen the intake box? does it continue to use the stock intake snorkel, I need to know whether or not to buy a silencer delete. I hear the tranny mounts are weak on the '07, so I might have to upgrade those as well... but I dont launch hard, I like to roll into it.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: ayabe
Stage 2 isn't a gimmick, and if you can't feel a difference your butt dyno is out of spec or you aren't hitting your boost targets.

Intake won't do anything for you with the base map, once you get it protuned you might get a slight bump. Supposedly the new air box will lower ambient intake temps over the stock air box, whereas before with just the short ram it was a lot higher and thus borderline on being 100% safe.

I'm running a VF43(your turbo) on my WRX, haven't been to the track but I suspect I could get into the low 13's with that setup. I really don't like doing hard launches but from a 30 roll I can walk my friends '06 Stg2 STI up to ~100mph because I have slightly better gear ratios.

You have a much beefier tranny so launching isn't as much of a problem for you, if anything will break it's the rear half axles.

I'm waiting for my tranny to grenade any day now.

Enjoy it man.

The notion of the gimmick is that stage 2 in itself really doesnt relay any information and is more of a marketing term. That is what I meant by that comment. "Stage 2" has been invented by a company (in this case Cobb) and really means nothing.

Also, I dont think Im hitting my boost target. From talking with the tuner, 16.5 is the max the different restrictor pill on the 2007 STIs will allow. Thats why I need to do to the MBC or EBC, so I can get it up to 20psi as I intend to. Have you ever seen the intake box? does it continue to use the stock intake snorkel, I need to know whether or not to buy a silencer delete. I hear the tranny mounts are weak on the '07, so I might have to upgrade those as well... but I dont launch hard, I like to roll into it.

I haven't seen the box in person, I'm running a completely stock setup on my intake as I really don't care for the extra noise.

I think you can rig a cold air feed using the snorkus delete or you can buy the elbow delete, either route should be fine.

I saw this thread on Cobb's page recently where a few of the guys were talking about the best route to go:

Cobb

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: ayabe

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: ayabe
Stage 2 isn't a gimmick, and if you can't feel a difference your butt dyno is out of spec or you aren't hitting your boost targets.

Intake won't do anything for you with the base map, once you get it protuned you might get a slight bump. Supposedly the new air box will lower ambient intake temps over the stock air box, whereas before with just the short ram it was a lot higher and thus borderline on being 100% safe.

I'm running a VF43(your turbo) on my WRX, haven't been to the track but I suspect I could get into the low 13's with that setup. I really don't like doing hard launches but from a 30 roll I can walk my friends '06 Stg2 STI up to ~100mph because I have slightly better gear ratios.

You have a much beefier tranny so launching isn't as much of a problem for you, if anything will break it's the rear half axles.

I'm waiting for my tranny to grenade any day now.

Enjoy it man.

The notion of the gimmick is that stage 2 in itself really doesnt relay any information and is more of a marketing term. That is what I meant by that comment. "Stage 2" has been invented by a company (in this case Cobb) and really means nothing.

Also, I dont think Im hitting my boost target. From talking with the tuner, 16.5 is the max the different restrictor pill on the 2007 STIs will allow. Thats why I need to do to the MBC or EBC, so I can get it up to 20psi as I intend to. Have you ever seen the intake box? does it continue to use the stock intake snorkel, I need to know whether or not to buy a silencer delete. I hear the tranny mounts are weak on the '07, so I might have to upgrade those as well... but I dont launch hard, I like to roll into it.

I haven't seen the box in person, I'm running a completely stock setup on my intake as I really don't care for the extra noise.

I think you can rig a cold air feed using the snorkus delete or you can buy the elbow delete, either route should be fine.

I saw this thread on Cobb's page recently where a few of the guys were talking about the best route to go:

Cobb

Thank you very much, looks like Im going for an elbow delete.