Subaru Impreza WRX

c_hunter

Sounds like you got an excellent deal. I also have been tinkering with my WRX (03 bought in January). Here's what I have done that I would recommend to put on your list:

Kartboy shifter bushings ($35)
Prodrive WRSport axleback exhaust ($400)
17" Wheels & Tires ($1200-2500)

The shifter bushings are pretty easy to install and will improve the feel of the short-throw unit considerably. Really improves the driving experience, and is the best $35 I ever spent.

The Prodrive muffler looks and sounds great, and is super easy to install. There are probably minor power improvements with this, on the order of 3-5HP.

17" wheels and tires are probably the most important thing you can do -- they improve the handling and button down the car at high speeds. Just be careful of the weight -- the stock wheel/tire combo is about 36 lbs, and you should try to stick to that weight or go lighter. I went with heavier rims and tires, and can feel a difference in acceleration (probably the equivalent of 8-10 HP penalty).

All of the above will not void your warranty. If you want to do an engine mod (which most likely will void your warranty) I hear that replacing the intercooler Y-hose with a smoother, less restrictive silicone unit (Prodrive, Samco, ....) is easy to do and good for 5-8 HP, in addition to improving turbo spoolup. I have not done this yet. From there, you can do all kinds of exhaust mods on the up-pipe, down-pipe, and cats.

Craig

1hokie

dgman - I posted last week or so about the Cobb tuner - basically for $555, you get a boost in hp from 227 to 260, not just at WOT (wide open throttle), but throughout the power band. Something you can feel in everyday driving.

As for your mileage - I wouldn't do a thing to the engine just yet (or exhaust). My wrx behaved very differently after the first 3-4k miles. It seemed like it was still building up power through to 7k miles! I don't quite understand it - maybe the car's computer was more set to my likings (it learned my driving behavior), or perhaps it was me learning to drive the car better (I have an automatic, so I didn't think there were different ways to drive the car, but there are - subtle differences in how you approach the gas pedal). I'd wait for a while before bumping up the power. The car should come around for you in a few months.

I waited for the first 1k miles before going above 3k rpms. Regular oil changes too. I'm all about keeping the car in good condition, and babying it.

Oh - the Cobb thing isn't available until March or so. It's a handheld device that you simply plug in to your car to remap stuff. Takes like a minute - and for that increase in power, great results.

Congrats on the new WRX, and welcome to the club!

c_hunter

You can send your ECU to Cobb for a reflash right now (for about $450 I think), and they will have low-cost upgrades available when the AccessECU ships in the spring.

Craig

bluesubie

"...maybe the car's computer was more set to my likings (it learned my driving behavior)..."
Yep, that's it. :-)

Sport Compact Car mag. drove their project WRX several hundred miles through the desert. They reset the computer and the car lost 10 h.p. The ECU adapted to the harder driving style.

-Dennis

dgman

Great posts. Thanks for the help. I don't think I'm interested in doing anything that will void my warranty, at least not until I get some higher miles on it. So I'll stick with exhaust, wheels, and the shifter bushings sound interesting. I've been to the Cobb Tuning site that was posted earlier. Looks like a great site. They have a muffler retrofit that looks easy to do and sounds really sporty, and not loudy and annoying like some mufflers.

Again, thanks for the ideas.

Does anyone else feel the need to look at their car right before bed as well? Later.

subarusaleshou

dgman, you can't "void" your warranty. That is a federal law. The only thing you could potentially do is cause a warranty claim on a specific component to be contested or denied. To not pay a warranty claim it must be proven that a non standard component caused the failure of a factory component. If you put an underdrive pulley on the alternator and the alternator later failed it could be argued the pulley was a causative factor and not be covered under warranty. If the water pump or brake booster or a/c compressor or anything else went out the warranty would cover because an alternator pulley has zero effect on those components.

So don't worry about your warranty being voided, just consider if you want to assume warranty responsibility for a given component that you change out. In any event, congratulations and enjoy your car. You picked the best!

prayerfor

dgman --

I've done quite a bit of tinkering with my wagon, and it's been a lot of fun getting my hands dirty pulling things apart and putting them back together. Never really done much modding with other cars before, but with the WRX it's definitely addictive.

Here are some ideas to consider:
* I believe the '04s come with a 17mm rear swaybar. Switching that out for a 20mm one from an '02 or '03 WRX would give you flatter cornering. Beefier rear endlinks (the part that attaches the swaybar to the chassis) help too, but not as much.

* 17" wheels and tires also benefit handling quite a bit. Rota makes a lot of nice looking and inexpensive rims in the proper Subaru bolt pattern and offset. Tirerack is a great resource for info on tires.

* Prodrive springs lower the car down just the right amount IMO, and give it a much sportier appearance. These springs work with stock struts and the ride penalty is not dramatic. This is not beginner stuff however, since the install is more difficult and a quality alignment is required.

* The Kartboy short shifter and bushings, combined with a MOMO race airleather shift knob, makes shifting pure bliss. I added an aluminum shifter surround for a little extra pizazz.

* If you plan to do your own oil changes, a Fumoto valve is a big help.

* For a simple plug-and-play power upgrade, an ECU reflash from Cobb is great. Beyond that, the big gains are from freeing up the exhaust flow. An uppipe install is pretty involved (this is the pipe that goes "up" and into the turbo), but replacing the exhaust from the turbo back isn't as tough and really transforms the car. The intercooler hoses are cheap and easy, but there isn't a discernable HP gain there.

* If you do go down the power upgrade path, adding a proper set of gauges is pretty critical. In my car I have added boost and exhaust temp gauges, as these are generally considered the most important ones.

Good luck and have fun, and of course report back!

cachibache

Hi, I am really interested in the WRX. I went to Carsdirect.com and got a good quote. For a wrx sedan 04' with updated speakers, subwoofer, updated security system, 17' tires (not the BBS), and short throw shifter I got quoted ~ $22,500. IMO, this seems like an xcellent deal.

1. What do you guys think of Carsdirect.com? (reliable?)
2. What do you guys think of the 17' non BBS optional tires?
3. Is the short throw shifter worth it? I read that some people did not like it.

TIA
Cachibache

bluesubie

1. Haven't used carsdirect.com

2. Not familiar with the tires (RE40?), but the non-BBS wheels are originally from the JDM Legacy B4 turbo. They look different in pictures, so make sure you check them out. 17" anything is better. :-)

3. I don't have the short throw, but I wish I would have at least checked it out. Try to test drive one with and one without.

BTW - if you're even slightly concerned about theft, skip the security system and go aftermarket. Or at least add a fuel cut-off.

-Dennis

dgman

I haven't used Carsdirect.com either so I can't comment there.

I just got my car a couple weeks back and I have the short throw. I drove both and I don't see why people would not like the short throw. The Throw between first and second is probably a 3" movement if that. It makes for quick gear changes and if your any good with a clutch, no hesitation in the acceleration. I think it is the best option of my car followed closely by the turbo boost gauge and the rear spoiler.

I listened to the upgraded stereo with the sub but I didn't think it was worth the cost increase. The WRX has a pretty good stereo. It is the same stereo, just no sub. Still has the extra tweeters for better mid range sound and the 6 disc changer in the dash. I prefer to the listen to the engine and turbo anyway

It sounds like you have a great deal if you are getting the 17" wheels at that price. That is about what I paid and I have the 16", rear spoiler, short throw shifter, turbo gauge.

c_hunter

As for price, you should be paying anywhere from about $500 to $1000 under invoice if the dealer is truly giving you a good deal. Just use that as a reference point. Offhand, $22500 sounds very good for a car with those options, maybe too good!! You can use the buying guide here on Edmunds to price up a car with the options, and see what MSRP and invoice cost are to be sure what kind of deal you're getting.

I love the short throw shifter and the 17" B4 wheels are sweet. The wheels have a champagne color to them, and look best on a black car in my opinion. I probably would not want them on a silver car or a red car, but really, you need to see them in person, on the car, to decide. They are good strong lightweight wheels, and 17" tires are a good upgrade for the WRX. If I recall correctly, they use Potenza RE-011 tires in a 215/45-17 size. These are summer tires, so be aware that they will be dangerous in winter weather. They're not the best summer tires around, but certainly better performing than the stock all-season 16" RE-92 tires (except in winter).

Craig

c_hunter

I think the RE-011 tires can be noisy on the highway, so definitly take a test drive and see how they compare to the stock tires. I recently upgraded to 17" wheels and tires (aftermarket) and specifically went with the RE-750 because it is one of the quietest summer tires around. I would really hate to get a lot of tire noise, as my daily commute is 70 miles round trip, mostly highway.

Craig

bcannon1

Hey all. I've had my 2003 WRX for 1 year and love it more each day. I have a question for those of you who have installed the Kartboy shifter bushings. Have you noticed more transmission noise/vibration coming through the shifter? I have been told this can be a problem with stiffer bushings. As you know, the car is pretty noisy anyway, and more could be a drag. Thanks, BC

c_hunter

I didn't notice any more vibration/noise, but I have the port-installed STi short shifter kit which does not have a rubber damper in the shaft (stock shifter does). So, it already vibrated more than the stock shifter and I can't say the bushing made it much different.

I don't think the shifter vibrates any more than other cars I have owned.

For me, the Kartboy bushings were a total plus all the way around. Highly recommended. I can offer some install tips if you take the plunge.

Craig

bcannon1

I also had the short shifter installed (at the dealer before delivery). I have the original shifter and the bushing is that large rubber one I have read about in other postings. Is the bushing different in the short throw. I havent gotten under the car to look. I would appreciate any help you can give on the procedure. Are you the one that used the steak knife???
Bob

c_hunter

Yep, I think the short throw and stock shifters have the same bushing, or at least very similar. It's rather flexible. The Kartboy is significantly harder, so there's less slop in the linkage.

I used the steak knife to saw one "flange" off the bushing (the one facing out), bolted the bushing back down (without the face plate), and then pulled on the shifter linkage to slide it off the bushing. You could probably also use a little WD40 to lube up the old bushing so it slides out easier, just clean off the WD40 afterwards. There is also a how-to on this over at the scoobymods site.

Craig

dgman

I want a quiet cat back exhaust kit. I've looked online at the Borla Hush Kit and the Cobb Tuning Kit. Both claim to give a quiet sporty sound and not that loud annoying whir. I don't want my car to sound like a crotch rocket. Can anyone give a testimonial on either of these kits. I want the power without the noise.

c_hunter

Let me tell you what I know, which isn't a whole lot!

By catback, I'll follow the standard definition to mean the rear-pipe (with resonator) and the muffler. I have read on other sites that there is very little to gain by replacing the rear-pipe, as it is already a fairly large diameter and the resonator has almost no losses. So, the remaining muffler (axleback) section is where most of the backpressure resides and is where you get big gains (still no more than 5HP, so don't expect too much).

If you keep the factory resonator (or your aftermarket system contains one), then you can go to a straight-through muffler and maintain good sound. Straight-through mufflers have the lowest losses and will give you the biggest gains. If you ditch the resonator, you'll probably want a baffled muffler to maintain decent sound levels, but these have higher losses. So, to me, the simplest and best solution is to slap on a high quality straight-through muffler as an axleback mod, and just leave the factory rear-pipe alone.

On the recommendation of several people here and on other sites, I got the Prodrive axleback for about $380. It's a super high quality, straight-through design with larger diameter piping than stock (basically, it maintains the rear-pipe diameter all the way back). It adds a deeper rumble at idle, a wonderfully classy, low-key, mellow "vroom" when accelerating and shifting, and is quiet as a kitten on the highway (no louder than stock). That's the exhaust I would recommend to anyone. Install is a piece of cake too.

So, I can't comment on the other choices, but the Prodrive is what I ended up getting in my quest for a quiet performance exhaust system.

Craig

prayerfor

Amongst the turboback systems, the MRT is widely praised as very high in quality, and relatively quiet (quieter than all the other turboback kits that I know of). That's the system I have on my car.

The cost of a turboback system is quite a bit higher than the cost of an axleback, but the gains are on the order of 20-30 HP, compared to around 5. It really transforms the car completely in the low- and mid-range.

sensei1

Haven't posted in a while here. Congrats to all the new owners. Get used to the car first. As told before, this one's a totally different animal. It's got plenty to offer, just have to find out how and where before you tamper with it. My '02 is still putting a smile on my face every day.

Just wondering how the east coast WRX's are behaving in the snow?

1hokie

no no, that's not it.

Since I bought my WRX in March of this year, I hadn't had much chance to test it out in the snow. Well, that is until Friday. I went in to work - a 10 mile commute through 8-10" of fresh, unplowed snow. The car was wonderful. Since this is my first AWD car, I was amazed as I hit the gas and the car went, instead of first spinning it's tires and trying to find traction.

I took it easy, left room for braking, kept my speeds down, drove safely - and the car was with me 100%. At no time did I feel unsafe, or not in complete control of the car - and in those situations, that's pretty impressive.

As a sidebar, I know there's a billion SUV's out there with 4 wheel drive, and without going into the mechanics of it all, a bunch of them you have to engage the 4 wheel drive system, otherwise it's in 2 wheel drive. I just love how the Subaru is always looking for the best traction. If I had an SUV, I'd put it in 4 wheel drive when it snowed, but every time it rained? Probably not. The awd system in the rain is just great too.

Ok, I'm just very happy about the car, and how well it did, and being able to leave the house without any worries of how the roads were, or how bad the parking lots were, or when I stopped, if I'd be able to get going again. It was a wonderful new experience for me - one that I shall be experiencing frequently this winter on the east coast.

Sidebar 2 - the WRX also saved my back, since I only had to shovel half the driveway - the wife's half that is - I was able to trek up/down the driveway through snow effortlessly. In my wife's defense, she has awd too, but figured people would be stopping by the house, and the driveway should be cleared for our guests. Ok, she has a point.

sensei1

Good to know you're having a blast with the car and it's holding it's own in the snow. I take it that the RE92's are getting the job done too.
 
Thanks for the update.

hypov

aren't that bad when driven reasonably, like upto 35mph. 35~45mph, you're a thrill seeker. 45mph+ let me know when you'll be on the road ;-)
The REs needs more steering and throttle input to right the car when it slid and slide. Not great in the stopping department also. I think the tires are a mismatch for the WRX brakes; tap the brakes lightly @ 15~20mph and I got ABS instantly.
Oh, my REs have under 11k miles on them. Swapped in the SP5000s and they were better, braking too.

-Dave

merrycynic

I think they're pretty decent in the snow. I wish I could say the same about them in the rain.

c_hunter

They are OK (as in all-season tire OK) in the snow when they're new, but they are horrible when they get past 10,000-15,000 miles or so.

Craig

nyccarguy

The WRX's AWD must help the RE92s. The RE92s on my Prelude were fine last year (when they were pretty much new), but I never felt confident (in snow/wet weather). With this year's winter upon us, I noticed with a little over 18K miles they slip upon startup (even in the rain). I replaced the RE92s with a set of Michelin Pilot Alpins (went minus 1 for the winter tires/wheels). How they drive in the snow I don't know (they arrived conveniently a day after the snow storm).

dgman

So I was driving home tonight and I pulled up to a light. It was about 8 pm so the in town streets were dead. This guy pulls up next to me in a Cavalier. Yes, a Cavalier and wants to race. Not even the Z24 version (I owned a 97 Z24 myself so I know cavaliers are dogs). The light turned green and I just drove away at a slow pace and the dude gunned his cavalier and took off as fast as a cavalier could go, probably proud he just beat a WRX. I wasn't going to waste my gas on this guy. A cavalier! The nerve of some people. ha!

dgman

A few posts ago I asked which Cat back exhaust was quietest and I got a few responses (thanks). Now I have a different question. I have read that a cat back exhaust won't do much for hp gains. Would it be better to spend nearly double and get the turbo back exhaust? Is this more HP per dollar spent? If I did catback first, is it easy to go turbo back later and do it piece wise?

PS... I don't plan on doing anything to this car until I get used to driving it and I've got some miles on it. I haven't even cracked a 1000 yet.

Thanks for the advice.

Kirstie_H

A magazine reporter is hoping to interview a driver who bought his/her car since 2001 and has a favorite interior feature (factory- or dealer-installed) that makes the whole car seem more enjoyable and well-built. (Examples: outstanding seat comfort, dynamic stereo, convenient storage pockets, high-quality leather, functional cupholders, etc.) Please send your brief comments, vehicle model name and daytime contact info to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than 12/17/03.

c_hunter

You're going to get a lot of street racing challenges from wannabes. I think you made the right choice!

You can do most exhaust mods piecemeal, though there may be some benefit from a fully matched system.

I think the biggest gains are in removing the up-pipe cat, followed by down-pipe cat, and then the mid-pipe (3rd) cat. Obviously, this may void your warranty and will violate federal regs.

Up-pipe install is quite a project, down-pipe is easier, and mid-pipe back is cake.

Craig

subarusaleshou

What difference would it make in leaving the up pipe cat in place to provide some emissions control and hopefully pass emission checks at less stringent states as opposed to leaving one of the other two in place?

I guess what I'm not asking very well is if you remove 2 and leave 1 does it affect overall power based on which one of the three you leave?

c_hunter

The up-pipe cat is upstream of the turbo, so it imposes a loss and takes energy out of the exhaust flow that could otherwise be used to spin the turbine blades. That's why it has a big effect. The other cats are downstream of the turbo, and simply contribute backpressure to the exhaust system. Getting rid of backpressure will also help the turbo, but not as much as the up-pipe mod does.

Craig

subarusaleshou

Sounds like one should do an up pipe then for certain and maybe leave both the others to help pass emission testing.

Anyone know if 2 out of 3 cats will pass Texas emission testing?

c_hunter

I think the up-pipe cat is only there to reduce cold startup emissions. This is possibly true of the down-pipe cat as well. Once warmed up, the large 3rd cat probably can do the trick by itself.

The only downside to the up-pipe in my book is that it's quite an ordeal to install, and often leads to issues (leaks, etc...). Some people have to loosen up the exhaust manifold and turbo to get everything bolted back up tight again.

Interestingly, the STi downpipe is nearly the same as the WRX downpipe, but does not contain a cat. It has a flex joint and heat shields like the stock WRX pipe. That's probably what I would install if I did an up-pipe mod, since it looks stock and probably would provide the best fit (people on other boards report that they are a direct swap).

Craig

c_hunter

I forgot to mention -- I gave a presentation at a NASA acoustics workshop this morning. Was wearing my LL Bean polo shirt with the WRX logo. After my talk, two guys came up to chat with me, not about my research, but about WRXs! Talk about cool! Usually I get accosted by guys who either love or hate my research, today it was just a bunch of car nuts. We had a good time chatting about cars for 10-15 minutes. It's cool that people recognize and respect the WRX. Too bad my STi shirt is on backorder!

Craig

bluesubie

I bought a digital camera from Best Buy a couple of weeks ago. This kid noticed my Subaru jacket and asked me if I liked Subaru's.

He told me that his dad had a WRX and we started talking about mods for 20 minutes. Just before he wrote up the ticket, I asked for a "WRX discount" (half joking of course). He spoke to his boss and they discounted it by 10%. :-)

-Dennis

hypov

Dennis-
You might have stumbled upon a hush hush Subaru incentive ;-)
Or, the kid's boss just so happened to be "Dad"?

-Dave

sensei1

Dennis and Craig, I just might start getting into this logo thing. 10% is 10%.

ateixeira

Is that part of the VIP program? LOL

-juice

psu525

I'm in the market for my first car, does anyone reccomend a used version of this car, if so, any reason and how much do you think i could get one for?

jhall54

You guys were asking about the WRX in snow so i thought I'd throw in my experience. I am in Alaska and I use the WRX as my daily driver. We have been under snow here since the second week of November (It came really late this year). I have done extensive city driving on snow and ice covered roads as well as 20 to 30 mile highway trips. Also plowed through 4-8 inches of fresh to get out of my neighborhood several times. The car is amazing. We have studded snow tires and combined with the AWD, the grip is impressive. You can actually push the car pretty hard in icy corners and it carves right through. If it does break loose, simply letting off the gas will bring it right back in line. I get into trouble when I take the Toyota pickup (4x4) and try to drive it like the WRX. The pickup requires a much higher level of skill and attention to keep on the road. I have also driven a front wheel drive Civic and an Outback through winters up here and the Outback is the only thing close. It was very good as well, but the shorter wheel base of the Impreza makes it more managable and precise. The only possible downside is that under hard accelerationon a straight the car will "break loose" in second or 3rd gear. When this happens, the car tends to want to twist sideways. I am assuming that this is due to the AWD system not being perfect in its application of power to all wheels. This is not really much of a gripe though, as one should not expect to be able to accelerate hard in snow anyway. The WRX is so good though that it makes you want to see what it takes to break traction. Enjoy your cars and be safe.

AKWRX

sensei1

Thanks for the snow story Joshua. Didn't even think about Alaska when I asked. Being from sunny CA (well, raining right now), I just wonder about these things. Stay warm.

bluesubie

"If it does break loose, simply letting off the gas will bring it right back in line..

Actually, the best thing to do in an AWD car would be to hit the accelerator a little harder.

Try it sometime in an empty snow-covered parking lot.

-Dennis

sonya4

Haven't posted here in a while either, but thought I'd let you all know about a couple of things that have been referred to several times here...

One, got new tires (the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S) last week when it was supposed to snow in my area. Never did snow except for a few flurries, mostly rain. While it was raining, I took a curve at a steady speed and could feel the tires gripping really well, it was amazing. The RE92s weren't bad when they were new, but lately (with 21K miles on them) I had felt them slipping a teeny bit in the rain. I'm prepared for snow now!

Second, I had the clutch replaced (because of clutch judder) and I'm really glad I did that. It's so nice to be able to start up the car, get into first gear and not feel that judder/shudder. I asked my dealer to just order the part (referring to the TSB) because I didn't want to have to leave the car overnight, and they did that for me, so that was good of them.

Thanks to all those who posted about these topics in the past.

--sonya4

kevin111

Had the clutch judder done a few months ago.

Bought the Pilot Sport A/S a month ago (same size as stock). So far, love the tires -handling and breaking are greatly improved. The problem is that gas mileage is suffering (loosing about 2 mpg compared with original tires). They seem to be heavier. What is your experience.

Despite the gas mileage, love the tires. Rain, they are great, and they handle exceedingly well! Plus they look good.

c_hunter

Glad you got the clutch judder taken care of, it can really ruin the whole experience!

Craig

cyberdyne

I was quoted $500 over invoice for an '04 WRX from a dealer in Orlando, FL. He says that he can go this low because I would be ordering the car. And, he doesn't have to add cost from it being on his lot. Is this a good price?

hunter001

They have quite a bit more impact harshness than the stockers, since they are rated to perform like max-performance summer tires in the dry/wet, with a rock firm side-wall. They are also excellent in the snow and are around 3lbs heavier than the stock tires. Due to this and the higher rolling resistance that results in the prodigious grip, you will lose a couple mpg. But since they have a treadwear rating of 400, they will last you quite a bit, since other Michelin tires rated with a treadwear of 400, tend to last for around 50K+ miles. They are also rated for speeds over 186+ mph with Kevlar reinforcement all around, which makes them well nigh indestructible. In the stock size, they also have a higher load rating than other tires like the stockers and the Dunlop SP5000 (90 vs 89).

If you can get used to the more prominent impact harshness (compared to stock), then this is an excellent tire that you can use all year round.

Later...AH

c_hunter

With the current incentives, you should be able to go below invoice. When there were similar incentives on the 03 models, I got my WRX for about $700 under invoice. It could also depend on the local market.

Craig

cyberdyne

I don't know what the demand is like for this car in Florida. How can I find out what incentives are being currently offered on the WRX?
 The dealer said that I would have to order a car. I always knew that and had no problem with it. He says he's giving me a good price cause it comes straight from the factory to me.