Investing in proper upgrades...?
12-16-2004, 01:33 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Investing in proper upgrades...?
I've be reading and doing searches and having a hard time finding a way to make a stock WRX combat with a stock STI on a small amount investment.
My struggle: I was inches away from purchasing a VF34 (w/injectors, fuel pump, and Ecutek ECU Reflash), but have been reading that this will not bring you in range with even a stock STI.
What is the best bet (for the money) to compete with the bigboys?
My current set-up is a Helix up-pipe, down-pipe, and cat-back on an WRX wagon.
My struggle: I was inches away from purchasing a VF34 (w/injectors, fuel pump, and Ecutek ECU Reflash), but have been reading that this will not bring you in range with even a stock STI.
What is the best bet (for the money) to compete with the bigboys?
My current set-up is a Helix up-pipe, down-pipe, and cat-back on an WRX wagon.
12-17-2004, 10:14 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 113
Car Info: 2002 Impreza WRX
Cobb's site says an STi is about 240hp/250ft-lbs stock. On their dyno.
Cobb's Stage 2 WRX (you have a downpipe) would put you around 225hp/225ft-lbs. The Cobb vf34 map says 315hp/295 ft-lbs. Thats wheel hp. You should be able to take an STi with that. (straight line, in the corners, you are still toast)
Even better would be a vf34 setup with a new intercooler + custom tune. That'd be pretty sick.
Cobb's Stage 2 WRX (you have a downpipe) would put you around 225hp/225ft-lbs. The Cobb vf34 map says 315hp/295 ft-lbs. Thats wheel hp. You should be able to take an STi with that. (straight line, in the corners, you are still toast)
Even better would be a vf34 setup with a new intercooler + custom tune. That'd be pretty sick.
12-20-2004, 06:44 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yeah, that would be pretty nice. I guess that might be the best bet for me.
Also, I was curious about highway speed. Roll-on in a WRX, STI or not, is pretty weak. Any suggestions to beaf up the power when at the 60-80 mph range. I've been with a couple of friends who get stomped by GS400's and such -- Any ideas?
Also, I was curious about highway speed. Roll-on in a WRX, STI or not, is pretty weak. Any suggestions to beaf up the power when at the 60-80 mph range. I've been with a couple of friends who get stomped by GS400's and such -- Any ideas?
12-20-2004, 08:32 AM
#4
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Posts: n/a
As in your question to compete with a sti. If it is stock it is really not that hard to get up there. Now to compete with a modded sti it all depends you will have to find one that is modded and see what whp he has and then go from there. To beef up the 60-80 range it all just depends. You can get that range beefed up but you may end up loosing some low end. For example I ended up going with the 20g turbo and I am not the fastest out there but I found that my high end is a lot better than what it was with my vf39
12-24-2004, 10:33 AM
#5
VIP Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,023
Car Info: Subaru Impreza WRX 2002
Originally Posted by mlittle24
Yeah, that would be pretty nice. I guess that might be the best bet for me.
Also, I was curious about highway speed. Roll-on in a WRX, STI or not, is pretty weak. Any suggestions to beaf up the power when at the 60-80 mph range. I've been with a couple of friends who get stomped by GS400's and such -- Any ideas?
Also, I was curious about highway speed. Roll-on in a WRX, STI or not, is pretty weak. Any suggestions to beaf up the power when at the 60-80 mph range. I've been with a couple of friends who get stomped by GS400's and such -- Any ideas?
The other challenge that turbo engines face on the highway is the fact that the max efficiency for the turbo requires very high (5500+) RPMs -- but you can't generate those kind of RPMs without 1) a radical downshift to 3rd or 2) getting up in the 90-100 MPH range in 4rth. At highway speed in 5th gear, you are running about 3200 RPM, barely enough to get the turbo's attention and 2k away from spinning it up to full pressure. Thus, the turbo engine is weak as a kitten at high cruising speed, while the 5.7 liter V-8 is putting out torque at any RPM.
12-29-2004, 07:53 AM
#7
VIP Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,023
Car Info: Subaru Impreza WRX 2002
The SRT-4 can beat a stock WRX or STI on the highway because of two simple reasons: they have less turbo lag and they weigh about 800 pounds less. They are a rocket engine strapped to a roller skate; it is the only thing that gives the car a competitive advantage. Even with that power, SRT-4s will still fall victim to someone with actual displacement. I've seen one get passed easily by a non-turboed 300ZX, repeatedly. They played cat-and-mouse for about 30 miles, while I just coasted back and watched; by the end of it, the SRT-4 driver looked ready to cry.
The other problem that the WRX faces on the highway is drivetrain loss from AWD. Friction and loss of angular momentum from the AWD drivetrain means power loss, shifting lag and generally less (as much as 30%) WHP to the ground vs a 2WD setup.
I don't consider Audis to be trouble at all on the highway; especially not the TT, which is an incredibly underwhelming car (the Volkswagen Passat is faster). Audi's weigh several tons, especially the A6, and they don't get competitive until they reach the 3.2l model.
The other problem that the WRX faces on the highway is drivetrain loss from AWD. Friction and loss of angular momentum from the AWD drivetrain means power loss, shifting lag and generally less (as much as 30%) WHP to the ground vs a 2WD setup.
I don't consider Audis to be trouble at all on the highway; especially not the TT, which is an incredibly underwhelming car (the Volkswagen Passat is faster). Audi's weigh several tons, especially the A6, and they don't get competitive until they reach the 3.2l model.
12-29-2004, 09:08 AM
#8
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Posts: n/a
True, the TT is a pathetic attempt at Audi's engineering feats -- stylish (if you like that kind of car), but overall a weak automobile.
Thanks for your input, ...I guess I'll be taking the back roads to my destinations and staying off the freeways unless there is traffic out
To play hard stick to the curves and short red-light starts.
Thanks for your input, ...I guess I'll be taking the back roads to my destinations and staying off the freeways unless there is traffic out
To play hard stick to the curves and short red-light starts.
04-25-2005, 04:19 PM
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 124
Originally Posted by mlittle24
True, the TT is a pathetic attempt at Audi's engineering feats -- stylish (if you like that kind of car), but overall a weak automobile.
Thanks for your input, ...I guess I'll be taking the back roads to my destinations and staying off the freeways unless there is traffic out To play hard stick to the curves and short red-light starts.
Thanks for your input, ...I guess I'll be taking the back roads to my destinations and staying off the freeways unless there is traffic out
To play hard stick to the curves and short red-light starts.
04-25-2005, 04:39 PM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 174
i test drove a used SVX on a short strech of highway a few months back, they seem to LAUNCH from highway speeds, i cant belive the acceleration at 70 mph
ive also test driven a used WRX and i must say the SVX would destroy it from a highway start, unless my butt dyno was very off that day :P
ive also test driven a used WRX and i must say the SVX would destroy it from a highway start, unless my butt dyno was very off that day :P
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