I am so disappointed in my car!
12-23-2002, 06:57 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Leg Humper
Posts: 2,504
Car Info: '03 WRX wagon, faster than walkin'
I am so disappointed in my car!
AAArgh, My car has the APS exhaust, Unichip, VF 30, Injectors and Fuel rails:
It is way to loud and only makes 230 whp (Shiv tuned). Sometimes it feels real strong (this morning 5:45 am on 680 it accelerated really well) but often just feels lacking (engine winds up but no kick) - Shiv says it pings at anything over 230 so I guess I should consider a larger intercooler....but I really want to replace the too loud exhaust.
Maybe I should just go back to stock...
Sorry for ranting, I am just frustrated ($7000 spent so far!).
It is way to loud and only makes 230 whp (Shiv tuned). Sometimes it feels real strong (this morning 5:45 am on 680 it accelerated really well) but often just feels lacking (engine winds up but no kick) - Shiv says it pings at anything over 230 so I guess I should consider a larger intercooler....but I really want to replace the too loud exhaust.
Maybe I should just go back to stock...
Sorry for ranting, I am just frustrated ($7000 spent so far!).
Last edited by AntiochCali; 12-23-2002 at 11:02 AM.
12-23-2002, 08:15 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 48
Car Info: 2005 PSM STi
Sorry to hear about that. Given the investment, that doesn't seem like a ton of whp's. I have 212 whp on mine and I don't have the VF30, Sti Injectors or the fuel rails.
Did you get a catless up pipe? Is the APS exhaust a turbo back? I have a catless dp and uppipe and they make a huge diff.
Did you get a catless up pipe? Is the APS exhaust a turbo back? I have a catless dp and uppipe and they make a huge diff.
12-23-2002, 08:15 AM
#3
DAMN! $7k is a lot for me!! 
man, i wish i have what you have. I am still hunting around for used parts to get myself a turbo kit. When I am done, I'll be lucky to have 170whp. But that's planning on spending around 1.5k 
So far all my parts are free. 
Maybe you've gotten used to the power, so you don't feel the 'kick' anymore. Go drive a civic or something and go back to your car. Then you'll feel the 'kick' 
man, i wish i have what you have. I am still hunting around for used parts to get myself a turbo kit. When I am done, I'll be lucky to have 170whp. But that's planning on spending around 1.5k So far all my parts are free. Maybe you've gotten used to the power, so you don't feel the 'kick' anymore. Go drive a civic or something and go back to your car. Then you'll feel the 'kick'
12-23-2002, 08:23 AM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Leg Humper
Posts: 2,504
Car Info: '03 WRX wagon, faster than walkin'
I have a vishnu up pipe (no cat) and a full turbo back from APS (I don't recommend this exhaust, pm me if you want to know my thoughts).
I have one cat in the exhaust and that's it - just disappointing and that $7K includes a few things other than the engine.
I have one cat in the exhaust and that's it - just disappointing and that $7K includes a few things other than the engine.
12-23-2002, 08:40 AM
#5
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BAIC Wagon/Sedan Clique
Posts: 4,331
Car Info: a few WRX's and a Z ;)
wow!
i know someone local w/:
stock turbo
stock ecu
stock injectors
perrin lightened crank pulley
short ram intake
uppipe
turbo back exhaust
EBC
and pulled 225 on the dyno.
i know someone local w/:
stock turbo
stock ecu
stock injectors
perrin lightened crank pulley
short ram intake
uppipe
turbo back exhaust
EBC
and pulled 225 on the dyno.
12-23-2002, 08:52 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Wow, your car does seem kind of lacking in the power dept. Did he run your car thru 3rd gear? My car had less mods than your car with a VF30, and was dyno'd in 100+ degree temps thru only 2nd gear and made 220WHP on Shiv's dyno.
My guess is, your car might be running too rich? Try getting an intercooler and a intake, it might balace your car out more. Also, maybe you got a bad tank of gas. Try adding a gallon of Xylene and take it back to get tuned again? Also, what kind of engine management are you using and how much boost?
My guess is, your car might be running too rich? Try getting an intercooler and a intake, it might balace your car out more. Also, maybe you got a bad tank of gas. Try adding a gallon of Xylene and take it back to get tuned again? Also, what kind of engine management are you using and how much boost?
12-23-2002, 09:05 AM
#9
Subydude - WOW!! who did that ???
I have a feeling he's running an unichip...
Tommy
I have a feeling he's running an unichip...
Tommy
Originally posted by suby_dude
wow!
i know someone local w/:
stock turbo
stock ecu
stock injectors
perrin lightened crank pulley
short ram intake
uppipe
turbo back exhaust
EBC
and pulled 225 on the dyno.
wow!
i know someone local w/:
stock turbo
stock ecu
stock injectors
perrin lightened crank pulley
short ram intake
uppipe
turbo back exhaust
EBC
and pulled 225 on the dyno.
12-23-2002, 09:36 AM
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Edmonds, WA
Posts: 45
Originally posted by AntiochCali
I have a vishnu up pipe (no cat) and a full turbo back from APS (I don't recommend this exhaust, pm me if you want to know my thoughts).
I have one cat in the exhaust and that's it - just disappointing and that $7K includes a few things other than the engine.
I have a vishnu up pipe (no cat) and a full turbo back from APS (I don't recommend this exhaust, pm me if you want to know my thoughts).
I have one cat in the exhaust and that's it - just disappointing and that $7K includes a few things other than the engine.
The APS exhaust works very well considering it has a cat in it and Turbo XS runs the same sort of configuration: bell mouth, one cat, necking down to a 2.5" muffler. If this is your big beef with the APS system, there are lots of people that will vouch for the effectiveness of this exhaust and make much more power than you're putting down. The big diff is probably in their intercooling and the quality of gas they're tuned to. FYI, I don't have an APS exhaust, I've seen quite a few people here in WA with the system and know some certified Cobb installers here.
If Shiv can't squeeze more power out of your configuration, that's a huge (and expensive) pill to swallow! Aside from better intercooling, which is probably another $1K you'd hate to shell out, you could sell your unichip and give the ECUtek a whirl.
12-23-2002, 10:32 AM
#12
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (18)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: BAIC Wagon/Sedan Clique
Posts: 4,331
Car Info: a few WRX's and a Z ;)
Originally posted by MPJ Performance
Subydude - WOW!! who did that ???
I have a feeling he's running an unichip...
Tommy
Subydude - WOW!! who did that ???
I have a feeling he's running an unichip...
Tommy
cupertinodave did a test that indicated about 30% diff... from shiv's and ATPs #s.
*shrug*
12-23-2002, 10:50 AM
#13
well numbers might not matter, it's all about the increase.
if they have been dynoing at ATP the whole time, as long as it's the same dyno setup, even if the reading is off by 30% it won't change the percentage of increase..
just my 2 cents..
Tommy
if they have been dynoing at ATP the whole time, as long as it's the same dyno setup, even if the reading is off by 30% it won't change the percentage of increase..
just my 2 cents..
Tommy
12-23-2002, 11:01 AM
#14
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Leg Humper
Posts: 2,504
Car Info: '03 WRX wagon, faster than walkin'
Originally posted by FlaaB
Woah, I'm in Antioch too. I've never seen (or heard) your car... What color is it? We'll have to meet up so I can check out your car or maybe drive down to UCKK together or something.
-Matt
Woah, I'm in Antioch too. I've never seen (or heard) your car... What color is it? We'll have to meet up so I can check out your car or maybe drive down to UCKK together or something.
-Matt
) it has an STi hoodscoop. I have seen several WRX's around here (Antioch)1. Blue WRX Sedan on James Donlon near Summersville.
2. Silver wagon, with the same exhaust I've got, I think he lives in Brentwood and has the full RT Spec kit.
3. Silver wagon, lives around Lone Tree and Eagle Ridge (so do I, but I've never seen him when I was in my WRX).
4. Silver sedan (may be two different cars), seen around Lone Tree and Prewett Ranch in the afternoons.
Those are the only ones I've seen around here. I tried to start a weekly Concord KK meeting and on the first one, there were like 7 black WRX sedans, I've never seen any of them around before
12-23-2002, 11:08 AM
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
I would be careful who you are comparing numbers with... dcrawford (sp?) put 151 whp down at ATP and everyone threw a party saying "150 horsepower at the wheels for an RS with bolt on mods!! We can't believe it!!!"... Then I went and ran at Vishnu... put down a measly 126.5.... I was super bummed for months until CupertinoSteve did the dyno comparison and I found out my car would have made something like 155 on the ATP dyno (and I don't have an underdrive pulley)...
That is unless you are comparing with number Vishnu has on the wall and you are still disappointed. In that case, that just sucks... sorry dude.
That is unless you are comparing with number Vishnu has on the wall and you are still disappointed. In that case, that just sucks... sorry dude.
