Hey kids - it's time to spend a little money on my 2004 STi
How it sits today

Engine:
Stock internals, airbox silencer removed, radiator shroud, Accessport

Chassis/Suspension
The car is a driver, it will see the occasional Auto-X or open track day. It runs on street tires. My goal here is a fun street car... that's somewhat stealthy.
I don't really want to lower - hence stock springs right now.
The suspension could be better - the steering ratio bugs me a bit. The car feels a little lazy on corner entry. I'm wondering if the X-Brace could serve to strenghten the chassis and make it feel more responsive without paying for a $1300 for a Q-Rack

More power is always nice, hence my thoughts of the downpipe. I don't want to deal with smog issues, so I'm going catted. Really don't want to put up with ANY crap at the smog station so I'm hesitant.

 

From what I know, the bumpsteer correction kit is for lowered cars, to fix the suspension geometry/angles. Why did you put them on a stock height car?

If you want to keep stock springs, the TiC Fender Cowl Braces are probably a good option to help turn in. TiC Giuyngmyo Fender Cowl Braces Cheap, and maybe it's psychological, but I felt a difference in turn in.

I'd throw the catted DP out of the question, if you don't want any chance of getting crap for smog. While a lot of people can get away with it, there's always a chance.

 

You are auto crossing, so make sure you check the rules when you think about X brace, there is rules restricted right? I do open track, not sure about those, so check it.

Q rack may be, for you auto cross guy. Open track, I don't feel like needing one! These tracks(T hill, laguna, sonoma) I've been, didn't feel the need of it.

DP is getting cheaper and cheaper now, so I guess DP.

 

I've already stuck myself in a crappy class for Auto-X with the ALK's so I'm not concerned.

With the bumpsteer kits... what can I say - the car had a ton of bumpsteer, now it doesn't

 

X-brace is ****ing crazy. Incredibly increased handling while improving the freeway ride. Hard to believe eh? Even TIC which doesn't tend to make hard performance claims says .1g gain. Anyways Definitely my favorite suspension mod. Align for more - front camber will help turn in quickness.

I also love my RCE blacks/Ohlin fps,

Yo need to get

- x-brace
- rce blacks
- front cross member brace
- fender braces
- dp & tune

 

I added the Cobb DP about a month ago and I love it, more power = more fun, plus you'll be that much closer to stage 2

 

I'd go for the springs. Even though I've been drooling over a Q-rack ever since I cracked my stock rack.

 

The rack on the sti with a good alignment is decently quick, and I spend 75% of my time on tight canyons. If you plan to do any tracking and aren't just autocross I'd stick with the stock rack. At least complete the suspension on the car first before deciding.

 

I voted cobb dp.

Opens up the breathing and gives a good amount of power that you can feel, and makes the drive that much more fun.

 

From your list, I vote for RCE springs. Square away your suspension before moving onto other aspects. If you are at all worried about emmisions hassle, stay stock power-wise. IMHO STi has more than enough power in stock form to get into trouble. Plus downppe would obviously require a tune and/or ECU management.

Also if you are concerned with stealth and don't really want it lower, looking into King springs might be worth while. They make Subaru fitment with stock ride height yet increased stiffness. I recently got a set that raise my height and rolling stiffness (through Primitive Racing in Oregon).

 

He has accessport^

I'd get the downpipe or a rear subframe positive traction kit

 

Ooops I totally missed that, got too focused on the suspension list

 

If you do go the DP route I would suggest the Perrin Dual cat model. I have not had a problem passing smog with it. The smog tech looked saw one cat looked under the car saw the second cat and didnt even bother with it since as he said you got two cats your good. now you could find a not so cool spot but swapping a DP if needed is easy to do. Going Stage 2 is a nice upgrade from stage 1 IMO.

 

Downpipe and a tune is quite an improvement. It really is. Not just in power, but responsiveness in around town driving too. BUT you will still have to swap downpipes for smog, because even a catted downpipe will fail visual, because there's a very short list of "CARB approved" aftermarket cats and none of the catted aftermarket downpipes have "CARB approved" cats

I don't think the q-rack will give you what you want in turn-in

For the turn-in I would go with the fender cowl braces first. They're only $100 and I was able to install the TIC ones without removing or loosening the fender. Parts of it were pretty slow going, a "gear wrench" and stubby "gear wrench" greatly speeds the process vs. the normal open / closed wrenches.

I haven't done the underbrace or rear x-brace yet. They are next on my suspension list. The fender cowl braces do make a pretty nice improvement for only $100 though, and my recommendation is to do that first.

 

Center Front Roll kit and Anti Lift kit. Eliminate that understeer.