Tune?

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Old Sep 30, 2013 | 09:22 AM
  #1  
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Tune?

All,

I have a stock 08 WRX with a SPT catback exhaust. I have read that the stock tune is eh' at best. I would like to optimize the stockness of my wrx. Is the best tune for stock a cobb accessiport? Would taking it to a tuner be better or just a wast of money. Again I just want to optimize my stock 08 WRX.

Thanks

Brian
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 09:34 AM
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Stage 1 is a small difference. It'll most likely marginally increase everything you want it to. MPG (slighly), responsiveness, and power. Getting a stage 1 tune really isn't worth it.

Stage 2 is a turboback exhaust, and you will see significant differences. A lot more power. In order to reach stage 2 you will need to buy a downpipe.

I opted to go for a tune. I did not go for an accessport for 3 reasons:
1) I did not need to have multiple maps, stage 2 is all I needed, did not need E85 etc.
2) I did not need the extra features, such as boost gauge, read codes, temp, etc.
3) I saved a lot of money, for a map that is made for my car.

A custom tune by Vladi (who I went to), or EQ tuning will net you more gains than a map from an accessport, because it's made for your car, and catered to your needs (hp, fuel economy).

In my opinion, the only reason you should get an accessport is if you want to use the stock maps, and are planning to gradually upgrade your WRX. If you want to add a downpipe down the line, then get the accessport. It's not REALLY worth it in my opinion, but it'll make your car safe with the maps that they provide (for free) after you upgrade. But later on, if you do significant mods like bigger turbo etc, you will need a custom tune ANYWAYS, and they can put that map on the accessport.

If you KNOW you are going to go big later on, then save your money, and just collect all your parts, and take care of it in one fell swoop. Install and tune at the same time. If you want to do it little by little, it will cost you more, and the accessport might be a viable option.

Last edited by Baliztik; Sep 30, 2013 at 09:39 AM.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 09:43 AM
  #3  
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Great info. I do not want to do the turbo back deal because of CA emissions (smog) testing (I do not want to hassle with putting back my stock downpipe).


Originally Posted by Baliztik
Stage 1 is a small difference. It'll most likely marginally increase everything you want it to. MPG (slighly), responsiveness, and power. Getting a stage 1 tune really isn't worth it.

Stage 2 is a turboback exhaust, and you will see significant differences. A lot more power. In order to reach stage 2 you will need to buy a downpipe.

I opted to go for a tune. I did not go for an accessport for 3 reasons:
1) I did not need to have multiple maps, stage 2 is all I needed, did not need E85 etc.
2) I did not need the extra features, such as boost gauge, read codes, temp, etc.
3) I saved a lot of money, for a map that is made for my car.

A custom tune by Vladi (who I went to), or EQ tuning will net you more gains than a map from an accessport, because it's made for your car, and catered to your needs (hp, fuel economy).

In my opinion, the only reason you should get an accessport is if you want to use the stock maps, and are planning to gradually upgrade your WRX. If you want to add a downpipe down the line, then get the accessport. It's not REALLY worth it in my opinion, but it'll make your car safe with the maps that they provide (for free) after you upgrade. But later on, if you do significant mods like bigger turbo etc, you will need a custom tune ANYWAYS, and they can put that map on the accessport.

If you KNOW you are going to go big later on, then save your money, and just collect all your parts, and take care of it in one fell swoop. Install and tune at the same time. If you want to do it little by little, it will cost you more, and the accessport might be a viable option.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 09:55 AM
  #4  
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Originally Posted by moparbrian
Great info. I do not want to do the turbo back deal because of CA emissions (smog) testing (I do not want to hassle with putting back my stock downpipe).
then get a reflash and rid of the stock tune.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 10:02 AM
  #5  
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That is what I have read on NASIOC but I wanted to run it past my bay area subaru brothers/sisters. Also where is a good place to have this done near Santa CLara?


Originally Posted by Heedz
then get a reflash and rid of the stock tune.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 10:02 AM
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Originally Posted by moparbrian
Great info. I do not want to do the turbo back deal because of CA emissions (smog) testing (I do not want to hassle with putting back my stock downpipe).
Originally Posted by Heedz
then get a reflash and rid of the stock tune.
If you feel like it's worth it then get the stage 1 flash. But if you search, you will find it really isn't worth the $175 for base map from EQ or ~$200 from Vlad. You might even find an accessport v2 for ~$300
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 10:10 AM
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Not worth getting a tune for just a catback. Extremely minimal gains at best. If I were you, I wouldn't bother. But if you still feel like it, go for it.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 10:18 AM
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Originally Posted by TurnWRX
Not worth getting a tune for just a catback. Extremely minimal gains at best. If I were you, I wouldn't bother. But if you still feel like it, go for it.
Only ballers get tunes for stage 1... (sarcasm)
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 10:29 AM
  #9  
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Thumbs up

Great info, This is what I wanted to hear. Running efficiently was what I had in mind. I know I will not get a big power boost and I really do not want one. I had read that the pro tune will have your engine running better over the stock tune. If this is not the case then I will save my money.



Originally Posted by Baliztik
Only ballers get tunes for stage 1... (sarcasm)
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by TurnWRX
Not worth getting a tune for just a catback. Extremely minimal gains at best. If I were you, I wouldn't bother. But if you still feel like it, go for it.
Ive got aprotuned stock dp setup and it was worth it. ..stg1 ots from Cobb basically just smoothes out the power band, but with the protune the throttle response and more psi make a bigger difference than one would think....my car pulls like a stg2 ots 2.0 wrx

This is 2.0l with stock dp but I have sti catless upinstead of the catted stock piece
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by slugrx
Ive got aprotuned stock dp setup and it was worth it. ..stg1 ots from Cobb basically just smoothes out the power band, but with the protune the throttle response and more psi make a bigger difference than one would think....my car pulls like a stg2 ots 2.0 wrx

This is 2.0l with stock dp but I have sti catless upinstead of the catted stock piece
+1 a Pro Tune or even an OTS Stage 1 is better than a stock map. When i went Stage 1 OTS it felt a whole lot better than the Stock Map did.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 11:36 AM
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I probably debated for months wether or not I wanted to go stage 1 on my gr, then I got a good deal for a v2 AP + Cobb sf intake + intake box for $450, so couldn't resist. Never regretted that decision.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 11:41 AM
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Need to accept reality and just get the downpipe as well.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 12:10 PM
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looking through this thread, what you have, and your constraints with SMOG, i wouldn't waste my money to get a tune.
Old Sep 30, 2013 | 12:39 PM
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A stage 1 really doesn't change much. You can ask a tuner how much they actually change. I don't think it's worth it. And tuners will tell you after market intakes cause a lot of variables when pro tuning



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