hey. got a new 05 wrx sedan week ago, working hard on that breakin, at 500 miles now.

Starting to think about mods - will probably have enough money to have all of them done in 2 month, when the car is going to be at ~3000 mile, properly broken in, and switched to synthetic oil.

so i am NOT looking to have a super drag racer, or a dedicated track car. My goals are fun to drive, and suitable drivalbilty for road trips, as well as an occasional auto-x and track day to improve my diriving. Reliability is very importent, as well as trying to preserve factory warranty (or whatver Carlsen will "overlook").

The mods I am planning , listed in the order of planned procurement

1)17 inch wheels and summer tires, Falkens or similar
2)Cobb AP - seems to be the best EM solution for simplicity, money, reliability
3)Stromung TBE - TBE over an uppipe because there is less chance for improper install, and it is rumored to be more "dealer friendly". Plus I think TBE doesn't throw a CEL - however what do people think? uppipe is cheaper and I hate the idea of an extra cat thats only used for cold start emissions. Plus I like the look and sound of the 05 exaust.
4)SS brake lines/better pads
5)stoptech BBK if SS doesn't work, and if i get extra cash ... can't go wrong with more brake!
6)Interior sound proofing for long trips - but hoping the summer tires will bring it down to acseptable level.

total will probably be around 3-4k

whats a good for installs around here? I probably won't have time to do it myself.

dang i need to get back to work and stop reading i-club. must earn money for mods!!!!

cheers

 

personally i think the BBK is a little overkill, esp. considering you wont be doing track days.
also might want to add some suspension goodies, maybe even as the 1st mod before your wheels.

alk, springs/struts, or a coilover setup, rear sway bay, endlinks if you so desire (debatable if they are needed, but whatever) and a good alignment

 

yep alignment is the first thing i am getting after the new wheels/tires (1st alignment is covered by warranty under 10k miles).

well BBK is an overkill, so I am listing it as optional, and I will do ss lines and pads first. However I am a brake ape and don't break until the very last possible second I can get away with (provided its safe, and no cars following me, etc).

As far as suspension mods - will they make the car a rougher ride? if so cannot have that as my GF will punish me bad - roads around here are bad enuf already (rougher ride and noise is why I am not in an sti atm).

the key question is what is better, uppipe or TBE? -- not only in terms of performance, but also in terms of reliability, and warranty (dealer) friendliness.

anything else i am forgetting?

 

The uppipe is a must.

The stromung will rust, and will throw a CEL without some sort of eliminator (physical or electrical).

dorifto is right about the BBK. Overkill.

Summer tires will be louder. Especially Falkens.

Carlsen will notice it all, and it will affect your repair success, depending on what breaks.

Good luck, don't expect to mod and be 100% covered by warranty.

 

dang, summer tires louder then M+S bridgestone? hmm I would be suprised, but I haven't heard the Falkens.

whats a good shop that works on subarus and doesn't overcharge? otherwise i will have to
take time off work for installs.

 

in terms of braking late, you could just get beefier, gripper agressive pads, along with new rotors to accomidate those new pads.
in terms of rough ride, it depends greatly on the components you buy. supposidly, prodrive springs were made specifically for the stock struts. i think your best bet would be to just get rides in other peoples cars with different setups, and work from there. sure, i can tell you that tein s techs, tanabe, eibach, and prodrrive springs are soft, and that H&R's and other springs are stiff, but that wont really matter because it is all entirely subjective.

in terms of warranty work, you have to pay to play, man. some people get sti up pipes, which are catless, but some people believe its not as good as genuine, aftermarket up pipes. if you are terribly worried about your warranty, yet still want some power, get a full TBE, its not too complicated to install, and remove.... so just remove the damn thing every time you go get your car worked on.

goodluck.

 

get the bbk it could save your life....

need the whoaaaa before the gooo


i woudl suggest looking at a reflash instead of the cobb BS, you will net more power and it will be better all around.

If youa re going to do something do it right from the get go.

 

is cobb that bad? i been reading pros and cons, but no one has really come out and said that there is anything much better around ~500. its like a never ending debate.
on the other hand, I think once i do my engine mods i won't need special tuning, so a flash will work too.

 

a reflash will be harder to sell if you have unique mods. and each time you get new mods, you gotta reflash it for more $$$.

the cobb AP will let you reflash it yourself as you add more car mods.

 

the cobb is nice, but its an off the shelf map, while other reflashes are custom fitted visa vi dyno, or road tuning. i dont think cobb has released their 'access tuner' yet

 

falkens are quite loud.
try mx's or so3's

also i agree with dorifto about suspension first. try just some springs and a rear sway bar.. shouldn't change ride THAT much. coilovers will stiffen it and ur gf prolly won't like it then...

 

Yup it will increase your stopping distance, and throw the bias frontward.

Both of which are dangerous.

BBK helps in high fade scenario's only...ie...the track.