What should I do? I have an 2004 WRX Automatic (dont laugh) anyways, I want my car to get faster, its really slow up to 3500 rpm, feels like I am driving a slow as volvo. Anyone that has a automatic done any work on their car that is worth the $? I am not a racer, but would like the car to be a little more quick in needed times. What should I do?
Thanks

 

Have you done anything to the car yet?
There is lots you can do, from exhaust upgrades, to Turbo, injectors, ECU re-mapping.

Best thing to do is set up your goals for the car, then talk to some of the local tuning shops to see what they would recommend.

Nothing wrong with an AT

 

I know what you mean... I've driven the same car one AT and the other manual. The manual felt so much 'faster'. I don't think it's the power that you are looking for. It's the power on 'demand' you are looking for. It's like when you step on it and you feel nothing until half a second later because the slow downshift of an automatic. And the lack of ability to jump gears is also painful (etc 5->3). If that is the case, I don't think if there is much you can do unless you have dramatic increase in power so even without the fast downshift, your car still has the power to over take...

 

Tuning via engine management (Cobb AccessPORT, EcuTek reflash) will improve driveability for your 4EAT-equipped WRX, as well as the manual tranny-equipped cars.

Full-throttle response is improved with a higher stall speed torque converter but at the possible expense of fuel economy. Some guys with the 4EAT use higher stall converters because it improves their ¼-mile drag strip times.

The same engine mods that work on 5MT cars will also work on your car but driveability may suffer if the power band becomes too narrow (i.e. hp concentrated at top end) because without a high stall torque converter your 4-speed automatic lacks sufficient gear choices to make up for the rpm drop between shifts. Try to install mods that increase the torque across the entire rpm band, like free-flowing exhaust system pieces.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

First things first, get to know how to drive your stock wrx, I found a stock '02 wagon to be more than fast enough for everday road use. Puttering around town, I rarely had to go past 3,000rpm to be faster off the line then most people. I think the key is to NOT floor it off the line... you'll just bog like mad and think your car is broken - take some time to figure out the best application of throttle for maximum speed/smoothness. Also, don't be afraid to manually shift gears when you know you're going to need it.

That being said, the 2.0 engine is a little lacking in low end grunt - and the stock Torque Convertor doesn't seem to help matters much.


Things that I've heard help:

1) Catless Uppipe: brings boost on quicker, adds a little power too
2) High Flow Catted exhaust: +hp/tq, might bring boost on quicker (I don't know)
3) Modded Torque Convertor: Supposedly cures poor TC performance (lag/bog), brings the car to power more quickly. Riftswrx said he managed to decrease his 60' times by 1 sec. and increase his highway mpg to 35mpg @ 70mph (Check out www.projectwrx.com for more info)
4) Engine management: Reflash/Protune

5) EJ257 Swap: Swap out your shortblock for a 2.5L one, add in any of the above - costly, but a definate improvement.


P.S. An ATF cooler + Synth ATF is always good for added transmission protection

 

I will tell you the one thing that will help your auto is to upgrade to a protorque modified torque convertor. I did this in mine 4eat wrx and it made a huge difference. shifts faster than anyone can manually shift. its not cheap, $500 roughly for the labor and also downtime with your car but it will be worth it in the long run.

 

Some people, in order to minimize down time, did a short of round-robin with their TCs: they would buy someones used TC, have it shipped to be modded, have it shipped back for install, and they would sell their used TC to someone else.

 

i have a 4eat you should go cobb stage 2 with uppipe. keep the cat back exhaust 2.5" for low end torque and keep the stock header. you should also get crank pulley and after market intercooler hoses.

 

I have a '02 Sedan 4EAT

My power mods I have done are:

SAMCO IC and MAF hoses
Helix Catless UP
Helix HighFlow DP
GReddy EVO CB
AP Stg 2
and of course silencer delete for the big HP increase

Plus several handling/suspension mods

My car is now fun as hell