Hey everyone,
My name is Mike and I'm new to i-Club. I'm looking to buy a '02 or '03 WRX soon and I just can't wait. I've read so many posts and you guys make it sound like Heaven driving this car, I can only imagine. I'm also looking to test drive one or two in a few days.

I had a question and I'm sorry if i sounds stupid, please forgive me. I was looking at some pictures and i was that some WRX's have front mounted Intercoolers for the stock/non-stock turbo. Is the intercooler mounted in the front because they rerounted the top mounted intercooler (under hood scoop)? Or is that something totally different? Please help me out, sorry again if this is a stupid question. Thanks for any help.

Sincerely,
Mike

 

Wellcome Mike,

Aftermarket front mounts are bigger rerouted intercoolers primarly used in conjunction with larger turbos. You can also get larger top mounts as well. The stock turbos are to small for front mounts. Go test drive a couple of wrx's and make sure to write down all of the spec's on them like miles, body condition, any aftermarket stuff, and how they drove. Come back to I-club and post the questions that might be bothering you so we can help with your decision.

later, Jerry

 

Hey Jerry,
Thanks so much for your response. I will most definately do that, as I am VERY interested in this car, it looks smiply amazing.

 

WRX's are fun to drive, even at the stock form. It's got enough power to get you entertained. But wait until you unleash the car from restrictions with power mods, you'll find even bigger grin on your.

 

I can only imagine. i'm looking into a fully modded one for $15,000. 300HP @ 19PSI. Would that be better or would a stock WRX be better?

 

I would go stock because you dont know what kind of condition this one can be in. If the previous owner has beat on the car and what kind of shape its in. And if your new to driving an awd car with 300 hp with the stock transmission, its very possible you can break a gear. Im on my 2nd transmission and its not common for a wrx tranny to go. And its also fun to build your car from stock. Id say find a nice stock wrx and do some simple bolt ons, maybe some engine management like a reflash or an accesport and some suspension work. And def get rid of the stock re92 tires cause they are garbage. good luck with your decision and keep us updated with whatever you do.

 

what year? i bought a pre-modded 2002 car (VF34@19 psi, probably similar mod list), but only because it already had STi RA gears, and because the price was a couple of clicks better than $15k . make sure to check if the clutch is slipping, whether the tranny grinds in any gear (including reverse!).

 

Dice: Thanks for the advise buddy, that's very interesting. He is currently getting the clutch as we speak, with a new pressure plate and fly wheel.

Thoshi: It's a 2002 vf22 stock turbo. Located in Chicago.

Here are some pics.

 

front mount intercoolers basically replaces the top mount intercooler.

front mounts on a stock turbo car will give you more turbo lag because of the longer and extra piping.

Also most, if not all front mounts for a wrx will require cutting of the bumper beam to install.

 

Why is the first car white and the second and third blue?

Pay extra attention to the tranny, especially on a modded car.

 

300 (crank, I'm assuming)hp is pretty cool, but 19psi??? If he is running this car at this boost level everyday, I would not buy this car. If it were an STi with forged internals, maybe so. I'm currently running around 300 crank horse on my WRX with no tune, and I haven't turned up my boost. It is at alittle higher boost level than stock, just from being catless, but that's it. I've already gone through one tranny, and I upgraded to RA gears so it wouldn't break again. There are people that are running more pumped up WRX's than mine with stock tranny's, but not very many. They are fragile, and if you haven't driven one of these and do not know how to shift or launch with AWD, it's probably not a good idea to start with a modded car and a stock trans. I think on an almost stock WRX (maybe a cat-less uppipe and downpipe) you could get 300 crank horses out of by just turning up the boost, but NOT SAFELY. Personally, I'd start with a stock car, it's alittle funner to see what you can do with it. But just because a car is stock doesn't mean it hasn't been modded. Be sure to get a history on the car, modded or not. Just my opinion. Anyways, hope this helps!


Oh, and +1 on VIBEELEVEN's white car/blue car question.

 

Nice ride... and welcome to Iclub...