What do you think?
Guest
Posts: n/a
What do you think?
Hello everyone! I just got rid of a 2000 Honda Civic Si. I'm waiting on a 2004 WRX wagon,it should be here before the end of the week. The only options on the car are armrest extender and short shifter from the factory. First,was the short shifter a mistake? I see alot of good things written about the Kartboy short shifter. Also,can I use the Kartboy bushings with the Subaru short shifter? Now the big question...I was sure that I was going to get a Vishnu stage 2 kit for the car and that was it. Now after reading through some of your posts it seems that maybe the Turbo XS UTEC with some compatable parts(uppipe,downpipe exhaust)might be the way to go. I would like to do everything at once and be done with. Not that I won't tinker,but the majority of the modification will be done. Thanks for your time.
Guest
Posts: n/a
You didn't go wrong with the short shifter, feels a lot better than the stock 'truck' shifter, man that's a long throw. I'm not sure about the kartboy bushings, although I have been wondering that same thing for a while, just never got around to asking.
As far as the staged kits go, it seems to be a matter of opinion mostly. Most people will probably tell you to go turboxs because a lot of people have it and there seems to be more shops who tune the utec. With the UTEC you also have the ability to buy different parts and tune it, whereas the Vishnu supplies their own pieces. Either way you really can't go wrong, both are very respected companies with great service.
As far as the staged kits go, it seems to be a matter of opinion mostly. Most people will probably tell you to go turboxs because a lot of people have it and there seems to be more shops who tune the utec. With the UTEC you also have the ability to buy different parts and tune it, whereas the Vishnu supplies their own pieces. Either way you really can't go wrong, both are very respected companies with great service.
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 149
From: Pennsylvania
Car Info: 2002 WRX
Druche.. The factory short shifter is almost the same as the kartboy,throw is only different by a mm or so, and except for the price!! I have the kart boy and it works fine. The kartboy bushings will fit any subaru shifter. They are hard plastic vs rubber from the factory. What they do is take the "mushy feeling" out of the shifter. You will feel the difference.
The bottom line is "whould I do it again "? Well I had a RS before the WRX and i took the kartboy shifter outa that and put in the WRX. So yes I would do it a 3rd time if nessecary
As for the engine management ?s . I live in NorthEast PA and the weather changes every season enough that you have to tune the management accordinly. The Utec is better. More complicated, but better.
Also note that if your going to use an OBDII scan tool to record/monitor readings/sensor outputs you may not get an accurate reading when using a piggyback system. When I say not accurate I ment unmodified by the additonal ECU . The trouble codes will be accurate though.
With any engine management system you really do need an EGT guage and maybe air/fuel meter. Food for thought
The bottom line is "whould I do it again "? Well I had a RS before the WRX and i took the kartboy shifter outa that and put in the WRX. So yes I would do it a 3rd time if nessecary
As for the engine management ?s . I live in NorthEast PA and the weather changes every season enough that you have to tune the management accordinly. The Utec is better. More complicated, but better.
Also note that if your going to use an OBDII scan tool to record/monitor readings/sensor outputs you may not get an accurate reading when using a piggyback system. When I say not accurate I ment unmodified by the additonal ECU . The trouble codes will be accurate though.
With any engine management system you really do need an EGT guage and maybe air/fuel meter. Food for thought
Last edited by andyhidley; Nov 19, 2003 at 09:52 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 169
From: Williamsport,PA
Car Info: 92 legacy turbo 5-speed,98forester S 4AT
Re: What do you think?
Originally posted by Druche
The only options on the car are armrest extender and short shifter from the factory. .
The only options on the car are armrest extender and short shifter from the factory. .
My friend put in a short throw and has an arm rest extender and it make shifts in 2nd and 4th (especially 2nd) very ackward.
Guest
Posts: n/a
No, that's not entirely true. I have a short shifter and the extended armrest and I have to admit it was kind of weird at first , especially coming from an RSX Type-S whose shifter was awesome, but you'll get used to it quickly. The armrest is also very nice on extended trips, I drove three trips that were all over 4 hours last month and it's great. I hated not having an armrest in the RSX, and the extended one works great.
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,029
From: Sacramento CA
Car Info: 02 Impreza WRX sedan
Origami posted by Druche
I was sure that I was going to get a Vishnu stage 2 kit for the car and that was it. Now after reading through some of your posts it seems that maybe the Turbo XS UTEC with some compatable parts(uppipe,downpipe exhaust)might be the way to go. I would like to do everything at once and be done with. Not that I won't tinker,but the majority of the modification will be done.
I think that the UTEC might work out well for you if you like to tinker and make progressive mods as time goes on. For such user-tuned engine management systems like the UTEC, andyhidley's advice to install and use an EGT (and possibly an air/fuel ratio) gauge is very important.
The EcuTek re-mapped factory ECU retains all stock functions such as cold-start and cruise conditions. Around northern CA, both Vishnu Performance and I-Speed sell the EcuTek as one of their engine management systems. The EcuTek from a reputable tuner is trouble-free and truly plug-and-play.
There is also another highly regarded re-mapped ECU system from Cobb Tuning called AccessECU, if I remember correctly.
I personally use a Stage Zero EcuTek re-mapped ECU from Vishnu Performance and it retains the driveability from the factory with greatly improved torque and more top end power. If you go the Vishnu route, you might consider getting their Stage One kit with the optional Signature Series exhaust. It can be upgraded to the larger VF-30 turbo and injectors of the Stage Two kit if the Stage One isn't strong enough for you.
By the way, questions like your on first mods are common in this forum. A lot of i-Club members recommend suspension and tire mods before major power additions. I think the factory WRX brakes also need upgrading or even replacement for high-performance use.
--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush
I was sure that I was going to get a Vishnu stage 2 kit for the car and that was it. Now after reading through some of your posts it seems that maybe the Turbo XS UTEC with some compatable parts(uppipe,downpipe exhaust)might be the way to go. I would like to do everything at once and be done with. Not that I won't tinker,but the majority of the modification will be done.
I think that the UTEC might work out well for you if you like to tinker and make progressive mods as time goes on. For such user-tuned engine management systems like the UTEC, andyhidley's advice to install and use an EGT (and possibly an air/fuel ratio) gauge is very important.
The EcuTek re-mapped factory ECU retains all stock functions such as cold-start and cruise conditions. Around northern CA, both Vishnu Performance and I-Speed sell the EcuTek as one of their engine management systems. The EcuTek from a reputable tuner is trouble-free and truly plug-and-play.
There is also another highly regarded re-mapped ECU system from Cobb Tuning called AccessECU, if I remember correctly.
I personally use a Stage Zero EcuTek re-mapped ECU from Vishnu Performance and it retains the driveability from the factory with greatly improved torque and more top end power. If you go the Vishnu route, you might consider getting their Stage One kit with the optional Signature Series exhaust. It can be upgraded to the larger VF-30 turbo and injectors of the Stage Two kit if the Stage One isn't strong enough for you.
By the way, questions like your on first mods are common in this forum. A lot of i-Club members recommend suspension and tire mods before major power additions. I think the factory WRX brakes also need upgrading or even replacement for high-performance use.
--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
downsti
Bay Area
22
Oct 12, 2008 03:36 AM
WRXakaBooSTi
Bay Area
14
Jan 23, 2006 09:14 AM