If I were to install the SPT exhaust, would I need to get a tune? Or is it safe to run with everything else stock?

 

is it cat back or turbo back?

 

catback i think. I saw it on ebay for $400 (plus whatever shipping is gonna be) That's cheaper than going to servco. I just love the sound.

 

you really don't need a tune but it is highly recommended you do one. i ran my 03 WRX with no tune with a full turbo back exhaust with no problems. personally i would recommend going open source and finding a stateside tuner to do email maps with you and data logging. do a search here in Hawaii for open source, this horse has been beaten pretty badly.

 

I recomend a tune as well for even a stock car. if you want check this thread out. he will be here at the end of the month.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1749464

 

no you dont need a tune for the spt catback. if you are 100% certain you wont be getting a downpipe in the future then go ahead and get a tune, otherwise you are wasting money on a tune that you will eventually have to get re-tuned once you get a downpipe. the stock tune on our cars are pretty rough, so a tune will greatly benefit the car. there are numerous ways to go, some cost more than others.

 

1.a tune is good for the car? even if i only want the exhaust for the sound?
2.a tune will get more power at the cost of gas mileage?
3.will a tune void warranty?
4.tuning requires additional parts to purchase?

 

so what do you mean by "rough" sorry I'm pretty much a noob with cars.

 

1. A tune basically changes your maps and optimizes for whatever you have on your car. Basically, it takes you from 75% to like 90% of the max that you can produce with still enough of a cushion to be reliable.

2. Sometimes you will see benefits both ways because most tunes lean out your maps going for efficiency rather than pure reliability.

3. Yes...if you get caught...you can always flash back to stock if you need to go in for warranty work.

4. Sometimes...depending on what option you go with. Open Source is more or less free unless you have to buy the cable. Accessport, Hydra, etc. will cost you money for the equipment but the benefit is that it is a full setup rather than open source needing some expertise to be initially used. Another benefit of those products is that a majority of the tuners will only tune those and will not tune Open Source. Think of open source as a virtually free method but one that you will have to tune yourself OR find a tuner that will (most of the tuners that tune open source are the less well-known/established guys).

My opinion is not to get tuned until you are at the end of your power modding. In my eyes, no sense in paying someone $300 to $500 (plus dyno fees) to tune your car at one point THEN have to pay it again if you decide to add more bolt-ons or do a turbo upgrade.

 

1. yes and yes
2. a smoother running car and more power, wont really lose mileage, sometimes mileage is increased
3. warranty is a sticky subject, search on that one. short answer, yes and no
4. yes and no
- you can get a pro-tune at a tuner that only requires you to pay for the tune
- you can do your own open source tune which would require buying a tactrix cable and require TONS of reading (not for the novice)
- you can buy an accessport and reflash your ecu on your own whenever you want. imho, accessports offer the most flexibility to the novice owner. you can monitor rpms, boost, wastegate duty, etc... an accessport is the most expensive route to go though (around $600 or so new for the 08+ version), so some people prefer to get a protune (around $350-$500 depending on tuner)


***bpang beat me to the punch. his last paragraph sums up my original post in this thread.

 

Meh yours adds good info as well.

 

Tuning your car is the best bang for your buck mod you can do to your car point blank.

A Cobb Access Port is a 600+ flash tool and that's without the software that tuners use VS a 160.00 Tactrix cable with FREE software. Your still using the stock ecu. There is plenty of tuners that tune Open Source and have great results but at the end of the day they make more money off items like cobb, aem, hydra, utec b/c they sell them. The cost to benefit of buying a COBB AP is not worth it to ME* I would know I have one and its collecting dust in a box somewhere.

OS is way more attractive b/c we do not have the luxury of having subaru tuners on island other than Ryan at RD and a hand full other guys on this site that tune their own cars. Unless you want to wait X amount of months until the next guy decides to come out to Hawaii.

With OS you can exchange maps and logs with mainland tuners and at the end of the day your map is not locked so you can alter/log it if thats your kind of thing. It is also very simple to use...if you can use a Cobb AP then you can use OS. It took me 5 min to understand the process. I would only recommend a Hydra/Aem or any other stand alone if you have a aftermarket cams/built block.

Before you drop cash into a EM find your goal for your car first, then research to find how to achieve your goals, buy/install parts then tune. This will save you money and time in the end. Trial and error is fine but if your poor like me you want to do it right the first time.

Some people might not agree with me but this is just my opinion.

Cruise, WOT, Idle

 

Just as an FYI, if you plan to purchase an SPT exhaust system. Make sure you buy it and installed from Rick@ServcoSubaru Parts. When I was inquiring about one a long time ago, He told me that in order for Servco to honor the warranty/protection plan that they will need to order it and get it installed through them. If you purchase through any Vendor, ServcoSubaru wont honor the warranty. I dont know if its still the same now but you can call them. Do they have the USDM STi Genome made availiable for the GR's??

 

[flame_suit=on]so funny when people talking about open source, and still have to pay someone to tune cars, just my opinion, sorry to hijack.[flame_suit=off]

 

But I saved a bunch of money by switching to geico. Ooops I mean not buying an ap.