Hello all. I just bought my first WRX an 08 with the 5 speed. I've always loved these cars and finally had the chance to get one. It's my first turbo car. I've had a sports car before but I'm coming from the domestic side. The only mod this WRX has is the SPT exhaust which was installed at the original purchase. I just bought the car from a Subaru dealer. When I saw it and test drive it I fell in love immediately. I've been looking through the forums and it seems like any mod done to these cars is in need of a tune. My question, I'm not looking for it to be an all out race car, but I def want to add a few more hp. I'm only looking for what I guess u could call the basic upgrades for now. Thanks!!!
Welcome to the forum! Basic upgrades would be better brakes, upgraded suspension like sway bars and such. Then an accessport or a tune, an AP is the easiest and cheapest way for more relaible hp. You could go with an upgraded downpipe to go with the Accessport.
Just my 2 cents.
I tell this to everyone ( one day Im going to make a stickie about it ) Please drive your car first. I know its not new and it doenst need to be broken in but you do, we all did. Spend the first 2k miles driving it all over the place. take it on back road and highways, drive fast and slow. dive into corners and cruise. Really get to know the car before you drive it hard and fast. Learn where the end of the line is and brake earlier than you need to. During your "break in" keep a notepad handly and write down your notes after you park. Things like I felt some brake spongieness on the downhill or the tail seems to be rolling more than Id like. Then attack those issue first.
My motto has always been Suspension > Braking > Power. You can have 1000HP but if you cant stop the wall at the end of the track has more horse power than you.
As for recommendations on the 08-14 WRX I would personally start with a grimmspeed master cylinder brace. It takes the excessive firewall flex out and makes your brakes feel infinitely better. Haw1es can attest to that.
My first upgrade was whitelines anti-sway bars. They do a great job of keeping the body stable and in a 22-24 rear configuration they correct a lot of the factory understeer for a more neutral handling.
When you have the suspension and brakes in a good spot an AccessPort is a very simple tuning solution thats very widley supported. They have a few performance tunes pre-loaded on them and there are a number of good tuners who work with the Accessport to tune your new car.
Welcome! Spend some time looking at the cars of some of the more active members of this forum. You will start to realize the various methods and ways that they spend their money and time efficiently with respect to engine mods. Needless to say, arcticscythe's advice is well thought out and worth paying attention to!
Fireemtguy09, welcome to the forum! Nice to have you join us. Congratulations on your WRX, I'm sure you won't regret it and will have a lot of fun. Make sure to show it to us, when you have a chance!
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