Adding HP?

[GusGus91]

So I'm getting my wrx this week, and everything on it is stock, but I want more Horsepower. Any suggestions that aren't really high dollar?

I've had a couple people tell me Cold Air Intake, and a Performance or super chip. I'm not too smart on this kind of stuff. So any help would be appreciated.

[Dean]

What year?

If money is tight, save it for seat time. Nothing makes the car faster than the driver.

No CAI on a WRX!!!

Save for an access port/tune.

[100_Percent_Juice]

Whoever said you need a superchip needs to be kicked in the sack for talking about things of which they know nothing. Don't ask those people any more subaru questions. Tell me you are not planning on getting a blue bugeye?!

[GusGus91]

Well then next time i see Luke im going to give him a swift kick to the sack.


No im getting a blue 06. I couldnt, and wouldnt copy loren and get a blue bugeye.

[100_Percent_Juice]

Where is this blue 06? Are you sure that its all stock/ always been stock?

[GusGus91]

It's at bill pierce. Its stock as far as im sure except for the wheels, and dvd/navigation in it.

[Dean]

I don't even want to know what a dealership wants for an '06 WRX... Have you checked craigslist? There are a ton of WRXs and STIs.

[GusGus91]

[GusGus91]

Originally Posted by Dean

I don't even want to know what a dealership wants for an '06 WRX... Have you checked craigslist? There are a ton of WRXs and STIs.

yea, i've checked craigslist all the way up to portland, OR. The price was 23,500... My parents talked them down to 17,000. So ill take that and not complain about it.

[sperry]

First, in the grand scheme of things, a bone stock '06 WRX is a ridiculously fast car. Seriously. It's got about twice as much power as it needs to get the driver into trouble. I wouldn't do anything to it until you've had some instruction and practice taking it to the limit. Hit up some autocross and PDX days before you do anything mod wise.

Second, like Dean said, the #1 thing that will make the car faster is the driver. There's a reason a 90hp Miata can smoke a 600hp Viper at the track, and it's all in the skill of the driver.

Third, after the driver, the wheels and tires are by far the best bang for your buck in performance. Remember, everything else you do to the car (engine, brakes, suspension, driver, etc) has to work through the tires. So, get some nice lightweight 17x8 wheels and some good Max Performance summer tires. That $1000 and change will be by far the best $1000 you'll ever spend on going faster. For example, when I changed from street tires to race tires at the track my lap times went down by more than the $20,000 worth of engine, suspension and brake mods I had done previously. (And Dean was still just about as fast as me on his street tires... there's that #1 mod being the driver thing again.)

Fourth, the next best mod is suspension. Swaybars and endlinks are a great starting point. Some struts and lowering springs are the next step up and will get you about 90% as much handling as full coilovers for much cheaper and are much more streetable. Finally, some full on coilovers are nice for their adjustablility if you're looking for that last bit of speed.

Fifth comes the brakes. Good pads and fluid are really all a WRX needs. Some SS brake lines don't hurt, but don't really make you stop better, they just make the pedal feel better. If you're hitting the track all the time, a full on BBK is much nicer than having to rebuild your brakes and bearings once a year, but most people don't track that often for it to be worth it.

Sixth, finally you're ready for more power. The Cobb AP and a turbo-back exhaust is hard to beat for power vs. price. A 2.5L WRX with just that is going to be in STi-land powerwise, and it's going to be relatively reliable, especially if you get it dyno tuned specifically for the car (the off the shelf maps are passable at best). Once you go bigger than that, then you're it's big $$ time. If you go for a turbo, for example, you're also going intake, intercooler, injectors, fuel pump, tuning, etc. And above that comes built motors.

What doesn't work: BOV... there's no point... unless you like ricer noises attracting attention. Some (like me) will argue they hurt performance. Cat-back exhaust... without a tune, they sound cool, but really offer no performance. CAI, without a tune, they're bad for the car... with a tune they gain nothing until you're way up in new turbo land. Turbo-back exhaust w/o a tune can also be bad for the car, as it can lead to boost creep and overboosting. Manual Boost Controllers are maybe the worst thing you can put on the car w/o tuning for them, and in most cases, the a proper tune on the stock Electronic Boost Controller works better.

But above all, remember that a bone stock WRX, especially the 2.5L, comes with *plenty* of power... more power in fact than the stock tires, suspension, and brakes can really handle. Learn how to drive the car (and you'll learn the fastest on the stock bits) first, then start with the handling and braking before upping the power.

At least that's my 2 cents after doing this for 8 years and like $100,000 in mods.

[GusGus91]

^ That is the by far the most useful post I have read in the past weeks, that I've been searching for a car and looking at things for it.. Thanks for the info, sperry.

[100_Percent_Juice]

Originally Posted by sperry

Turbo-back exhaust w/o a tune can also be bad for the car, as it can lead to boost creep and overboosting.

I thought this was more an sti problem? Maybe it applies to 06-07 wrx because of the 2.5?

[100_Percent_Juice]

Did you check these out?
http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1011973822.html

http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1026871723.html
I have to admit, there were a ton more wrxs for sale back in 06 when I bought mine. It might be worth while to wait until something really good comes along. Not to say the car your looking at isn't good. I just really hesitate when buying from a car lot. Don't let them tell you that the dvd screen adds $1k to the value of the car either.

[GusGus91]

Originally Posted by 100_Percent_Juice

Did you check these out?
http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1011973822.html

http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/1026871723.html
I have to admit, there were a ton more wrxs for sale back in 06 when I bought mine. It might be worth while to wait until something really good comes along. Not to say the car your looking at isn't good. I just really hesitate when buying from a car lot. Don't let them tell you that the dvd screen adds $1k to the value of the car either.

Yea, I talked to the first guy. He said that one of the seatbelts in the back was damaged (his dog got to it), and he was kind of an ass on the phone. and i didnt see the second one.

They, never mentioned anything about the navi adding any value to the car.

And im kind of skeptical on cars that dont have pics in the ad.

[100_Percent_Juice]

Originally Posted by GusGus91

And im kind of skeptical on cars that dont have pics in the ad.

No, that's explained in the ad when it says "female owned".

[GusGus91]

Originally Posted by 100_Percent_Juice

No, that's explained in the ad when it says "female owned".

Yup. that explains it all.

[GusGus91]

So its decided. Im not doing anything at all until i get to know the car a lot better. thanks guys.

[WRX06TR]

Good call, I drove my 06 WRX around for a few years before I did anything to it. I did a few autocrosses on the stock RE92's to get a feel for the car and then started modding it. And, everything sperry said above is true. I went a little different mod route but nothing to crazy (I did wheels and tires, then Cobb Stage 2, and recently suspension). The only thing I would switch up would be brakes, the 06 4-pots have a great bite, especially for the street and autox.

Also, don't even think about TBE without a tune like the AP. And don't forget that its not an STi and bashing through the gears like a jackass will lead to breakage. But its a great car and you will be pleasantly surprised!

[wrxkidid]

Originally Posted by 100_Percent_Juice

I thought this was more an sti problem? Maybe it applies to 06-07 wrx because of the 2.5?

im pretty sure with the 2.5 on the td04 with the same wastegate had some issues thats why cobb offers that high wastegate duty cycle map.

all this talk about buying wrx's is making me want one again or a kart so i can atleast have some fun.

[100_Percent_Juice]

Originally Posted by wrxkidid

im pretty sure with the 2.5 on the td04 with the same wastegate had some issues thats why cobb offers that high wastegate duty cycle map.

all this talk about buying wrx's is making me want one again or a kart so i can atleast have some fun.

Are you still in school?

[ScottyS]

Originally Posted by sperry

First,
Second,
Third,
Fourth,
Fifth
Sixth,
What doesn't work:
At least that's my 2 cents after doing this for 8 years and like $100,000 in mods.

Just sticky that and be done with it already.

[AtomicLabMonkey]

I think you should add lightness instead of HP.

[tysonK]

yeah, get used to what you have.

then save up for a 911.

[100_Percent_Juice]

I think the first thing you should do is paint the lip on those wheels black. That is good for 10hp.

[cody]

It's got Toyo Proxes 4's. I love those tires.