Bought a UK MY02 WRX Wagon from a Subaru dealer about 4 months ago, I absolutely love it but as I read Scoobynet all the time I have of course been thinking about 'improving' it.

I'm happy with handling and brakes at the moment but have been thinking about power upgrades. Currently it is completely standard except for a WR Sport oval backbox, which makes it sound burbly but not at all loud.

As it still has 8 months of Subaru Proven warranty, I was initially looking at PPP - there used to be an offer for SIDC members which meant it would cost about £1000, however this seems to have finished and £1700 seems too much to pay.

So I'm looking for similar power and torque figures as PPP (believe it's around 260Bhp for my car, which is 215Bhp standard).

Criteria are:

1. Should have no problems passing MOT.
2. Ideally be no louder than it is now.
3. Upgrades should be subtle and focus on driveability and not absolute figures.


Searching around on the forum it looks like exhaust, remap and possibly panel filter. I'm assuming that just a remap won't make much difference without the other mods.

Jolly Green Monster seems highly respected and not too far from me so seems a good choice for remap.

So what do you reckon, particularily the exhaust options? Can I keep the current backbox, and if so what else should change? Examples from people with similar experiences would be great.

 

Anyone? Would just a remap make much difference?

 

Personally, I wouldnt be happy with the handling and brakes!

 

It would be a bit of a waste of money to remap the car without doing any other mods. I bought my car with the same WR exhaust as you, by the way.

Best to fit decat centre pipe, decat up-pipe and sports cat down pipe from Scoobyworld or API (ie mail order). They both have websites.. Green airfilter too. So, that would be about £600 or so if you buy the bits new.

Then you need to get it mapped and yes, by all accounts, Simon does a great job and can travel. I believe he's now an Ecutek mapper, in which case he will charge about £600 or so for the first map.

So, about £1200 and you will have a car with about 280bhp-ish. (and yes, that does feel a lot quicker !).

The last point is that you'll find you want to do something with your brakes and handling after it's been remapped ! Prodrive springs would be good, but at the very least I'd be fitting a Whiteline rear anti-roll bar and steel droplinks, for about another £150.

You'll have a fun road car by the end of all that.

 

I'll second that. It's exactly what I've done and has tranformed the car. For less than the price of PPP, it's got more power and better handling and fits in with all 3 of your criteria.

 

Thanks guys. What about mot issues?

 

Mine has above (well and a bit more now) and passes the MOT no bother.
Any decent mapper will focus on driveability (unless you say you want a car to use at Santa Pod ! ).

 

Mine's not due for an MoT until later this year, but I've been assured that the sportscat is all you need to pass. As long as you have a cat in the downpipe you should be ok. The centre cat alone will probably not be enough.

 

If it's nice and hot a centre cat will just scrape thro' the MOT !

DunxC

P.S. Whiteline rear anti-roll bar is the best value mod I've made to my car !

Agree with Andy completely !

 

 

Thanks guys that's a real help.

 

While you're here - do the suspension mods (prodrive springs and Whiteline ARB, droplinks) make the suspension too firm? My kids already complain when I go over speedbumps, I don't want anything much firmer than the standard. I've got standard 17 inch wheels and RE050's.

Also it's a Wagon, don't know if this makes much difference.

 

No, not much harder, but much more composed. Prodrive did a fair bit of testing with the springs (manufactured by Eibach) so they are an ideal compromise between handling and ride. Obviously it'll be pretty stiff if you use the stiffest setting on the adj rollbar (as I do !), but the ride is fine on the middle setting. Don't see the fact it's a wagon making a difference in that sense, IMO.

regards,

Andy

 

Thanks Andy.

Looking at your mods, bet that's a fast car now!

As I've got a bugeye and the same backbox, I may well look out for the same exhaust bits as you, the Ninja sportscat downpipe and H&S centre. Did they sound much louder than just the WR Sport backbox? Any other recommendations apart from those?

Would this Prodrive one suit?

https://www.scoobynet.com/private-sa...delivered.html

I assume you've had it remapped as well - where did you get it done?

 

Hello mate.

There are peeps on here with much faster cars than mine, but for a daily runner I find the compromise between outright speed and driveability perfect.
Having said that, I did catch the "bug" a bit and spent a fair bit.

Next project in a year or two will be an 06 STi, then I'll do it all again !

I wouldn't do too much more than what's suggested at the moment, other than perhaps brake pads (Pagid blacks or Ferrodo DS2500s). Powerwise, see what you think after the decat and remap before considering the "turbo" route. If anything, the suspension mods are more important than the "power" mods !

Andy F mapped my car, one of the most respected mappers in the country. Bob Rawle and simon aka Jolly Green Monster are also very highly thought of and are closer to you, although Andy will travel also.

Andy Mc

 

Oh, and re the exhaust, the Prodrive bits are good, but for another £50 I'd buy the Scoobyworld or API part - it'd be more shiney !