MY99 WRX Wagon - Boost Level?
 

Hello.

I fitted a Defi boost gauge last night and floored it this evening and I saw a peak of 0.85 bar. Does this sound right?

I have the gauge t'd into the bypass valve (I think - the one bolted to the front of the intercooler).

I've heard that Wagons have the TD04 turbo and it's hard to get it much further than 300 BHP but I've seen (on SIDC 'Knowledge', etc.) that the Phase II classic WRX Wagons had 280 BHP as standard (as opposed to the 300 BHP of the saloon).

'Phase 2' MY99/00 WRX (not STi) Wagons did have a TD04 front entry turbo, but running 240PS (237bhp). Officially, the JDM saloons from MY97-00 had the Jap's 'gentleman's agreement' max of 280PS (276bhp)... but many a sceptic/journalist seem to believe that it's more like 300bhp.

Noting that these power outputs are to japanese test proceudres, test a 237bhp wagon to SAE or DIN standards and it will produce about 215bhp, which remarkably is what the EDM turbo/GT produced!

Simon

I've heard those kind of figures quoted before but my car feels substantially faster to me.

I drove a couple of 330 CIs before 'we' decided to buy something cheaper. They have 225 BHP and are heavier but I would have thought the Impreza's transmission would counteract its weight advantage.

When I drove the 330s, the only fast cars I'd driven were a GT4, MR2 Turbo and an Impreza (and a ropey R32*), all years beforehand. I wasn't that impressed by the acceleration of the 330. After that I drove a few Imprezas (WRXs and STis) and the WRX I bought is much faster than the 330 (but not quite as nippy as the STis).

It's had a few minor mods but not enough to make it that much faster if it started off at 240 BHP.


*By ropey I mean the back of the driver's seat didn't stay upright - try flooring it in a twin turbo Skyline and have the seat come away and you'll know what scary is!