Best upgrade path for an 06 WRX
 

Im trading my 03 WRX with Propack for an 06 WRX standard :-( on Monday

Wheels nearly decided - id like the speedlines like the ones I have but unable to find a good set so going for something similar brand new 18"

Need a power upgrade for it bad the 03 pulls hard to 7,200, the 06 is noticably slower in standard trim

Looking for a remap for power hoping to get a slightly better MPG too

Whats best, whos going to give me good service and you would recommend?

this thread will prob start a massive bitchfest over whos mapper is best lol .

my vote is for Racedynamix!!! and he comes to you!

LOL i could see that happening too AN hence my question about service and recommendation

with regards to upgrade.
i have as follows

walbro 255 fuel pump
japspeed cold air intake kit (filter in wing)
full 3" revolution decat system
sti intercooler & sti undertray
vf48 turbo
ilf7h plugs

and as above mapped by Duncan aka Racedynamix

Based on lashing out for the car and the wheels Im just looking for a remap to start

It has a Proline back box and im not decatting it if I have to refit for any MOT work etc

I would just like to get it up to the same/similar speed spec as my current 03 < a little bit faster would be cool of course ;-) and I would think with the 2.5 that should be easy?

well on a td04 with the plugs and fuel pump and decat i got 280bhp ..305lb/ft
decat is worth it, it only costs like £30 for a garage to change over and put back on mot day...

Whats involved with the decat?

I should imagine it will need to be done before the remap?

yeah you will want to do as much as u can before remap as after map most mods need a map tweek.
you can pick up a full decat from £260 upto well however much you can afford lol.
best to go for a full 3" system for better flow.
japspeed systems are around £260 and sound nice ... but like anything its down to your own taste.

it takes a garage about 10 mins to change the whole exhaust system!!

AHh I feel the upgrades already starting to sting the pocket!

Hello mate

Don't be disappointed with your new WRX once you've modded and spent a little, it will be a proper pulling beast. You get that torque figure up and working well you will have a massive smile on your face, trust me I have.

Firstly mapper and machanic:
I use Duncan (racedynamixs) too, he knows his stuff and has transformed my WRX. For a mechanic, you wanna use a guy called Tim who's slightly local to you. He used to work for Zen (probably one of the best tuning companies out there) and is now mobile. what this guy doesn't know about scooby engines isn't worth knowing. PM me and I'll send over his mobile number.

Personally I think there's two stages to begin with. 270-280bhp and then upto 350bhp over this and you'll probably need a new gearbox.

270-280
decate downpipe
better backbox
better panel filter - cosworth or K&N IMO

325-350 = 370 - 400 torque this is the real power is
decate cat pipe - just change it over before MOT
fuel pump
spark plugs
bigger turbo - personally I went TD05 18G
vertually everyone says STI TMIC and standard air box is fine and you'll probably be good. I had to change, personal preference

If you think your old wrx with standard turbo pulled until 7,200 revs you'll love what can be done especially with an 18g

hope this helps mate

A remap is obviously the key to unlocking it's potential. I can't say that I'd ever recommend to go over 300bhp on a 2.5L WRX engine without the customer knowing about the severe limitation on engine life expectancy.

Remap with the standard turbo for pulling power and then if you want to go the next stage then think about forging the pistons at the very least.

Graham

+ 1 on Grahams comments in regards to the pistons, even on std engines they can fail, they crack around the ring lands.

Start with an online shpping list, this will help keep you in check.

Lets me start it for you assuming your car is totally standard.

VF35 Turbo / TD05 16g or 18g.
STI Pink Injectors **
3" decat full system (no cats) **
STI TMIC & Tray **
Walbro Fuel pump **
Uprated Panel filter
Decent set of spark plugs **
3 Port Boost solenoid
Remap (open source or EcuTek?)

I can help with some of the parts as im breaking an STI. I have marked** the parts above I have available. See Signature below for link to the parts.

Rob

Doesn't need the injectors, 06 wrx and sti same 550s.

I have an 03 WRX so can only really comment on that but with the mods i fitted Duncan got me to 339hp, excellent chap, he comes to you and i cannot recommend him enough, my last map tweak with him he was running late due to traffic, as i had to wait for him after the map work on the dyno he only charged me £50 because of the inconvenience!

Oh yes, just read its a 2.5L engine :o :brickwall

I think the 270-280 should be enough to start and it looks possible without too much hassle - i think the 03 is running about 260

Agree with GezP and one of the reasons for the new car, I'm expecting it to 'get gone' at lot quicker than than the 03 once the mods are done ;-)

Ive sent a text to racedynamixs about remaping and the other half is laughing at me talking about a decat already. i did point out the o3 sounds better too

I will be keeping it sensible though, I've had the 03 for 60k without a fault and only occasionally needed a bit more power - i need it to be reliable and every day transport

If you do it right 1st time round, then you wont be needing to make a second effort becuase you got it wrong until you hunt for more power LOL

Remember although the mappers out there are bloody good at what they do, they cost a small fortune, so if your going to get it mapped, at least decide what you want to do and do it in one foul swoop, then at least you wont be going back for a remap time after time.

Again I have a nice 3" Revolution Exhaust (only 12mths old) if your interested, not too loud for the daily commute, but is noticeably ready to scream when asked ;) Also looks subtle too with a straight exit and and not over facing rear silencer.

Rob

why did you not just buy and Sti in the first place. why people buy a WRX only to mod into an STi is beyond me. better brakes, better gearbox, better suspension, better interior.

If you apply that logic mate. why do people buy STIs and mod them to the same sort of power as an skyline, m3, Porsche etc etc

Personally i think it's for two reasons:

Cost. People might want to spread the cost or just spend more at a later date. Personally I had 10k and wanted a virtually brand new car and I knew no muppet had messed with it.

Secondly, where's the bloody fun in buying a car already done. Personally I love the fact that mine is to the exact spec I want

ref mechanic i can also give a massive thumbs up to Tim aka subas . he did my clutch on the drive for £160 and that was after a 2hr drive to get to me.. top bloke!!!

There is a big jump in purchase cost and I'm currently not doing brakes, gearbox, suspension or interior

I also like the understated look of the WRX compaired to the LOOK AT ME STi wing, trim and stickers

and I don't really like driving a car that the initials stand for sexually transmitted infection either < ;-)

you will notice a big difference after a remap with mods such as a decat, turbo back system with up pipe and port your standard headers with an uprated fuel pump and an sti top mount intercooler along with a k&n panel filter and you will see torque figures of 340 ft/lb and bhp of around 290 or 300

two things
1 hawkeye wrx intercooler is fine for 300bhp no need for sti intercooler

2 you will not get those figures from a td04 . 280bhp max.

fuel pump, decat exhaust system , panel filter. and a good mapper is all he needs on a hawk wrx to reach around 280bhp/310-20lbs thats what i got from those mods..
and if he wants to some cooler plugs but not needed..
i would also put a caik into the wing only another £70 .. your gunna do it anyway at a later date so may aswel get it in on first map lol

If you are keeping the power at a reasonable level then ok. upping the power without looking at the rest seeems illogical to me. running a wrx engine 50% out of spec without some form of reliability or safety is likely to end in tears. just my 2p worth

Have to agree with above comments.
With the market in its current state, STI's are going for stupid money.

The previous "I can't afford an STI" statements people used to make are starting to become less true as the STI prices get closer to WRX prices. You can pick up 06/07 Hawkeye STI's now with less than 50k on the clock for around £10k - that's pretty cheap.

In some ways I'm almost regretting having spent the money I have on mine to get it where it is as I could've saved the money and bought an STI (eventually).
Still, I have learnt a fair bit along my journey!

I would honestly go for the best STI you can afford, and enjoy it whilst we can still all just about afford the petrol to put in em ;)

1. Mine made 281bhp on a TD04 and sports cat :lol1:
2. A CAIK is a bit of a waste of time and money unless the OP is going for 350+ bhp - the OEM airbox is perfectly capable of servicing cars running up to 350.
3. 310-320 ft/lbs isn't a bad figure - is that a 2.5 or a 2.0?

1: On the 2.0L they will commonly make 270-290bhp. On the 2.5L they commonly make 260-280bhp.

2: On yours that is absolutely correct, on the 2.5 it is a different story. The air box is rather restrictive.

3: On a fully decatted 2.5L you can see 360-370lb/ft relatively easily on the TD04. Decatted 2.0L should do 280-310lb/ft.

Graham

The best STi I could find was around £10k with plus 40tho on the clock, im paying signifigantly less for the WRX with 27k on the clock

With a couple of basic mods it will more than fast enough for what I want, look better IMO and I still have around £2.5-3k in my pocket

The brakes on the scooby are comedy on any model, once you've driven something with a good set up, AKA 911, the stopping power on the scooby is questionable to say the least - but thats how they roll from the factory

Agreed it might need a tweak to suspension to firm it up a bit and I'm lashing on a set of wheels but even given these mods its still cheaper than an STi

Collected the beasty last night have the mapper in on Friday, going for a straight remap under his advice. Keeping it very standard looking and no MOT blues but with a nice sting in the tail ;-)

Considering wheels while using the tyres that are on it so if anybody hears of somebody selling 18' proline speedlines in grey give me shout

I will feed back Friday after the map that Duncan is doing