Hi
What makes a good spec for a fast road scooby, say mid 300s BHP not too laggy and not too harsh (coilovers!) .

Got a 2004 wrx and it seems a bit soft round the edges at the mo. Dont have a massive budget but could prob through around 2k at it.

Thanks,Pete

Px for a STi

Use the 2k for that

I'll get my coat
The regulars will be on soon to make it a 3 pager

You beat me to it

Sort out the suspension and braking first. On my bugeye I replaced all the suspension bushes with powerflex and felt a difference straight away which became even more noticeable after a geometry setup. A good handling car will do better than a high power car with poor handling.

If you upgrade the power to mid 300's then you're gonna need to upgrade your brakes and suspension - that's your 2k gone on those without the engine mods.

As soon as I read the post I knew what the first response would be....

How about answering the question?!

Can we just assume im going to keep it please

TD04 turbo wont make 300bhp, so that'll be first off.

VF34, headers/uppipe, decat, uprated fuel pump, sti injectors, exhaust and a remap.

Better brakes and some stiffer springs if you dont want coilovers.

Theres loads of info about this on here, use the search for more.

Brakes are good all round new pads/discs. Pretty happy with standard stopping power ! (im used to stage.3 cossies with ****e brakes!). Agree with the suspension bushes prob going to do that anyways.

Headers and exhaust done (gotta de-cat yet) walbro pump to be fitted.

If you have a standard power car atm, I'd max out the TD04 with a decat uppipe and sports/decat downpipe, aim for c.270bhp and similar torque. Uprate your discs and pads, uprate your fuel pump, remap and see how you feel about it

Next step would be to uprate injectors, intercooler, turbo etc but do it in stages as the closer you get to 300 the closer you are to breaking more expensive parts

2004 WRX is probably worth £4k add the extra £2k = £6k and for that, you could get a very good 03/04 STi blobeye, even a standard blob STi comes with 265bhp, Brembo brakes, strong 6 speed gearbox!! but to be honest how many standard STi's are out there, you will probably pick a mapped one up for £6k???

Or you could get the £2k and spend it on your WRX:(prices are a rough guess)

Full exhaust system (downpipe, mid-section, backbox) £300
VF35 turbo from a STi £250
Ecutek remap £500
STi TMIC £200
Uprated fuel pump £100
555cc pink STi injectors £150

^^^^^^^Thats just for the engine side of things??^^^^^
Which doesnt leave a lot for brakes and coilovers, and the extra insurance after you declared the modifications!!!

In reality buying an STi whatever your feelings is the way to go from a financial point of view Take it from people that have been here before

+1

Brakes and suspension are worth 50bhp...

Me and you know its true!! My black blob WRX and your silver blob WRX had some money spent on them, and I bet your S202 was cheaper then what you paid for your blob WRX back in the day?? And the difference between the two cars are night and day!!!!!

Ok Chaps fair enough I'll have a think, shes around 270 ish at mo...but after fast cossies it feels slow! (but much more capable chassis wise)

Why bother?

Who needs to stop? **** it just throw a load of money at the engine to wring as much horsepower out of it as possible.

Clearly a bit more cannon fodder for us to humour before the next numpty turns up asking "how to make it go dead fast"

If she's already at 270 then she's not standard and you're already close to the TD04 limit.

Or buy this 438bhp WRX and be done!! Lot of car for £5k
https://www.scoobynet.com/subaru-444...p-5k-ovno.html

Did I say I was just going to through money at the engine? Dont think I did, I said no coil overs and stated that the standard brakes arnt too bad (go drive an old Ford think you might have your eyes opened). Think your making yourself look like a "numpty" to be honest with your unnecessary sarcy comments

Dont think she is, had live OBD on it and was doing around 14psi... not sure what standard boost is, these scoobs are a bit new to me

The brakes on the WRX are shyte mate.

Take it from me, if you're going to make yourself a good ROAD car as you're asking for pointers to do here then you need to sort those brakes out.

Even the WRX humpers on here will tell you to get that done, the stock ones are a comedy act with the standard horsepower let alone the mid 300s you claim to be aiming for

tbh 300 in a Newage is lardy slow, you won't be any happier but you will be 5k lighter

Do yourself a favor , get the driver tuition 1st ... drive it .. You'll see in what department it lacks with your capabilities of driving that car a, and start modding from there.... It's not as good out of the box for modding as STI , but maybe you wont need to go that far? STI is a much more focused car but everyone's needs are different....

I know its not what you want to hear but get an STI. I spent a load on my 2002 WRX and it wasnt even in the same league as my (at the time) standard 2005 sti I replaced it with.

The difference in the cars is night and day, the STI stops and corners- the wrx does not. The STI as standard is rapid - whereas I always had to hustle the WRX, constantly changing gear to try and get that elusive power.

The WRX gearbox is weak, increase your power and there is a good chance it will start to whine.

Final point- Insurance on my standard STI was cheaper than my modded WRX (SKY insurance)

14psi is standard, so you're running 220ish then

+1

I've got a WRX with PPP, so 260bhp, and the brakes are shocking, 5 minutes hard driving and they're cooked.

I kart in rotax for a hobby and consider my driving pretty good (but who doesnt), I do agree with most comments ...suspension is obviously worth looking at, but for road use maybe coil overs are a wee harsh???? was looking at second hand sets of STI shocks/springs.

Well the OBD actually said 28psi but pressumed that was ABSOLUTE?(+atmospheric) becuase that seems bloody high but could be wrong