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Advice on first wrx


Sirspidey
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Hi guys, I was on another forum, and I got some good advice, but also got some abuse from people. So I guy on there recommended this site ( hi Logan).

im in the market for a wrx, it will be my first one, but I have had an Impreza before. 2000 2.0 sport wagon. Ever since I've loved them, so why not go for a wrx now I have a bit of cash.

my budget is £6-£7k. I originally was looking at the hawkeye, but was advised they have some engine issues. Is this correct? So much now looking at the blobeye. Around 2005 model. I wanted as new as I could get.

on Sunday I'm looking at a 2005 wrx. It's had the brakes, shocks and clutch updated. And it has the prodrive exhaust and prodrive silicone hoses, but not the sport cat. Also it's only 50,000 mile. It's got to be worth a look imo. 

What do I like? I'm not into the sti as I'm no long a boy racer (44) and the spoiler puts me of them. So I like spec d models. I would like the car to just blend in, but have a bit of punch, if I need it.

if I was to get the car above, what extra mods should I do? I'm not looking at getting it to 500 bhp, just sometime a bit more that standard. I was thinking about either

1. Change air filter, then re map or

2. De cat up pipe, de car centre section, change air filter then remap.

tbh I don't really want to mess with it too much (money and effort) could I just do 1? Or is that just not enough?

many thanks

jeff

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Welcome to the club!

The Blob WRX is a solid car... I've had mine for a couple of years and had very few issues (age related stuff)

An uprated panel filter is always recommended since it is a cheap and simple mod, go for a dry type (Cosworth are highly recommended) as the oiled ones could foul the MAF.

De-cat up-pipe is a good idea as it aids turbo spool and if that cat were to fail... buh-bye turbo!

When going for a remap, it would be a good idea to upgrade your fuel pump as well.

I've removed the 3rd cat in my system also, doesn't really add much to the standard map but does make the burble a bit more distinct.

I'll be fitting a fuel pump, de-cat up pipe and remap to mine in the coming months!

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I never really feel I disappeared into the crowd after I changed the back box and got burble. I picked a PPP box was is supposed to be one of the quietist :)

So I think if you really want to be discrete it's a standard etc with no mods...or perhaps get a custom made box and tell them you want it quiet.

I had a 2004 wrx. I changed panel filter, fuel pump and back box and it was then remapped to 272bhp. It felt like a different car :)

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9 hours ago, JusNoGood said:

I never really feel I disappeared into the crowd after I changed the back box and got burble. I picked a PPP box was is supposed to be one of the quietist :)

So I think if you really want to be discrete it's a standard etc with no mods...or perhaps get a custom made box and tell them you want it quiet.

I had a 2004 wrx. I changed panel filter, fuel pump and back box and it was then remapped to 272bhp. It felt like a different car :)

Is that all you done? Did you change the up cat? What you've done is all I would like to do really, and you got that much extra power? I didn't really want to change fuel pump either, but is that advisable? Since only small amount of mods?

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You'll need to change the fuel pump if upping the boost as the oem one may not be capable of keeping up, last thing you'll want is it running lean and something going pop

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

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No, didn't change cat. Duncan at RaceDynamix said I'd make 290 removing that cat. Duncan said he typically gets more from a 2004/2005 blob as opposed to an earlier one.

I don't do my own work on my cars any more so it didn't really work out cost effective for me to do the cat (2/3'hrs of labour?) for an extra 18bhp.

My Subaru specialist mechanic recommend doing the pump, for an extra £80 not worth taking the risk.

Where are you based? I traded in my wrx into a dealer so I removed a few bits that I need to sell cheap

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6 hours ago, JusNoGood said:

 

No, didn't change cat. Duncan at RaceDynamix said I'd make 290 removing that cat. Duncan said he typically gets more from a 2004/2005 blob as opposed to an earlier one.

 

 

I don't do my own work on my cars any more so it didn't really work out cost effective for me to do the cat (2/3'hrs of labour?) for an extra 18bhp.

 

 

My Subaru specialist mechanic recommend doing the pump, for an extra £80 not worth taking the risk.

Where are you based? I traded in my wrx into a dealer so I removed a few bits that I need to sell cheap

That's handy to know. 

Mum in west Dorset, what bits do you have?

TBH having driven it around my usual roads, I find it fast enough. I think I would only like to do the bear minimum. I'll change the air filter. Is it worth while just doing that then a remap?

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Hi mate. Honestly, if it's standard with no PPP upgrades etc.. Then you should be fine with regular unleaded RON 95. Do 97-98 every 4-5 tanks maybe, good for the engine. But if your going to mod it, get the prodrive package or cobb pack, any big upgrade with remap etc... I'd advise to only fill up with super unleaded 97-100. :-) enjoy 

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Best advice for a turbo engine of this nature is to use high octane fuel. The lower octane could lead to detonation(pinking/knock). Even members with unmodified cars run into issues with standard fuel and notice a sudden improvement with high octane fuel. Standard Ron fuel is fine if you're poodling around town and not using the turbo but once on the loud peddle you'll appreciate spending a few extra pennies on the good stuff.

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99 only, V power or Tesco 99. Better than the engine detting its **** off and shatting itself ;)

Few good things for owning a turbo,

1. 99 ron fuel only (if you have to put lower in, put as little as you can get away with and make sure you stay off the loud pedal and fuel tank go as low as you can before filling it back to the brim with the good stuff, bear in mind more thats left in it the more the good stuff will be watered down)

2. Oil changes every 3k

3. They should drive smoothly, if its running lumpy don't try to drive through it. Get it looked at and drive it as little as possible before being looked at.

4. Keep on top of servicing.

5. Find a decent specialist, stay away from dealers for servicing and work, Even Subaru UK admit the UK specialists are a level above the knowledge even they have about them.

6. if you have mods done, use a reputable place and my advice is get it all done by them and parts from them. If something goes wrong and you have bought parts from all over you could end up in an argument about who's fault it is and you end up out of pocket with a broken car.

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Oil and filter, if you saw how quickly the oil went off you'd understand. You don't want to be draining it when its gone completely black by that point its already mullered

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3000 miles is a good service interval if you plan to keep the car and look after it. Oil and filter will only set you back £40-£80 depending on which oil you go for. Labour cost will obviously increase the overall price. Standard oem parts you could use importcarparts.co.uk

Modified parts, the world is your oyster...almost. There are so many places offering bits.

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Sorry for the hijack...is an oil and filter change in a blob easy, even for a novice? Are the necessary plugs etc easily accessible if I buy some low rise ramps from say machine mart? Ta [emoji106]

Sent from my iphone using Tapatalk

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