Subaru WRX needs no introduction. Being a cult among JDM enthusiasts, the WRX soldiered on to become one of the most revered pieces of machinery from Japan. Due to its outstanding performance benefits at a reasonable price, Subaru churned a lot of these across the globe.
The WRX has been a favorite amongst tuners. Although a few end up being ricers, the WRX along with its slightly powerful STI sibling has piqued the interest of many enthusiasts. The STI being edgier than its regular counterpart has a lot of kit as standard. However, the STI is around $14K more than the WRX, a rational buyer would consider buying a stock WRX and loading it. Regardless of your purchase decision, the WRX in general is one of the very few sports car bargains currently available.
If you happen to own a Subaru WRX, chances are you’ve already started with rudimentary upgrades. However, if you’re the sort of person who's just gotten into the Subaru family, here are a few tips on the best mods for your WRX STI.
An Engine Remap And Upgraded Auxillary Components
As standard, the WRX comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged flat-4 engine pumping 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The STI gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-4 putting out 310 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque. Now if you know mods, there’s no substitute for horsepower. Most factory motors can be fiddled around to get more out of it. Getting a remap done is one of the easiest ways to get more power out of your car. COBB tuning does stage 1 maps for $995 which is not that expensive for a generous boost in power.
Increasing turbo boost pressure is also one of the easiest and relatively inexpensive ways to get more horsepower. Of course, by doing this you’ll have to upgrade the bypass valve (blow-off valve) since stock ones can leak causing your WRX to deliver power inefficiently. Installing aftermarket ones would definitely help with that and give you the intoxicating turbo flutter and blow off noises.
A Proper Exhaust System
This is the easiest way to let your Subaru WRX spit out fumes better. How? Well, free-flow exhaust systems reduce the backpressure developed at each exhaust stroke inside the engine. What is exhaust backpressure? It is the resistance outside the exhaust manifold which limits exhaust gases from exiting. Free -flow systems allow smooth unhindered exhaust flow along with the downpipes to the muffler.
So what is the advantage of reduced back pressure? When there is no hindrance in flow the gases exit quickly thereby helping start the next cycle of combustion sooner. At a given instance the free-flow system allows for more combustion cycles than the stock unit helping the engine produce more power. Getting one installed for your WRX STI is a no-brainer given the performance benefits and improved driving experience. A Titanium cat-back system retails anywhere between $1,800 and $2,000 for the Subaru WRX.
Performance Tires And Rims
Getting a good set of tires is important to exploit the extra performance you’ve added. Most people overlook the importance of having quality rubber. To make power is one thing but to effectively transmit it to the road is something equally important. Generally, OEM tires are fairly good and the STI comes with 245/35 R19 Dunlop Sport Maxx tires which are not the worst but certainly not the best out there.
Another important thing is the rims, manufacturers tend to add rims that are more focused on fuel efficiency. Therefore, they opt for smaller rim sizes so that there is less inertial mass to move which in turn helps in using less fuel. Investing in a good set of rims and tires for your WRX is certainly not a bad idea.
Stance Is Important
All those who know about cars knows handling is an important characteristic. If you went and equipped everything we listed so far you can also consider upgrading your stock suspension to an aftermarket system. Not only does it give your car an aggressive look but it would also help in improving the handling of your car.
Although the WRX STI comes with sports suspension that is quite firm, opting for aftermarket Coilover would drastically improve your car’s aesthetics. Not to mention the added advantage of having a lower center of mass (not significant, but nonetheless). Eibach offers lowering springs for STIs at $250, which isn’t all that expensive considering the added benefits.
Sources: Wikipedia, YouTube, Mod Culture