Am I a WRX outcast now? :P

[HellTriX]

So I used to own a red second gen DSM ~360whp and after getting too many tickets because it was a red flag. I traded it for an AWD v8 Cherokee for a few years.

Now I just recently bought a 2009 WRX currently ordering parts for the stage 1 to stage 2 upgrade and pro tune.

My only question is. Am I now the WRX outcast with dsm guys? . I used to go to some of the dms meets.


Trix

 

[viprez586]

On the road your less likely to get a smile or thumbs up from a fellow DSMer.

When I first got my 1g, I saw an identical one driving on the opposite side of the 3-lane highway I was on. He rolled down his window and flipped a peace sign out. It's nice to be acknowledged as rolling in a sweet car.

 

[HellTriX]

Thats true.

At least I get waves and peace signs from all the other WRX owners. Actually I have noticed it a lot more from the scooby owners than I ever have with DMSers. Maybe things have changed over the years.

Also hate to admit, but DMSs are currently invisible to me. After not having one for a few years, they just disappear from radar. I have only seen one in the last month that I actually remember because it was lowered and grown effected out. Unfortunately we caught eyes only after it was too late get pick lanes to do a heads up.

 

[HurleyTSi]

I own a Subaru and a DSM. Subarus are good cars. I'm not a fan of the hatch back Scoobies though. The sportback Evos are lame lookin too.

Why didn't you just buy an STi?

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

shouldve got a used EVO IX or something for much easier HP games, and doesn't look like butt, or at least a 2004-2005 suby because beside the GC8 body thats the best looking suby since then.

Im sure he didn't buy the STi because in a straight line the regular 09 wrx is actually FASTER or so ive heard.

 

[HellTriX]

Why didn't you just buy an STi?

Lol, I wanted an STi. I been working up the ladder of used cars. Finally reaching the point I they'd barely let me get a brand new WRX financed. So I told the wife, this is just a stepping stone for a couple years till we trade it in for a 2011 or 2012 STi.

I guess I should correct that, its not that I couldn't afford the STi, its just that I didn't want to very high payments. I had also heard the WRX was quicker with fewer gears so it seemed no brainer. Unfortunately only a few weeks after I got the car did I realize why I should have gotten an STI.....

It was wet out and after getting a bit more comfortable with the car we got a first rainy day in a while so naturally I kicked off the traction control to try a powered U-turn only to be disappointed with OPEN DIFFS!!

At that moment I felt like stabbing myself . How the hell do you even consider drifting a car with open diffs. I was tempted to go back to the dealer and try talking them into switching it out for an STi.

But over the next few weeks after that, I did some research on diff swaps, power upgrades and such. Realized it was just worthless since an STi would have given me those parts for less then I'd pay doing the swap. Finally it wasn't until 2-3 months after did I realize the WRX trannys are to be treated gentle and recommended not going over 300-450whp (widely debated). While the STi's are accepted to reach 600awhp without much trouble.

So I basically screwed myself by not doing all this research first. Regardless, the car is still great, I've already taken a stock 2009 STi and proved they are faster than STis. I got beat by a 2007 stage 2 STi. I had the jump on him but by the top of second gear he was at my side. Into 3rd gear he was pulling away quickly. He claimed 356hp, not sure if thats crank or whp but I'd assume it was whp since I was at stage 1 by this time with the general consensus saying thats around ~240's whp range for a 2009.

So I'm gonna settle for a few years and stick with my stage 2 ~300awhp goal, then trade it in for or just buy a new 2011-2012 STi and do some serious mods to that.

 

[95whitegst]

yupp outcast boooooo haha jk man i love the new wrx's and sti's even though most dont if i had a white one with gunmetal rims it would be a happy man haha nice car dude

 

[cs82685]

I'm a big fan, I think they're a great bang for the buck DD for 10k less than the sti. If I wanted the best toy for a road course than the sti would be it, but that giant difference in price is a big factor when you're talking mainly dd performance. If I were to have to get a new car now, it would be the 2009 wrx. Good choice!

 

[sag1441]

i love when people ask me why i didnt just get an STI. because it costs thousands more? insurance is hundreds more? cost of maintenance is hundreds more?

i dont ask A4 owners why they didnt get an RS4

 

[pboglio]

Yeah, your an outcast, welcome to the WRX club I get the hatred all the time, but driving an STi makes up for it.

 

[knochgoon24]

Looks like you're back into the world of "Staged" upgrades.

No more backyard garage hack jobs for you or you'll be shunned by your fellow Subi owners.

 

[95whitegst]

hahahaha knochgoon is soooooo right no more half assed shit

 

[94Jettameowpsst]

stage elevendy 350whp broken transmission ftmfw!

I like the new wrx's for some reason...just sucks the only upgrade for subie transmissions are ppg

 

[pboglio]

An STi 6 speed tranny is far stronger than any DSM tranny, built or not. Shot peened gears from the factory and an internal oil pump. This is why people pony up the cash for an STi, cause maybe you actually ARE paying extra for something.

 

[Lofty]

Lies. My friend has a WRX STI Swapped hatch shown here. He's at around 300 ish horsepower and his trans randomly went out.

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[brownfinger]

This is funny. My one-and-only brother sips of the WRX necter. His first boosted car was a Talon Tsi. Back in the '90's. I think it's a matter of income. 1 &2G DSMs are SO cheap!

 

[sag1441]

Lies. My friend has a WRX STI Swapped hatch shown here. He's at around 300 ish horsepower and his trans randomly went out.

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was it an sti swapped 6 spd as well? and im not 100% sure but i think all ej25s have a red intake manifold. are you sure its even swapped? sti intercoolers on wrxes is super common

 

[turbowop]

Looks like you're back into the world of "Staged" upgrades.

No more backyard garage hack jobs for you or you'll be shunned by your fellow Subi owners.

Backyard hack jobs should be shunned by everybody. Hack job mods are the reason everybody thinks DSM's are piles.

 

[dSmgs-T]

have fun changing spark plugs!

 

[pboglio]

Lets talk averages. I get MAYBE 10,000 miles out of a built DSM tranny at the 350 w.tq. range, like clockwork, then they bust. Your average STi tranny is designed and warrantied for 300 lb-ft at the crank from the factory. I am maybe at 310-320 lb-ft with a boost controller kicking in the turbo faster than stock. If it were to go it would have on my car, I'm on 50,000 miles and I do nothing different with my STi tranny then my forever exploding DSM tranny.

Spark plugs, yep, not good I'll agree. Everything else though actually is reasonable. A bit of give and take. My point is, you buy an STi and I will bet coming off a modified DSM you will have very little urge to modify it beyond an airfilter, exhaust, and a boost controller.

My Sti is one of the most reliable cars I ever owned at 50,000 miles. I'm still on the stock sticky tires, just changed the brake pads at 48,000 miles. Not even changed the airfilter yet, that is how good the intake system is designed, doesn't need one.

I had a sticky rear door, a rear suspension clunk, and a 5th gear lockout on a 6th-5th gear downshift problem just cropping up after after 4 1/2 years. That is about it and I drive the car hard.

 

[HellTriX]

Going from DSM to WRX there is even the question of "do I really need to upgrade this".

After a few months the question really comes down to, what do I want this thing capable of. Then you find out the new BWMs are quicker than you. This is when the next stage or two starts looking very nice.

 

[Eclipsed]

i picked up an 07 limited sti. had it for a year. then i picked up an 06 evo.

loved my sti, but subaru really screwed up on those motors. those things pop left and right with any decent power.

 

[dSmgs-T]

Im kinda thinking of 06-07sti right now OVER an evo. sti's are more expensive to mod and harder to work on. this way MAYBE i wont want to do anything other than more suspension work and exhaust/mbc/tune... i just see myself getting an evo and building a monster like my 2g

 

[pboglio]

They do pop, its true. It just means your dropping in forged pistons, con rods, block guard, and an engine rebuild earlier in the process. Scratch that, the newer STi's already have forged pistons, my 05 STi doesn't. An EVO motor is stronger, but it doesn't have the torque for pulling out of slow corners the STi does. You want that torque, you need a 2.3 Liter, which again is a rebuild and puts you at parity with a rebuilt STi motor. However, the STi will still be able to safely rev higher than the 2.3 Liter but a hair less than the 2.0 Liter. There is no clear cut winner.

 

[907dsm]

I'm a former Wrx owner as well, I must admit cars if you really don't plan on doing anything besides stage 2. The one and only thing I miss about my subie was the lovely exhaust note of my Borla Hush.

All I can say is don't get to crazy with your 09, there is a huge ass thread on NASIOC about the 09 WRX motors popping left and right so be very weary about what mods you do.

Anyways good luck and I hope you enjoy it.