Tag Archives: STI

2015 STI – DGM Photos

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http://www.digitaltrends.com/car-reviews/2015-subaru-wrx-sti-review/

UPDATE:  I’ve also added more STI photos into galleries (by color).  I’ve posted about them here.

I posted this one mainly because they include pictures of a DGM (dark grey metallic) 2015 STI.  Those are not commonly found in pictures.  I think the coloring is awesome, especially with the silver BBS wheels.  Note that this is not a Launch Edition — those are only in blue (WRB – world rally blue) with gold BBS wheels (as well as a slew of other interior options).

 

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2015 Subaru WRX STI: Everything You Need To Know — AFTER/DRIVE

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This is the best 2015 STI review I’ve seen yet.

Why? Because it’s an honest review that explains where the real improvements are and how those real improvements translate into a great track experience.  It discusses things such as the stupid comments about the lack of a hatch…it discusses that issue with tact.  It discusses the active torque vectoring and shows a great example of how such tech helps drivers on track (there’s video footage of it kicking in when a driver is overshooting the apex of a corner).

I really liked how the three guys discussed the car and how they were rational when discussing the differences between the STI and WRX.  They gave solid feedback on why the STI was the overall better buy (not better value buy).

I highly recommend watching this video if you want see an unbiased and frank review.

Fix for STI Stumble

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So, there’s a thing called the ‘stumble’, where there’s a fueling issue that causes an STI engine to falter or lean-out.  In some cases, it is noticeable, especially when getting tuned.  Some tuners can tune it out while other can’t/won’t.

There are several fixes:  1) using an aftermarket fuel pressure regulator; 2) using an aftermarket fuel rail; 3) extending a fuel line.  The below links describe how to perform #3.  As well, after doing fix #3, it is advised to use Cobb’s Accesstuner (if you don’t have it, you can request it from Cobb at this link) to modify your TGV tables (as they were modified by Cobb to compensate for the stumble)…the first URL below explains how to do it.

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/how-install/254372-fuel-line-extension-stumble-fix-mod.html

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/250449-parts-needed-installing-longer-fuel-line-stock-fpr-hard-line.html

I do plan to do this as soon as I can.  It shouldn’t take any more than 20 minutes and shouldn’t cost any more than $20 in material.   I plan to do this before I get protuned.

Note that this only affects later model STIs (2008-2014)…it does not affect the WRX or other models.

Mishimoto Cold Air Intake for 2008-2014 STI

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subaru-wrx-sti-performance-air-intake-2008-2014-39

http://www.mishimoto.com/subaru-wrx-sti-performance-air-intake-08-14.html

This cold air intake (CAI) is a bit different than that’s currently on the market for the GR/GV STIs.  What’s different?  Your vehicle doesn’t need to be tuned for it to be used on your car, nor does it need to used with a Cobb AP OTS tune.  In most cases, CAIs for Subarus are not plug-n-play.  So when I saw the above URL posted within the IWSTI forums, I immediately had questions, such as ‘how did they do this?’.

Here is an engineering writeup of the product (by Mishimoto engineers).  It is actually pretty thorough.  Another cool fact is that it can still be protuned for further gains.  Mishimoto claims,

The maximum gain achieved was about 25 hp and 24 tq at around 5300 rpm, with a peak gain of 12.7 hp and 2 tq. These results are very good for such an easy part to swap out. Increases on average through the power band measured around 20 hp and 18 tq, which would certainly be noticeable to the driver.

Additional notes regarding the air/fuel ratio of a car with this particular CAI:

The Mishimoto CAI follows the stock AFR as the car builds its boost. Once the engine reaches 4000 rpm the car is under full boost, as seen when the Mishimoto CAI starts to differ from the stock unit. The maximum AFR reached was about 11.7:1, but on average the Mishimoto CAI runs about 11.3:1 when under full boost. The stock AFR maxed out at about 11:1 and averaged about 10.5:1 when under full boost. These numbers were consistent throughout multiple runs, which assured the engineers that this CAI can be used every day without harming the engine.

Looks-wise, I like the Nameless Performance CAI better, even though that particular unit still needs a Cobb AP to be used (it can be used with any map that supports the AEM CAI).  Pricing between the NP and Mishimoto CAIs are also very similar.  The NP CAI is $299 and has an arsenal of color choices of the closeout and MAF housing.  The Mishimoto CAI is $313 and only offers 3 colors of the intake piping.

I’m not sure which offers better gains on OTS tuning, but I don’t think you can go wrong with either solution.

Comparison: BMW M235i vs. Mercedes CLA45 AMG vs. Subaru WRX STI

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In this latest 2015 STI review, the STI is pitted against European metal:  the 2015 BMW M235i and the 2015 Mercedes CLA45 AMG.  The STI fares very well, considering it was out-powered and that these cars were MUCH more expensive than it.

Note that the base price for a 2015 STI Launch Edition is $38,190.  Non-Launch-Editions will not be as much (for those people thinking that $38K is a lot…it is, but doesn’t apply to the rest of the line-up).

It was a pleasant surprise to see that the STI outran the other two on the road course (Streets of Willow).  Within the articles comments section, several people proclaim that the win margin was slim.  That may be, but IMO, the other cars should’ve been very much ahead in that contest, but they weren’t…BMW and Mercedes should be embarrassed.  Now, we all know that the M235i isn’t really an M2, but the M235i still had the STI outright beaten in sheer HP/torque and apparently it handles like a dream, too.

This was a good read, especially since I hate Jonny Lieberman.  Thank goodness Jonny tested and someone else wrote the article (Nate Martinez).

Now, if they only post some video footage of the testing…

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1403_bmw_m235i_mercedes_cla45_amg_subaru_wrx_sti_comparison/viewall.html

Motor Trend – Quick 2015 STI Review

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So Motor Trend got ahold of a 2015 STI and had just enough time to test the car’s sprinting capabilities.  The results?

13.1 @ 104.4 MPH in the 1/4th mile & 0-60 in 4.6 sec

Uhm.  That is damned quick (and fast, regarding the 1/4th mile trap speed).  That is really quick and fast for 305 HP.

Regarding the article itself, it sucked.  The article writer, Jonny Lieberman, promotes himself as a WRX guru but I really don’t think he knows all that much.  His reviews are never really technical and is almost always subjective (as well as WRX-biased).  He always compares the STI with the WRX (or the WRX with the STI).  The WRX is not an STI competitor, so I don’t know what his beef is with the fact that the STI is more expensive.  It should be more expensive…it is clearly the tool to have when it comes to a track-focused car.  Sorry, but the WRX is not going to cut it on the track (it never has)…not without major upgrades, at least.  But if you’re settling for a WRX and it’s good for you, then that’s good, but it is not the end-all-be-all of the Subaru line-up, no matter how you hash it.  I think most people try to justify their cheaper purchase by saying things like, “well, an STI is $8K more than an WRX…an STI has things I won’t need or use daily”.  They typically don’t understand that the $8K is giving you a whole different experience.

Jonny kept harping on the fact that the STI needed 50 HP more.  Really?  Why?  Because that’s what BMW and Ford does when developing new models?  It doesn’t *NEED* an extra 50 HP.  Subaru make a stock STI run 13.1 at 104 MPH without extra power….that’s a good thing.  Just because Mercedes makes a 350 HP turbocharged 4-cylinder vehicle doesn’t mean that Subaru should.  Mercedes is the ONLY car maker that’s generating 350 HP out of a blown 4-banger, and that car is very close to $50K.  Making such HP from such a small engine is NOT cheap and it’s not cheap to ensure the engine doesn’t grenade (the CLA45 AMG runs an insane amount of boost to make that power, too).  The 50-HP argument is ridiculous.

In fact, Jonny talked about the STI itself or even it’s competition, which isn’t a WRX or CLA45 AMG.  The article was highly subjective.  Why the hell do I want to hear his thoughts on the car if they’re jaded…I’d rather hear about the car itself, which I can form my own opinions about.  I don’t think that Jonny even drove the car.  I think he wrote about someone else’s experience but filled in the gaps with his “50 more HP” and “the WRX does the same thing but at a cheaper price point” rants.  It’s obvious he didn’t drive the car (not for review purposes, at least).

This isn’t the first article where Jonny was too subjective. There’s nothing worse than a writer who can’t stay subjective if his life depended on it.  I’m soooo glad I let my Motor Trend subscription lapse, because it only takes one writer to ruin the whole bunch of writing that MT does (IMO).

I think the 2015 STI offers extreme potential for it’s price range.  A 2015 Golf R is NOT going to be able to offer that level of performance…the new Golf R is a great step forward but I highly doubt it’s going to run a 13.1 quarter-mile or 4.6 0-60…they didn’t come close to that in the debut review estimates, either.  There is no other car out there (besides the 2014 Evolution) that will match the STI when it comes to price-to-performance, because the STI offers a LOT of performance for what’s pretty much chump-change.  They’ve also improved on every single STI owner’s complaint.  None of that can really be argued with, even if the engine is the same unit that has been used the last 9 years.

I think MT needs to let Jonny find a different job, because he’s not good at creating a good read.  He whines too much.   There was hardly anything he said that was good about the car.  Usually when I evaluate something, I try to think of three good and bad things about the product.  Jonny did none of this and went on an immediate “WRX is better” bend.  That is sad.   I might just skip over MT’s full review of the 2015 STI if I find that Jonny wrote it.

1972 VW Beetle powered by Subaru STI engine!

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This car is very unique. It is a 1972 VW Beetle in shell only, because it has a Subaru STI engine (an EJ207, specifically), as well as some Porsche 911 parts! The engine is tuned to 325 HP. It is a non-US car, though.

Post by Impreza WRX STI.

TFL – 1 Hour Long 2015 STI Presentation

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From The Fast Lane YouTube Channel:

The 2015 Subaru WRX STI is a Rally race car that you can drive on the street and even more importantly use as your everyday ride. If you are ready to geek out on the STI….this is the video for you. If you love Power Point presentations that go into the smallest details…..this is the video for you. Ready or not here’s another TFLcar exclusive video that tells you more than everything you ever wanted to know about the new Subaru WRX STI.

Nameless – CAI for GRs/GVs Released!

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So, Nameless Performance finally released their new cold air intake for GR/GV models.

c though! I’m not sure I want it, now, but I may purchase it anyways…gotta recrunch my numbers, because I’ve a budget of $2000 for mods this year (including a protune). $300 may put me over the budget limit.

Now, what’s cool about this intake is that it is compatible with COBB’s AccessPort Off The Shelf Stage 1+/2+ Tunes for the AEM or COBB Intake. Also note that a tune is required to run this (and any) intake.

Also, the the cost can escalate, as you can customize this intake’s coloring. The coloring options are listed here.

Post by Nameless Performance, Inc.