Tag Archives: WRX

Aftermarket Heat Shields

I posted earlier about my turbo heat blanket research and my findings. I mentioned in that post that I would look at aftermarket heat shield solutions. My plan is to use both a good turbo heat shield and the turbo heat blanket.

My choice will be one of the following:

Nameless Performance Downpipe Heat Shield

CB Titanium Heat Shield

The Nameless Performance example is normally $85 (subject to change, obviously) but there’s also the option of a ceramic coating, which adds $40 more to the cost. There are also free color options.

The CB example is fully titanium and is $4 more than the Nameless version.

I’m obviously biased since I’ve several Nameless products on the car already (a Nameless product would better fit the current motif, and with the option to add different coloring, I can better coordinate a desired look). I’ll more than likely go Nameless, but I wanted to mention the CB option, since they’re close in price and because titanium is one of the more exotic materials to use.

Car and Driver – New (2015 WRX) vs Old (2010 Audi S4)

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I have not read the article yet, although I’ve read the Facebook comments (embedded into this blog below):

Post by Car and Driver.

What’s throwing me for a loop is that none of the magazines have compared the old 2011-2014 WRX with the new 2015 WRX. Also strange is the fact that all of them have compared the new WRX against the new STI (or at least discussed them against each other).

It’s almost like the car magazine industry is purposely not comparing the old with the new in a direct comparison, which is weird because that’s the sure-fire way of determining what the better changes are, without doing paper-stat comparing.

Once I’ve had time to read the article, I’ll add my 2 cents to the bottom of this post.

Batman Slap Memes

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Do you ever get tired of those guys commenting on 2015 STI videos and articles that continue to say things like:

Ew — looks like a Corolla

Looks like an Evo

No hatch, no sale…

Those are really annoying to read and really offers no value to a conversation. I get sooo tired of the drivel comments because WTF cares about another person’s interpretation of how this car looks…it’s ALL subjective, even the hatch debacle. It’s obvious that not everyone cares about the Corolla/Evo/hatch comments because the car is selling very well (to the point that there’s a problem with dealer markup). So, to blow off some steam, I went to one of those meme-maker sites and created a few meme responses to the stupid comments:

The following one wasn’t created by me (I saw it on Facebook):

2015 Subaru WRX & STI – Cars 101

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Ever had statistical questions about the Subaru WRX and/or STI? Cars101.com can educate you.

The site even has pictures of various options on the cars.

I haven’t checked yet, but I believe that the site may even cover many more makes and models.

What I’m currently reading is the 2015 WRX/STI section.

Nameless Performance Cold Air Intake Installed!

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If you remember, I received my Nameless Performance cold air intake a few weeks ago. I didn’t plan to install my Nameless Performance cold air intake this weekend but I ended up doing just that.

I had a bit of a time trying to figure out how to remove the stock air box and how to install the new CAI. Only two bolts hold the stock air box in place. The bolts were difficult to reach but weren’t too difficult to remove. It’s reinstalling the stock air box that might be troublesome, IMO, because rethreading those bolts back on might take awhile.

In hindsight, I think I probably would’ve been better off getting the Cobb SF intake and airbox. I still might look into going that route, but I absolutely love the way the NP intake looks in my engine bay. I sorta wish I’d been able to see the different color options (that wasn’t available when I ordered mine, but it’s on the NP product pages now….they’ve many color schemes depicted.

The install of the CAI wasn’t all that bad. It’s a tight fit and the product uses the same mount points as the stock equipment, although you have to remove a bracket. I had to search on the web for a picture of a mounted NP CAI to see how to mount it. It comes with no instructions. Fortunately it didn’t take me all that long to figure out and install. It took me 1.5 hours to install, but that’s only because I kept stopping to take pictures and video clips, and I kept double-checking my work (since I didn’t have instructions).

Here’s a picture of my extremely dirty stock air filter (I don’t think the dealer replaced it like I asked them 9 months ago and the car’s barely been driven since then).

Here’s a shot of where the stock air box used to be:

Here’s the close-out and MAF housing that I managed to figure out how to mount:

Here’s where I mounted the MAF sensor (it only fits this way…I suggest you mount it before mounting the close-out…that way, you don’t end up dropping the little screws in the engine bay):

Finished!

I can now hear turbo spool-up…it is very noticeable. I can also hear air rushing into the intake.

Note that this CAI requires a tune. This unit is compatible with Cobb’s AEM maps. I’m currently using the Cobb OTS Stage 1 91-octane AEM map. I’ve logged a few miles with pulls included…the logs are kosher.

There’s a slight hesitation at throttle tip-in from idle. It only happens from idle and it almost sounds like the throttle plate is fighting a vacuum, but I’m not sure that’s possible. There’s no boost leak (I’m hitting peak boost without issue). I’m trying to determine what’s going on. I wonder if this is just a map issue that a tuner can tune out.

Oh, and here’s a video:

Did You Know?

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Did you know that the 2011-2014 Subaru WRXs and STIs use the same turbocharger? Although they’ve different nomenclatures, they are the same. The VF48 is mounted to the STI, while the VF52 is mounted to the WRX. The VF52 requires a different mounting flange (it makes them less than compatible where swapping between STI and WRX generations, but I believe there are adapters that allow interchangeability).

Most people think that the WRX has a smaller turbocharger that gives the WRX an edge at the drag strip. What makes the WRX quicker is the fact that it has one less gear cog (meaning the gears may be more suited for drag strip pulls). In quarter-mile testing, the WRX always finishes in one less shift than the STI. It’s the same for the rush to 0-60, too. Basically, it can go most distances with less shifting because it requires longer ratios since it is a 5-sp transmission. It’s not quicker because it is more powerful. The only reason it is quicker is because there’s less shifting (which saps time). The WRX is at a 40-hp disadvantage when compared to the STI…with a 6-sp with identical ratios, the WRX will not outrun an STI. The reason that Subaru used the 5-sp is purely for ecomony-sake (monetary, not fuel). The added benefit is that it requires less shifts, but it does not handle powertrain upgrades all that well. 350-hp and it’s done…that’s the most you should expect out of the 5-sp before problems arise. Can you swap in an STI gearbox? Sure, but they’re not cheap and I don’t think that’s an easy swap…the STI gearbox is expensive, too. That type of swap isn’t for the meek, IMO, and even if that mod is done, the car will never be an STI…there’s more to the STI than swapping it’s parts onto another car…it’s more than the sum of it’s parts.

References:

http://www.wrxtuners.com/forums/f121/my-turbo-vf39-vf52-29176/

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=37631014&postcount=36

Instagram for this site!

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I’ve created an Instragram site just for this blog:

http://instagram.com/sti_infatuation

I’ll be adding pictures as I take them. I’ve a ton of pictures already, but they’re archived and not on my phone or tablet, so it may be counter-productive to add those images. Most of what I add will be of Subarus, but the images won’t always be of STIs and WRXs; I plan to add other car makes as well. We’re all car lovers at heart…at least true enthusiasts are.

I’ll also be adding a Pinterest site…gonna see if I can bake them off to see which is better (gonna skip Tumbler for now).

Nameless Performace CAI has arrived!

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This is the Nameless Performance cold air intake (CAI) that I ordered a month and three weeks ago. I’ve been waiting for this a long time. At first, I was upset because I thought that most of this was pre-built, but after making a complaint to Jason (of Nameless), he e-mailed me stating that they were almost done building it. I did a mental double-take. Then, when I received it, I got a good look at the craftsmanship…it’s good enough to where I can mount it over my fireplace (I’m not joking). It’s almost a work of art. The close-out is powder-coated. If I’d have known it would look that good, I’d have maybe chosen another color. I opted to have the MAF housing as black in color. Overall, it looks great!

I’ll probably end up mounting it a week before my protune is scheduled. No, this CAI doesn’t need a protune, as it is compatible with Cobb’s AEM OTS tunes (although, a protune would be more efficient/safer). If I could, I’d get the car dyno’d and tuned before the parts are mounted and afterward, but I can’t/won’t. I’m also still mulling over getting an e-tune. I’ve a few e-tuners in mind, but will need to get the low RPM stumble fixed (there’s an online mod how-to here).

Do Cat-backs Add Power?

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Most people think that cat-back exhausts don’t offer substantial power. When compared to a turbo-back exhaust, no, but axle-backs DO offer torque. The thing is, most tuners don’t test for this and just make blatant assumptions.

Well, there’s at least one parts manufacturer that does test axlebacks: Nameless Performance.

Here’s what I saw a year ago on their Facebook page:

Post by Nameless Performance, Inc.

That car gained 30 ft-lb of torque. That’s rather significant, especially considering that this car wasn’t tuned…they just bolted on a catback and dyno’d it! And if you haven’t looked at the comments within that FB post, take a look:

FB User: Wow…that’s a very good gain for just a catback! And without a tune! Says a lot about the stock parts…LOL! Nameless should post that up at IWSTI, because all I ever hear there is that catback exhausts don’t add performance. Now, will GRs have a similar gain? I’ve the axleback…makes me want to replace some more bits.

Nameless Performance, Inc.: Well that’s some bs from what we’ve seen on our design – unless there is some serious shortcoming on other companies exhausts. I know our downpipe thumps on the competition for torque gains, but this was just a cbe with a stock downpipe and no tune. Will have more data forthcoming on full turboback with OTS S2 as well as our specific OTS S2 tune for these cars. Think we can hit 70ft lb? We shall see. Downpipe goes on tomorrow.

FB User: I’m quite happy with the CBE results, since I’m currently trying not to mod the engine. Maybe the other companies exhausts DO have shortcomings, but you guys just proved to me that, sometimes, internet forums are a crock of shit. I’m sure you can hit 70 ft/lb, because you’re almost halfway there already!

Nameless Performance, Inc.: Yeah I mean the total numbers on this CBE for peak HP gain are 12hp, but we make 17hp at 3100RPM and 29.5 ft lb at the same RPM range. I honestly think it’s a situation where CBE manufacturers don’t do the testing for the most part, so they don’t have any information to share which leads to people having to assume low power gains due to no advertised dyno results. I do think this one is particularly good, however.

Also:

FB User: How much gain on a 2011 wrx full catback ?

Nameless Performance, Inc.: 32ft lb / 22hp at the wheels for the ’11 Full Catback. That was dyno’d with a stage 1 ots tune for the baseline and no deviation from that tune on the equipped with cbe pull. This testing on the GD is stock vs. add CBE.

I thought I’d posted about this before, but I couldn’t find the post. It may’ve predated this blog. I also thought I’d seen a post referring to axle-back gains, but I’m still looking for that one (took me 50 minutes to find the first one).

Subaru still considering a five-door version of its new WRX – Motoring.com.au

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From Motoring.com.au:

http://www.motoring.com.au/news/subaru/impreza/wrx-hatch-still-a-chance-42559

Don’t give up hope for a hatchback version of Subaru’s new WRX just yet.

That’s the message from WRX Project General Manager, Masuo Takatsu, who told motoring.com.au at this week’s Australian launch of the fourth-generation model that a five-door body style was still under consideration.

I shared a very similar article back in Feb regarding Subaru possibly working on a hatch version. The more news we hear of this, the stronger the possibility that this isn’t just a rumor. Me? I’m not a hatch guy but I’ve no problem with a hatch version existing, as long as it doesn’t water down the platform as a whole (divided attention does tend to make for a less focused product).

Also note that the article talks mainly of the WRX. I’m not sure if this will trickle to the STI variant.