I just testdrove two other cars to compare to the subi impreza wagon (VW golf TDI and 1.8T). I feel like I will need a little more power, little bit better acceleration. Any suggestions for reasonably priced upgrades. I am going to get the 16" wheels from tire racke and Bridgestone RE910. That will set me back about $756. I will have another $500 to spend. Thanks for your help.

Turbo.

Let's be a little more realistic. It looks like that is the "standard answer to evry hp topic" I want something that will make the car feel just a little better without braking the bank. I will have only $500 for mods this year.

Unfortunately, if you want power, you need to be willing to pay for it.. and to be honest, a turbo really is the most cost effective way to get meaningful power gains.

You might be able to free up a few HP here and there from intake, exhaust, underdrive pulley, and some mild S-AFC tuning, but that's about it. I have all of the above on my 2.5RS, and I can truthfully claim that my car responds better and revs faster, but I don't think my car is significantly "faster" than before. I'm saving my money for the turbo..

If they had a 2.5 engine in the wagon, I would have gotten it. Unfortunately, they only have the 2.2. If you really need the cargo room and the power right now, I think you might actually be happier with the Golf 1.8T, or even a VR6.

Me? I'll wait for the turbocharged Impreza to come out next year or two, and put out an APB to all junkyards in the area looking for a crashed WRX with a salvageable motor and tranny. http://208.9.184.110/NonCGI/wink.gif

-Edwin

Well, you do have a few options...

Underdrive pulley. $180. 5% hp gain.

Intake / Exhaust: When Shiv tested intakes and exhausts on his project RS before turboing, he found 15 hp (10%) gains.
<ul> AMSOIL Filter $40-60. <a href="http://home.cdsnet.net/~zastava/productspowerfilter.html" target="_blank">Draken parts</a> had basically cornered the market, but <a href="http://www.lubedealer.com/griffin/" target="_blank">Jim Griffin</a> (an independent AMSOIL rep) says that the filter is available (though with a conservative 4-6 week wait) for less than Draken's prices. The filter for a '98 2.5 GT will be about $40 after shipping is added in.
Weapon*R type intakes. ~$130 (I'm totally guessing). I'm not convinced that they're worth the extra $$. They're pretty. But, the MY99 RSs are shedding MAFs like they're going out of style...
Exhaust: There are bunches out there. figure $4-600. Less is certainly possible.
[/list]

If it's definitely power you're after, I think that you'd be well-served to go with the AMSOIL filter (or a K&N filtercharger if you'd prefer) and an exhaust. Then, maybe an underdrive pulley as well.

However, Mike (the demi-god) Shields's Impreza is running a stock 1.8l engine (at least it was last I heard) but is a handling beast due to upgrades to the suspension. You can get a set of KYB AGX adjustable struts for ~$440. Springs will cost depending on what you go for... I'd expect that you could pick up a set of stock RS springs here for fairly cheap.

Whichever way you go. Enjoy!! http://208.9.184.110/NonCGI/biggrin.gif

**- Eric
****'98 2.5 GT Wagon - <a href="http://208.9.184.110/MembersList/ViewMemberPics.cfm?MemberID=143" target="_blank">Pics</a> - <a href="http://users.vei.net/lanam/eric/radioflyer.htm" target="_blank">Page</a> -

<small>&lt;Edit: In looking at Mike's site ( www.spdusa.com (http://www.spdusa.com) ) it looks like his car is only a 1.8l, not a 2.2l as I'd thought...&gt;

&lt;Edit II: I was corrected while I was correcting myself. Damn. You guys can be quick! http://208.9.184.110/NonCGI/tongue.gif&gt;</small>

[This message has been edited by Radio Flyer (edited March 31, 2000).]

Actually mike shields is running a stock 1.8l engine.

you're basically trading in a little less hp for AWD and amazing handling form that wagon. No don't evne think of getting RS springs as they are not strong enuf for your butt. hehehe. I meant your wagon's butt.
I have a 99 OBS and it has UR pulley, 2.25" catback, and K&N filter. Pulls better than stock. (ets hp now ~ 155hp?) But the difference is not like you dump in a turbo. Where I live, I need the AWD performance. If you don't need AWD, I would suggest of getting the 1.8t golf and chip it!
Also do you drive manual or auto?


[This message has been edited by Gambit (edited March 30, 2000).]

Originally posted by Gambit:
No don't even think of getting RS springs as they are not strong enuf for your butt. hehehe. I meant your wagon's butt.

Not speaking from first-hand knowledge at all, but based on the specs at Subaru's website for both the Impreza L SportWagon and the 2.5 RS Sedan, I have trouble believing that the additional 10 lbs of weight in the wagon (2835 lbs. L Wagon vs. 2825 lbs. RS) is going to overload the RS's springs...

thanks for the suggestions. It looks like the impreza wagon will be the car I will get. The Subi dealer did not let me take the car of the main dealership strip. The VW dealer told me to drive it like it was my own and took me on some realy twisty ranch roads. I think that is why my subi impressions were not that great.

I am going to put an 18mm rear bar in. I will definately put a new filter in, I am not convinced that all those intakes are worth the $$$. Unfortunately there is no chance for a turbo since I will be building a house in 4-5 years. I am not looking for huge hp gain, I just want a little more kick.

Even after looking through the archive I am confused about the underdrive pulley. Is my understanding that it lets the engine rev faster correct? That is what I liked about the 1.8T. It reved realy fast in first and second gear.

Thank you very much for the feedback.

It's not the overall weight. It's the rear portion of the weight which is need to be supported properly. I had this problem believing too but Mike Shields insisted that a sedan rear springs will not be able to support the wagon's rear properly. I wish I kept his email response. But I lost it. Remember that the sport wagon has smaller engine, wheel etc.... so it may be more than just 10lbs. Anyhow that's my story and I am keepin' it! http://208.9.184.110/NonCGI/tongue.gif

dhany why don't u go to another dealer and test drive another one?

My 0.02 - I'm going to agree with Gambit on this one and say that if you don't need the AWD, get the 1.8T and chip it. Quite a bit of power (~225-230HP) can be had out of the 1.8 without much work. If you want to get a decent amount of power out of the subie, it is possible, but it will cost you. I live in CO, so AWD is a must. Otherwise, I would have something like a Supra, RX-7, or M3 in the garage.

The Scoobies are an all-around good performing car. However, if you are looking for something with a lot of punch "out of the box", it may not be the car you are looking for. Have you looked at the MY99 Eclipse GSX? Nice ride, AWD, pretty quick. Kinda porky, but worth a glance. Good luck.

-Diz

Yeah.. you can change the struts to RS struts (cheapest supsension upgrade for a wagon,) but the RS springs will cause the rear of the wagon to sag. It's not that bad, but it is noticible: as if the rear is lowered and the front is not.

Thanks for supporting me bahumut. http://208.9.184.110/NonCGI/biggrin.gif This really limits the spring choice for wagon owners. Anyone knows of other brand other than the WRX springs which has 1" drop?

umm, drop a 22b engine in? :P
it's stil a 2.2 :P

Hey I am currently waiting for Mr.UPS man
to bring me KYB GR-2's and H&R springs for my
OBS 98 I am told I will get 1.25 in the front and 1 in the rear of a drop.
I do all my own work so give me a couple of weeks and I will tell you all how good\bad\ugly it went

My suggestion for your 2.2L (I being a 2.2L owner myself with alot of mods) with @$500 you can get an Intake, and Pulley and if you can play your cards right an exhaust or do the rear sway bar(prefered). To see my mods look in the members section.
Rich

Oh so you're the person who emailed me as barbara. Who's Barbara? Are you Barbara cus you signed off as Glenn.
NE ways, I didn't recall H&R made Impreza wagon springs. Becareful as you might get your rear to sag if the springs are for the regular Imprezas. The OBS rear is heavier than the regular Imp's rear. Just a heads up. The GR-2s are good shocks. Those are comparable to the WRX shocks.
I'm using KYB AGX/Eibach combo right now and am loving it. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smile.gif

I am going to get the 16" wheels from tire rack and Bridgestone RE910. That will set me back about $756.


Hey dhanys, welcome fellow wagoneer! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif I think we all wish the wagon came with a 2.5. It's very embarressing when you get smoked by a soccer mom in a Forester. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/tongue.gif I chose the Scoobie over the TDI also.

Anyhow, I can guess what wheels you are about to buy. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/eek.gif I strongly suggest you do a search on wheel offset first, and read this:
http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/Forum15/HTML/001640.html

If you aren't planning to upgrade the brakes, for which you might need 16" wheels, another good/cheap choice might be the 15" alloy takeoffs from TireRack (not listed on the web site, just ask on the phone). They are Subie OEM, so they fit. The *gold* 16" OEM alloys are cheap and available, too, but the silver ones are not cheap. Inexpensive 16" wheels that really fit Scubie's are not easy to find. Good luck! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/wink.gif

And definitely upgrade the rear sway bar. Right away!


[This message has been edited by DuneHopper (edited June 22, 2000).]

I've got TireRack 15" Subaru OEM alloy take offs on my 96 OBS, with Toyo Proxes 205/60x15 tires and the 18mm bar (SPD). Car handles much better than stock. Am in on the suspension group buy at Ground Control (see Classifieds) which is still open a/o today. Am waiting for 9"Eibachs (315F/280R) and AGX adjustables. The bar plus the suspension mods will set you back about $900 if you self install. Best investment IMO.

Unless you have another car you need AWD. I live at Lake Tahoe and know the weather around here. Buy an underdrive pulley and intake.

Considered adapting your 2.2 to the Legacy Turbo? That's another thing I can think of...

Otherwise go with the $200 Borla muffler from carparts.com/custom piping combination and an intake.

Err....drivng a manual helps a lot. Not sure about you dunehopper, but i have ye tto be smoked by any Forester in my area. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif Only the other day I handed a wet hanky to a modified Miata. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/tongue.gif

Gambit, I am driving a 5 speed. The other day I also toasted a Miata, on a nice twisty road; he couldn't hang in the corners (it helped that I knew the road). http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif

On the very same stretch of road, a soccer mom in a Forester toasted me once. Once. (lighten up, Francis http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/wink.gif ). She knew what she had under the hood, and opened it up on the straights, and she did pretty well in the corners, too. A stock OBS just can't compete with that acceleration. Surprised the #&%#* outa me!

Gambit, I couldn't find your profile (?). Specifically what springs are you running? (length and rate, please). I'm feeling a bit underdamped with the stock suspension combined with the 18 mm rear bar, so I'm asking all the wagoneers.

Look Under Alwin in the Canadian region. I used to have 18mm with the stock suspension. Didn't feel underdamped. <shrug>
But I did lose to a Dodge R/T V8/V10? sport truck though.... I think even a Type R wold lose to that thing on a wide open road. Got the jump on him but once it gets going, it's "so long Subaru!" http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by Gambit (edited June 23, 2000).]

Found ya. Alwin/Gambit, from Mississauga/Toronto. Confusing. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/confused.gif

Yeah, our stockish Scubies aren't going to impress anyone on a straight. Give me a nice, wet curve...(was I talking about driving?) http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif

Gambit, please tell us a bit more about those Eibachs on a wagon. Were they specific for the wagon? How's the ride height? Is your rear sagging? How about the car's? With weight in it?

I see Ken chose a 35 lb. difference from front to rear springs, as opposed to the 50 lb. usually recommended for sedans/coupes.

Everything fits nioe with my eibachs. THe ride height is much lower.
If you go to the yahoo OBS board, you will find some postings in regards to OBS ride height (mod and stock). My car sits at 64cm from ground to the fender top. The springs had some impact on the handling. But the key are my KYB AGX adjustable struts. They totally rock!