Stage 2 questions.

[cmzwirner]

I am going to be purchasing an 02 Aspen White WRX soon, and im looking for the best bang for your buck upgrades.

After looking around, i have come to the conclusion that a Stage 2 setup would be my best option.

I have a few questions over this that i would love the answers to..

1. Is there anyb way to get a Stage 2 setup for cheaper than they are selling it for on the cobb tuning website?

2. If so, will purchasing an accessport and a TBE be the same thing as Cobb's kit?

3. Would purchasing a separate TBE with the accessport bring me lower horsepower gains? Could they potentially be higher?

4. What are some other cost effective, and good reliable first mods that i can do for under $2500?

Thanks!

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[kpluiten]

Originally Posted by cmzwirner

I am going to be purchasing an 02 Aspen White WRX soon, and im looking for the best bang for your buck upgrades.

After looking around, i have come to the conclusion that a Stage 2 setup would be my best option.

I have a few questions over this that i would love the answers to..

1. Is there anyb way to get a Stage 2 setup for cheaper than they are selling it for on the cobb tuning website?

2. If so, will purchasing an accessport and a TBE be the same thing as Cobb's kit?

3. Would purchasing a separate TBE with the accessport bring me lower horsepower gains? Could they potentially be higher?

4. What are some other cost effective, and good reliable first mods that i can do for under $2500?

Thanks!

1. Yes! The cheapest route (and not really bad at all ! ) is this: eBay catless uppipe (or gut your own for even cheaper), eBay downpipe, and an opensource protune from a good tuner ($250+). The Accessport is cool, don't get me wrong, but a protune will yeild you much more power than a cobb off the shelf map. You can get a protune on a Cobb acessport or through open source. I have not had any fitment issues with my ebay pipes. I've had a lot of fitment issues with name brand parts (Invidia, APS, etc) Go figure. ???

2. Dunno, I haven't looked at the cobb kit.

3. It's ALL ( I REPEAT ALL) in the tune at that point. No TBE is really going to make much more power than any other TBE. At Stage II, the tune is the critical part. Don't forget your uppipe needst to be cleared out too.

4. Brakes and suspension can be done up real well for 1500 to 2000. Make it stop, make it turn, then make it go!

But yeah, find the best tuner you can. That's the difference between ok power and great power, ok mpg and better than stock mpg, blown motor and 100K mile reliability.

I did not follow my advice (about the tuner) and made short work of my motor at stage II.

[that1dude]

My ideas of best bang for the buck upgrades in no particular order:
1. swaybars and endlinks (used if you can find em. check the classified forums.)
2. brake pads & braided hoses (H6 upgrade can also be done for under $100)
3. good alignment
4. ebay tbe
5. as stated above, an open source tune (or check for a used AP)


my $.02

[kpluiten]

Originally Posted by that1dude

Best bang for the buck upgrades:
1. swaybars and endlinks (used if you can find em. check the classified forums.)
2. brake pads & braided hoses (H6 upgrade can also be done for under $100)
3. as stated above, an open source tune (or check for a used AP)
4. ebay tbe

my $.02

I agree on the first 2 for sure. Swaybars on these cars are a must. The brake upgrades are very noticeable too! I'd also recommend a good brake fluid while your bleeding them.

[Byzantium]

Anybody actually recommending an eBay exhaust without even knowing where the OP lives is outright foolish.

[cmzwirner]

So basically.. I can buy a nice TBE, and bring it into a tuner and have an opensource tune done to it without the AP?

I dont have a laptop that can be used for this. So is everything done at the tuners? Or so i have to provide some stuff?

[kpluiten]

Originally Posted by Byzantium

Anybody actually recommending an eBay exhaust without even knowing where the OP lives is outright foolish.

Care to explain? Are you talking about rusting issues or something because my eBay pipes are stainless and have had zero issues...

Originally Posted by cmzwirner

So basically.. I can buy a nice TBE, and bring it into a tuner and have an opensource tune done to it without the AP?

I dont have a laptop that can be used for this. So is everything done at the tuners? Or so i have to provide some stuff?

Yup. And any decent tuner will have his own equipment to tune with (tactrix cable, computer, wideband, etc).

[DarkKnightBaku]

id definitely agree on the sways changes the car quite a bit

[allday789]

sway bars, ebay or used turbo back exhaust, ebay or used upipe(sti upipe can be found here for around $50), and a good tune. There are a wealth of used exhaust components to be found on nasioc.

[Byzantium]

The above recommendation of using an eBay up-pipe is absolutely ridiculous.

Originally Posted by kpluiten

Care to explain? Are you talking about rusting issues or something because my eBay pipes are stainless and have had zero issues...

There are varying grades of stainless steel and most, if not all, of them have shown to have lied about the grade used in their ads. I can't think of a single model that hasn't been shown to rust when exposed to northern climates. You live in dry AZ. There is a reason the military mothballs their outdated and unused hardware in your state.

[kpluiten]

Originally Posted by Byzantium

The above recommendation of using an eBay up-pipe is absolutely ridiculous.



There are varying grades of stainless steel and most, if not all, of them have shown to have lied about the grade used in their ads. I can't think of a single model that hasn't been shown to rust when exposed to northern climates. You live in dry AZ. There is a reason the military mothballs their outdated and unused hardware in your state.

I lived in MI with this car for 2 winters... No issues.

For the money saved, I'll take my chances. And who cares if I need to replace the thing in three years. Often for the money saved, you can replace the thing at least once and still come out ahead.

It's not a ridiculous suggestion at all. For all you know, he could live in AZ right next to me in which case a eBay uppipe would be just fine.

[cmzwirner]

I'M in Maine... :P

[DirtyBanana]

Originally Posted by cmzwirner

I am going to be purchasing an 02 Aspen White WRX soon, and im looking for the best bang for your buck upgrades.

After looking around, i have come to the conclusion that a Stage 2 setup would be my best option.

I have a few questions over this that i would love the answers to..

1. Is there anyb way to get a Stage 2 setup for cheaper than they are selling it for on the cobb tuning website?

Yes. Purchasing used/ebay items can save a lot of money.


2. If so, will purchasing an accessport and a TBE be the same thing as Cobb's kit?

There might be a small varience in sound and performance.

3. Would purchasing a separate TBE with the accessport bring me lower horsepower gains? Could they potentially be higher?

Could be either. At that setup different exhausts won't show big losses/gains.

4. What are some other cost effective, and good reliable first mods that i can do for under $2500?

Many as people have mentioned. I got my stage 2 setup for like 750 (used parts ect). You could go with rims/tires, sways, turbo upgrade etc.



Thanks!

Answers above.

Any pictures of the car?

[FFblevins85]

fill out your profile!
get a catless up pipe and downpipe, and find an sti muffler, sounds great not too loud and you can still hear the rumble, find someone with a tactrix cable and laptop and get an ots stage 2 map and you will have only spent maybe 600 bucks!