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Old 04-09-2006, 03:52 PM   #1
MustangRacer
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Default Low budget performance?

OK so i have a 2000 Subaru Legacy GT.

Its completly stock and has an auto transmission.

I can't afford a turbo kit.

Anyone have ideas on how to make it a little faster. Its pretty slugish and i looked up 1/4 mile times on the stock car and its in the 17's! ouch.

So basicaly just want the car to be little quicker like the mid to high 14 sec range.

What parts would you start with and what total mods would get me there?

Don't say tires cause i am not doing this for the track it would be a daily driver set up.

I appreciate any advice all the knowledgable people on this forum could give me.
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Old 04-09-2006, 04:16 PM   #2
LetItSnow
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High 14's? No turbo? Oof. I guess you could entirely gut the interior, shed the A/C and P/S, lose as much weight as possible (your own!) and wait for a tailwind.

A.K.A. "Ain't gonna happen."

I keep asking this, and nobody answers, so we'll give you a try: What kind of budget are you working on? Cash dictates direction.

For me, with a 3400lb. wagon, I'd set my sights on keeping speed attained, and that goes beyond the track.

So, how much money?
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Old 04-09-2006, 04:36 PM   #3
MustangRacer
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LOL sorry my car background is mostly V8 cars so I really didn't know you'd need a turbo to get that kind of time.

The car is a sedan not a wagon.

Oh i forgot to mention that i can't do any weight reduction if it involves taking out things. Only replaceing them with lighter stuff.

Anyway I really only have like 300 hundred bucks at this point. I wouldn't be doing everything at once but rather when i get another couple hunderd add somthing else and such like that.. I could basicaly put in $1000 per year.

Turbo would run me a few grand right...i would love to do a turbo but i just think it is impossible to find that much money at once...
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Old 04-09-2006, 05:07 PM   #4
MitchGT
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Sell it and buy a used WRX.
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Old 04-09-2006, 05:08 PM   #5
MustangRacer
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WRX is too small. I need the roomier interior.
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Old 04-09-2006, 07:22 PM   #6
ooberdoob
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sell a testicle and swap it. put in a 5MT while you're at it.
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Old 04-09-2006, 07:38 PM   #7
GTWagon_Phreak
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Sell it and buy used late model Legacy GT with turbo 2.5L 250HP
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Old 04-10-2006, 03:30 AM   #8
janikphoto
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you can get the obx ebay headers, but $300 won't buy much, and you won;t hit those speed numbers without a few grand...
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Old 04-10-2006, 08:38 AM   #9
WallyKincaid
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Cheap and car modding shouldnt really mix... its not somethin you wanna cut corners on. Do the small things like plugs and filter if you want, but thats smart for the cars overall life too. I dont think you can shave 3 seconds with 300 bucks, and it (sadly) probably isnt worth trying. Some cars are not made for mods or faster quarter mile times.
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Old 04-10-2006, 08:50 AM   #10
Gil
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yeah. i think you might be looking for the wrong thing out of this platform. these things simply aren't meant to shoot down the quarter-mile.

i've given trying to milk more power of out mine, and instead have gone the direction of improving braking & handling.
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Old 04-10-2006, 08:52 AM   #11
GTWagon_Phreak
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I had contemplated purchasing an Intake and Exhaust system for my BK, but when it comes down to I can't justify hundreds and hundreds of dollars in parts that will only make my car feel a little faster and not make a noticeable difference. Nor would I save thousands to turbo my 9 year old 206K miles wagon.

The car may not be a rocket, but she's got decent pull if you give it some gas and with a few cheap mods will handle very nicely. Just go auto-x it instead
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Old 04-10-2006, 10:01 AM   #12
Dealer Xing
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Just do a 1/4 mile downhill run
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Old 04-10-2006, 11:53 AM   #13
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17's to 14's is a multi-thousand dollar improvement on any car. It's even worse on an NA car because all the power making is hidden deep inside the engine... there's no turbo control system right at your finger tips to monkey with.

$300 on an NA car will change performance about as much as having a spat of cold weather (which makes the air a little denser). We're talking intake, pulleys, stuff that's almost imperceptable unless you use your imagination. You can also consider doing cosmetic things that make it seem faster and funner, like get a loud muffler, get a short shifter that feels sportier, get some new shocks or sway bar. Oh yeah, in most of those cases $300 is just getting you parts, not install.

Don't get me wrong, it's fun. I did that kind of little stuff to my RS which has the same engine as you, and it makes commuting a little more fun. But, reel in those expectations a bit



EDIT - sorry, I see that you actually plan to put in 1k per year. At that rate you could start after saving a few years. Yeah, cheapest way might be to sell your car and buy a used WRX. Next cheapest might be to swap in a 2.0T, especially if you can do it yourself and you don't mind investing months of free time in it. Next cheapest might be to buy a turbo kit for the EJ25, but keep in mind a) you're going to need to upgrade everything not just strap the turbo on b) EJ25s like to blow headgaskets with not a lot of boost - so you're going to have to dance around that issue big time while trying to get an EJ25 to pull the weight of a Legacy body to 14's. d) most expensive option is probably trying to get to 14's all-motor

Last edited by cowapult; 04-10-2006 at 12:14 PM.
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Old 04-10-2006, 11:55 AM   #14
WallyKincaid
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I want JDM WRX!

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I have a 99 Legacy GT and wanted more power... I ended up buying a SWEET twin turbo kit. But with complications and money involved I decided to sell the kit and just wait out until I can afford a WRX. You may want to look into saving/waiting and swapping, swapping a GC8 (JDM = more bang for the buck) or just buying a USDM WRX (simple, straight forward, no emissions issues).
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Old 04-11-2006, 09:35 AM   #15
MY99 2.5GT
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The best idea is to mod with a purpose. If your purpose is to eventually do a low boost turbo system then mod with things that will maybe give you a slight power or handling increase but will still be able to be used once the turbo goes on.

Suggested Mods w\ future turbo in mind:

Catback Exhaust (2.5" or larger if turbo is in the future)
Up-Rated Clutch (Stock Clutches begin to slip pretty well under stock power much less turbo power)
Lightened Flywheel (Lightened Flywheels reduce the rotating mass of the car allowing it to rev quicker. When weight reduction is talked about reducing rotating weight is about 3 time more noticable then dead weight. You will definitely feel more power here, I would venture to say you would even see a gas mileage improvement, however you will need to learn to slip the clutch a little more during launch)
Underdrive/Lightened Pulleys (These don't make as big of a difference as clutch/flywheel improvements but will again reduce rotating mass and look nice as well)
Ebay Intake (Even though you wouldn't be able to keep the NA intake once a turbo system is installed, it would be worth paying $100 for the improvement in power and looks while inbetween. You shouldn't have any trouble selling this once you do turbo upgrade)

One of the biggest pointers I could give you when modding your subaru: Keep your stock parts on hand. Do not sell these. If you regret any mod that you do and even think about swapping the stock parts back on you will pay an arm and a leg from a dealer. As well you may be able to pick up used parts on these boards but you really never know what your going to get.

Take care of suspension and braking before upgrading power. Our fat Legacy family cars can really be transformed with stiffer springs and strut. Adjustable rear swaybar is another cheap easy mod.

Brad
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Old 04-13-2006, 12:30 PM   #16
MustangRacer
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Thank you all for your responces.

I guess it was a harder task then i though. appreciate the input.
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Old 04-13-2006, 12:42 PM   #17
WallyKincaid
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I want JDM WRX!

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MY99 2.5GT - Where did you find sway bars and the like for the Legacy? Ive been lookin at all my favorite suby sites and come up highly dissapointed on Legacy products. Do any version of Impreza cross over? I wouldnt think so, but Im no expert.


edit - sorry Racer. Didnt mean to shoot you down or anything
If you want to swap I can put you in contact with some VERY fair, VERY well priced people.
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Old 04-13-2006, 01:02 PM   #18
Kraziken
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It seems a lot of the Subie stores are dropping links to our Legacy.

For the most part a lot of Impreza parts fit our cars, so on any particular item suspension, coilovers etc check out the search.

I do know one company that has blessed us with options is Whiteline. Check out www.pdm-racing.com

Or you can search their extensive product line at their home site. http://www.whiteline.com.au/

Oh, and Mustangracer, even though it doesn't add much power. A nice catback and intake still adds considerably more fun to the ride. The Butt dyno appreciated it. Real power is a bit harder to get. Handling and brakes are much more rewarding for the dollar.

Last edited by Kraziken; 04-13-2006 at 01:23 PM.
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Old 04-13-2006, 01:21 PM   #19
flanders
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Contact Brett at Renick. He just helped me out with a whiteline sway for my BH. The price was pretty good. Tell him Ned sent you.

Brett Moncur
Renick Subaru
1100 S. Euclid St.
Fullerton, CA 92832
[email protected]
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