2015 WRX auto-x impressions

[rustyshackelford]

I was able to get -2* in the front and the rear was about the same. No crash bolts needed the stock bolt was plenty.

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[epv]

Is there any opinion on 235/45R17 vs 245/40R17 for DS? I've only run once so far but wasn't really running out of revs on the stock tires.

[rustyshackelford]

I would run the 255's, plenty of room and they have been great for me so far.

[epv]

Isn't 255 on an 8" rim a bit much? What sidewall are you running?

[SoapBox]

Originally Posted by epv

Isn't 255 on an 8" rim a bit much? What sidewall are you running?

Pretty common for autox...as well as trackdays. Not a big deal.

[purplesauce]

I just took mine to its first autox this weekend (also my first autox). So nothing to compare it to but it was a s**t-load of fun and had all of the other subaru autoxers swarming around it all day. I feel like a noob for asking this question but is torque vectoring still active in TRAC mode or do you have to leave traction control in full on to get it? Took 3rd out of 20 in novice BTW

[epv]

Trac is everything but brake torque vectoring off. At least according to the manual.

[purplesauce]

Originally Posted by epv

Trac is everything but brake torque vectoring off. At least according to the manual.

beauty. that's what i had assumed. I would have been pretty bummed if i had talked to so many people about it but really had it off the whole day.

[Mrlaigle]

Going to my first event with the 15 wrx Sunday at FedEx in DC. Anyone else be there? Looking forward go seeing what this thing can do. I'll report back with my feelings and go pro vids.

[stevesnow]

I just went to my first auto-x yesterday at Fedex Field & met MrLaigle above hah and after reading all this I have to say...

- Car was plowing everywhere on the turns (I think mostly my fault as an inexperienced driver I could have corrected a substantial amount of it I think)

- Suspension felt pretty good I think a lot of the movement may have been me not evenly/controlling the weight transfer... (steering inputs too quick left to right-- not smooth transitioning)

- Turned the traction controls all OFF for all the runs (wish I left it in "TRAC" mode) Someone just mentioned it but, "Trac" mode turns everything off except that brake torque vectoring? Has anyone ran with everything on? hah I might have done better...

- Put the stock tires at 42 front and 40 rear and bled down to about 38 & 36... may pump it to 45 and 40 next time to try to counter-act the under-steer...

- I have the CVT and I kept it in the S# mode with 8 speeds so that 2nd would keep the RPM's higher at any given speed... at least that's what was logical... I will have to see what 2nd gear maxes at for the 8 speed and 6 speed modes... I did run into massive lag where my friend was telling me to "okay floor it here" and I already was ... I may try the "left-foot" braking like mentioned above and give it some gas to get the turbo to spool...how exactly are you doing that? Could you elaborate? like doing 25% throttle and 100% braking or what?

- I may experiment with downshifting to 1st then back up for the turns on account of the paddles shifting VERY fast and not having to worry about shifting the fastest or perfectly... I don't know maybe just carrying more speed through turns will keep the RPM's Up.... Anyone Auto-Xing with the CVT have any ideas???!

Future Autocross Ideas:
- When I get Hankook RS3's or Bridgestone Poetenza RE-11A's I will be getting as much negative front and rear camber as I can...
- for D-Street I am allowed one sway bar and I was thinking about getting a rear sway to help with the understeer also new rear end links; (Stock is 23 Front and 20 Rear)

http://www.rallysportdirect.com/Whit...8-2011-WRX-STI

Probably wait until the spring to do that though because that's going to be running a lot of money... I'm getting All-Seasons in Nov then probably Hankook AS3's for Auto-x in march-april

About the sway bar, I am a little worried that it will be less stable making turns at higher speeds on the highway ramps and such... I don't want it to oversteer really I am just trying to get as neutral as I can... Or maybe I do just not so much at higher speeds hah? Just don't ever want to spin out out on the roads... Thoughts?

There was a guy with a 2015 STI there and he had a rear sway or so I was told... he took me on his first run (God he is fast and so is that car...) Anyways I didn't really see him have trouble with understeer... except at the end when we plowed through 3 cones at the 45 degree angle to the finish line but he came in too hot not the cars fault...

- As far as the engine giving less power throughout the day, it felt slow from the start due to the turbo lag I talked about above... Highest Oil Temps I saw was 220... I may get a water sprayer to spray down the intercooler though when I do figure out how to counter-act the lag... the 2015 STI guy did... I don't think the tires got hot enough to warrant cooling down either...

Originally Posted by ubersoph

Torque vectoring is great - helps me make turns I shouldn't

The car is actually incredibly competent, and still very fun to drive - I imagine in STX trim this car would be fantastic - perhaps the car to have in STX, even more so than the twins? I'd love to see some sibling rivalry - BRZ/FRS vs WRX (vs the bmws and the RX-8 I guess...)

Loved your torque vectoring comment! hah! & I ran STX just to be in the same session as a friend that could ride-along and help... Someone mentioned to me I should be in STU but I think they're incorrect I can go DS & STX technically if I'm stock right?

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS THREAD! Let's get these 2015 WRX's really competitive in DS & STX!

[imceach]

I ran in my first Auto X this weekend, did DS with the 15 and novice. The car was great and and did everything I asked it to. The only issues I ran into was a little under steer and I thought my tires were a little heat soaked on my last run since my 4th and 5th runs were back to back, but it ended up being my fastest time. To my surprise I took first in the novice group. I'm going to edit the in-car footage I got tonight. Our region has a 24 hour event coming up, might try that to get a lot of seat time.

[stevesnow]

Originally Posted by imceach

I ran in my first Auto X this weekend, did DS with the 15 and novice. The car was great and and did everything I asked it to. The only issues I ran into was a little under steer and I thought my tires were a little heat soaked on my last run since my 4th and 5th runs were back to back, but it ended up being my fastest time. To my surprise I took first in the novice group. I'm going to edit the in-car footage I got tonight. Our region has a 24 hour event coming up, might try that to get a lot of seat time.

Did you use the "Track" mode or turn it completely off? Also what tire pressures were you using?

[imceach]

I ran it in trac mode for every run. On my first run I was almost forgot trac mode and hit the trunk button in my rush and had to have the start line guy close it. My tires were at 37 if I remember right. I didn't put more in as it was threatening to pour all morning and I ended up not really having time to put more in after it stayed dry. That's another thing to dial in next time.

[Mach V Dan]

Originally Posted by 573

-Turbo lag. It's not very noticeable in normal driving, but becomes very noticeable when you need power to get out of a tight turn.

Originally Posted by ubersoph

Turbo lag

Okay, so the OP's other car is an LS-powered Miata. I understand that he might notice some lag from the WRX. But compared to the older-generation WRX/STI cars, this car has NO lag. In the 2015 WRX I see full boost by probably 2500 rpm. That didn't happen in the older cars until 3000 or 3500 RPM. It's really a huge improvement.

Same goes for the suspension. Sure, it understeers a little, but the older chassis was an understeer hippo compared to this. The nose grips pretty well and the turn-in is, to me, vastly better than the GR/GV chassis cars.

--Dan
Mach V
FastWRX.com

[Subie_Noob_Brian]

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[imceach]

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[epv]

Originally Posted by Mach V Dan

Okay, so the OP's other car is an LS-powered Miata. I understand that he might notice some lag from the WRX. But compared to the older-generation WRX/STI cars, this car has NO lag. In the 2015 WRX I see full boost by probably 2500 rpm. That didn't happen in the older cars until 3000 or 3500 RPM. It's really a huge improvement.

Same goes for the suspension. Sure, it understeers a little, but the older chassis was an understeer hippo compared to this. The nose grips pretty well and the turn-in is, to me, vastly better than the GR/GV chassis cars.

--Dan
Mach V
FastWRX.com

He mentioned that he had never done autox before. I'm just assuming that he was on the throttle/too hot into corners. As far as the lag... he's running a CVT, I would guess that his torque converter was ****ting a brick.

[jesup16]

Only Pre 2008 WRX's go in STX. If you ran in STX with a newer WRX, you were mis-classed. Technically, the new 2014 rule book doesn't have the 2015 WRX classed, but since it has roughly the same power as 2009+, it will likely end up in STU. At that point, you will be outgunned by STI's, because STU only allows for stock boost and other limited upgrades. Ask me how I know...

Also, STU only allows up to 245mm wide tires for AWD vehicles. Choose your tires wisely.

[stevesnow]

Originally Posted by jesup16

Only Pre 2008 WRX's go in STX. If you ran in STX with a newer WRX, you were mis-classed. Technically, the new 2014 rule book doesn't have the 2015 WRX classed, but since it has roughly the same power as 2009+, it will likely end up in STU. At that point, you will be outgunned by STI's, because STU only allows for stock boost and other limited upgrades. Ask me how I know...

Also, STU only allows up to 245mm wide tires for AWD vehicles. Choose your tires wisely.

I did as much research as I could and from what I could tell the 2015 WRX fit in the STX class with the "2.0L" engine, do you know what makes it go to the STU class? I didn't see any specifics on engine power...

Also for DS what would be the modifications that are allowed that would make it the most competitive? A rear sway and good tires? Best bang for the buck? & what mods would put me in STU over DS? I can't find any solid information online for classing...

[jesup16]

Originally Posted by stevesnow

I did as much research as I could and from what I could tell the 2015 WRX fit in the STX class with the "2.0L" engine, do you know what makes it go to the STU class? I didn't see any specifics on engine power...

Also for DS what would be the modifications that are allowed that would make it the most competitive? A rear sway and good tires? Best bang for the buck? & what mods would put me in STU over DS? I can't find any solid information online for classing...

The class isn't defined by displacement. Trust me, it's an STU class car for Street Touring. There's no way the new WRX version will be STX.

If I had a WRX, I'd target DS. It will be a tough car to be nationally competitive with in STU or higher classes...or even locally against the STI's and EVO's.

DS would only allow modification to tires, shocks, 1 sway bar, wheels (must be OEM width, within 1/4" or 6mm offset of OEM, and +/- 1" diameter), exhaust (must have a catalytic converter). You can't have tune.

Here's a link to the rule book if you want to know exactly what's allowed in DS vs STU. http://www.scca.com/solo/content.cfm?cid=44517

[Subie_Noob_Brian]

[Mach V Dan]

Originally Posted by epv

He mentioned that he had never done autox before. I'm just assuming that he was on the throttle/too hot into corners. As far as the lag... he's running a CVT, I would guess that his torque converter was ****ting a brick.

I was replying to the Original Poster (OP) and ubersoph. Both of them appear to be experienced autocrossers, and neither of them mentioned CVT. I was NOT replying to stevesnow.

--Dan
Mach V
FastWRX.com

[epv]

I apologize for misreading your comment then.

[AlxSti]

Sorry if I missed it (since I didn't read the entire thread), but have you tracked any other year WRX or STi for comparison?

[Mrlaigle]

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This was also my first autocross. I had a great time. I left a lot of time out there, seconds could be made up I'm sure with later breaking and faster turn ins.