[jbap222]

I just recently purchased my sti and im having trouble getting started with my mods. i have never owned an import so this is a bit of unfamiliar territory. I have got $1500 to spend not sure how to spend it. i am leaning towards horsepower mods and am also looking to stay legal. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance.

[tcam33]

The first thing I'm going to do is an ECU - (UTEC/Accessport) check out the Cobb site, www.cobbtuning.com for somewhere near the $1500 you could do exhaust + the Accessport (might have to wait a month or so)

[Boxer]

I second the Cobb suggestion as long as you don't want to go all out with mods.

[jbap222]

i have read that you need to port your wastegate if you decided to install an exhaist sytem. DO you have any idea of how much it would cost to do so? Also, would the dealership be able to tell that it was modified?

[tcam33]

If you port the wastegate you can tell the car has been modified if the turbo has to come off. If your looking for total stealth just go with the Accessport or other ECU. I've heard rumors that people running WRX's with the Cobb exhaust + accessport aren't getting boost creep and haven't ported the turbo. You could try the exhaust and if you get creep port the thing, it's not that expensive, some have done it themselves.

[ginubrian]

www.turboxs.com www.machv.com

[STIml8n]

sti pink lowering springs, gruppe-n hardened strut tops, cusco f/r swaybars.

the stock STi suspension is good, but with those mods, its fantastic! the car should have come stock with these springs, but...

ss brake lines, new fluid and pads

the stock STi brakes are CRAPPY, but with the ss lines, fluid and pads they will feel very solid. i'm on my 2nd set of pads after the lines and fluid because i wanted more bite, but the lines and fluid are ESSENTIAL for anyone modding their STis... with what i have planned i'm going to have to ditch the brakes all together for something bigger

[jagcars26]

Originally Posted by tcam33

If you port the wastegate you can tell the car has been modified if the turbo has to come off. If your looking for total stealth just go with the Accessport or other ECU. I've heard rumors that people running WRX's with the Cobb exhaust + accessport aren't getting boost creep and haven't ported the turbo. You could try the exhaust and if you get creep port the thing, it's not that expensive, some have done it themselves.

WRXs NEVER had a problem with boost creep with an aftertmarket turboback exhaust.

Rudy

[ss3homer]

What do you mean you can tell it's modded? He said HP, not wanting to go sleeper... Porting the wastegate is legal. Anyways, IMO, I would prefer to stay away from the COBB, I would trust someone like Turbo, but I like the Hydra more, because of it's tuning features. (Element Tuning) Good luck man

(After that go with a downpipe with a higher flow cat, and then after that is really up to personal preferance...)

[jbap222]

Sorry i have just a couple more questions for you guy. considering i am still new to the entire concept which of the three ecu choices which appears to be the most user friendly?

[Sc00by]

The Cobb Accessport should be the most user friendly of the bunch.

[CharBoiled]

Usually more user friendly means less personal tuning options, right?

With the AccessPort you don't have to mess with the actual tuning. Cobb already tunes the car for each stage, takes that information and uploads it to their site for people to download. With the AccessPort, all you need to do it plug it in and upload to the ECU. I went with the AccessPort because I didn't have access to a dyno and not very familiar with tuning the ECU.

I agree with everyone and say that you go with some sort of engine management. Then from there you add things. For $1500 you could definitly get an Accessport and exhaust (including exhaust installation).

Have fun.

Charles