[GilMikalian]

I never really pushed my ride with the stock tune but I can tell you that I did experience any such hesitation with stage 1 or 2 maps. I used the Cobb maps and have confirmed that they are spot on in terms of wringing the most power while providing for a safe tune.

[Turninconcepts.com]

I would say that there is more power and specifically torque available from other tunes. Jorge at P and L is wringing out more torque that anyone else I have seen on the 08.

The issues that OP speaks of are all in the tune. As mentioned, it is garbage and needs to be replaced as soon as the car is purchased.

Tony

[inpuressa]

Originally Posted by Kaneda

Supermarkus, that's exactly what it feels like...as if the car pulls, hesitates, pulls, hesitates...it's freaking annoying because the car is still fast, it just feels ****ty when you step on it...as if the engine wants to quit, then go, quit, then go...Should I get an accessport to correct this?

Also, WTF was Subaru thinking releasing a car like this? Never had this issue in my 04...seriously, who are they appeasing with this tune/build? Numb steering and horrible tune is one way to lose customers, quickly...I almost feel like selling this car and hoping into something more communicative/fun...

Ck

You can thank emissions for that. And the environmentalists

[Hitman83]

Originally Posted by wyattroa1

when im driving mine around it seems different everytime when i get on it.. sometimes it will pull and then once it reaches about 4500rpm just takes off.. other times it reaches 4500rpm and not kick in the pants feeling.
robert

You're feeling a loss of power because the car's pulling timing. Be careful beating on it until you get it tuned.

[sutter2k]

Originally Posted by inpuressa

You can thank emissions for that. And the environmentalists

Steering feel kills polar bears..

[tshrey]

Originally Posted by Turninconcepts.com

I would say that there is more power and specifically torque available from other tunes. Jorge at P and L is wringing out more torque that anyone else I have seen on the 08.

The issues that OP speaks of are all in the tune. As mentioned, it is garbage and needs to be replaced as soon as the car is purchased.

Tony

Other tunes that are off the shelf? I don't know of any other than Perrin and on my car the Cobb was superior.

I can't see how you can compare a protune to an OTS map. As for the more torque comment, nothing against Jorge I hold him in the highest regard, but I don't see how you can make this statement unless you are going to compare protunes from other tuners all on the same dyno. I know I would love to have Sponaugle's torque curve...

[RiftsWRX]

The '08 throttle mapping is absolutely atrocious!

Honestly, the '08 STI mapping reminds me of the very soft throttle of the LGT's.

Now as for everything else in terms of detonation, etc. Yes, it's very much a real problem. Something I posted about weeks ago, but no one seemed to take heed. I'll bump the post back up for everyone's benefit.

[Digitalfiend]

Originally Posted by RiftsWRX

The '08 throttle mapping is absolutely atrocious!

Honestly, the '08 STI mapping reminds me of the very soft throttle of the LGT's.

Now as for everything else in terms of detonation, etc. Yes, it's very much a real problem. Something I posted about weeks ago, but no one seemed to take heed. I'll bump the post back up for everyone's benefit.

Can you clarify exactly what the SI modes have control over? My very limited understanding (from RomRaider.com regarding the Legacy) is that there are three or four throttle maps and that the X axis is the requested torque, which in turn ties into boost targets and how the wastegate duty cycle is set, etc. Is this correct? If you have the time, I would love to get more information on this for the site. I can even make it a sticky or reference it from a "Threads of interest" thread. I know many people here would appreciate it.

Thanks.

[STI Sibb]

FYI...

The 07's had 2 major issues with the stock map.

1. Bucking under low load (lightly depressing the pedal). This bucking was and is still a problem for most even with a Cobb map (1.04 supposedly fixes it). This problem was also more apparent in stop-n-go traffic or when cruising down a hill without pressing the gas pedal.

2. Hesitation at ~3700-4500 rpm. This was easily reproduced by going WOT in gear 4, 5, or 6. At this rpm mark, you would feel a hesitation in power (it felt more like a rough stumble). For me, gear 3 was the only gear that did not feel the effects of the hesitation on a stock map. The hesitation was not turbo lag. PS. Don't test WOT until you've broken your engine in for the first 1,000 miles.

SoA offered a reflash to those that experienced the Hesitation problem. Cobb also fixed the Hesitation problem and stated that the stock map as an aggressive map and that it could lean out an engine under boost. People that purchased SPT air intakes made the problem worse on the stock map.

[RiftsWRX]

1: That's detonation.

2: That's also detonation... MAJOR detonation...

[RiftsWRX]

Originally Posted by Digitalfiend

Can you clarify exactly what the SI modes have control over? My very limited understanding (from RomRaider.com regarding the Legacy) is that there are three or four throttle maps and that the X axis is the requested torque, which in turn ties into boost targets and how the wastegate duty cycle is set, etc. Is this correct? If you have the time, I would love to get more information on this for the site. I can even make it a sticky or reference it from a "Threads of interest" thread. I know many people here would appreciate it.

Thanks.

Correct. Requested torque references two things. A DBW duty cycle, and a boost target.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[rj45]

Let me ask a question here.. Manufacturers are normally ultra-conservative when tuning a car, why is this stock Subaru tune so close to the edge? I wouldn't think Subaru would want their motors anywhere near detonating under normal operating conditions.

I understand EPA requirements, but to have manufacturers tune cars THAT close to reach them?? You can't have companies selling cars that don't run right. If it can only safely meet a certain mpg/pollution level, that's it.

The whole thing is ridiculous.

[RiftsWRX]

Originally Posted by rj45

Let me ask a question here.. Manufacturers are normally ultra-conservative when tuning a car, why is this stock Subaru tune so close to the edge? I wouldn't think Subaru would want their motors anywhere near detonating under normal operating conditions.

I understand EPA requirements, but to have manufacturers tune cars THAT close to reach them?? You can't have companies selling cars that don't run right. If it can only safely meet a certain mpg/pollution level, that's it.

The whole thing is ridiculous.

They simply haven't gotten it right yet.

BMW 335i's do the same thing, but don't det at 14.7:1. You can tell it is totally in the engine design and tuning. Plus, the fact that they run less boost helps as well.

In the end, could I tune it to not det? Sure! But if someone is paying me to go that far, I might as well tune it to PERFORM, not save a tree.

Here's my conspiracy theory on it.

Some bean counter at Subaru figures that 3 out of 10 STI's will blow up as a result of this. They then figure that 80% of those are modified, so they can simply deny them outright.

[Lurker]

Yup, this is the exact same issue as the 07's. Get tuned or at least stage 1 map ASAP. Or stay stock forever and get a new motor when it blows.

[STI Sibb]

Originally Posted by Lurker

Yup, this is the exact same issue as the 07's. Get tuned or at least stage 1 map ASAP. Or stay stock forever and get a new motor when it blows.

I was on the first stock map for 7,000 miles with the car broken in properly. It drove like a short and tall man in a 3 legged race. I was too ignorant to know the difference with it being my first turbo charged vehicle.

I then reflashed to the SoA reflash and I'm now sitting at 26,000 miles. This map is much smoother, but the low load bucking is annoying and my passengers still look at me like I'm messing with them when it bucks. "Try and sip that coffee one more time buddy" . A run on a Mustang dyno put it at 240 whp on the SoA reflash at 25,000 miles.

This car is completely stock. I also did not opt for any of the SPT items.

I'm curious if and when SoA will release a reflash for the 08 to cure some of its bugs. Cobb is a definite cure. Opensource is a cheaper cure, but you incur more risk from people that might not fully understand what they are tuning. The patient cure is to ride easy and wait for SoA. They usually only act if enough people take their vehicles in for an issue.