[choklit]

hey guys newb here. im looking forward to getting an 05 sti and i come from honda/acura type cars. i've heard that the way to mod an sti is a lot different than the cars im used to. i've heard that getting an intake for a first mod is not the first thing i should do. why is this? what are the "stages" i read about on the site? how many stages are there and what mods are in each one?

thanks!

[boondocksaint]

All of your questions can be answered by reading the stickies and searching. Someone my take pity on you ()and just answer those questions, but I think you'll get a lot more by handling it on your own.

Welcome to IWSTI. Please read the stickies and enjoy the forums.

[deegee]

Pity taker has arrived. [I'm such an enabler]

Stage 1 is a basic reflash using a Cobb Accessport. ww.cobbtuning.com It smooths things out a lot and ads quite a bit of power IMHO for just a reflash

Stage 2 is at least a downpipe and a reflash to a stage 2 map.

Yes, intakes are not where to start with Subarus. Read, read read. ECUs are like women on this car, finicky, and stubborn but put out when you treat them some TLC.

[boxtwo]

Originally Posted by deegee

Pity taker has arrived. [I'm such an enabler]

Downright FUNNY!

Welcome to the site! Searching will lead to more opinions/answers/questions. Take a look around and see what you find.

[choklit]

sorry guys but i've searched and came up with only a few things. the stickies answered some of my questions but i still have some more that i cant find. like how many stages there are, but thanks for the info deegee

[boondocksaint]

Originally Posted by choklit

sorry guys but i've searched and came up with only a few things. the stickies answered some of my questions but i still have some more that i cant find. like how many stages there are, but thanks for the info deegee

Stages are kind of vaporware. Truth is, after Stage 2, the numbers become dependent on whom you're talking to. Some think a turbo upgrade is Stage 3, but some people have a Stage 3 shortblock, which is way more than a turbo upgrade. I'm not a power modder, though. You'd be much better served posing that question to some of our engine gurus.

Basically, after Stage 2, it's an open field. This is why you cannot find a definitive answer.

As far as your intake question, the general consensus - which isn't to say EVERYONE agrees - is that the stock intake is good for any kind of power you can make on the stock turbo. Again, this is by no means a definitive statement. Some of the big power guys replaced the intake long ago, and some people are running short rams with no other mods.

If you want my opinion, and it is just that, I'd wait until I was ready for a protune before I considered an intake, and even then, I would consult my tuner before getting it. They're going to know what will and will not work.

A few really good first mods are:
bigger sways/end links
Stage One reflash/COBB AccessPort
decent speakers/head unit

It just depends on your individual tastes. Hope that helps you some.

[howboutthemapplz]

Originally Posted by boondocksaint

A few really good first mods are:
bigger sways/end links
Stage One reflash/COBB AccessPort
decent speakers/head unit

It just depends on your individual tastes. Hope that helps you some.

+1

i think the stage 1 cobb AP adds ~18% power... thats a damn good bang for the buck... also with potential to "grow" into stage 2 or protune at any time (with the right tuner).

[choklit]

thanks a lot guys! it helped straighten things out