[kris]

Originally Posted by waktasz

Where did you clear bra and who put it on? I had enough trouble putting on tail light film, a whole bra would be impossible for me, but I hate having to pay some highschool kid at a tint shop to do it

Front bumper, headlights, 1/2 hood, scoop, rear gate area, mirrors. May do more if the RA Mudflaps aren't ready soon! I went to a local Venture Shield dealer and he did a great job. Clear bra should be left to the experts

EDIT: added clear bra to the lower rear door area for extra protection until the RA mudflaps are ready...$60 well spent!

[CHAUCH]

Nice car dood, I was at the dealer in Calgary and they had the same combo sooooo sick!

[kris]

So I flashed on the Stage 1 93 Octane Cobb map this morning. My initial impressions:

-flashing is super easy and intuitive compared to the early AP I had for my 05 STI. You plug in the OBD device and plug the AP into that. The AP confirms your car model (also had a cool pic of a white/gold STI). After that it simply downloads a copy of your factory map to the AP and flashes the Cobb map...total < 10 minutes, no muss, no fuss

-performance, no difference felt in S and I have never driven in "I" so no idea - I assume Cobb did not touch S based on my seat of the pants impression
-S# hits MUCH harder than stock from about 4K up...feels like the 05 did with a turboback when it hits but does taper quickly. I did a 4-5 WOT run on the highway and it was impressive for a flash-only mod.
-Once I get a turboback I will go stage 2 plus a protune and then this thing should really fly

[StiCalgary]

Hey Kris...I have an 08 STI from Canada here as well and I want to get Bluetooth in it, and my dealer said they can't get it. But you mentioned that you are just waiting for the mic? I ask this because I don't even have it as an option in the Nav system, the manual says there should be a setting but it doesn't show up for me......is yours only missing the mic, or do you also need the software?

Thanks.

[munky69]

sweet! should see some good stuff from these now that tuning is available

[kris]

Originally Posted by StiCalgary

Hey Kris...I have an 08 STI from Canada here as well and I want to get Bluetooth in it, and my dealer said they can't get it. But you mentioned that you are just waiting for the mic? I ask this because I don't even have it as an option in the Nav system, the manual says there should be a setting but it doesn't show up for me......is yours only missing the mic, or do you also need the software?

Thanks.

I had a Kenwood DDX 7019 in my last car, with a Kenwood bluetooth adaptor which was a mic plus a unit that plugged into the head unit to perform the bluetooth functions. That is what I assume we are waiting for from Subaru. I will be talking to my Kenwood dealer this aft and will post what I find out.

EDIT:

I saw my Kenwood dealer today, he made a call to Kenwood and checked out my system and here's what I learned
-the NAV is based on an older 4000 series Kenwood Nav
-the head unit is based on an older 6000 series Kenwood dual din unit

The 6000 unit is bluetooth capable but does not have the ipod capabilities of the 7000 series (which sucks because 7000 series have full on screen ipod playlist etc)

He *believes* that a Kenwood bluetooth kit/mic will work. We are going to test this on Tuesday when the head unit is out for an amp/speaker install.

Kenwood - KCA-BT100

More to follow next week

[droideka]

Originally Posted by kris

So I flashed on the Stage 1 93 Octane Cobb map this morning. My initial impressions:

-S# hits MUCH harder than stock from about 4K up...feels like the 05 did with a turboback when it hits but does taper quickly. I did a 4-5 WOT run on the highway and it was impressive for a flash-only mod.

seriously, right? it's not just a night and day difference, it's last night and a couple days later! i'm waiting till i hit ~1200 miles then it's off to get a DP and flash to stg 2. i'm at ~970 and counting now...

[kris]

couple of pics from the snow the other day after a bit of drifting...

[MorePSiTehBett4]

i have the kenwood ddx 6019 and garmin nav by kenwoood knag510, i wonder if i have the same bluetooth capabilities..i wouldn't see why not

nice white 08!

[kris]

Added a few new bits on the weekend to try to add some steering feel:

Whiteline steering rack bushings and Group A front & rear endlinks. Was planning on adding Whiteline lower control arm bushings as well but it is a big job as you need to remove the control arms to press out the existing bushings....save that one for another day.

Results:

Suspension - steering:
-more solid feeling on-center and more resistance when turning the wheel (which is good)
-car is very neutral at the limit in sweeping corners..very little understeer and the rear end is settled
-less roll through fast 90 degree corners (ie the sways are working better with the stronger endlinks).

The only issue(s) I see (which are not a big deal to me) are:
-slightly more NVH through the wheel from the bushings
-slightly stiffer ride with the endlinks (to be expected)

Other:

Stock bushes all over the car are really soft, maybe softer than the last generation STI, which is great for comfort, not so great for driving hard.
The front endlinks are a good fit on the stock bar, better than others that have been posted on the board. Still, aftermarket sway bars should be made a bit longer to allow for the fact that aftermarket endlinks are not rose jointed like the stockers.

Going to do a good alignment tomorrow which should help even more by adding 0 degree toe. When I get the LCA bushings in place I will try 0.5 degrees increase in the caster as well.

Stock rears


Group A rear endlinks vs puny stockers


Rears installed


Stock front endlinks


Group A front endlinks vs stock fronts.


Group A front endlinks in place (not under load)


Endlinks under load (would like to see aftermarket bars a bit longer as the stock bar is a bit short for non rose jointed endlinks)

[icedcoco]

those are some hefty endlinks

[GhoSStRyda]

Originally Posted by kris

I have never driven in "I" so no idea

just wondering if you ever did pop the sidrive into "i" mode? the first time i had my car in I mode after the stage one flash, the boost was locked out at 5 psi's the whole day. then the next day, it was up to 10psi's again... jsut wondering if you had the same experience when/if you tried it?

[kris]

Originally Posted by GhoSStRyda

just wondering if you ever did pop the sidrive into "i" mode? the first time i had my car in I mode after the stage one flash, the boost was locked out at 5 psi's the whole day. then the next day, it was up to 10psi's again... jsut wondering if you had the same experience when/if you tried it?

Let that be a lesson to you, never put your car in "I"

I've still never had it in "I". I'm hoping to use "I" when I add alky injection as a tune for when I run out of alcohol.

[GhoSStRyda]

Originally Posted by kris

Let that be a lesson to you, never put your car in "I"

lol

[deeksmooth]

Originally Posted by kris

if that's 'installed', you might wanna tighten those bolts down.

just teasin, i'm sure you did - those are nice endlinks... i'll be doing new endlinks once i get around to the cobb F&R swaybar purchase/install.