droideka's '08 AW STi - COBB AP stg 1 install - pg 2

droideka · 02-02-2008, 07:11 PM

look everyone, it's a stock '08! *snicker*

i had a moderately-modded stg 2 '04 STi which i traded for an '07 Legacy GT 5MT 14 months ago that bored me to tears and now i'm back in the STi family with an '08 Aspen White Base! Ipod adapter is the only option (and it's a slick option that integrates VERY well with my 2nd gen nano. LOVE controlling the damn thing with the HU now) and the mods will soon commence as i just picked up my '08 AP with about 2 weeks left before the maps become available.

Picked her up wednesday night and absolutely LOVE it. IMO, it's a perfect marriage of the brashness of the '04-'07 and the plushness of a Legacy GT. i can see what some people have to complain about regarding the interior materials picking up scuffs, but you know what? grab a damp cloth and wipe it the fvck off. problem solved. I've got about 200 miles on the car and have started to push it now that the tires and brakes are wearing in. It's going to be a ton of fun once i get a DP and AP hooked up, I can tell you that. I happen to like the way the car handles, especially how the rearend reacts to steering input around rough shod corners, compliant and communicative at the same time. My '04 would get upset by a pebble when hanging the rear end out and i always found myself trail braking to bring it back in line. as an aside, i had a significant amount of track time in my '04 complete with a rollbar and harnesses so i'm not a n00b to high-speed handling nuances. i can't wait to get the '08 out to Motorsport Ranch.

anyway... on to the pics.

RFFG · 02-02-2008, 07:16 PM

Congrats!!!

Looks awesome, I like those wheels better than the BBS...

pwn · 02-02-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFFG

Congrats!!!

Looks awesome, I like those wheels better than the BBS...

They also double at boat anchors

Slick looking sti! White looks beautiful, I'm glad they brought back AW. Also glad to hear your feedback on the handling

.

LightWerkz · 02-02-2008, 07:38 PM

awesome I wish I could afford to have both the m3 and sti

twigg107 · 02-02-2008, 07:49 PM

Will the ap v2's work with the 08's? I dont want to sell my v2 and have to buy a new one when I trade it in.

BTW car looks hot!!! Did you have tint on it?

droideka · 02-02-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twigg107

Will the ap v2's work with the 08's? I dont want to sell my v2 and have to buy a new one when I trade it in.

BTW car looks hot!!! Did you have tint on it?

thanks! yes, i had it tinted before taking delivery. 30% all around. i'm not sure about the AP. the one i picked up says, "2007+ STi - 2008 WRX" on the outside box label.

twigg107 · 02-02-2008, 08:26 PM

cool.... the tint makes it look 10x better!

eurospek · 02-02-2008, 08:28 PM

Looks great!!! White ftw

**Digitalfiend** · 02-02-2008, 08:31 PM

Congrats on the car!

jermdeez · 02-02-2008, 08:41 PM

**** subaru for not giving bbs standard and taking away lettering on intercooler,

**Digitalfiend** · 02-02-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jermdeez

**** subaru for not giving bbs standard and taking away lettering on intercooler,

I really don't think anyone is going to see that lettering through the new scoop while you're driving.

The lettering means nothing, but the red stitching inside the car? Now that is something to gripe about.

uptheundagrnd · 02-02-2008, 10:10 PM

I never wanted a white 08 until right now. Very sexy

droideka · 02-09-2008, 01:01 PM

i picked up a '08 STI AP last weekend and Cobb suprised me by releasing the maps this week. sweet! dl'd the map (stg 1 93 oct) and loaded it onto my AP. the flash is a LOT easier for the '08 as you don't have to connect test wires, or listen for a fan to kick in or anything. just plug in and go! absolutely NO issues doing the flash. not a one.

Let me preface this review with a few points. I had an '04 STi at one time that I quickly tuned up to stg 2 with a Cobb catted DP, an AP and Cobb's off-the-shelf stg2 93 oct map. at stg 2 i thought that car was brutal and fast. i wasn't nearly as happy going stg 1 in that car as i have been the '08. i was never impressed with the short gears in the '04 gear box as i always found myself bouncing off the rev limiter at track out around tight, double-apex turns that required the torque of 2nd gear to motor out of. Once owners start to extract the torque potential of the GH which seems to be MUCH greater than the GD, people will start to drop the long gearing complaints.

In addition, i just traded in a '07 legacy gt, the first subaru model with the silly SI drive. that car with a stock ECU suffered from a ridiculous "stutter" and hesitation between 3-4K with anything over 50% throttle application. i grew to HATE that car because of this issue. i also understand that some people felt the same hesitation or thought that they did in random examples of the '07 STi. unfortunately, after raising the revs and applying more throttle this week in the '08, it too suffers from a bit of stuttering and hesitation in the same rev range.

IMPRESSIONS:

- SUPER easy install

- the power gains are much greater compared to an 04-07 "stage 1". you absolutely feel the car explode at 4K. this is stage 1.5 comparatively speaking. stage 2 is going to be nuts.

- the '08 engine is smoother and ballsier than previous versions of the EJ25 i've owned and driven. it is no longer a raucous cacaphony of grinding, screaming and spitting. it feels like a big V6 or small V8. the $35K price of admission has been realized in full now. it's an all-around better application of the 2.5L to this point. the "stutter" is completely gone and throttle input is now entirely up to you and smooth as silk.

- in stock form, the car might feel floaty or soft to some drivers depending on how they approach turn in and throttle application. i now believe that is due to the car be crippled from the factory and not having enough power to put any leverage on the suspension and make it tighten up in corners and under hard accelleration. it should have come from the factory this way. Cobb suggests a gain of +12%HP/+19%TRQ with the stg 1 93 oct map. that comes out to 342HP/345TQ at the crank, the power that should have been delivered from the factory. during a drive this early AM, i was applying judicious throttle upon diving into hard corners and the car just tears up the fvcking asphalt with grip now.

- i have not really messed around with the SI drive functionality. i just locked it in S# and started playing today. it *seems* to still pull back on throttle like in stock form in I and S so i do not think that Cobb re-engineered that application to apply 100% throttle with lower boost targets. i could be wrong.

- i have my 4 year-old son this weekend and have NOT been able to get out and watch the AP for target boost metrics, nor hit the kind of speeds to check for target boost in each gear. i do hope to accomplish that learning tomorrow evening. regardless, i am EXTREMELY happy with the power the car is making, the way it reacts to throttle and the way it explodes out of corners.

- YMMV. i've owned an '04 stage 2 GD for 24 months, an '07 legacy gt for 14 months and now the '08 GH for 10 days. it is hands down better FOR ME then either of those cars from a "driver's" standpoint, IMO.

Spork · 02-09-2008, 01:08 PM

Thanks for the review man.

**Digitalfiend** · 02-09-2008, 03:01 PM

Thanks for that AP review. With my 08 on order, I've been scouring the forums looking for information about the '07's stock ECU issues. After seeing some of the AFR charts for the '08, it looks like it has the same closed loop delay. Hitting full boost at peak torque with a 13:1 or 12:1 AFR freaks me out, so I've been looking into going stage 1 almost immediately. It looks like Perrin, PDX, and Cobb all offer different maps. At this stage of the game, I'm not looking for ultimate power, I just want the damn AFRs fixed so I can enjoy the car without fear of breaking something.

Do you know if Cobb remapped the throttle and torque targets for I and S modes or did they leave them the same as stock (which would be fine with me)?

Thanks again for the review.

02-02-2008, 07:11 PM	#1
droideka STI Driver Car: '08 AW STi Base Location: plano, tx Posts: 237 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	droideka's '08 AW STi - COBB AP stg 1 install - pg 2 look everyone, it's a stock '08! snicker i had a moderately-modded stg 2 '04 STi which i traded for an '07 Legacy GT 5MT 14 months ago that bored me to tears and now i'm back in the STi family with an '08 Aspen White Base! Ipod adapter is the only option (and it's a slick option that integrates VERY well with my 2nd gen nano. LOVE controlling the damn thing with the HU now) and the mods will soon commence as i just picked up my '08 AP with about 2 weeks left before the maps become available. Picked her up wednesday night and absolutely LOVE it. IMO, it's a perfect marriage of the brashness of the '04-'07 and the plushness of a Legacy GT. i can see what some people have to complain about regarding the interior materials picking up scuffs, but you know what? grab a damp cloth and wipe it the fvck off. problem solved. I've got about 200 miles on the car and have started to push it now that the tires and brakes are wearing in. It's going to be a ton of fun once i get a DP and AP hooked up, I can tell you that. I happen to like the way the car handles, especially how the rearend reacts to steering input around rough shod corners, compliant and communicative at the same time. My '04 would get upset by a pebble when hanging the rear end out and i always found myself trail braking to bring it back in line. as an aside, i had a significant amount of track time in my '04 complete with a rollbar and harnesses so i'm not a n00b to high-speed handling nuances. i can't wait to get the '08 out to Motorsport Ranch. anyway... on to the pics. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad. Last edited by droideka : 02-09-2008 at 01:02 PM. Reason: update

02-02-2008, 07:16 PM	#2
RFFG Spec C Club Car: 1998 Impreza GF8 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 2,256 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi Congrats!!! Looks awesome, I like those wheels better than the BBS...

02-02-2008, 07:38 PM	#4
LightWerkz STI Master Car: E46 M3 Fav Mod: ZCP Wheels Location: Clifton Posts: 7,482 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (77)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi awesome I wish I could afford to have both the m3 and sti

02-02-2008, 07:49 PM	#5
twigg107 Spec C Club Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: Me..... Location: Vancouver, Wa Posts: 1,328 Join Date: Jun 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi Will the ap v2's work with the 08's? I dont want to sell my v2 and have to buy a new one when I trade it in. BTW car looks hot!!! Did you have tint on it?

02-02-2008, 08:26 PM	#7
twigg107 Spec C Club Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: Me..... Location: Vancouver, Wa Posts: 1,328 Join Date: Jun 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi cool.... the tint makes it look 10x better!

02-02-2008, 08:28 PM	#8
eurospek Professional STI Driver Car: 2005 SAAB 9-2X AERO Location: Chicago Posts: 476 Join Date: Jun 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi Looks great!!! White ftw

02-02-2008, 08:31 PM	#9
Digitalfiend Super Moderator Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: My wife :) Location: Brooklin, Ontario Posts: 5,059 Join Date: Oct 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi Congrats on the car!

02-02-2008, 08:41 PM	#10
jermdeez Spec C Club Posts: 1,579 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi **** subaru for not giving bbs standard and taking away lettering on intercooler,

02-02-2008, 10:10 PM	#12
uptheundagrnd Junior STI Driver Car: 2004 PSM STi Posts: 115 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi I never wanted a white 08 until right now. Very sexy

02-09-2008, 01:01 PM	#13
droideka STI Driver Car: '08 AW STi Base Location: plano, tx Posts: 237 Join Date: Mar 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Ap Stg 1! i picked up a '08 STI AP last weekend and Cobb suprised me by releasing the maps this week. sweet! dl'd the map (stg 1 93 oct) and loaded it onto my AP. the flash is a LOT easier for the '08 as you don't have to connect test wires, or listen for a fan to kick in or anything. just plug in and go! absolutely NO issues doing the flash. not a one. Let me preface this review with a few points. I had an '04 STi at one time that I quickly tuned up to stg 2 with a Cobb catted DP, an AP and Cobb's off-the-shelf stg2 93 oct map. at stg 2 i thought that car was brutal and fast. i wasn't nearly as happy going stg 1 in that car as i have been the '08. i was never impressed with the short gears in the '04 gear box as i always found myself bouncing off the rev limiter at track out around tight, double-apex turns that required the torque of 2nd gear to motor out of. Once owners start to extract the torque potential of the GH which seems to be MUCH greater than the GD, people will start to drop the long gearing complaints. In addition, i just traded in a '07 legacy gt, the first subaru model with the silly SI drive. that car with a stock ECU suffered from a ridiculous "stutter" and hesitation between 3-4K with anything over 50% throttle application. i grew to HATE that car because of this issue. i also understand that some people felt the same hesitation or thought that they did in random examples of the '07 STi. unfortunately, after raising the revs and applying more throttle this week in the '08, it too suffers from a bit of stuttering and hesitation in the same rev range. IMPRESSIONS: - SUPER easy install - the power gains are much greater compared to an 04-07 "stage 1". you absolutely feel the car explode at 4K. this is stage 1.5 comparatively speaking. stage 2 is going to be nuts. - the '08 engine is smoother and ballsier than previous versions of the EJ25 i've owned and driven. it is no longer a raucous cacaphony of grinding, screaming and spitting. it feels like a big V6 or small V8. the $35K price of admission has been realized in full now. it's an all-around better application of the 2.5L to this point. the "stutter" is completely gone and throttle input is now entirely up to you and smooth as silk. - in stock form, the car might feel floaty or soft to some drivers depending on how they approach turn in and throttle application. i now believe that is due to the car be crippled from the factory and not having enough power to put any leverage on the suspension and make it tighten up in corners and under hard accelleration. it should have come from the factory this way. Cobb suggests a gain of +12%HP/+19%TRQ with the stg 1 93 oct map. that comes out to 342HP/345TQ at the crank, the power that should have been delivered from the factory. during a drive this early AM, i was applying judicious throttle upon diving into hard corners and the car just tears up the fvcking asphalt with grip now. - i have not really messed around with the SI drive functionality. i just locked it in S# and started playing today. it seems to still pull back on throttle like in stock form in I and S so i do not think that Cobb re-engineered that application to apply 100% throttle with lower boost targets. i could be wrong. - i have my 4 year-old son this weekend and have NOT been able to get out and watch the AP for target boost metrics, nor hit the kind of speeds to check for target boost in each gear. i do hope to accomplish that learning tomorrow evening. regardless, i am EXTREMELY happy with the power the car is making, the way it reacts to throttle and the way it explodes out of corners. - YMMV. i've owned an '04 stage 2 GD for 24 months, an '07 legacy gt for 14 months and now the '08 GH for 10 days. it is hands down better FOR ME then either of those cars from a "driver's" standpoint, IMO. Last edited by droideka : 02-10-2008 at 11:43 AM. Reason: spelling

02-09-2008, 01:08 PM	#14
Spork Silver Member Car: AW 08 STi Fav Mod: snow tires Location: Waltham, MA Posts: 174 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi - COBB AP stg 1 install - pg 2 Thanks for the review man.

02-09-2008, 03:01 PM	#15
Digitalfiend Super Moderator Car: 08 DGM STI Fav Mod: My wife :) Location: Brooklin, Ontario Posts: 5,059 Join Date: Oct 2003 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: droideka's '08 AW STi - COBB AP stg 1 install - pg 2 Thanks for that AP review. With my 08 on order, I've been scouring the forums looking for information about the '07's stock ECU issues. After seeing some of the AFR charts for the '08, it looks like it has the same closed loop delay. Hitting full boost at peak torque with a 13:1 or 12:1 AFR freaks me out, so I've been looking into going stage 1 almost immediately. It looks like Perrin, PDX, and Cobb all offer different maps. At this stage of the game, I'm not looking for ultimate power, I just want the damn AFRs fixed so I can enjoy the car without fear of breaking something. Do you know if Cobb remapped the throttle and torque targets for I and S modes or did they leave them the same as stock (which would be fine with me)? Thanks again for the review. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.