[hyperion]

After reading the information (or rumors) about the weakness of the 6-speed in the STi, I am worried that if I do anything more than an K&N air filter, Subaru will void my waranty. I plan to lease the car and drive the hell out of it but I was also hoping to put some modest mods to boost the car up to the 350-375HP range. I am not saying that I want to abuse the car, but I am not going to baby it either.

But if the tranny starts to fall apart, Subaru will blame my mods. So, I am now thinking about mods that could be done and un-done with ease. These are usually CPU upgrades. Does anyone know of companies that have claimed that they will come out with a computer upgrade for the STi? Also, do the existing STi's use the CPU to control boost (like the Audi A4, S4, and TT) or will you have to install a boost controller? A few more psi and fuel is the easiest way to get some more power, but running wires for a EBC is going to be impossible to remove every time you bring the car in for service. Maybe the only option is a simple mechanical boost controller, but that requires more tuning and can be prone to (expensive) failure...

Plus, does anyone have any info on OBD-II or other diagnostic info that will let the dealer know every time you've had the car above 5k RPM?

Sigh,

-ch

 

[chawklit]

that's funny, i haven't heard anything about the 6-speed being weak.

edit: whoops, didn't read the topic below. i find that odd though, i've only heard good things about the 6-speed.

 

[SnowbordrWRX]

You're planning on modding a lease car? First off, do dealers even let you do that? And then when your lease expires, what then?? Doesn't seem like a smart thing to do to me...

 

[CloNeGTS]

Woah woah woah.......rumors of 6-speed weakness issues? WTF????

Alright, rant time.

When are people happy with a car? Seriously! There is always something to bitch about. The WRX...an amazing car....one of the best values in the world today. People complain about a glass tranny. Truth of it, coming from experts in the tuning world, including SPD Tuning....people don't know how to drive AWD cars. Hence, people break trannys. Therefore, God forbid it's the driver's fault...tranny must be shit. All this time, the fix for this so-called glass tranny has been the invincible STi 6-speed. People are paying $6-7-8k for this swap.

So we have the luck of having the STi brought to us here in the states, FINALLY! Hell, the damn thing is even more powerful than the version the rest of the world gets. And what do we hear.....the 6-speed is weak.

Good lord people......sorry, I think some people need to pull their heads out and for once TRY not to complain about something.

Sorry for the rant...I truly am....but it just amazes me how the overwealming joy of news such as the USDM STi can so quickly be turned to "this could be better." :roll:

As for the rest of your post, yes, Subaru will void your warranty if you go throwing more power thru a tranny not made for it. That doesn't make the tranny weak though. That's called using the right tools for the job. Modding is a risk you need to assume. Everyone that has installed an aftermarket part assumes the risk that what they are doing may cause other issues with the car. Whether lease or bought, that risk is there.

If you want a warranty, don't touch the car. If you want to mod, assume responsibility for the shit you may break. It's like Russian roulette, don't pull the trigger if you aren't ok with taking a bullet in the head.

 

[yxan2]

Woah woah woah.......rumors of 6-speed weakness issues? WTF????

Alright, rant time.

When are people happy with a car? Seriously! There is always something to bitch about. The WRX...an amazing car....one of the best values in the world today. People complain about a glass tranny. Truth of it, coming from experts in the tuning world, including SPD Tuning....people don't know how to drive AWD cars. Hence, people break trannys. Therefore, God forbid it's the driver's fault...tranny must be ****. All this time, the fix for this so-called glass tranny has been the invincible STi 6-speed. People are paying $6-7-8k for this swap.

So we have the luck of having the STi brought to us here in the states, FINALLY! Hell, the damn thing is even more powerful than the version the rest of the world gets. And what do we hear.....the 6-speed is weak.

Good lord people......sorry, I think some people need to pull their heads out and for once TRY not to complain about something.

Sorry for the rant...I truly am....but it just amazes me how the overwealming joy of news such as the USDM STi can so quickly be turned to "this could be better." :roll:

As for the rest of your post, yes, Subaru will void your warranty if you go throwing more power thru a tranny not made for it. That doesn't make the tranny weak though. That's called using the right tools for the job. Modding is a risk you need to assume. Everyone that has installed an aftermarket part assumes the risk that what they are doing may cause other issues with the car. Whether lease or bought, that risk is there.

If you want a warranty, don't touch the car. If you want to mod, assume responsibility for the **** you may break. It's like Russian roulette, don't pull the trigger if you aren't ok with taking a bullet in the head.

I would completely agree to this post and to add some to it, AWD Cars are not great drag strip CARS, hence you wont put alot of pressure on the "Glass tranny" if you drive the car it was meant to be driven...

its a spirited B-Raod car that loves twisty roads, tracks and other driving inspired things that require you to use a steering wheel...

 

[Agent Chobos]

After reading the information (or rumors) about the weakness of the 6-speed in the STi, I am worried that if I do anything more than an K&N air filter, Subaru will void my waranty.

Where did you read this "information (or rumors)"? Like chawklit and CloNeGTS said, and to my knowledge, everything ever printed about the STi's 6-speed has been nothing but rave reviews. Nowhere have I seen someone say "I broke my 6-speed". But then maybe that's because it hasn't hit the States yet. They apparently know how to drive properly in Europe, Australia and Japan, and aren't as fanatically interested in drag racing their AWD sport sedans.

Bottome line: The STi tranny is not weak.

 

[BHODGES3]

It's like Russian roulette, don't pull the trigger if you aren't ok with taking a bullet in the head.

Best line I have read in a while....amen!

 

[thebigshow]

ok, now everyone is sayin we don't know how to drive an awd car. so how is this done then? don't take your car to the drag strip, don't hard launch your car, what else? r we allowed to downshift at all? someone let me know what i'm supposed to do, please.

 

[CloNeGTS]

If you really want to know what it is about an AWD drivetrain that cannot take the abuse, read here......

http://www.spdusa.com/5-speed_options.htm

That will tell you exactly what I'd try to type....but this saves me the time.

 

[yxan2]

ok, now everyone is sayin we don't know how to drive an awd car. so how is this done then? don't take your car to the drag strip, don't hard launch your car, what else? r we allowed to downshift at all? someone let me know what i'm supposed to do, please.

apart from the down shifting question i think you answered your own question.

you can by all means go to the drag strip but just be gentle to your drive train on the starts.

 

[91TB78]

You can drive this car like any other car, but realize it is much more complex. It isn't a RWD corvette that can do burnouts all day long. thebigshow, basically, like yxan2 said.."you answered your own questions." And don't think the STi or WRX are the only cars that this applies to. The Evo and any other AWD car will have issues with bad drivers and a lot of power.

The only reason the Nissan Skyline (which is also an AWD car) can handle high-rpm starts is it uses a system that transfers nearly all of the power to the rear wheels and gradually distributes power according to situations. The STi AWD system is typically exactly what it says..it is all wheels with power. Unlike other AWD systems like Audi or Volvo that bias their power to the front wheels, the Impreza has a constant power distribution (unless slipping or set by DCCD). I've read that the Volvo's AWD system is FWD until slipping occurs..then it becomes AWD. YUCK!! :x

 

[hyperion]

Look:

If I buy a Supra (320BHP) I can put over 800HP to the ground without breaking the tranny.

If I buy an RX7 (255BHP) I can put over 400HP to the ground without breaking the tranny.

If I buy an 996TT (424BHP, AWD) I can put over 600HP to the ground without breaking the tranny.

If I buy a '98 Eclipse GSX (200BHP, AWD) I can put over 400HP to the ground without breaking the tranny.

And so forth.

These are all cars with good upgrade potential. My point is that if the article above is accurate, then the STi is *not* a car with good upgrade potential. And that is disappointing to anyone who plans to do so.

-ch

 

[hyperion]

And I'm *not* talking about drag racing. I am talking about canyon carving, autocrossing, track days, daily commutes, etc...

-ch

 

[91TB78]

Look:

If I buy a Supra (320BHP) I can put over 800HP to the ground without breaking the tranny.

If I buy an RX7 (255BHP) I can put over 400HP to the ground without breaking the tranny.

If I buy an 996TT (424BHP, AWD) I can put over 600HP to the ground without breaking the tranny.

If I buy a '98 Eclipse GSX (200BHP, AWD) I can put over 400HP to the ground without breaking the tranny.

And so forth.

These are all cars with good upgrade potential. My point is that if the article above is accurate, then the STi is *not* a car with good upgrade potential. And that is disappointing to anyone who plans to do so.

-ch

How credible is the article about not accepting 350+hp??? Its really about torque anyhow, but that's besides the point. The Supra and RX7 aren't even apart of the discussion, b/c we are talking about AWD, not RWD..period. As far as the weakness of the 6spd...it depends on how you treat it, but it has been in Japan and Europe for a few years w/o major problems. I don't think the article about not handling 350hp is accurate. Subaru has been talking about this tranny being put into the Legacy STi and other future models. I don't think the margin of error is that great if only 50 more hp is going to make for a unsure tranny.

 

[91TB78]

Oh yeah as far as upgrade potential or not..you can always mod the tranny when you start laying down serious power. ON nasioc.com there are guys making a lot more power than 350hp with the 5spd...and haven't broken them yet...and one thing for sure is the 6spd is stronger than the 5spd..anyday.

 

[CloNeGTS]

Good point bringing up the credibility of this story. Like I said earlier, I find it very strange that we didn't get correct info about the STi before it's release. Why all of a sudden are we getting info 4 years in advance. :-?

And as 91TB78 said, compare apples to apples....AWD system to AWD system. There is a hell of a lot more going on in our tranny than, say, the Supra.

Honestly....I'd like to see what people do with the STi 6-speed before I believe this article. This is the first and only comment I've heard about the STi tranny that hasn't been on the order of "amazing" or "bulletproof".

 

[CreoWRX]

Unlike other AWD systems like Audi or Volvo that bias their power to the front wheels, the Impreza has a constant power distribution (unless slipping or set by DCCD).

Actually, the Audi AWD systems (Torsen) use a 50/50 split. This applies to all models except for the TT which uses the FWD-type system. I know, because I had a '01 S4.

-Mike-

 

[hyperion]

Two of the cars on my list were AWD. And I didn't include the S4's which also can see very high torque numbers and maintain streetability.

For the record, other strong AWD drivetrains:

3000GT VR4
Celica GT-four

Here is my final word on this one: *if* the tranny does fall apart on a 350BHP motor, then it will be one of the weaker transmissions on AWD high-performance cars, and therefore a very bad thing. That's a big if, but it's also a big bad if it is.

-ch

 

[91TB78]

Like I said before..credibility. glass..where, who..etc??! Those cars you listed may be streetable at higher power levels, but for how long, and how do the drivers drive them? I know the S4 only makes 250 stock..and can be easily modified for a lot more hp, but I also know they Audi designed the drivetrain with the clutch being its weak link. I've heard plenty of horror stories of people modding the car and then replacing the clutch with a stronger one, only to find that they are detroying mechanical parts.

I'm not picking on the S4..great car, but that any system can fail. And like CloneGTS has said, this really is the first time I've ever heard anything negative about the STi 6-spd.