2.5RS Bites the Dust...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Goomba
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That’s awesome Goomba. Congratulations on the break in, and of course the win. That’s pretty impressive you getting 10th out of 17th. Good job. Hope you do better next time.

Now about that wheel it’s very nice. Gold wheel on a black WRX looks great. Be sure to take some pictures. ;)

Good luck in the future.
 
My mate who is about 5 years older than me (he's my ex. neighbour) recently sold an oldish WRX STi. I'm not quite sure what year but it's the one thats nothing like the bug-eyed one at all. Yeh, anyway he purchase a low KMs (only 8000) R32 GT-R from some Japanese guy who'd been living here. Which is awesome. I think he got it for about AU$20K with a spare set of wheel's tires. He plans to enter it in one of the lower-classes in Targa Tasmania for thsoe of you who know what that is. He's not gonna do much modding until he finds out more about the modifications for the different classes.
 
Originally posted by Goomba
I've finally passed the 2,000 mile break-in period. In fact, the first day I really got to let it loose was it's first autocross! I managed to come in 10th of 17 in my division, beating all of the other stock WRXs, a BMW, and a SRT-4.
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Good for you, man 👍

Were the guys ahead of you running R-comps? You were running in DS, right?


M
 
Thanks guys.

Yeah, I was in D-Stock. I'm not sure what sort of modifications most of the other WRXs were running. I only ended up talking to one other guy, and he just recently had a full turbo-back exhaust system put on. True, not really D-Stock legal, but mneh, none of us cared.

I'm actually thinking of leaving D-Stock. I want to see how the rear-sway bar makes it run and that'll bump me up into STS or STX, which is a huge group here. At the last event, one whole heat was devoted to STS. :-p
 
Well. I did it. I bought some Helix Endlinks and 22mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar about 10 minutes ago. According to many, many, many Subaru drivers, this means bye bye understeer and hello neutral/oversteer. Plus, they're purple!

As for the wheels/tires, its hard to say. The adult in me is saying don't dump a grand into tires/wheels when I have a whole lot of the car left to pay off. So I may just buy some 205/55/16 (stock size) Yokohama ES100s for now, they'll only bunk me down a third as much, which sounds a lot more reasonable than a grand.

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Hey Goomb; you may want to consider a different tire over the ES100, especially if you auto-x on them.

One of my good buddies put a set on his S2000 and they chunked on him in less than 4 events. His tire looked like termites had gotten into them. His events are on concrete, btw.


M
 
The Falken Azenis Sport was the hot tire in STS last I checked. I do believe they make the RT and ST in your size. I haven't tried these, though.

The Kumho MX, which is what I have on the M3 right now, is also a excellent tire --an amazing tire when you consider it offers Pilot Sport/S-03 level performance for much less money. It is only a few dollars more than the ES100 and IMO, well worth it.

I would also avoid the Conti SportContacts and Dunlop Sport 9000, which I have heard nothing but gripes from the M3 guys about.


M
 
I just went to Tire Rack, the Kuhmo MXs are only $88 vs. $82 a tire. Not that big of a difference, so maybe I'll throw on the Kuhmos. I'm wondering about tread life? I imagine the Kuhmos will go out a bit faster than the Yokohamas.

Hrm. I just noticed that Tire Rack gave the Kuhmo a 7.0 tread wear while the Yokohama has a 7.1. Wow, Kuhmos seem the way to go.
 
I can only offer incomplete data points based on my experience.

I got 9,000 miles R, 13,000 miles F from a set of Yoko AVS Sports, on which the ES100 is based... this was on my '95 M3.

I got 16,000 on the Kumhos so far on the '98. They have at least another 3-4 miles to go. Mileage is all street miles with no auto-x on them, as I had R-comps for that.

Trust me, you can't go wrong with the Kumho MXs... they are simply superior to everything in the price range except perhaps the Azenis Sport. The breakaway on them is amazing.. so progressive and natural. They ride fine, they're not loud... only downside is they are heavy... but for a value high pro street tire, they simply can't be beat.


M
 
Thanks for the info M.

Wow. I just installed the rear sway bar. Night and day difference. It's amazing, its so neutral it seems! I got the rear end coming out just as much as I planned, at the right speed, it was just plain ****ing amazing. Subaru owners. GET THIS BAR! And I don't even have the end links yet!
 
You'll probably cream yourself, so bring an extra pair of pants for the ride. It was so wonderful, it didn't go the outside at all. Straight like an arrow, right where I wanted it to.
 
I'm not sure really. I never really venture out that way. I heard about it real quick on KYGO, but didn't pay much attention to it.

Do a search n00b. :D
 
Have you gotten your tires yet? If not, you may want to consider a set of Azenis. (Not the sports, just the normal Azenis) I have them on my S14, and they're great. The tread pattern is really cool, as well! :D
 
No... Bleeeh. I'm still tweaking over wheels and such. I don't want to drop a grand for wheels and tires, but they can look so freakin' cool, and perform better, and bleh. I also don't want to get some summer tires that I don't wear out this summer and end up having to buy winter tires and pay to get them swapped around.
 
Well, I finally got the new wheels. Rota Torques 17 x 7.5s wrapped in 225/45/R17 Falken Azenis. This was the first chance I got to get some pictures, so I apologize for the car being dirty. I'll give her a clean photoshoot tomorrow... maybe.

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About the performance... Wow. The car turns so much sharper, and is so stablized. The tires don't scream when I'm going around a corner. Worth every penny.
 
looks great :) 👍

I dont know what my next mod is gonna be....i wanna get some bushings and motor/tranny mounts and such and get rid of that slop in between shifts and whatnot....but...i also wanna get an exhaust... 350 bucks, compared to 850...haha. My accessport has already been on order since mid june..so it'll probably be a couple months before i get that yet... :indiff:

I finally took my car to the track a couple weeks ago, and while theres still room for improvement in my launches, i still managed a 14.44 @ 95mph. that was w/ a 2.0 60' too, if i could manage a 1.9 i'd easily break 14.3 or even 14.2
 
Are you still running those RE-92s? Even if you don't want to drop the $600 to $2000 on wheels I would at least suggest new tires, but I imagine the larger wheels with shorter sidewall would be the best combo. You don't really know what a huge pile of crap they are until you ride on some real tires. I can go through corners MUCH faster and the tires won't scream or anything, where as the RE-92s would of been deafening. I feel like I can notice the new bushings and rear sway bar better with tires as well. Get 'em, they kick major arse!

Now I'm just wondering where to go now. I think I'm ready for some power and I'm thinking more and more about Prodrive's Stage 1. I've heard a few stories here and there about Cobb's AP causing some problems, so I'm going to steer away from that. Prodrive's power stages don't offer quite what Cobb's and others give, but I for some reason (with absolutely no reasoning or proof to back it up) I feel safer with it. Plus the exhaust system still keeps the two post-turbo catalytic converters, which is something I would like.

I don't mean to worry you about the AP. The stories I've heard may of just been made up or just some idiot was doing something he wasn't supposed to and the AP just aggitated the problem more. I met up with a fellow WRX owner a couple nights ago for a midnight coffee. He has a full catless Invidia Exhaust with a Cobb AP. It pulls very nice! I know you'll be very happy with the outcome.

OR!

Get some STi/Prodrive/MRT Spings. Lower the car a bit, hopefully get some of that body roll out. Also thinking about getting a 21mm Cusco Front Sway Bar and if need be, set my rear sway bar to the stiffest setting to counter any understeer the front may of dialed in.

In the end, I want.... No, need both along with some struts or eventually go to Coilovers. I'm not exactly looking for something blazingly fast in the straight line but instead a nicely balanced car. Something to murder Evolutions at the Autocrosses

:trouble: :trouble: :trouble:

Oh, and by the way, great times. I believe a 14.3-14.5 is what a decent driver could do in a WRX, and you know where you can improve. My launches are laughable, so I'm just staying at the bendy track.
 
yeah im still on the 92's, i probably will be for awhile too. I dont really do a lotta crazy cornering in my car or auto-x'ing like you do, so the 92's suit my needs right now. Im kinda the opposite of you, im more about the straightline than i am the twisties :) I wasnt breaking my tires loose at the track (cuz i was more burning the hell out of the clutch...haha) But once i get that extra 50hp in there from the AP and exhaust, i'd want them to break loose a little better so it takes some of the stress off the tranny..im scared of launching w/ stickier tires

I have tein s-tech springs on my car now w/ a whiteline adjustable rear sway bar set to the stiffest setting. They were both on my car when i bought it, so i really dont have a stock wrx ride to compare it with, but it definently handles nice and crisp. ive still never REALLY tried to test the handling capabilities of this car, im too scared...haha, plus i really dont feel like driving stupid on public streets. I eventually wanna ditch the s-techs for some Perrins w/ adjustable rear camber bolts and and kyb agx struts. The perrins are more of a show spring, like the s-techs, but they're just a little better for the struts than the s-techs are.

I wanna get cobb's stage 1 drivetrain package, which has their double adjustable short shifter, shifter bushing, and sti tranny mount. and then also pick up some sti motor mounts, whiteline steering rack bushings, and rear differential bushings. That should really help to crispen things up....but, i also really want an exhaust, cuz im used to driving loud cars, and this one is just too quiet. plus i LOVE the exhaust note from these boxers, its one of the reasons i got a wrx :) Im gonna get the Helix exhaust system. suby dude has a package w/ the catback, downpipe, AND upipe for 850 shipped. which is pretty good, plus ive heard nothing but good things about Helix, and its fully catless and LOUD, which is just what i want. hehe.

Id reccomend the steering rack bushings to you, since you do a lotta auto-xing. they're only 30 bucks, and everyone says they make quite a noticeable difference in the steering response

with the AP and full exhaust, im hoping i'll hit somthing in the low 13's. i know i should be able to hit at LEAST a 13.5 w/ that setup, but the fact that i was hitting 14.4, and definently coulda pulled at least a 14.3 w/ a 1.9 60', im thinking i may be able to do a little better than a 13.5. I also have the samco IC hoses (were also on the car when i bought it) so that might be helping a little. And who knows, by then I may get a Perrin crank pulley for good measure. Im hoping for about a 13.3 by the end of the year ::crosses fingers::
 
Sounds like a good plan there bud. I say get the VF34. I got a ride in one of those, and the turbo goes all the way to redline. It's amazingly quick and I'm sure with that you get get into low 13s. Plus the AP has a map for it!

Look at the mods! Whiteline Steering Rack Bushings are already done! Also, don't listen to the stories about what a nightmare the install is. It takes a little time, and some slight aggrivation, but worth it.

I've almost decided on the Prodrive Power Package Stage III as my final power mods. It throws me at about a 13.6 quarter mile at 96.85 mph just a hair behind a stock Evolution, which is my goal. I would like to keep up with the Evos (non MR) on the track. I hope to make the rest up with an STi RA gear and 4.444 rear differential. Which is far, far, far down the road.
 
haha, whoops! didnt see those in your mod list! Yeah, I think a VF34 would be my ultimate goal, but thats probably WAY WAY down the road. Low 13's is probably all i'd ever want out of my car, and w/ the VF34 if I happen to get a real good launch out of it, a high 12 would be possible, so thats always nice :)
 
IDAFC21
haha, whoops! didnt see those in your mod list! Yeah, I think a VF34 would be my ultimate goal, but thats probably WAY WAY down the road. Low 13's is probably all i'd ever want out of my car, and w/ the VF34 if I happen to get a real good launch out of it, a high 12 would be possible, so thats always nice :)
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Yup. The only thing scary about the VF34 is shredding the transmission on launches. So of course you'll need the STi RA (syncromesh), KAAZ (dog box), TurboXS (dog box) gear boxes. Then why not get the 4.444 rear diff. I'm sure you'll have a nice reliable transmission, and with the smaller gears, you'll be able to dip into the twelves nice and easy.
 
hmm. never really heard of any transmission problems w/ the vf34...i can understand how it could be a problem tho, w/ all that power...as long as you can burn the clutch or spin the tires the tranny shouldnt take MUCH of a beating. id rather replace one of those than the tranny...haha
 
Yeah. The WRX's transmissions aren't exactly strong. The faster guys, that are putting down 300hp or more are worried about launching it seems.
 

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