My 2004 WRX, chime in!

[DivideBYZero]

Yup. Can't get rid of the hood scoop without relocating the interwarmer.

That's it's other nickname.

 

[MotF Bane]

Yup. Can't get rid of the hood scoop without relocating the intercooler.

And that scoop just looks awful.

 

[JulesMaximus]

+1 on the FMIC being unnecessary. Plus, they can be a huge PITA to install and maintain as you now have so many more places to develop boost leaks. And if you get in a minor fender bender, hit some bad debris on the road, etc - POOF, no boost.

She's looking good. Not my favorite body style either, but as long as you like her that is what matters!

Lot of extra plumbing with the FMIC. Too much hassle and expense just to lose the scoop.

 

[ayabe]

And that scoop just looks awful.

I liked my scoop, it was like staring down a rifle barrel, swallowing all (the bugs, rocks, S2000's, and stuff!) that get in its way.

Though the scoops are smaller on the 06+'s.

Making me miss mine just a little, not that I don't love my MB. Whenever the autotragic does something completely stupid though I pine for my sloppy Subaru 5 speed.

 

[T2urtle]

The 2004 WRX's started getting the same shape STi seats, minus the colors/heated

I like them, although I wish they were a tad thinner in the back so my rear occupants could have more leg room. I'm only 5'7 so whoever sits behind me under 6 foot has no problem...

nice didn't know, i've only been in a 02 or 03 bannana yellow wrx, the rest have been STi's

 

[ballmode]

I like the look of the fmix but it's alot of hassle IMO. Gotta get a new hood and do all the plumbing

 

[T2urtle]

in your case, shouldn't it cause a decent amount of lag. Other then the looks i dont think there is much benefit at this point unless you go with a larger turbo...

could be wrong. Im not up to date on subaru's, just speaking in general turbo sense, that STI TMIC should be decent for that turbo

 

[RGUN]

I'm thinking the FMIC suggestions are more about appearance than performance.

Not necessarily about appearance at all - definitely more about performance. Depends on how you use the car though, if you don't have to worry about heatsoak, then the added expense probably isnt worth it.

<-- has FMIC

 

[overst33r]

got a dyno?

 

[ballmode]

I need a different exhaust to free up I say about 10-20hp. I sometimes get a tad bit of heat soak after sitting at a stoplight on a hot day. The throttle response is twitchy compared to my s2000 and Miata but I figured so coming from n/a to turbo.

Any other turbo owners please chime in because iv never driven another turboed or supercharged car

 

[ballmode]

I might switch back to a stage 1 tune if I can if it doesn't cost much. I also get a lumpy cam feeling sometime at stoplights that is just different to me

 

[exdeath]

Not necessarily about appearance at all - definitely more about performance. Depends on how you use the car though, if you don't have to worry about heatsoak, then the added expense probably isnt worth it.

<-- has FMIC

In this case everybody calling for FMIC is strictly saying so for appearance only for the sole purpose of losing the scoop.

 

[RGUN]

I need a different exhaust to free up I say about 10-20hp. I sometimes get a tad bit of heat soak after sitting at a stoplight on a hot day. The throttle response is twitchy compared to my s2000 and Miata but I figured so coming from n/a to turbo.

Any other turbo owners please chime in because iv never driven another turboed or supercharged car

Downpipe or cat back? If you can find a catback that will give you 20hp sign me up! Throttle response is probably twitchy because of the tune. You say stage 2, is that and OTS map? get a Protune. If you get a good tuner it will be as smooth as butter.

 

[RGUN]

I might switch back to a stage 1 tune if I can if it doesn't cost much. I also get a lumpy cam feeling sometime at stoplights that is just different to me

Lumpy cam feel which is caused by something turning on? Maybe turn your idle up a bit. Best to talk to your tuner, but its definitely not normal.

 

[RGUN]

In this case everybody calling for FMIC is strictly saying so for appearance only for the sole purpose of losing the scoop.

Yes, originally I intended to lose the scoop - but there is a diverter in the scoop to direct air over the turbo and downpipe, and they get mighty hot.

 

[exdeath]

Yes, originally I intended to lose the scoop - but there is a diverter in the scoop to direct air over the turbo and downpipe, and they get mighty hot.

No hotter than the hundreds of other turbo cars that don't have a tumor on the hood

 

[RGUN]

No hotter than the hundreds of other turbo cars that don't have a tumor on the hood

Depends, most other cars don't have the same setup I have, combined with an undertray Im not risking it. Plus I have an unwrapped UP/DP with exhaust temps of up to 1400F

 

[jlee]

Depends, most other cars don't have the same setup I have, combined with an undertray Im not risking it. Plus I have an unwrapped UP/DP with exhaust temps of up to 1400F

You mean every other turbocharged Subaru?

Your turbo is coolant and oil cooled. It doesn't need air cooling.

 

[RGUN]

You mean every other turbocharged Subaru?

Your turbo is coolant and oil cooled. It doesn't need air cooling.

I don't know about every other. I'm fairly certain mine falls under the unique category. As does the OPs

 

[ballmode]

The lumpyness happens like right after I quickly press the clutch and go into neutral when I stop sometimes.

It's like the revs dip low and then it like feels lumpy as it gets back to 1000rpm

Rgun - the hesitation comes if i give it too much throttle in a low rpm other than 1st gear... it basically has to get up to 3000+ to pull smoothly...

I think this is what people call Turbo Lag but i'm not sure for certain.
I haven't dynoed my car since changing the custom made STi exhaust, its 3" from the cat on. I think it's only 2.5 from the downpipe, that might be my problem...

I'll get it tuned again this summer, who knows maybe they started putting more ethanol in the gas and I never knew and its causing issues. I run 92/93 premium

 

[RGUN]

The lumpyness happens like right after I quickly press the clutch and go into neutral when I stop sometimes.

It's like the revs dip low and then it like feels lumpy as it gets back to 1000rpm

Rgun - the hesitation comes if i give it too much throttle in a low rpm other than 1st gear... it basically has to get up to 3000+ to pull smoothly...

I think this is what people call Turbo Lag but i'm not sure for certain.
I haven't dynoed my car since changing the custom made STi exhaust, its 3" from the cat on. I think it's only 2.5 from the downpipe, that might be my problem...

I'll get it tuned again this summer, who knows maybe they started putting more ethanol in the gas and I never knew and its causing issues. I run 92/93 premium

Before I had my final protune done the type of driving you are describing was terrible, especially in first gear. A good tuner will fix that. Tuning for full throttle takes them no time at all, its making it driveable that you pay for.

 

[jlee]

The lumpyness happens like right after I quickly press the clutch and go into neutral when I stop sometimes.

It's like the revs dip low and then it like feels lumpy as it gets back to 1000rpm

Rgun - the hesitation comes if i give it too much throttle in a low rpm other than 1st gear... it basically has to get up to 3000+ to pull smoothly...

I think this is what people call Turbo Lag but i'm not sure for certain.
I haven't dynoed my car since changing the custom made STi exhaust, its 3" from the cat on. I think it's only 2.5 from the downpipe, that might be my problem...

I'll get it tuned again this summer, who knows maybe they started putting more ethanol in the gas and I never knew and its causing issues. I run 92/93 premium

Ahh you mean your RPM drops (indicates maybe 500rpm on the tach), it stumbles briefly,then recovers back to 700-800rpm? Mine did the same thing..I found a broken vacuum line and fixed it. I haven't noticed that again lately (other than the ECU re-learning after a new flash).

I also noticed that with the VF39 and OTS Cobb map, power came on much smoother than it did with the Stage 1/2 OTS maps. Once I get to AZ, I'll get a real tune (unfortunately I'll be stuck with pisswater gas out there ) and see what happens then.

I don't know about every other. I'm fairly certain mine falls under the unique category. As does the OPs

You mean a VF-series turbocharger on a WRX is unique? Nothing against that combo (I have a VF39 on an EJ255), but it's not too far out of the ordinary.

 

[ballmode]

Keep in mind I did all this stuff at about 10k miles and it has a tad over 50. I did the tune long ago.

I think I ran version 1.93
My Cobb accessport isn't even sold anymore and looks so old tech like a OBD reader

 

[jlee]

Keep in mind I did all this stuff at about 10k miles and it has a tad over 50. I did the tune long ago.

I think I ran version 1.93
My Cobb accessport isn't even sold anymore and looks so old tech like a OBD reader

Are you up to date with all maintenance? You may be able to reflash to a newer map, but if you're having issues now that you didn't before, I doubt it would fix things. It may improve the driveability a bit, though.

 

[zerocool84]

I need a different exhaust to free up I say about 10-20hp. I sometimes get a tad bit of heat soak after sitting at a stoplight on a hot day. The throttle response is twitchy compared to my s2000 and Miata but I figured so coming from n/a to turbo.

Any other turbo owners please chime in because iv never driven another turboed or supercharged car

Heatsoak just from idling???

Damn that must suck to have a TMIC.