Hello All! Ok, I know that this is mainly a WRX/STi forum. I have searched elsewhere and most disussions related to the 2.5i and any modifications to it usually result in respnses such as "why would you want to mod a slow car", "trade up to wrx," and "I think it will fit, but not sure." Also, when I refer to modding, I am including anything and everything at this point, as the list of what has actually been proven to fit on the 2.5i is relatively short (from what I have been able to find thus far.) So the question is, are there any of you out there with a 2.5i (especially a 2.5i wagon) that know anything about what mods will work or have experience working with a modded 2.5i? I would like to know a lot more before I even think about modding my car in any way. Any help that will point me in the right direction is greatly appreciated, including any tips on how to search, becuase it's very possible that I simply suck at searching the internet... no kidding. Thanks -Matt '06 2.5i RBP sport wagon
Depends on what you want to do. The suspension stuff will all fit. If it fits the WRX wagon it should fit the 2.5i wagon. Catback exhaust should fit as well.
Here you go: This should be helpful.... http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1139441&highlight=2.5i+Wagon There are 5 pages of good info regarding mods on the 2.5i. Mark
Thanks, I was a little unsure about suspension stuff. I know that the WRX has bigger sway bars, bigger wheels and bigger brakes, so I was thinking this might mean different fitments for other components. However, if upgraded components will fit my 2.5i wagon just like the wrx wagon, then that's great. That thread on nasioc was what I found initially. I thought it was the answer to my question too, but it has a bunch of specualtion on headers and cat backs. Then it seemed to digress into a NA vs. WRX autoX argument. Thanks for the link, but it was that thread that I specifically did not want to re-create here on this forum. I know I am being very unspecific, so I thank you for any replies at all. As for plans for my car, I just want to make it more fun as a daily driver. No power mods at all. First thing I would like is new wheels/tires that would fit stock suspension (I have no drop, nor do I plan to) and without rolling fenders, apparently this seems to be an issue with some wagons. Again, I have serched for this, but all that I have found as far as appropriate size and offset of wheel has been established and refuted over and over, leaving me a little confused as to what is truly acceptable for a proper fit. Thanks again. -Matt
With wagons the issue is tiresize. You can't really fit anything bigger than a 225 width tire. Second mod would be a rear tower bar. I've got a 2.5rs and there are a few others on this site. Welcome aboard
Any WRX wheels will fit. I think that would be how I'd go all around. Using OE parts for a nice clean set-up instead of the gay ass ricer mods that are so popular with the tasteless.
That'd be pretty cool! Here's the link to the Subiesport "4 Under 40,000" deal. http://mag.subiesport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=48 I didn't get to see the issue but I heard it was pretty good.
My girlfriend just got a me a gift subscription to SubieSport for my birthday! Man, I hope I get that issue! But seriously, lets just say an RS cost what, 20K? (probably much less, as I got my 2.5i well under 20K). That leaves them with another 20k to put into mods for that project car, you could swap almost everything....
You can lower your car without worrying about rolling fenders. Rolling the fenders are really about fitting wheels that are really wide. I would definitely suggest upgraded struts, springs, and swaybars. There are so many options out there to choose from in those categories. I would definitely suggest the Whitelines for the sways, since they give you some of the biggest diameters. Almost any spring will be fun and will have good performance. I would consider an adjustble strut or the STi struts depending on if you want to race or not. The 2.5 is a sweet ride. It has so much low end torque. This car can be just as competitive as the WRX's and STi's on an autox course.
i have an 02 rs and went thru what you are goin thru now. the rear sway is goin to be the same, the front will probably be bent different because the headers are (most likely)goin to be different. if you get a wrx exhaust you may have to rotate the flangeto get it to bolt right up. i dont know the differences between the gdb and whatever yours is.
If you were gonna do a wrx exhaust you could just buy a highflow cat and have it welded to fit the wrx exhaust. This way you're modifying the cat and not the wrx exhaust (should you want to do a turbo/swap) ii'll still be useful to you.
Does anyone use hollow tubular swaybars like Cobb's? They seem like a good idea (being lighter and all) but I haven't seen that many people with them. Also, has anyone modded his wrx or rs with used STi parts? The MY04 STi had some similarities didn't it?
What sort of parts are you looking for? Ive got a good bit of take off stuff and access to a lot more.
It depends on what you want from an STI. Suspension wise you're not gonna have much that will bolt right on. Actually nothing will just bolt right on. Most mods from a WRX will carry over depending on what it is.
I was curious about those springs you had for sale, but will they even work on a wagon? I don't want to end up with saggy butt syndrome. I know that choosing mods depends on what you want to do with the car... and I haven't totally made up my mind yet. Right now I am just fishing for as much information as I can (what fits and what doesn't etc..); when I do (finally) modify anything it will be after much research and deliberation.
WJM has a 2.5i i think, and it pulls really nice for a NA engine, it also handles quite well. you may want to hit him up for advice on what he did.
Its a 2.5 RS. The sedans are nearly identical to the 02 to 05 WRX sedan...with the exception of the NA front crossmember and swaybar. Those need to be 02+ N/A specific. The wagons follow the 98-01 2.5 RS...but with the crash subframes as well.... Wagons have a narrower track front and rear and those suspension items need to be wagon specific. As for power....your first 2 mods should be these items: 1. STi muffler 2. WRX/STi snorkus box (in the fender well) with the intake air duct under hood.
Ok, so here is the question: Does replacing just the muffler add a noticeable difference in performance? Or would I have to do the snorkus mod as well to feel anything? I ask because in my previous research on other forums, most people have said that intake mods are a waste of time, however those comments may have been directed to the WRX specifically. Also, how difficult/expensive (approxiamately) is the WRX/STI snorkus box mod?
The snorkus is a free mod, you just rip out the stock silencer. I dont think the muffler alone would add that much power but a full exhaust should. In another week or so I'm going to be putting some STI struts on my wagon and I'll post up a writeup on whatever makes it work.
Do what I did. Any deletion of stock intake parts on the newer (2000+) cars is a BAD idea. Trust me, I've done research on this extensively already. The intake on my RS is the BEST intake you could possibly have on it for daily use, autox or track use. Unless you are going full out touring car/GT racing...the stuff I've got is best. The STi muffler alone is a HUGE difference. The header/cat setup on the 06 si highly different. I am unsure of anything that replaces the stock peices yet. However, the STi muffler is a direct hang on, but the flange will need to be rotated to bolt on.
OK, so I picked up the STi muffler! (thanks to calmnothing) Now I need to get it modified to bolt on to my stock exhaust. I'm told that any muffler shop can do this, but does anyone have a place that they think is particularly good at this type of thing? I will post pics, sound clips, soon after I get it mounted. Thanks again evryone! -Matt
Next on my list is swaybars. A few tempting used bars have brought up the question of MY06 2.5i wagon compatibility with previous year model sway bars. Specifically the swaybars that JWX has for sale and the ones off of an 04 sti. Obviously I could go with aftermarket bars, and I probably will get whitelines, but I would be great to know that the 2.5i could be upgraded with other's used subaru parts
Sti Muffler was a direct BOLT ON! Just decided to try it and it fit perfectly, no cutting or rotating necessary! I just now put it on and reset the ecu, so pics and sound clips will follow. Calmnothing, what year Sti was this muffler from? -Matt
In the low rpms, like when starting up and pulling into a stop it sounds much deeper and more rumbly. Its not much different through the mid and high rpms, though It feels faster in the higher rpms, but that may just be placebo effect because I would expect any gain to be in the 4k+ rpm range. That said, I like it, it looks cool, and sounds cool. Now I want to know where I get the parts to do the intake mod that WJM has in the pic above. Mine does not look like that. Also there was some guy who did a short ram (i think) to his 2.5i and gained 15 hp on the dyno! Guess I have to go to dyno-day now to see if there are are any gains! Thanks