Oh, great, more money to spend.

I had the windows tinted on the way home from the dealer... I've had this car for about 6 hours and so far I've spent money on window tint, a new set of wheels, and now I've ordered an AccessPort. I need to get new tires and the stuff to install the Empeg. It's not gonna be a money pit, nope, uh-huh, no way.

-Chuck

Hahah... you ordered an Accessport already?! I'm still getting used to the power of the car and i've had it close to 10 months... i'm still not ready to flash it! heheh. I'm going to order some 17" Prodrive P1's in Anthracite color probably with the S03's in a couple of weeks... THEN i'm gonna start thinking about the reflash. I just found another tunder, i-speed, that is really close to my work. I've gotta go drop in and see how they run the shop. Best part is, the owner is an obvious Star Wars nut... his nick is Skywalker and he named his car X-Wing... so maybe he'll wanna check the Ranch out as a trade for a flash. hehehe.

I'm running Yokohama AVS ES 100's. The Ecstas where the tire of choice 2 years ago (price vs performance) in the WRX community, and the Yoko's were last year... who knows what the fashion will be this year. The Yokos are cheap and I love them EXCEPT for the tracking.. I think it just comes with the territory... "traction = tracking".

You already got the AccessPort? ? Wow! I researched it for months, but whatever! hehe, you won't regret it!

Loren, I've heard good things about i-speed. With Cobb being 1/2 the price of everyone else (because of no licensing fees) and having a solid reputation and being a Subaru "only" tuner with years of experience it's hard to beat...

P1's... DROOL! I love the Prodrive PFF7's too...

especially once i really start pushing the car.

Are these tires really low rolling resistance or something, making the car easier to push? How does that work -- your girl friend steers while you push, or do you make her get out of the car and do all the work?

There are probably easier ways to get better mileage.

tanstaafl.

Live on top of a hill.

Ordering the AccessPORT is a no-brainer for me, when I can tune my own maps it will pay for itself.

Those Prodrive wheels are puuurty.

I made the decison to go ahead with the PS2 tires tonight, thanks for pointing me in that direction, they will be perfect for me.

And I would just like to say that you're cheating - pulling the Star Wars card for a tune is wrong... It's exactly what I would do!

I showed me mums the car tonight and she said the new front end design is 'sooooo sexy' ... her words exactly ... I guess that's a good thing ...

It's all your fault that I went for it.

Seriously though, with all the cars & trucks I've owned over the last 15 years, I've learned to use & tune HALTECH / DFI / FELPRO / SPEEDPRO / FAST and a few others along the way - on naturally aspirated / supercharged / and turbo charged setups - I can just feel that this is a nice set up...

BUT, I must voice my first complaint: The shifter linkage is crappage... The T5 in my 84 Mustang was tighter than this thang...

Oh, you'd better order up a Kartboy shortshifter w. bushings while you're at it. Real good price on them and really stiffens things up. My buddy has the STi short shifter and said my Kartboy feels the same (and is a 20 min install).

I love the 04+ WRX's (almost as much as the 01 RS's) in style... I have to admit my 02/03 model years are kinda the red-headed step childs of the Impreza line, I just wish the 04+ line had HUGE fog lights like the rest of us. To me, that was always part of the Impreza heritage..

. I have to admit my 02/03 model years are kinda the red-headed step childs of the Impreza line,

I am pretty sure it is not the effect of cognitive dissonance when I say that I really like the 02/03 much better than the 04. The front end of the new model looks like....a Legacy! I have actually thought about getting a second WRX wagon and if I do it will be a 02/03.

No comment on the whole redhead thing!

Hehe, mine's grown on me, but I wonder if it's just because of the fun to drive factor? Big fog lights would help the 04's a lot though...

Did I really use "childs" ? ? Must have been late.

That "red headed step children" line kinda bugs me too cuz there is probably a person or two that is offended by it and I wouldn't blame them. But "black sheep" doesn't really fit either... hmph.

Although I have test driven various turbo and WRX models, none feel as good to me as the last of the pre- bug-eye ones for zippiness and cornering. The Impreza III is pretty good, but soooo much heavier then the '00 model so although there is more power it still feels more sluggish when cornering hard or zipping through chicanes.

And of course it's not a proper Scooby without the big foglights!

Save the money.. buy a 1992 eclipse gsx... with a john sheppart tranny... turbo/fuel upgrade... dsmlink... suspension upgrades.. new rims/tires... rebuild the engine with stronger compenents... you'll be way under 20k and have a really fun car.

Thats my opinion anyways ... only because i've fallen inlove with my dsm.

-Greg

you'd better order up a Kartboy shortshifter w. bushings

DEFINITELY get these. I put the short shifter on a week after i got the car... amazing improvement. I JUST put the bushings on about 3 weeks ago and i'm pissed i waited so long. It's a 10 minute job and a 100% improvement in shifter feel. It just clicks SO much better now. The pair is the best $130 you'll spend.

I ordered them last weekend on Brad's advice and can't wait to to install them! I'm doing the Empeg install tomorrow. I don't know how anyone lives with the 6-disc changer in the dash, I SOOOO miss the Empeg.

Also, I want to thank you for pointing me towards the PS2's. They are nice (AKA bad arse) and don't track like the stockers.

I cant't wait for the AccessPort! My PDE up-pipe will be here this week... Then I think I will be going with the Cobb TBE, but I can't stand the 'ricer' sound, so I'm still looking at maybe Billy Boat Exhaust...

FYI: If you want a leather interior, check out James/ATD at ClubWRX.net...

-Chuck

Maybe you can get yourself one o' them Bubb Rubb whistles.

WOO WOO!!

I have the Prodrive axel back, which many people say is the best sounding exhaust there is.. it's not 3", but I love the way it sounds. I'm sure if you goto a meet, someone will have one you can check out. We're lucky, because of our boxer engines, we're not the typical "ricer" sound.

btw, congrats on all the new toys!

You already got the AccessPort?

I went for an oil change first thing this AM -- figured I could sneak it in before work. Rats. I show up at 7:30, but they're short 1 quart of Mobil 1. So, I'll need to wait until 8:00 for the auto parts place across the parking lot to open.

So I'm bored. I say "So what else you got?" And the guy says "Well, we got one AccessPort left."

Expensive oil change.

Very cool! What are your thoughts on it? I forgot vendors got their hands on these..

Gees man... slowdown! heheh. You're going to be up to Stage4 by the end of the year!

What are your thoughts on it? I forgot vendors got their hands on these..

Yep, the great indie Subaru shop I go to (Smart Service) is a Cobb dealer/installer and got two. Or so they told me when I dropped by to schedule my oil change. A week later they had just the one left....I thought about the back-order situation...I pulled out my Visa card! (Hey, I need the FF miles!)

Thoughts so far? Very good. Driveability? No downside. Gas mileage? No data yet. Torque? Modest increase at lower RPM -- a good thing -- lugs somehat less at low RPM and 3rd gear more useful and might be able to resist downshifts in some twisties (I feel like I have spent 90 percent of some TSD rallies in 2nd gear -- worry about wearing 2nd out! -- so maybe a small change there). Power definitely seems to open up at higher RPM. I think I can detect the front end lifting more when I goose it and the rev limiter, well, it seems to have disappeared ( or at least Stage 1 put it somewhere I don't want to go!) Anyhow, overall it seems like a pleasant, substantial upgrade achived at no expense other than $$$!

You're going to be up to Stage4 by the end of the year!

Ha! It is a paradox that a thin wallet exerts more drag. Maybe I'll be at Stage Two in a year when the OE muffler gets rusty!

I will admit that I *do* have some notion of indulging myself on the automotive front...find another WRX wagon used and make one "street" and then put a roll cage and all the other bits in #2. One of our compatriots has such a pair of BMW 325 iX and it is giving me ideas!

And the guy says "Well, we got one AccessPort left."


I am reluctant to expose my ignorance here, I was hoping I would read followup posts and figure it out for myself, but no such luck.

Not being a Subaru enthusiast, I have no idea what an AccessPort is. Would someone care to elaborate?

tanstaafl.

Would someone care to elaborate?

WRX-specific, easy-to-use, well-thought-out, DIY ECU remapper/reprogrammer. Plugs into OBD. Additional maps can be downloaded and then loaded on to the AccessPort from a PC.

Link here

I'm upset - there seems to be no equivalent for the '00 UK spec Impreza turbo...not that I have any mods yet, but it would have been nice to dream.

On a happier note - got links to my install pics in my new Scooby over in the installs forum, along with some other pics too. Still a teeny amount of alternator whine, but it's getting there.

And the taxi driver I had last night on my way home from a business dinner offered me a decent 10" subwoofer at a sensible price, so I'm going along to have a look this weekend. He seems like a top bloke - has a modded 3 litre Subra and well into track days up at Knockhill. It's all coming together - although I might need to replace the stock speakers and I gather I will need to choose carefully to ensure a proper fit.

Anyhow I won't do much for a bit - got the London Marathon on the 18th so preparing for that now. Keep an eye out for me - number 33869! Wish me luck, or better yet, click on the link below and sponsor me - Yay!

I suggest you email Cobb... they are spinning off AccessPort as its own company to support many types of cars, but Cobb is Subaru only... I bet they'd be able to give you some kind words, they are very responsive to email.

I just got email notification from Cobb today! After months of waiting, mine is shipping!

Saweeet. Just got my Prodrive P1's put on with some half used Pilot Sports that should last me the summer. My black stealth wagon is looking better all the time. Gotta get a pic later. Love it!

My black stealth wagon is looking better all the time

And just how would one be stealthy with Prodrive wheels and Pilot Sports?

I think you've blown your cover sir.