Author Topic: 2009 WRX on the Dyno & Tuned (Read 38720 times)

rrocket · « **on:** February 18, 2009, 08:21:17 pm »

Well..my favorite mag came in today! And with a bonus DVD to boot! But they dyno test and tune a 2009 WRX. WRXs are one of my favorite platform for tuning and the 2009 does not disappoint.

STOCK: 226.8 WHP 230.4 TQ
Cobb Accessport 231.00 266.8 TQ (WOW!! 36+ TQ! +25HP@4600RPM!)
K&N Filter 233.00 266.6 TQ (there are gains of 4HP@5250)
Cobb Downpipe 245.00 274.6 TQ (there were gains of 30 HP mid the 10-17 more HP from 5,500 to redline!!)

Peak torque was a VERY street friendly 3750 RPM or so. What a great engine to fool around with! And all this extra HP for around $1000. VERY impressive!!

Snowman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:38:28 pm »

Now you know why I can’t get off of the WRX and COBB Stage 2 narcotic

rrocket · « **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:41:23 pm »

I REALLY like the 2009 5 door. But...there's just something about the whole car that prevents me from taking the plunge. I REALLY want to love this car....but.......

rrocket · « **Reply #3 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:43:52 pm »

Quote from: Snowman on February 18, 2009, 08:38:28 pm

Now you know why I can’t get off of the WRX and COBB Stage 2 narcotic

How do your numbers stack up??

Snowman · « **Reply #4 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:48:01 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on February 18, 2009, 08:41:23 pm

I REALLY like the 2009 5 door. But...there's just something about the whole car that prevents me from taking the plunge. I REALLY want to love this car....but.......

I have no love for the styling of any of the WRX’s I have owned but it won’t stop me from buying another. If you want to be all touchy-feely about the interior and worried about how you look but a GTi. I will get a 2010 265 and drop another $1500 on mods and have a sub 4.5 second 0-60, all season, practical, good handling, and reliable daily driver. What else could a guy want?

Snowman · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:50:21 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on February 18, 2009, 08:43:52 pm

Quote from: Snowman on February 18, 2009, 08:38:28 pm
Now you know why I can’t get off of the WRX and COBB Stage 2 narcotic

How do your numbers stack up??

+/-260 WHP but I have a TB with a custom AP ProTune. The tune was another $500 so for a total of $2k

rrocket · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:50:42 pm »

TQ similar?? I forget....I was there the day you had it tuned....LOL

Snowman · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:52:15 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on February 18, 2009, 08:50:42 pm

TQ similar??

Yep, 280 IIRC

rrocket · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2009, 08:58:59 pm »

Yea..they sure are grunty, eh?

Snowman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2009, 09:14:15 pm »

What I like the best is all that grunt is transferred to the road with no slippage or retarding ECU’s. It facking pulls nice.

rrocket · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2009, 09:16:11 pm »

Yea..for sure. My Supra with the LSD and uber-wide tires pulls stupendously.....but only in the dry....

AWD FTW!

DriverJeff · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2009, 09:53:34 am »

Quote from: rrocket on February 18, 2009, 08:41:23 pm

I REALLY like the 2009 5 door. But...there's just something about the whole car that prevents me from taking the plunge. I REALLY want to love this car....but.......

I hear ya, Rrocket. I keep pushing this car to the top of my list, but after two test drives and pouring over it again at the AutoShow, it just does nothing for me. It's not even the styling -- I can get past that for the performance -- but considering the numbers being generated for the acceleration on this thing, I just don't feel it. Handling and braking are nothing remarkable and without doing clutch dumps, the car just really doesn't feel that fast.

Snowman · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2009, 01:54:59 pm »

Quote from: Giant Dwarf on February 19, 2009, 09:53:34 am

Quote from: rrocket on February 18, 2009, 08:41:23 pm
I REALLY like the 2009 5 door. But...there's just something about the whole car that prevents me from taking the plunge. I REALLY want to love this car....but.......

I hear ya, Rrocket. I keep pushing this car to the top of my list, but after two test drives and pouring over it again at the AutoShow, it just does nothing for me. It's not even the styling -- I can get past that for the performance -- but considering the numbers being generated for the acceleration on this thing, I just don't feel it. Handling and braking are nothing remarkable and without doing clutch dumps, the car just really doesn't feel that fast.

Yes Jeff, the WRX is not for everyone and it may not feel fast but the truth is in the numbers. Real WRX drivers don’t dump the clutch BTW. Launching is an art and defiantly not for the mainstream drivers, the general public need not apply.

Triple Bob · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2009, 02:33:05 pm »

It's the shoddy interior on the 265 that let's it down for me, hell even the challenger was better designed inside.

johngenx · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2009, 02:49:28 pm »

Quote from: Snowman on February 19, 2009, 01:54:59 pm

Yes Jeff, the WRX is not for everyone and it may not feel fast but the truth is in the numbers. Real WRX drivers don’t dump the clutch BTW. Launching is an art and defiantly not for the mainstream drivers, the general public need not apply.

If there was a car that needed a technological transmission, the WRX/STi is it. I wouldn't be keen to give up the full manual of either car (though the Subaru trans is not butter like the S2000, etc, it is still fun) but having "launch control" would be very slick indeed. Were I an engineer, here is how I'd make it work:

At a dead stop, put the shift lever into second gear, push the "launch" button and take your foot off the clutch. Right foot on the gas, left on the brake with the ECU optimizing throttle position and having full control over the clutch. Release the brake and the car launches. The trans self-shifts to 2nd gear and you now have full control. At any time were you to touch the brakes after the initial launch, full manual control is engaged.

Problem? Cost. You'd need computers to operate the clutch and transmission as well as throttle (throttle easy, clutch and trans not as much, but not too bad) and the associated hardware. It would be working with the ESP sensors to provide maximum acceleration with minimum clutch and trans impact (much better than the goober sidestep-the-clutch method that too many use).

Of course, this is why most bracket racers use automatic transmissions or Lencos w/trans-brake. Consistent, traction-maximizing launches. However, those car never see a twisty road...

Snowman · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2009, 02:53:18 pm »

Quote from: Just Bob on February 19, 2009, 02:33:05 pm

It's the shoddy interior on the 265 that let's it down for me, hell even the challenger was better designed inside.

I agree it interior is not exciting as the interior of my 2002 WRX was plain and the 2006 was not much better either with slight improvements in trim. I just don’t have the interior with a heavy weighting on my score card so I don’t let that deminish the strenghts.

DriverJeff · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2009, 04:55:28 pm »

Quote from: Snowman on February 19, 2009, 02:53:18 pm

Quote from: Just Bob on February 19, 2009, 02:33:05 pm
It's the shoddy interior on the 265 that let's it down for me, hell even the challenger was better designed inside.

I agree it interior is not exciting as the interior of my 2002 WRX was plain and the 2006 was not much better either with slight improvements in trim. I just don’t have the interior with a heavy weighting on my score card so I don’t let that deminish the strenghts.

It's not even just the interior / exterior styling, but the overall enjoyment. The previous generation Imprezas (even the normally aspirated ones) were more alive and enjoyable to drive. You're right, Snowman, the numbers don't lie, but they can only be achieved when the car is brutalized. If you look at rolling start times or 30-50 or 50- 70 mph acceleration (not to mention handling, braking, etc.) a number of other cars can quite easily keep pace (even Honda Accord V6 6 spd)

tpl · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2009, 05:15:09 pm »

Quote from: johngenx on February 19, 2009, 02:49:28 pm

Quote from: Snowman on February 19, 2009, 01:54:59 pm
Yes Jeff, the WRX is not for everyone and it may not feel fast but the truth is in the numbers. Real WRX drivers don’t dump the clutch BTW. Launching is an art and defiantly not for the mainstream drivers, the general public need not apply.

If there was a car that needed a technological transmission, the WRX/STi is it. I wouldn't be keen to give up the full manual of either car (though the Subaru trans is not butter like the S2000, etc, it is still fun) but having "launch control" would be very slick indeed. Were I an engineer, here is how I'd make it work:

At a dead stop, put the shift lever into second gear, push the "launch" button and take your foot off the clutch. Right foot on the gas, left on the brake with the ECU optimizing throttle position and having full control over the clutch. Release the brake and the car launches. The trans self-shifts to 2nd gear and you now have full control. At any time were you to touch the brakes after the initial launch, full manual control is engaged.

Problem? Cost. You'd need computers to operate the clutch and transmission as well as throttle (throttle easy, clutch and trans not as much, but not too bad) and the associated hardware. It would be working with the ESP sensors to provide maximum acceleration with minimum clutch and trans impact (much better than the goober sidestep-the-clutch method that too many use).

Of course, this is why most bracket racers use automatic transmissions or Lencos w/trans-brake. Consistent, traction-maximizing launches. However, those car never see a twisty road...

Once you have a computer controlled clutch you may as well have a DSG... but with some tweaks from the VW one.
1. Gearchange speed adjustable
2 Throttle response adjustable
3 How close to the redline before change up adjustable
4 Proper paddles attached to the column not the wheel.
So a set of F1 style knobs and buttons to adjust this... just like a Ferrari

My point being that the computer controlled clutch is the expensive bit. After driving the GTI one can see that there is a lot of fancy mechanical stuff going on controlled by software... which costs a lot to develop but is cheap in production.
My DSG equipped GTI has launch control... I have not used it on my car but I did use it on the test drive car.

rrocket · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2009, 05:57:52 pm »

Quote from: johngenx on February 19, 2009, 02:49:28 pm

Quote from: Snowman on February 19, 2009, 01:54:59 pm
Yes Jeff, the WRX is not for everyone and it may not feel fast but the truth is in the numbers. Real WRX drivers don’t dump the clutch BTW. Launching is an art and defiantly not for the mainstream drivers, the general public need not apply.

If there was a car that needed a technological transmission, the WRX/STi is it. I wouldn't be keen to give up the full manual of either car (though the Subaru trans is not butter like the S2000, etc, it is still fun) but having "launch control" would be very slick indeed. Were I an engineer, here is how I'd make it work:

At a dead stop, put the shift lever into second gear, push the "launch" button and take your foot off the clutch. Right foot on the gas, left on the brake with the ECU optimizing throttle position and having full control over the clutch. Release the brake and the car launches. The trans self-shifts to 2nd gear and you now have full control. At any time were you to touch the brakes after the initial launch, full manual control is engaged.

Problem? Cost. You'd need computers to operate the clutch and transmission as well as throttle (throttle easy, clutch and trans not as much, but not too bad) and the associated hardware. It would be working with the ESP sensors to provide maximum acceleration with minimum clutch and trans impact (much better than the goober sidestep-the-clutch method that too many use).

Of course, this is why most bracket racers use automatic transmissions or Lencos w/trans-brake. Consistent, traction-maximizing launches. However, those car never see a twisty road...

You make it more complicated than need be. There are MANY devices on the market for not alot of money that would help this car come out of the hole. You can install an anti-lag (like I did on the Supra). Or, the modern boost controller can do sooo much. You can assign a pre-set boost by gear (have X pounds of boost in 1st gear, add in more for 2nd, etc..). You can even adjust boost by speed. And beyond that...you can have the boost ramp in by RPM. These devices cost only a few hundred bucks. This is all you'd need.

And Snowy.....it's not THAT hard to launch these cars IMO. I think I pooched my first two launches in an STi. And then after that, all was well......

Zombie · « **Reply #19 on:** February 19, 2009, 06:22:12 pm »

Hey Snowman what turbo is in your WRX. I'm guessing it is smaller then the one in the 265. Also is the 2006 turbo the same size or even the same turbo as the one in the 2008.
I'm not sure why but the numbers I see on other forums for an 08 WRX at stage 2 have lower HP but a big bump in Trq up above 300 (compared to your numbers). So would that mean smaller turbo with a quicker spool up?