...and here's me thinking the WRX brakes are a good upgrade for the classic. (My car weighs the same as a classic) tbh the car expenses with other cars so quickly I can afford to brake early. I'm under the impression STI drivers are relying on handling and braking to match a WRX an imho that is dangerous on UK roads!!!!!

Hand on heart the V-Limited WRX is the best Subaru as it is basically an STI/WRX hybrid. OE JDM is cool too, just lacks the STI styling that's on the V-L.

All I'm bothered about is being fast, light and efficient. So I want an Impreza with the smaller hubs?/disks. clutch, gearbox and box oil pump, but also want the larger injectors and Turbo off the STI. V-limited is a bonus due to having AVCS, better pistons and the 5 speed that's far more manageable for power close to 350bhp or above. If the V-Limited/JDM has stronger piston rings than the UK spec WRX then I can't see why you couldn't run a rod/box protecting 400bhp 350lbft. Now that would be a supercar.

Does the JDM WRX come with 2 cats?

 

Traction and gear shifting gets harder with increased power, some big power builds have chronic lag. I'm always hitting the limiter now with just a 110hp increase. I think this is why most 300-700bhp Subarus are getting similar 0-60 foots and to some extent 0-60mph.

I think 300bhp Mickywrx got a 1.7, I got 1.8 and 700bhp owners Big ARF/P1HARDY 1.8/1.9. I suspect both Micky and I are inferior drivers!

I've seen a hell of a lot of STI's bog down that don't run launch control, maybe the transmission weight difference and lighter flywheel etc etc.

I had country lane blast against mates R1, I think they are 1000bhp per ton, my mate, who is quite a serious individual, said he thinks I'd take him if I could find another 150bhp but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't.

 

Much like high powered bikes high powered cars take some skill to get the best out of them, it's one thing to have some passion for cars and bikes and the money to throw at them, but it's a totally different thing to actually be able to ride / drive them to their full capability.

I'd say in my experience in the region of 90% of those that own either a super bike or a highly modded vehicle are average at best and that's being polite to avoid everyone getting butt hurt, and the other 10% range from those that have some idea to the last 1% that are reasonably skilled/experienced.

Most think they are not in front because they don't have enough power so go chasing horses under the bonnet, the unfortunate reality is the problem lies with the donkey behind the wheel.

You only have to see the vid of the kid that took a 260bhp WRX around the ring in 8.30 to cries of bs / my mate in his gazillion bhp evo can't do that time, until he posted the vid and everyone shut up.

STI or WRX matters not as the performance difference between the 2 isn't that great, when all said and done 90% of people that own them won't get anywhere near what the car is actually capable of in standard tune let alone modified.

I'll say it again for the hard of hearing and those at the back, if you're really into modding and want to do track days buy an STI, if you want a quick daily that's reasonable to live with on a day to day basis then it's the WRX you want, if you find yourself reaching the limits with it on the road then there are a few subtle things you can do for very little money to improve it significantly.

And if you find yourself still reaching it's limits on the road, you're an idiot and want banning.

 

Actually find myself agreeing
On the last point I think it's fair to say that if you are finding the limit on any car on the road, you're an idiot and want banning

 

Agreed , Sti Brembo's / or min FR 335mm on 17 inch rim + syntered pads + higher boil temp fluid are essential , a tuned WRX is a death trap otherwise.

 

In standard form Id be dissapointed for Subaru if a 2.0 Sti cannot outbrake and handle v WRX.

Making a car quick for twisty roads is not about adding 50-80 hp , its about staying on the road as you increase cornering speeds.

I had an early lesson from a Audi s4 on this. It simply outcornerd / out braked my WRX. I realised that an dropped it 30mm added coil overs and changed to larger brake discs/braided lines/5.1Dot/Ds2500/RCL5 pads/stiffer suspension rubber unions and now I have a much safer car.

 

It's usually about the point RSM turns up, just unfortunately this thread only managed 3 posts before he got in.

 

After look at the rest of our answers you are probably a little perplexed. Lot of good advice already above , but I can remember how I was 3 years ago, So Im going back to your original questions 1:1 .

Firstly very few on here keep the car standard.
So we don't know much about that the fun is doing the improvements.

2.0 is generally considered more reliable than 2.5 (Bearing size).
Sti is better for Brakes ( WRX can be changed to Sti Brembo AP/Tarox etc)
5 speed WRX are more lesuirely 6 spd more hectic but faster through gears
Cost WRX is normal 2k-3k cheaper used than the more desirable Sti's
If your going to tune over 350bhp Sti essential for durable Gearbox/Brakes.

If you have the cash, my opinion take a 2.0 Sti if your short but want to go the uprgade path later take a 2.0 WRX MY01 05 later ones are slightly better) do the brakes/suspension before the engine.

Later cars logically on 2.5 's have lower milages,
rebuilds of any will cost 2k upward skys the limit here.

The joy of them all is the sound and nearly all of us love the 22b

 

It's only a death trap if you drive like a ****.
I ran 320bhp on OE brakes and never once experienced brake fade or found myself in a position where the braking wasn't up to it.
I would have no problem running way more power on standard brakes either.
Some people have no interest (myself included) braking at the last moment into a corner so therefore massive brakes are a total waste.
I used to love coming out of a corner or off a round about and feeling the power - that was my fix.
A 500bhp Scoob car will stop just as fast as a 200bhp Scoob from any given speed. If that given speed is too much for your brakes then you are driving like a tit.

 

I thought sti wheels were only half an inch wider.. 7.5 vs wrx 7

 

Also im prety sure a wrx has better aerodynamic efficancy with smaller scoop and spoiler so he dosent realy know what hes talking about

 

The oem brakes on the WRX are crap even at standard power levels, a couple of hard stops and they're gone.

If you're upgrading the acceleration it's pretty much common sense to fit something that will increase the deceleration.

 

One the assumption that you plan to hammer into corners faster then of course - like I say, not every one is looking for the same thing! Monster brakes would be wasted on me!

 

That's some scary logic there. The standard brakes on the newage Wrx aren't good for a car with that weight/performance, upgrading the power but not the brakes on the basis "I'm not interested in late braking" is bizarre. what happens when your "using that extra performance" and find yourself needing to stop sharpish?

 

WRX brakes work as well as say brembos for the first couple of stamps and will haul the car to a reasonable stop from speed, it's after that when the problems start which are down to disc and caliper heat dissipation.

I think the point brun is making is that he doesn't hammer his brakes so there's not much point in him changing them, which is ultimately a fair one.

As you say though if you're upping the power it's wise to do something about the brakes, I would go so far as to say brakes before power.

 

Good point, because one things for sure a tree or a wall will certainly stop your car quicker than a set of brembos, so why take the risk ?

 

Having covered 80k miles in my Scoob, not once did I find myself in a situation where the brakes were not upto the job. Of course there were a few moments where I had to stamp on them due to circumstances out of my control but again, they were upto the job and disaster was averted!

I'll say again - not everyone's driving requires big brakes and I think 80k miles proves my point!

 

Sometimes a car that can handle brilliantly on smooth roads is a pig on UK roads, which car has stiffer suspension in OE form?

 

We have motorways here that are prettys safe , and many of us like to try the car out once in a while.

I would not dream of driving like I do in Germany in the UK the roads / space and traffice levels and the speedlimits dont allow it.

But for every safe mile driven there is always a slim chance something might happen in front of you. That's when you are glad to have that bit of extra brake capacity,

I have done some tests just pulling up from 1 km before my autobahn exit from 130 mph down to 30 mph, with the standard disks (mintex)
you can just about do it , ( you can always drive straight on it things go wrong) but you will end up with fade and if you kept full on them and you just warp them.

With the new ones / pads I have over 200 meters to spare.

I am not suggesting anyone to go haring about the UK doing this , all Im trying to say is you have to be very careful with standard brakes , as Norman said , you can stop a couple of times with them then its all over and done.

 

If I have to stop hard twice in quick succession due to something happening in front of me then I'd be having one unlucky day on the road would I not!

God only knows how I never had an accident or even survived my 6 years of owning my Scoob!
Seemingly my luck should have meant I'd be guaranteed 6 numbers on the lotto at some point over that period but unfortunately not

 

I have to say, I have AP4pots and I wouldn't be without them, but for 95% of the time standard discs and pads would suffice as I mostly potter to the shops and back, however on those occasions when I'm in the mood to have a mad 15 mins the standard brakes wouldn't last 2mins.

Horses for courses.

 

Despite all the mods I have done to my Std calipers Id swap for your AP's tomorrow.

Paradoxically I am not allowed to use them on the road without an expensive special dispensation from the TÜV. So in order to stay more or less legal , I have to swap back to standard discs and pads every 2 years.

As my car is a WRX I would have to do the same for Brembos as they are only recorded on the Sti.