I am buying a year old WRX STI here in Japan where I live. The car is standard and A1 with only 2k miles (equivalent) on the clock.
Are there any obvious upgrades which I should be thinking of.
I am a scooby novice but love the car even though only had short test drive.
Thanks.
P.S. I am English and chose the Impreza in preference to an EVO8, against all advice here in Japan. The EVO felt detached by comparison.

 

Hmmm. If you are in Japan, you are spoilt for choice on tuning options. The easiest way to go would be breathing mods and boost-up setup. Decat is illegal in Japan, so f you can get sport cat exhaust, it would be better. STI panel filter is fine, so keep that. Get yourself a HKS EVC and a HKS F con Pro. Have it set up by the shop, and you'll be amazed with the result. I have read many articles in Japan on boost up for GDB models, and many hit 350 ps and over. As new age also has stronger transmission, that won't be much of an issue at that level of tuning, neither. Hope you enjoy your Scooby ownership.

For others reading here in UK, I can't recommend this way forward in general, as i don't know anyone who specialise in F COn tuning.

 

Thanks for the info.
Having read the articles you refer to, can you give me names of companies in Japan who provide this type of mod. I want it right first time!!
Also the dealer who is providing the car offers a Genome exhaust system. Any good???
Also, the car has been owned by a Tokyo Sunday only driver and has done only 2k miles. It has been serviced twice by Subaru dealer. Having done so little in it's frst year, is there any special treatment required? Will it still be a little tight (Yuk Yuk) or can I give it a good blast first up??
I am really looking forward to owning this car, especially at the price.

 

M8 - leave the HKS stuff alone. Just a hint. (sorry Keigo)

Wait till you can get to a real tuner and get your car properly tuned, just coz you are in Japan does not mean they all know what they are doing (lots talk the talk, very few can make real power safely). There are better ways of going about tuning IMHJO. Some involve proper tuning and NO boost increase (for circa 350ps).

Leave the genome system alone - lotsa noise, for not much bang for buck. Standard is fine till you find the stuff you really want.

HTH - and it is your car after all, so feel free to do as you please

 

Cheers AJ. I like the sound of no boost increase.
What do you mean by proper tuning? R U talking improved gas flow, polishing/porting etc?
Also does the standard car have a dump valve? Do I need one?
Test drove a brand new spec C demonstrator just a couple of weeks ago and it had one for sure. Could here it loud and clear.

 

I object to the comment about boost up approach being risky. The method has been used pretty much since the dawn of turbo car days in Japan, and should not be feared. As long as you leave it to a pro to do the job, they will sort you right out. Also, JDM GDB STI engines are well able to handle higher boost, and in the hand of a proper tuner, HKS F CON can be mapped to optimal setting. Also, people are more cautious in UK, due to low grade of fuel, fearing detonation. Japanese Haioku(or Premium) gasoline is 100 + RON, so that is one less issue to worry about.

Boost up is more of an approach than the actual method. It generally involve, breathing mods (air filter, exhaust), uprated fuel pump, injectors and electronic boost controller. In addition, Impreza's stock ECU on sti being tuned quite precisely to the original engine condition, and doesn't like too much changes. So to overcome that problem, many shops prefer to use a piggy back ECU, such as HKS F Con or a replacement ECU altogether - such as Apexi Power FC. However, they have not developed one for GDB models yet. That is why I suggested the HKS.

Of course, as AJbaseBloke says, just because you are in Japan, not every tuning shop will be great at mapping. You need to find some other likeminded people in your area, and find out who does what around you.

I gather that you are in or around Tokyo. Try ringing HKS Saitama on 048-421-0508 for advise on locating their local dealer. Or ask a Japanese friend to go onto http://www.autov.net/ and use the BBS on there to gather info on car tuning in general. You may come up with a better solution from the wise and the experienced.

Best Regards
Keigo

 

Thanks again Keigo
Will follow up some of your advice in the near future.

Coolangatta.