Modded WRX owner considering a MS3

[boostdog]

The difference is that while yours felt faster than your Stang, even though it wasn't, the MS3 really is faster than a stage 2 WRX. I've out accelerated a full bolt on tuned 18g WRX (on a track of course (wink)).

And to the thread starter, congrats on your purchase. You even picked out the correct color.

no you didn't! if you ran the times in your sig(yupnope)...i call BS on that unless you have a slip and a vid.

 

[ill_eagle94]

no you didn't! if you ran the times in your sig(yupnope)...i call BS on that unless you have a slip and a vid.

LOL.

Ya, my short times are nothing to write home about. I have a hard time getting this thing moving when it's below 50 degrees. The traction just isn't there.

 

[1sty]

If you are looking to mod, then I would advise against the Mazda fdor 2 big reasons.
1. Most Mazda dealers, unlike subaru dealers, are not at all modification friednly. If they see anything aftermarket, and problems will automaticly be called your fualt. Even and intake or exhuast have caused numberous problems for people of all model mazdas as the mazda dealer chains very honestly completely suck.
2. This is a NEW drive train, it is not tested in the long hual and it is not proven. This is why there is a recall to stop the engine from falling out of the car. Add to that issue modifactions that void warrenty, then you could be in for some trouble.

 

[flipstylex]

u know what elbarto, i thought of the same thing when i bought my cosmic blue, it wasn;t my first choice of color, but after awhile, you'll realise that u have a color that noone really have... i like the whole unique color look on mines...just look at my crew pic (sig) . i am the only one with a blue car, everyone has the same old flamin red... but if u want to wait a lil more, there are new colors available for the ms3 .... white and dark gray i think

 

[camrycev6]

I was actually excited about getting a Cosmic Blue MS3 --- until I saw one up close. It is the worse color I have seen on any of the MS3s (IMHO) It is like gray and blue mixed together. It really should be blue...medium or dark...not whatever you call it. Red or Black are both sweet colors for the MS3....

Oh...and for the record, I have seen about 8 MS3s in this area... (Granted some could have been repeats.) 3 Black, 2 Silver, 2 Cosmic Blue, and only 1 Red. (Not counting my own.) Red isn't as common as you would think -- at least in the DC / Baltimore area.

 

[Je5ter]

I agree I really hate the cosmic blue color as well (no offence to anyone). My dealer tried to sell me one that color and I refused the deal unless they tracked me down a white one which wasn't the easiest thing in the world to do let me tell you.. but I've got the only one I've ever seen and its hawt as hell..

 

[CTGrey02]

I was actually excited about getting a Cosmic Blue MS3 --- until I saw one up close. It is the worse color I have seen on any of the MS3s (IMHO) It is like gray and blue mixed together.

That was the whole reason I liked cosmic blue. It's an off color.

 

[ElBartoRex]

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[palerider]

......I kept up pretty well with a AMG Benz from a roll and the look on the drivers face was priceless...

I think the look on YOUR face after CAI, testpipe, and rear mount will be even more priceless. As great as this car is, those three simple, cheap mods will make the car "silly better", than the old ride.

Glad to see you pulled the trigger... and I cant agree more that this car blows other tuner guys away. My neighbor races and builds big horsepower Hondas and all the Honda guys who come by his house... He warns them not to drive my car because even the most diehard Honda fanboys cant help but question their loyalty. They all just shake their head.... and of course, cant stop talking about it.

Great little car this is! You'll enjoy it Im sure.

 

[boostdog]

elbartorex...what was your stage 2 wrx running? did you ever track the car?

 

[ElBartoRex]

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[boostdog]

I have driven an ms3 several times..it felt as fast as my stock 07 2.5 wrx. what year wrx did you have?..if it was a 2.0 than i can see how you would think it was slower but if you had the 2.5 there was either something wrong with your car or your mind/butt dyno need to be recalibrated.

 

[smakdown61]

Things to make your wrx the ultimate AWD badass:
-05-06 wrx tranny (bullet proof)
-Upgraded fuel pump
-Upgraded injectors
-STI top mount
-18g turbo upgrade
-Good tune

Basically a couple grand invested in the right parts will get you 300+awhp 300+ awtq

With respect to the ms3 being as fast as a stock wrx...i've seen ms3's hang with STI's from 30mph roll

 

[Ryz]

If you are looking to mod, then I would advise against the Mazda fdor 2 big reasons.
1. Most Mazda dealers, unlike subaru dealers, are not at all modification friednly. If they see anything aftermarket, and problems will automaticly be called your fualt. Even and intake or exhuast have caused numberous problems for people of all model mazdas as the mazda dealer chains very honestly completely suck.
2. This is a NEW drive train, it is not tested in the long hual and it is not proven. This is why there is a recall to stop the engine from falling out of the car. Add to that issue modifactions that void warrenty, then you could be in for some trouble.

1. No problems at my dealership, they liked the way it looked and sounded.

2. The recall was for a bolt, what does that have to do with the transmission? Also the trans has been in the RX8 for a couple years.

 

[DuBy]

x2

 

[ElBartoRex]

-05-06 wrx tranny (bullet proof)

I think you might have to check your source on that one. The 05-06 trans is identical to the 04 trans and only slightly improved over the 02-03 'glass' trans. Plus in 06 they bumped the displacement to 2.5 so now the car made more torque on the same old transmission. The 04+ STi 6-speed might be what you are thinking of..

An 18g WRX setup is nice...but there is no way you are hitting that for a couple grand unless you get some extremely used parts.

TD05-18g turbo: $800-$1500
Turboback exhaust: $1000-$1500
STi TMIC: $300
Injectors: $400-$500
Fuel Pump: $100
Engine management+ custom tune: $1000

thats if you install all of the parts yourself, not to mention that an 18g is a bit overkill for the STi TMIC, I would reccomend a front mount for that setup.

People are blowing 06+ wrx transmissions left and right with a simple turboback and reflash mod. Add in a few 5k rpm awd clutch drops and you are shearing the teeth off of 2nd or 3rd in no time.

the only true bullet proof wrx transmission would be a complete 1-4 PPG gearset which runs $5,000+ installed.

trust me, I sell wrx/sti peformance parts for a living and owned one for 3.5 years.

 

[fastdreams]

My '02 WRX with APS clubsport upgrade (measured 232awhp, 237ft-lbs) and cusco coilovers seemed like it was mostly a better performance car than my stock '08 MS3.

The acceleration from 0-80 or so was outstanding, which is where I usually prefer to be. It's a great joy to able to put down a lot of torque in slow corners thanks to the AWD. Autocrossing the WRX was a lot of fun.

I like my MS3 better though. I haven't pushed it much past 100, but I can tell it pulls better. I probably won't like it as much at autocrossing as the WRX, but I will probably like it more for track days. I definitely much prefer the MS3 on the street, in spite of the traction issues.

I'm looking forward to coilovers and the basic power upgrades for my MS3.

 

[ElBartoRex]

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[nig3]

i had an 03 stage 4 wrx. the ms3 is quicker hands down just not 0-60. The ms3 handles better and has way more features and comfort and room. I love the ms3 way better than my wrx except for when its wet outside. BTW the ms3 made the same whp as my stage 4 wrx with just inatke dp and boost controller and gobbs more torque, i love it!

 

[ElBartoRex]

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