MS3 vs. stage 1 08 STI + Pics

[GETxERxDONE]

hah, thats funny. then the 08 Sti's first came out i saw one driving into the drag strip, and at first i coulda sworn is an MS3 til we went over to look at it!

 

[fostersafb]

If both cars were stock, it'd be dead even or the MS3 would probably have a half car on the STI. But since the STI is Stage 1, it would help it in the top end.

We said the same thing. Stock for the stock the MS3 would probaly take the STI on the roll.

 

[Circle9]

So, what does Stage 1 for the STI include, intake and exhaust?

 

[FrequentFlyer]

lol...add the ap,BPV,TBE,SRI,FMIC and smoke his azz.

I bet it'd only take an SRI and TMIC to pull on'm.

 

[sluflyer06]

So, what does Stage 1 for the STI include, intake and exhaust?

typically just tuning on a stock car.

 

[fostersafb]

So, what does Stage 1 for the STI include, intake and exhaust?

No, just like sluflyer06 said, simply an ECU reflash with a more aggressive tune than the factory. According to Cobbtuning +12% HP and +15% TQ. That puts the STI crank power at about 341hp/333tq.

No too bad for a stock MS3 to hold its own against that.

I noticed the MS3 stage 1 only produces a +2.5% HP and +8% TQ increase.

 

[TRDMS3]

i swear thos look like rx8 wheels on an STI

 

[black_ninja23]

Test drove an STi...Not impressed

so i went to test drive an STi last week, since they were having that deal of $8k off MSRP + 0% APR. After test driving the STI, I wasn't at all impressed by the power. I've always wanted an STI, and this was a bargain, but after being spoiled by my modded MS3, I don't think it was worth trading the MS3 for the new STi.

Top reasons I didn't trade the MS3:
-torque doesn't hit until 4k rpms
-200lbs heavier than the MS3
-looks exactly like the MS3 (as evidenced by the above pics)
-would have been upside down on loan

Although I wasn't impressed by the power, here's a list of things I wish the MS3 came:
-AWD!
-longer powerband
-short throw shifter (although this can be done for the MS3 easily, I liked the knob in the STi)

Of course if they had this deal a year ago when I bought the MS3, I would've been all over it.

 

[mo08ms3]

I am so glad that I didn't pay the extra 12k for the STI back in May. I love the way the STI's look and test drove one, but it wasn't what I expected.

 

[justanothermp5]

jeez, are those the stock sti tails?
they are freakin ugly!!! besides that though, its a nice car

i much prefer the 05 sti's over ANY car lol just me though

 

[sluflyer06]

so i went to test drive an STi last week, since they were having that deal of $8k off MSRP + 0% APR. After test driving the STI, I wasn't at all impressed by the power. I've always wanted an STI, and this was a bargain, but after being spoiled by my modded MS3, I don't think it was worth trading the MS3 for the new STi.

Top reasons I didn't trade the MS3:
-torque doesn't hit until 4k rpms
-200lbs heavier than the MS3
-looks exactly like the MS3 (as evidenced by the above pics)
-would have been upside down on loan

Although I wasn't impressed by the power, here's a list of things I wish the MS3 came:
-AWD!
-longer powerband
-short throw shifter (although this can be done for the MS3 easily, I liked the knob in the STi)

Of course if they had this deal a year ago when I bought the MS3, I would've been all over it.

Comparing a stock STI to a modded MS3 isn't fair. The stock tune on the Subaru's is a joke for spool up. TBE+tune which is entirely reliable setup yields peak torque @~3,100-3,200 around 320-360wtq depending on the tuner & dyno.

My 06' WRX with a STI turbo made peak torque at 3,150 and full boost by 3,000@19psi. I've driven a stock STI as well, the "oomphh" is un-impressive without a little tuning. Hell my clipped 20g on the same motor made peak torque by 3,500.

 

[CnoTataymo]

I remember driving my friends 06 WRX with VF39 turbo, FMIC, TBE, 19 psi and a reflash. I believe he did 288whp, I just don't know on what dyno. When I drove it, I still felt some lag under 4k rpm. When we raced after I installed the MS CAI, we did 50-60 mph rolls, he would pull away after 100mph and by 125 he was about a car and a half ahead.

 

[black_ninja23]

i swear thos look like rx8 wheels on an STI

haha that's what I thought too, until I saw them up close. Those are the stockers for the STi. Man talk about biting off mazda's style! They copied the body of the Mazda3 and then the RX8...i guess copying someone's style is the best compliment (laugh)

 

[black_ninja23]

Comparing a stock STI to a modded MS3 isn't fair. The stock tune on the Subaru's is a joke for spool up. TBE+tune which is entirely reliable setup yields peak torque @~3,100-3,200 around 320-360wtq depending on the tuner & dyno.

My 06' WRX with a STI turbo made peak torque at 3,150 and full boost by 3,000@19psi. I've driven a stock STI as well, the "oomphh" is un-impressive without a little tuning. Hell my clipped 20g on the same motor made peak torque by 3,500.

BTW, I'm not saying the STI isn't a great car, because it is...it's just that I think they dumbed down the 08's IMO. Less raw feel to it. Oh and the point I was trying to make was that it wasn't worth me trading my MS3 for the 08 STi even with the bargain deals.

 

[bf360]

trust me get a cold air intake and don't shift past 5500 and make sure your in the right gear to race him and I guarantee you'll beat him

 

[YelloP5]

nice run

 

[F430TECH]

I experienced the same feeling of not being able to justify 10-12 Grand more for a car thats not that much faster and not as nice on the interior side...and I wanted an STi FOREVER!!!

Granted we wont ever hit 530 WHP in our cars...just saying...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs-jAImScms

 

[freeflyfreak]

Get an AP.

It pulls all the way to redline, none of that 5500 crap.

Tell him you want an apples to apples comparo next time.

 

[60181]

Get an AP.

It pulls all the way to redline, none of that 5500 crap.

You're way exceeding the parameters of the KO4 spec for our car when reving above 5,800rpms. Driving the car at engine speeds above 5800 rpm with 15psi or greater boost significantly increases the exhaust temperature measured inside the K04 turbine housing.

The energy produced by the turbine housing is simply converting to heat rather than accelerating the compressor wheel faster. Unless a careful and extended idle-down is performed at the end of every hard driving session, the rapid heat build-up from high boost/high rpm operation causes the turbine shaft to soften, and allows the turbine head to droop. The result is an imbalance that ultimately leads to a shaft failure.

Don't believe me, go play in the world of Audi's and VW's and you'll learn the hard way. Even the Ecotech group is feeling "limited" and experimenting.

 

[fostersafb]

You're way exceeding the parameters of the KO4 spec for our car when reving above 5,800rpms. Driving the car at engine speeds above 5800 rpm with 15psi or greater boost significantly increases the exhaust temperature measured inside the K04 turbine housing.

The energy produced by the turbine housing is simply converting to heat rather than accelerating the compressor wheel faster. Unless a careful and extended idle-down is performed at the end of every hard driving session, the rapid heat build-up from high boost/high rpm operation causes the turbine shaft to soften, and allows the turbine head to droop. The result is an imbalance that ultimately leads to a shaft failure.

Don't believe me, go play in the world of Audi's and VW's and you'll learn the hard way. Even the Ecotech group is feeling "limited" and experimenting.

Getting a little off topic here but does a stage 2 setup raise the drop-off point at all? I know the K04 is small but I would think good tuning along with the proper supporting mods would yield some more RPMs out of the power band. I would think helping out the flow with SRI, turbo inlet, FMIC and a TBE with some smart tuning, not just raising boost would yield some higher RPM power. Are the stock headers (exhaust manifold) equal length?

Even my old WRX's with the TD04 couldnt really push more than ~17-18psi before become flame throwers but they would at least make power at 7k rpms. IIRC they were rated somewhere around 360cfm which is a small turbo. I dont know the specs on the K04. Borg warner? K04XXXX?