My 2008 X came with the USDM 16 ROM. Between it and Gunzo's base 93oct flash, I noticed about a 35whp gain. Between the USDM 22 ROM and the same ROM by Gunzo, there's pretty much no difference.

The early-release 2008 roms were crap. The current ones you can get at the dealership are pretty much the same that the 2010's are coming with, which are all on par with what the tuner community has given us all public access to

 

Ok, good to know. I bought my 2008 right when the 2010's came out and demanded the latest flash. They put it on. But I've been re-tuned since anyways.

 

Come on guys, we are talking b**** here?
buy the car and sooner or later, you all are modding her.
that's the start point to compare, no the dealer salon stage.
i would buy a 2008 again with my eyes closed and save five or 10 grands insted a car of the year that doesn't offer me nothing new.

70% of making a car to go fast is in the driver's hands.

 

Yes they end up making approx the same after tuning.

Even the 2008's with the latest dealer flash rom ID make much less then the 2010's.

- Bryan

 

why is that? its just the rom right?!

 

It's not mechanical, it's just the tune.

 

Tune the 08 and call it even

 

I'm assuming that a magazine or two may run a comparison between the 2011 STi and EVO X. The mild handling improvements Subaru has done should be offset with the fact that a stock 2011 EVO X should be quicker than the 2008 models that were already neck and neck with the STi in a straight line.