How's it going? I posted a small introduction earlier this week and ever since then I have browsed posts when I had time, but time tends to be scarce these days. I am an Army Medic currently deployed in Afghanistan with 4th Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division. I will be taking my mid-tour leave and want to trade in the STi and pick up an Evo MR. I know I probably could wait until next year, but it will be a lot harder to find a new Evo once they start production on the X.

I hate having to ask "stupid" questions, but when it comes to the Evo, I am a newbie at best. I have driven a 2005 Subaru WRX STi since March of 2005. I am fairly knowledgable on that car and have made a few small mods. Mainly: K&N Typhoon, Helix Catless DP, HKS Carbon Ti, and Cobb Stage 2 Flash. I have been happy with the car, but I am at a point now where I have $$$ and can get the Evo I have always wanted. I have already made up my mind that I want to go with the 2006 Evo IX.. My questions are as follows:

1) MR or SE? I have read a few threads that talk badly about the MR's transmission. I am a fairly conservative driver and baby my clutch. No clutch drops or anything. Usually start at low RPM's.. 1,000-1750... don't race or anything.. not too often anyway..

2)Please explain the "Test Pipe".. I am used to just running the DP out of Turbo and into the pipe to Exhaust itself. I am trying to understand the best way to maximize my Evo, power wise. Is it better to roll wide open? Or with the High Flow? Emissions isn't a huge issue because my car is registered in Texas.

3)I understand there are a lot of different ways to go about modding the Evo. What are the best options? Is it the standard Intake, TBE, Engine Flash? Or is there more to it?

4)I want to ride with an exhaust that is not overly loud and doesn't "drone". The HKS I have on my STi sounds good at first, but after a while its a bit obnoxious. I want it a little closer to stock Evo sound, but with the maximum amount of power.

5)I honestly don't have much bad to say about my car, but in order to increase power I will need to put a lot of money into the Subaru. It's stock internals have a hard time standing up to the Evo's. I realize this, and the Evo is a great machine. I have driven an VIII and loved it.

Thanks for your time and for reading this. I appreciate all constructive feedback..

Owen

 

Hi, I’ll break it down for you.
1. Both tranny's are strong, drive them both & decide for yourself. I did & realized that the rpm drop from 4th to 5th was too much for me & it leaned me toward the MR quickly. I also have tracked my car numerous times with no stress on the tranny.
2. A test pipe is just a straight pipe replacing the cat. I have a TBE & when I swap the cat back on it, it usually will take 500-700 rpms longer to reach full boost, along with a big power loss up top. Having just a straight pipe is the way to go for big power.
3.TBE, Intake, 255, & tune. It will be a different animal. Some say an intake isn’t needed until later, so it’s up to you. I did it & I love mine.
4. If you get a 3’ TBE (catless), it will be loud. I have perrin, my friend has SSautochrome's. SSauto's is noticeably quieter with the same performance at 1/3 the price. After install, take it to a muffler shop and have them straighten it out to get the fitment perfect, cost 40$.
5. I'm not sure of the block on a subie, but there are tons of people on this board with 400+whp on the stock block with no problems.

 

Thanks for everything you guys are doing over there. Whether some of us agree or not with why you're over there, you're all heroes in our hearts and minds.

Okay, enough of that and down to business.

1) like mentioned above, both are strong...but 5-speed is a bit stronger based on what's been said on here. 5-speed is also better for racing/autocrossing. But, don't think only of the tranny...MR has aluminum roof, Bilstein suspension and a couple other goodies. Depends on how you will drive the car. I have the IX w/5-speed and love it.

2) good explanation above.

3) Again, another good reco above. You can check Buschur Racing, AMS or any of the other good tuners. They have power packs that will run around $1200 and will net pretty good HP and TQ gains. Buschur has what they call the "warrtalon" package. Do a search for it on here or call them.

4) Burschur has an exhaust system with the option of a loud or quiet exhaust. the quiet exhaust is only marginally louder than stock. might be a good option for you.

5) The STi does take more $ to get equivalent power to the evo. And, the internals on the STi are not as strong. Not off by much, but still not as strong.

Good luck with the purchase. Come back home safe and enjoy the car!

 

doesn't the SE's have aluminum roofs as well?

 

Yeah, the SE does have the alum roof too. Good catch.

 

Hey, thanks for the replies and for clearing those issues up for me. I think I have a better understanding of the Evo now. My mind is made up on the car. I have been emailing the dealer and worked with bank to take out the necessary loan and all that good stuff. So all is a go.

I will go with the MR.. I wont be modifying the Evo until next spring when I get home. It will be driven once a week by a family friend.

Just two other questions..

My question is, when I go with the wide open TBE, does the engine need to be tuned to prevent the CEL. I had this issue with my STi, but after tuning with the Cobb, I put over 10,000 miles on the car without any problems while running catless, with a Helix Catless DP, meeting with straight pipe out to a HKS Carbon Titanium tip.

Also, as I understand it now, you run a Downpipe out of the Turbo itself, it meets up with the cat delete pipe, and that in turn will link up with the "Cat Back" exhaust? Am I correct?

Again, thanks for your replies and I can't wait to pick up this car.

Owen

 

Just wanted to say congrats on the choice from a fellw 82nd paratrooper. I am with 2nd BCT in Iraq. I as well traded in my car and picked up an 06 IX SE, well the trade actually happens on the 25th, right before I go on midtour t pick her up and had the same situation. I went with the SE for the 5 spd being a little stronger and my eventualy plans for it, plus the aluminum roof and the front lip. Good choice on the MR though. When you get back we should get the Evos together.

stay safe over there!

 

Congrats on the choice! Make sure whoever is going to drive it "once a week" while you're away is someone you would trust with your life! They've got to do the break-in period properly or it could screw the engine rings/seals for the life of the engine. Plus, you don't want someone playing with your baby too much while you're away...do you?

Yes, if you get an exhaust, you should get it tuned. This car doesn't really produce any power with an exhaust without a tune.

 

Go Army

 

Oh, it'll produce power with just throwing the exhaust on... You'll produce a lot more with a proper tune. If you go catless, just be sure it comes with the mechanical cel fix.

TBE
walbro 255
MBC
Tune

If your catless on a ix, should be good for 320+whp depending on the dyno and whether your on 91 or 93 octane.

 

You dont "need" a tune, but the car will not be nearly as fast without one. Along with your AF ratio's going to hell it could be very bad on your new engine. Do a mail in from dynoflash, it also add's a nice chunk of power.

If you put a TBE on your car, catless, you will throw a cell also. Buy a cel. elim, from e-bay, or perrin, they all do the same thing. All you do is wire it into the rear 02 sensor wire near the passenger seat & you will never get one. Then just screw in the 02 sensor into the test pipe & your golden.

 

The mods wont be going on the Evo until next spring when I get out of this **** hole.. So I will spend the next few months ordering parts to install when I get back and can take the car to be tuned.

Right now for the TBE I am leaning towards a few different brands. Still deciding on which to run with. I really need to get to computer that has decent speed and check out the exhaust sound clip thread. Will probably go with a K&N Drop in filter and looking at AEM EM or some kind of Dyno Flash.. Also looking at MBC's.

Again, thanks much for all the input. Any more is welcome. I am trying to learn all I can about this machine and what it is capable of.