I'll throw my .02c in this discussion.

I dont think it would make a *huge* difference mainly because the engine is in front of the front suspension and it could be a liability instead of an asset. My subaru has more understeer than my Evo and it's certainly a noticeable amount. I prefer to drive my Evo.

The fact that they are more difficult to perform regular maintenance easily makes them less attractive (Changing plugs is a much more difficult job on a STI than a Evo for example). Combine that with the other problems they have (lubrication, heat, cost) and the 4G63 is an obvious winner.

The short answer is a horizontally opposed 4cylinder (Boxer) is not a better performing / more reliable / cost effective engine than a inline 4 cylinder. If it was a better engine don't you think more mfr's would be jumping on the bandwagon? As far as Porsche also using that design, remember the basic design is from a VW air cooled engine that was designed 50+ years ago. Even VW has abandoned this aging design.

ALL of the medium to heavily modified STI's I know of have blown up within a year or two of modification. Some more than once, this seems to be especially common with 07 models. I'm sure there are some that have been trouble free but not around here. I just don't think this engine has enough head room for serious modification without building the bottom end and generally speaking built engines are not as reliable as the stock factory assembly. I know some will say it's because of the tuning that they blew up and I would agree but I'm talking about conservative boost (21psi), 11.1:1 - 11.5:1 AFR fuel, no knock tunes and engines still blowing over time.

Having said all of that, I own a 06 STI but it's bone stock and I have had 0 problems. It's a reliable car at it's design specification and has been 100% trouble free. I just don't think they are good cars to try to get to the 500whp mark with.

 

1. Stock turbo on old WRX, bug eyes was a Mitsubishi TD04-13T, similar to the one found in 3000GTs.

2. The only Porsche collaboration I've ever heard of with Subaru was the limited model Blitzen as it used a Porsche triptronic trans. The other cars didn't get any German love. Porsche did license Mitsubishis balance shaft technology for use in the 944.

3. 4G63>EJXX

P.S. Car companies seek design help, particularly for transmissions, all the time. Companies like Getrag, Aisin, Tremec, Borg Warner, Ricardo, etc build most/a lot of/quite a few transmission for a lot of different companies or may provide design assistance.

 

Lots of great information on subie's in this thread...thanks for answering my question also (page 2).

 

Let me clear it up here, this is what I heard... Subarus (at least the 08+ STis) use Getrag transmissions, these are the same transmissions used in Porsches. It has nothing to do with Porsche, other than the fact that Porsche buys from the same company.

 

+1

 

Sooooo If the 08 STi has a getrag Tranny and Porsche uses the same doesn't that all really mean they all have 6spd Supra tranny's? You know the thing that all supra fanboys drool over for some odd reason.... lmao Obviously I am not serious

This is a very interesting thread. I understand the boxer motor but reading threw more in depth it is pretty cool

 

That was very interesting! and so are all the following posts after his! thanks everyone for your input, I love learning more about these cars.

 

Getrag is a transmission company that makes transmission to different car manufacturer, not only porsche. Case in point, the mitsubishi 3000GT had a 6-speed getrag transmission. The "new" mitsubishi evolution X MR has a getrag transmission.

 

I hope you're not serious. Getrag makes different models just like car companies make cars. If they build a transmission for a FWD car with 150hp, its not going to be anywhere near the same as one made for a RWD car with 320hp and designed to handle much more then that per the manufacturer's desired specifications. I had thought one of the older Skylines had a Getrag similar to the Supras but with an output shaft, but the box in the 3000GT VR4 is totally different.

 

Please re-read what I said...

 

I really wouldn't be that surprised if Porsche consulted on the transmission design.

 

Let me clarify this a bit. I *think* the only car the Supra's Getrag box is shared with is one of the older V-spec Skylines, like R32 or R33, but they were able to adapt it to AWD use by adding an output shaft to power the front wheels. I don't think the RWD Skylines got this box, but used something weaker similar to what the Fairladies got. Meanwhile, the 3000GT-VR4 being a FWD based AWD car like the Evo got something totally different, built by Getrag, but different nonetheless, and not as robust a Supra trans.

American cars share trans quite a bit in high performance cars as the Vette, Viper, CTS-V, Camaro, GT500 all use virtually the same manual Tremec 6 speed trans.

 

cool

 

Good info this thread.

The FWD 3000GT used a F5M3x which it shared with the Eclipse GS-T.

Just another tidbit. Lol

 

So I've still been looking at this stuff, And I have a question about this:

"My Subaru has more understeer than my Evo and it's certainly a noticeable amount."

Referring to the engine eight being more forward and down in a Subaru than in an Evo. Wouldn't the engine being in front of the axle in the Subaru pull down on the front wheels more and cause them to oversteer more so than the Evo's engine, being higher up and further back, push the car forward more than it would push on the front tires?

Or does it work different? Like would the engine, being in front, have a negative effect on steering that the wheels would have to move the engine further across the same lateral plane since it is in front of them? And in an Evo when entering a turn the wheels turn and the engine follows since it's behind, whereas the Subaru front end has to pull the engine that constantly wants to continue it's forward motion?

Almost like a trailer being pulled vs like a kid hanging in front of a shopping cart in a market?
Those are the only examples I could think of that could kind of portray my idea of it. lol.
-TD