I wanted to know if anyone has gone from WRX 02-05 stage 2 to EVO IX. I currently have 05 WRX and I am trying to decide to go stage II or save and get the IX towards fall. Is ther anyone who can comment on the overall fun factor from the stage 2 WRX to EVO IX.

I don't track or autocross, so this would be used for daily driving only, at least at right now. How is the daily drivability compared from WRX stage 2 vs. EVO IX.

Also is there anyone in Vernon Hills/Libertyville with EVO IX or WRX stage 2 willing to go out for a drive to compare to stock. Thanks.

 

fromwrxtoevo is your guy, he had a subbie and got an EVO...

 

I went from an 03 stage 2 WRX to an 04 GSR. The stage 2 WRX was about the same in straight line speed as the stock 03-04's (the 05's and IX's are much faster). While I did enjoy the WRX, and I have nothing bad to say about it, I much much prefer the Evo. I actually think it's better as a daily driver because it's just so much more fun to drive. Also, the power potential is rediculous compared to a WRX. If you think about it, the next step up after stage 2 on a rex is a turbo/injectors/intercooler/fuel pump upgrade, all of which have to be done at about the same time. And after that, you're pretty well maxed out in power, unless you have some serious cash to blow. A stock IX will be much faster than the stage II rex, not to mention the cost of upgrades is cheaper, as well as more options in terms of upgrades. Seriously, I'd buy my Evo again in a heartbeat. You'll see what I mean after you drive one.

 

I went from a Cobb Stage 2 WRX to a 2003 Evo 8. The power delivery felt identical between the stock '03 Evo and the stage 2 wrx. Everything else on the Evo was better in my opinion than the Subrau.

I have recently traded my '03 Evo in on an Evo 9. Again, the 9 is better in every way to the 2003 Evo.

 

Wow same power delivering. I test drove an 03 evo in beginning of 2004. I thought the power delivery was crazy once 3krmps swept by, it was fun. How is the IX power delivery comare to the 8. Thanks

 

Stage 2 WRX had identical power delivery to the stock '03 Evo.

Stock Evo 9 feels like it has more power everywhere over the stock 2003. It doesn't die off on the top end like the 2003 did.

 

I am still trying to figure out what you mean. WRX stage II there are tons of them, per instance a Vishnu Stage II on a WRX is equivalent to a Turbo XS Stage IV or even more.

As far is the overall fun factor that you are mentioning there is not really a "fun factor" on my ex- WRX at least my $11000 in mods(cosmetic and engine) did not give me any fun factor at all.

I have done (no kidding) about 20 WRX and Evo comparisson agaisnt my WRX and Evo friends, honestly the WRX has no comparison agaisnt the Evo 9 even on stock mode. I can't ever erase from my brain how bad my WRX was in the summers with the A/C on, you could simply get that car out of the hole unless your were above 4000rpm. I wish I never did a turbo upgrade on the WRX, I will always regret.


I honestly don't recommend you to get into modding the WRX at all, you wouldn't get the results you are hoping. The tranny will give you troble the moment you start modding the car(ask me about my two tranny failure in less than 2 months).

Carlos

 

Thanks Carlos. Basically I was referring to your basic full tbe with uppipe and EM say Cobb AP ect, roughtly giving near hp numbers to stock 03 evo. I know there are some other combos but that was the route I was thinking. Sounds like good advice coming from someone with experience modding the WRX.

What was the tranny failure, how much whp did you have that caused the failure and what type of driving, ie launching or autox or track caused this?

 

The tranny failure could be attributed to a few things but mainly because of the design and strength of the first gen WRX tranny were simply under achievers, they were made of glass.

My whp was exactly 280.3 and my torque was 255 on a Dyno Dynamic Dyno at 18psi on 91oct tune on Dynocomp in Phoenix on June the 6th of 2004 and tuned by AZscoobie(Clark).

Among all the cars I have had (nearly 40) the WRX was perhaps the most pathetic and traumatizing car I ever owned, I put too much money for such ****y results. I can swear I would never ever own a WRX in many years, it truly left a bitter trademark.

Speaking of trannys, yeah I broke two of them in less than 2 month, I paid huge I repeat HUGE amounts of money to get that POS car back on the road, even a brand new ACT clutch kit with lightened flywheel failed on me days after I installed it .

Speaking of stages, without a doubt if you say Vishnu Stage II that means the strongest Stage in the market, a Vishnu Stage II is above average and can't be compare to others like Turbo Xs.

As per the mods that you were thinking about just do the TB and the upipe, the car will gain significantly in top end and much quicker spool up.

Make sure you get a bellmouth Downpipe design or a divorce Downpipe. The WRX comes with 3 cats and doing a full catless exhaust can give you up to 25whp with the uppipe.

Good luck in your decisions, I highly recommend you the Evo 9 over any WRX with mods.

Carlos

 

I went from a Cobb Stage 2 wrx to a Evo IX. Although it was over a year since I had my WRX, i'd say the power on the wrx came on all of a sudden vs the Evo where the power is more smooth and is much stronger. I really loved my WRX, but I like my Evo even more.

 

I went from an 02' Cobb stage 2 to a 05' Evo, I noticed a little more power out of the stock Evo, but with a few simple mods to the Evo, it pulls like a champ. My brakes on my WRX would fade pretty quick and was looking at upgrading them, then ran into other problems. So, I traded it in for my Evo and I love it, Evo also feels much more stable.

 

The 03 Evo I test drove felt the same way you describe your previous WRX stge II, all of a sudden wham! you felt the huge power surge right at 3-3.5krmp especially in 2nd gear. It sounds like he MIVEC and other changes in gearing ect may have smoothed the power band a bit for the IX. Where does the boost begin to hit hardest for the IX?

I am still trying to find someone in my area with WRX stge II to take a ride and finding a dealer that will give a test drive without doing all the crap of clawing for a price and down payment and all that before the test drive. Maybe I can find a demo IX somewhere to test drive

 

I went from a 05 WRX stage 2 plus goodies to a Evo IX MR with only a cat-back. The IX not only feels slightly faster then my WRX, the power delivery is much smoother and pulls hard all the way to redline.

For the drag strip, I have yet to get official numbers on the Evo but my WRX ran a best of 13.2 with a "okay" 60 ft of 1.8ish. I only got to track it a few times when it was at its fastest. Mods included:

Invidia Up pipe-catless
Invidia V3 Downpipe-divorced wastegate-catless
Invidia G200 Catback Exhaust
Walbro Fuel Pump
Excedy Stage 1 Clutch
Excedy Lightened Flywheel
Perrin 3 piece Intercooler hose set.
Cobb Accessport Stage 2-Protuned
Volk TE37 Wheels (17 inch) with Falken Azenis RT-615 Tires

The limiting factor on the MR trying to achieve this time would have to be the weight and close ratio 6 speed transmission. The gearing of the WRX 5 speed is better suited to the drag strip.

 

lol @ stages.

 

I had an 03 with a vf34 to a IX...ive gota lot more power in the evo, but i miss my wrx real bad....If i had it to do all over again, i wouldn't have traded...I miss that boxer rumble real bad