My new car, need opinions on which way to go

BigMac

I bought a new Subaru a few weeks ago and I am going to mod it to the way I like. Engine and body will be modded a little at a time. Here are a few pics I have found that I am considering modding my car to look like. Which pic(s) do you like the best. I know this is a matter of personal choice but I want others opinions as well. Thanks.

#1



#2



#3



#4



#5

audiobliss

Beautiful car! I love the lines on those. Congrats on the purchase.

Seems as though you're going for something very mild aesthetically, ie just new wheels, maybe smoked corners? What color is your car? That'll really dictate what color wheels to go with. I'm not personally a huge fan of smoked tail lights, but they do look really nice on some cars (like the last one you posted).

What do you have in mind for the engine?

audiobliss

I was going to look up some wheel designs at the tire rack; is that a 2007? Legacy Wagon? GT?

Airplay355

Check out the NASIOC forums, they'd be able to help a lot more then we would I bet.

I like the first one best. STI wheels and calipers are just pretty.

BigMac

I have never done any modding to any of my cars in the past but thought I might as well this time around. As far as the engine goes I have no idea where to start. I have talked to a couple of guys and they rec. me to get a GT hood,turbo,cold air intake,new wires, and some other things which I have no idea what they are talking about. If you have any suggestions I am all ears. Really only looking to get like 300hp which I know will cost me but that's ok. I kinda like the wheels on the white subie (pic #1) and the overall look of the car in pic #5. Here is a pic of my car.

BigMac

audiobliss wrote: »

I was going to look up some wheel designs at the tire rack; is that a 2007? Legacy Wagon? GT?

2006 Subaru Legacy wagon 2.5i limited/special edition. Tires are 205/50/R17 I believe. Not looking for the 'ricer' look in any way; looking more for the 'sleeper' look,lol I guess that's how these guys were describing their cars on some forums I have been reading on this stuff. I have to go train right now but will bbl. Thanks for the input so far.

AudioGenics

pictures shows the car well
you do have alot of options
customizing is really making it your own.

have fun

madmax

Weight is a big issue. Any weight you can loose makes it more nimble and powerful. As a rough rule every 15 lbs you remove adds 1hp. A cold air intake generally helps. Synthetic oil can reduce friction. Slightly undersized lightweight crank pully, carbon fiber hood, racing battery (one of the 15 pounders rather than the standard 40+ pound batteries), remove unnecesary things (such as spare tire and jack ), lightweight rims and tires (I replaced my 35 pound steel rims with 7.5 pound super light alloys) etc.

I did all this sort of thing on my car and it really made a big difference in power and handling. I removed 300 pounds total including rear seating and belts and increased hp a little. The results were day and night. Of course not everyone is willing to go that far.

Airplay355

Just curious...why'd you buy a wagon to mod? Why not buy a WRX hatchback and start there? That thing isn't exactly made to be sporty lol.

cnh

Congrats BigMac.

I kind of like Pic 3 except for the hubs, I'd prefer the wheels in Pic 5. 300hp...good luck with that! My wife drives a Prius and the next car we buy will probably be the 4th generation Prius in a couple years. I'll sell my Chevy and it'll be hybrids henceforth...no real HP there or desire for that. But hey...I'm a middle-aged dude with a family. In that 'safest' driver category...the 'boring' one!

cnh

concealer404

I like 1 and 5. Slight nod to 1.

BigMac

Airplay355 wrote: »

Just curious...why'd you buy a wagon to mod? Why not buy a WRX hatchback and start there? That thing isn't exactly made to be sporty lol.

Well, I got an insane deal on this car and it will fit my wife and two children nicely. Very comfortable and hugs the road like a sports car. It also has a sports mode with the triptronic gear shifter thingy. The GT version of this car is 250hp so I imagine adding a few things above and beyond that will get me to 300 hp. I can see the wife driving this car when it's all finished,lol. She's all of five feet tall.

cnh wrote: »

But hey...I'm a middle-aged dude with a family. In that 'safest' driver category...the 'boring' one!

I am as well. I'm almost 40 so I guess I may be going through a mid life crisis,lol. I'm tired of the same ol' same ol'. Growing up I had a muscle car that myself and three of my friends built. It was a 72' Chevelle with a 454. Very fast car. Every day for months inclusive of weekends we worked on it. I was the least experienced with car stuff so I could only work on what I was shown how to do. The other guys were in auto tech school and knew how to do everything. It was a blast for sure except for when it came time to fill it up. That car got horrible gas mileage!!

AudioGenics

biodiesel conversion
or electric

BigMac

jvc wrote: »

biodiesel conversion
or electric

Hmmm, neither I guess. I was thinking more along the lines of a flux capacitor or something. I know since the first one was built there have been improvements and mods. I just cannot seem to locate that darn post on the net though.

POIDOG

Friendo, # 6 IMHO

AudioGenics

Whatcha gonna do with the TUNES !
POLK AUDIO MOBILE speakers .....
also video monitors and maybe games for the kids

danz1906

Go for the #5 look.

Conradicles

5 and 6 all day. Sweet ride.

AudioGenics

don't forget about security devices and alarm system

BigMac

jvc wrote: »

Whatcha gonna do with the TUNES !
POLK AUDIO MOBILE speakers .....
also video monitors and maybe games for the kids

The stereo that comes in the Subaru is already pretty decent. I can only see myself adding maybe one subwoofer if any at all. As far as tvs and stuff like that I don't want any. Kids already have portable dvd players they take on trips.

jvc wrote: »

don't forget about security devices and alarm system

I already have an alarm system that deactivates the car when turned on unless the key is inserted. Other than that I don't need anything more fancy. All these alarms,devices,etc. are nothing more than a way to slow a thief down. If someone really wants to steal a car there is no stopping them. It's only a materialistic possesion that can be replaced so no worries.

ND13

Scubies are excellent vehicles. The boxer engine and their awd system are bullet proof as along as you maintain them properly.

I liked the last three in the original post.

strider

Is the car still under warranty? If so, I'd be careful of what you mod, at least 'til the powertrain warranty is over. I've heard that Subaru is pretty quick to deny warranty coverage on modded cars.

Warranty aside, I like the cars in pics 2 and 4 the best. Understated look, but enough for someone to notice the car's been upgraded.

BigMac

Been talking with peeps all day and this is what I am considering right now. Tint on all 7 windows and some fog lights installed. For the engine looks like I will be adding a CAI (hybrid version),headers,Greddy exhaust,and my ECU flashed. They will also tune the car on some machine. All 5 of the shops I called said that after these mods I will add about 50 hp give or take a few. Later on I may add a turbo but that is a whole different ball of wax (not ready to kick out that much cash yet or ever,lol). As far as wheels go I am not sure what I want yet........wayyyyyyyyyy to many choices. Also thinking about Brembo brakes because they look really nice and they are much larger than the ones I have now.

concealer404

BigMac wrote: »

Been talking with peeps all day and this is what I am considering right now. Tint on all 7 windows and some fog lights installed. For the engine looks like I will be adding a CAI (hybrid version),headers,Greddy exhaust,and my ECU flashed. They will also tune the car on some machine. All 5 of the shops I called said that after these mods I will add about 50 hp give or take a few. Later on I may add a turbo but that is a whole different ball of wax (not ready to kick out that much cash yet or ever,lol). As far as wheels go I am not sure what I want yet........wayyyyyyyyyy to many choices. Also thinking about Brembo brakes because they look really nice and they are much larger than the ones I have now.

Oh... it's not a turbo model now....

If those shops really said that you'll gain 50hp with an intake, exhaust, and a reflash, i think you need to find new shops. 20-25hp with a smoother powerband, MAX.

Without really digging into an n/a 4 banger, there usually isn't a buttload of power to be unlocked in basic bolt ons like that. 50hp with what you listed plus a built head, maybe.

If it's already a turbo, then carry on, but i don't think it is, because then you wouldn't be saying "headers."

goingganzo

putting a turbo on a non turbo car bad idea. 300whp in a fd bad idea unless you like torque stear. but got to love that awd i got me awd too and it is sweet
here is what i would do.
drop it put eather lowering springs on it or coilovers.
put some rims on it look for anything lightweight or forged. i perfer volk ,O.Z.5-gen
3rd go for power

RuSsMaN

I had a Turbo Volvo wagon, with some pretty heavy mods when times were better. Nothing like a grocery getter that can dust the 'prototype' rods.

I think they all look great, love me some Subaru.

BigMac

concealer404 wrote: »

Oh... it's not a turbo model now....

If those shops really said that you'll gain 50hp with an intake, exhaust, and a reflash, i think you need to find new shops. 20-25hp with a smoother powerband, MAX.

Without really digging into an n/a 4 banger, there usually isn't a buttload of power to be unlocked in basic bolt ons like that. 50hp with what you listed plus a built head, maybe.

If it's already a turbo, then carry on, but i don't think it is, because then you wouldn't be saying "headers."

After doing some more research on this I am coming to the conclusion that I had alot of smoke blown up my butt yesterday by some overly eager youngsters trying to make a quick buck on a newb. Thanks for the heads up on the hp bs. If I got 20-25 more hp and those other visual things done I think that would be a good start. I am going to take the car in today to have it looked at by another shop and see what they suggest. This place kept coming up over and over in conversation, so when I called yesterday I made an appt. to have a sit down with someone. The other places I called I only talked to someone on the phone for a little bit. Guess there is snake oil anywhere you go when it comes to certain hobbies. Gotta love CP.........you all point out the bs right away. I swear, this place could sniff out a **** from half a continent away,lol.

Here is something that I forgot to add in the hp total. Is this a good thing to change/add and if so/not are there alot of other things I would have to add along with this? As I am typing this I feel slightly retarded asking these question cause they sound so......dumb. I know I am going to look back in a few months after I have a little more knowledge on this subject and call myself a dumbass when I read this,lol.
http://www.rallitek.com/raca062.html

concealer404

BigMac wrote: »

After doing some more research on this I am coming to the conclusion that I had alot of smoke blown up my butt yesterday by some overly eager youngsters trying to make a quick buck on a newb. Thanks for the heads up on the hp bs. If I got 20-25 more hp and those other visual things done I think that would be a good start. I am going to take the car in today to have it looked at by another shop and see what they suggest. This place kept coming up over and over in conversation, so when I called yesterday I made an appt. to have a sit down with someone. The other places I called I only talked to someone on the phone for a little bit. Guess there is snake oil anywhere you go when it comes to certain hobbies. Gotta love CP.........you all point out the bs right away. I swear, this place could sniff out a **** from half a continent away,lol.

Here is something that I forgot to add in the hp total. Is this a good thing to change/add and if so/not are there alot of other things I would have to add along with this? As I am typing this I feel slightly retarded asking these question cause they sound so......dumb. I know I am going to look back in a few months after I have a little more knowledge on this subject and call myself a dumbass when I read this,lol.
http://www.rallitek.com/raca062.html

Cams are always nifty.... but one thing to keep in mind, never do the same upgrade twice. N/A cams are completely backwards from turbo cams. So if you're going to go turbo down the road (i would honestly just suggest swapping the motor instead), then you won't want to bother with the N/A cams. Save the money. 20whp from cams alone is pretty believeable, although i do wish they would publish their lift and duration numbers.

That being said.... do you think that 20whp is worth the $1000 + tuning stuff? I wouldn't run those cams without their valve spring kit, either, depending, again, on what their measurements are.

One more thing.... please tell me this is a manual transmission, if you haven't already.

BigMac

Not a manual tranny. It's an auto with the sports mode and you can shift through the gears by tapping the shifter. Here is a pic.

Yeah, for about $1,000.00 I guess that's a good deal.......have no idea really if you want the honest truth. I figured it was a car so the expense would be higher when doing some little engine addon stuff. I'm getting a diminishing return feeling here,lol. Hmmmmm, maybe just call her my little pig and slap some lipstick on er'......ha ha.

concealer404

BigMac wrote: »

Not a manual tranny. It's an auto with the sports mode and you can shift through the gears by tapping the shifter. Here is a pic.

Yeah, for about $1,000.00 I guess that's a good deal.......have no idea really if you want the honest truth. I figured it was a car so the expense would be higher when doing some little engine addon stuff. I'm getting a diminishing return feeling here,lol. Hmmmmm, maybe just call her my little pig and slap some lipstick on er'......ha ha.

If the manual mode won't let you hit the rev limiter, then don't even bother with the cams. I know their dyno doesn't really show it, but it's going to shift your powerband up. In order to properly make use of them, you're going to have to really wring out that motor.

Honestly, with it being an auto... i'd just do intake and exhaust and enjoy the sound and slightly increased gas mileage. Focus on looks.

Airplay355

If you rev it too high it shifts up for you in sports mode. My mom has an impreza with the same sport mode. It's pretty worthless.