Stock WRX versus CLK 350 – I just lost

Ade70

New member
Points
26
Location
Warrington UK
Car
WRX
Hi all


Had a bit of a do with a CLK 350 (think it was automatic) and it just creeped past me today from a standing stop at traffic lights, I was into redline territory in first and second but then had to drop behind him as it was a dual carriageway into single lane so ran out of road into a notorious speed trap bit. I was fuming, I think the gear change took the wind out of my sails, although it wasn’t too shabby.


So I now have some questions about my first mods (this is not the catalyst as I have been thinking about it for a while but only owned this WRX for 18 months and it’s my first one ever).


Been on a couple of other forums but never got a good answer so trying this one out. I apologise now if this has been covered on here, if it has then please point me in the right direction to any threads that may help.
I’ve got a 52 plate stock 2.0ltr WRX with 56k on the clock, service history is good and I’ve had it serviced twice since I bought it and had new disks and pads and tyres put on it. Cam belt got changed 12 months before I bought it.


I’ve had a read today on torquecars website about tuning mods and am confused.


Induction kits: only add power top end RPM, might get a bit more MPG bottom end around town, most stock filters are fine (reckon mine is stock)


Exhaust: mine’s quiet, twin rear pipe 2” diameter each and could possibly be stainless steel (can’t post pics yet as still a newbee).


It’s not looking like I need to do much with intake and exhaust so what can I do to get my car up to 30% power increase without having to significantly put pressure on it before I need extra mods? Would a turbo and a remap do it? Or would I also need new fuel and water pumps and injectors etc? And what are these dump valves all about, I am not a big fan of the noise but have been told you don’t need to have them noisey? I realise a remap after any mods is the way to do it so I’d like to get my house in order first. I would not like to do x and y and remap and then someone say ah, but if you’ve done x and y you should have done z and then have to remap again if you get my point?


My car just seems to take a while to wind up and I'd have expected it to be a bit more responsive on acceleration around 3k revs upwards, only really starts getting exciting above 4.5k revs. Not after a car that pops and makes too much noise as I do long distance journeys in it, how about one of those switch chips I read about on here?


Anyway, thanks for letting me onboard the forum and any help would be appreciated.


ATB


Ade
 
the WRX has a turbo already, a map would give you a bit more performance. going to a decent company will allow you to take it further in the future if you decide to go that way - bigger turbo etc
so you get a performance jump the now, then you can have the map tweaked if you, for example, ditch the cat(s) or go for a whole new map if you decide to go with massive changes

dump valve removes the pressure from the turbo when the throttle is closed to prevent the turbo stalling - air trying to come back through it slowing it down. most turbos now use a closed loop so the noise isnt as loud
 
Thanks bud

I know it has a turbo I meant to say better one :embarrest:

Can you recommend any specialists around Warrington, we have Camco here?

ATB

Ade
 
If it's an 02 car would it be worth getting all the hoses checked maybe your engine isn't getting all the boost it should?


Out of curosity whats the BHP ft/lb of a UK WRX?
 
Well there's your problem! :p

RWD, 272bhp & 258ft/lb Vs 4WD 227/261bhp & 253ft/lb​

The Merc was always going to win, less drivetrain losses & more power, the Scooby would spank it in the twistys though. :bigsmile:
 
It's they other thing you here them talk about on 5th gear & top gear as well though, 4WD are always trickier to get off the line than 2WD cars.
I'd still get the car checked just to make sure the turbo is working as & when it should.
 
Good point but you've also got to take into account that the WRX STI 261bhp is flywheel power.
It'll be closer to 200 actual bhp at the wheels.
And the WRX will be around 180 bhp at the wheels.

Impreza's suffer a good loss through the drivetrain.
My mum's ran 227bhp at the flywheel and 176 at the wheels.
 
Just had a look on that website TN out of curiosity, very impressive!


They are a good garage. Always done great work for my mum.
They run in TOTB as well so they do know their stuff.
The don't just do Scoob's either they will have a dabble with almost any Turbo car.
Finding the place is the hard part. They run from a couple of barns and it's down some single track lanes. If you don't know where your going it's very easy to get lost.
 
I've been looking into an upgrade to around 300bhp.

Andy Forrest has been helpful, but he's up in Port Seton and doesn't fit parts, and he's about 250 miles from me.

Prosport in Stockport answered my request with "how many miles has you car done"? I answered and they never got back to me.

Scoobyworld never got back to me.

I thought people in the recession would be biting my hand off?

Can anyone help me around the Warrington area plus 25 miles radius?

Before anyone says phone up, I prefer to do the early work via email and go from there

Ade
 
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Please dont take this the wrong way but 300 wont make you king of the road or anywhere close to it.

You also cant expect a power increase of 30% without any increased stress . The good news is though done right the car can handle it.

Of course if you spend ££££££s its a different story - then Im told fitting a 2.5 bottom end is the way to go if

Anyway back to your car - The most important thing is .... decide on the power you want as the answer will radically affect what work is needed - no point in upgrading twice.
AND PLESE TAKE NOTE - You may think you want only 300 bhp but you will very quickly get used to it and then may get even more hacked off about losing to something else (and this will happen )

Picking a tuner
find one and stick with them , that way they get to know you, the car and what you want . That way they have a certain level of reposisibilty and you have a degree of protection if something goes wrong

Tuners are people - Ive found the best way is visit a few and talk to them . Any decent tuner will have the time - its how they get their business

IMHO email with isnt the right way to go - most decenty tuners spend their time under cars not on line . To a tuner an email could be from a dreamer a visit shows you are serious and they react accordingly

Japanese sports cars can be as fast as you want or more exactly as fast as your wallett will allow .
They can be graet fun but also give great pain so please heed the advice as its from someone already who has the T shirt ( and yes I did make most of the mistakes above)

Good luck but whatever you do ......do it once and do it right
 
I too, like sleeper, have spent an awful lot of money and made a lot of mistakes in the past on projects and unneccessarily so!

This website is a huge source of automotive information made available to you via just a few clicks of the mouse.

It has also been my experience that sending out emails and expecting a return for some direct information can vary wildly from an hour to no reply at all.
Call them up first and see what they have to say about your enquiry, you can often tell how good they will be by the informative and unrushed reply you receive.
Have a good look around this site as you would be surprised at just how many of your questions have already been answered by our very knowledgable members.
If you are unsure about some of the terminology used (I know I am sometimes!) then please don't hesitate to ask, that's what were here for! ;)
 
Thanks for your input gents, but I still could do with some recommendations for someone to call close to me (Warrington)

I will be happy with 300 bhp, I don't want to kill my car.

Ade
 

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