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Stage 1 or stock for reliability?
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:39 pm
by FreddyG
Hey guys so I recently bought a 2011 wrx in october and i've read on mulitple threads about going to stage 1 immediately because the stock tune is horrible and can ruin my engine. I want to know where the sources for this information is? I don't think subaru would make a tune that is bad for the engine that makes no sense. Can anyone help enlighten this situation because this is the deciding factor between me getting a ap or not. I'm not looking for more power I just want my car to last.
Re: Stage 1 or stock for reliability?
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:43 pm
by Mr Kleen
The stock tune will not ruin your engine, if it does there's a warranty. Why buy a performance car if you can't trust it not to blow up?
(wait, we aren't talking 1980s exotic cars are we?)
That said, my 2004 WRX was pretty awesome at just a Stage 1 tune. I didn't use the "it will blow up if I don't do this" excuse to justify it to myself.
Re: Stage 1 or stock for reliability?
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:48 pm
by PGT
the tune on 2008 models was unsafe; there was a "Stop Sale" for all turbo models. I put a Cobb tune on mine the day it came home after a lengthy discussion on the phone with Christian Krahenbul at Cobb (their lead programmer for Subaru). I think any issues were sorted out by late 2009/early 2010 so 2011+ should be a non-issue
Re: Stage 1 or stock for reliability?
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:51 pm
by FreddyG
PGT wrote:the tune on 2008 models was unsafe; there was a "Stop Sale" for all turbo models. I put a Cobb tune on mine the day it came home after a lengthy discussion on the phone with Christian Krahenbul at Cobb (their lead programmer for Subaru). I think any issues were sorted out by late 2009/early 2010 so 2011+ should be a non-issue
best answer ive seen all day thank you sir!
Re: Stage 1 or stock for reliability?
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 4:28 pm
by drwrx
I wouldn't be concerned with the current stock tune on a WRX or STi, at least not as far as safety goes.
It is very clear however, that the stock tune leaves a lot of power on the table.
A stage one tune can easily net around 25 whp and 40 lb/ft. A stage two can be another 25-30 above that on both.
Re: Stage 1 or stock for reliability?
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:44 pm
by Phibs
I can +1 this as well. Hearing about the poor factory tunes from 2008ish I went for a proven / clean stage 1 tune almost immediately after I purchased my 2012.
I am waiting for 1000 miles to go stage 2
