I've driven a friend's 02 WRX with the PE18 and various head-strengthening mods as well as a FMIC -- 380 whp on 92 octane. Terrifying to drive, it felt like you'd run up the back of the nearest car if you accidentally dipped into the boost -- I've driven Carerras that felt like snails in comparison. However, the spool-up and lag was very noticeable (the FMIC can't help) and it was not a car I would consider driving daily. He was also on the stock 5-speed transmission, which felt like it could go any second; you could feel the casing flex once the torque peaked. He kept the factory clutch, to take some of the pressure off the internals, and just replaced it every four months or so. Luckily he works at a tuner shop!

 

You'd really run 20psi through a stock 2.0l semi-closed-deck motor? This is assuming a FMIC, really good gas and many other supporting mods, right?

 

If you're lookin for 300 whp in an 02 you should turn your attention to the tranny and clutch first, especially if you drag or auto x. I don't see how that much power would much improve your auto x times. You never really even get out of second gear. That being said, 300 whp will rape first and second gears with the quickness.

You won't likely get 300 whp with either turbo. You'll need at least an 18g and if that's what you want, it'll be almost worthless for autocross.

 

/\ i agree....on **** poor 91 oct. here in cali i have seen very few vf34/16g setups that have 300+whp....usually its anywhere from 260-280 unless you go extreme, run ewg or possibly high octane fuel (c16) or 20+psi......however, even with 280whp and the spool the vf34 provides, im sure the power/torque and how its soo soon in teh powerband will be very nice for a daily driven 2.0

 

I've driven a wrx with a pe1820 also, the lag was a little more noticeable then the vf34 imo. I daily drove the car, really hard for 2 years before the motor decided 22psi was too much. I was always nervous about my tranny though.