Hey all-I'm new the forum and new to Scooby ownership as well. I wanted 1 4evr and now hav a 2003 2.5RS. Interested in doing some simple mods like exhaust and intake and then way down the road, I plan on MAYBE a turbo. Whats best way to go for right now? How much horsepower can I pick up? Any suggestions are very appreciated!

 

I too have a 2003 2.5 RS and don't plan on doing any power mods until I'm out of warranty. That being said, a CAI and exhaust are two good mods for the 2.5 NA engine (CAI on the WRX is not a good idea, the A/F is too carefully balanced and you'll lean it out too much, plus you already have an intercooler). Since I'm not strapping anything on immediately, I'm looking forward to seeing what AEM does with their new V2 intake for the 2.5 RS. They make an excellent intake, and their new V2 looks to be sizably better. For exhaust, there was a muffler shootout on a turbo tuner magazine web site (which I can't find now) for the WRX that placed the Cobb Tuning cat-back exhaust as the second most powerful and the second-quietest, which is what I'd be looking for. This could change drastically when I actually go to add anything on in a couple years, but that's what I'd go for in the near future if I was buying something. My $0.02.

 

Bean Town! Thats cool I've been there a few times. I agree about the warranty thingt but i'd like to kno there are options. My wife says this will be my last ride for 10yrs or so. I liked the turbo but i didn't know enuff about them to pick one up so I went with this. i hope it can be everyting to me for a while at least.

 

You would also do well to call your dealer's service department and ask them what mods they allow that won't lead to denial of warranty work. Some are real sticklers, but some will say intakes and cat-back exhausts are fine, but ECU reflashing and other things are not.