which one should i get i only have like 3-4 hundred to spend (no job)

 

If the black intake scoop is missing he probably saved you the 15 min job of gutting the intake. If it doesn't already have a k&n or perrin air filter get one (got my k&n at autozone for $42). Spend the rest on a STAGE I ACCESSECU from cobbtuning ($395). This would net you like 265 crank hp or ~+35hp. Best bang for the buck with 450 bones. According to the upgrade path listed above in my previous post, you would just be getting #4 & #5 from the list. Doing those two would be called either a stage 0 or stage 1 if you researched different tuning company's websites. Doing steps 1-5 would be a stage 2, and 1-10 stage 3/4. Only prob with getting engine managment first would be that once you finished 1-5, you would want to get the car retuned again, so you are paying a bit more, but if don't plan on getting alot of money for a while, it's worth the power. Like mentioned before, don't take the boost controller / s-afc route. Boost controllers and simple fuel controllers don't work well with the subie ecu and also encourage you to turn up the boost and blow your motor. Do it right the first time and get the ecu flashed or get UTEC, both of which can be set up so that the dealer can't recognize them too.

 

I'd save my lunch money a bit longer and just go for the Cobb Access ECU or Access Port. Seriously the best bang for your back on a stock or close to it WRX with zero impact on drivability.

 

I wouldn't say that boost controllers and AFC's dont work good w/ the WRX ecu since there are SEVERAL 500+ whp running Apex'i stuff but its easier and cheaper to do a Utec or ECu reflash, unless you REALLY want some of the little features that an SAFC or AVCR offer

 

I don't know if it's that's cheaper and it's certainly not easier and there isn't anything to screw up, install/wire in, get stolen or beep at you.

$395 - AccessECU reflash (you'll need to send in your ECU)
$595 - AccessPort (no need to send/touch ECU - multiple maps with switching)

Last time I checked the wire-in gizmos end up costing right around the same price a the reflash give or take $100?

I do agree that you can get great power using a BC and AFC but from what I seen with all of the vehicle at the drastic cost of drivability.

 

yea the bonus to a say up like an AVR + SAFC is that you can tune to our conditions and your specific mods, and have different settings for colder weather race gas etc without having to reflash, its basically 2 separate units that added together basically make a $600 utec, plus they have some nifty other little gizmos that you just cant do with the stock ECU because it wasn't designed for it. that being said if your going to go all out Id do a reflash or utec instead of buying those and then eventually having to buy a utec or do a reflash

 

Maybe i'm not giving him enough credit but i say if you're going to do it, you might as well do it right. Sending him the EM way, he won't have to pay to get the car tuned or risk blowing his shit up cause he just wants to up it alittle bit when he's got decent competition/trying to impress. He also mentioned he eventially wants to go with an upgraded turbo and all that biz didn't he, so he's gonna have to take a hit when selling the BC and S-AFC then regardless.
I say get the AccessECU stage 1 and a k&n. Then when you get some dough, buy the up-pipe, than the turboback, than some IC hoses or new TMIC and then buy the accessport for $200 and switch the maps.

 

i got the perrin and im saving for prodrive springs at the moment then the accessport, do you know if i need a 2.5' downpipe for a 2.5' borla catback, or how coulld i make this a good turboback system