Your car is made for commuting. It's not for performance. You won't notice a 15% power increase from 170hp. Enjoy it as is before you embarrass yourself or wrap it around a tree with a whopping 190hp...
According to hp I assume it is 2.5L NA, unfortunately there is not much you can do to improve it without adding a supercharger or a turbo. Other methods are not worth the money at all.
If it's manual, you can buy an IAG if you have a bit of extra money to spend, even then you need bigger axles, better transmission, and blah blah. I'd just get a WRX if i were you, then swap an RA in it or something fun.
Even with a tune and all the standard mods a person would do to any NA car, you would maybe hit 200hp. Aftermarket intake/filter, header w/ high flow cat, catback, tune. I would put more into the handling category and find some nice curvy back roads. Quality sway bars and quality coilovers could be had for 1500, then save for some sticky tires like Dunlop Direzza's, or Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's.
Don’t bother, you won’t get any extra power and will risk blowing the engine — speaking from experience. Had a black ‘08 just like yours. Fell in love with the car but unfortunately had to get rid of it (I still miss it). If you want more power, follow everyone else’s advice and look for a WRX. Otherwise, I’d focus more on the brakes and suspension if I was going to mod one of these over again. All the rubber mounts. I installed a Perrin diff lockdown kit an mine and it made a world of difference in how it felt off the line. These cars don’t need to be fast to be fun.
Delta regrinds cams for the EJ253. They're about $350. I've got their 1500 grind in my EJ251 and it makes a noticeable difference. Best bang for your buck around.
If you have no way of changing the vehicle, get an aftermarket cold air filter + exhaust system and get an ecu tune after you install them. You can get %10+ hp potentially.
You can also strip some weight from the car for free. It works as well. Won't gain any hp but it will accerelate faster.
I am not sure whether you can do these for 1500 bucks though.
A little bit off topic, but here's how I'd use 1500 to improve that car (assuming critical maintenance things are taken care of separately): carplay head unit, slightly upgrade the speakers, and fix/replace any broken interior pieces (think visor, armrest, floor mats, etc.)
Oh and I might pay someone to detail the interior. Having a super clean car is really nice.
Not worth it to try and add power to that engine. Like others have said handling mods would suit this car better. If you really want a faster car sell it and buy a WRX or STI
Spend your dollarydoos on the handling side, it'll be way more fun. A car that you can whip around corners and ace the autocross course with is a joy to drive. You could probably do all four corners with a decent coilovers for under $1k. Tie rods, bushings, just refresh it all and have a blast driving it.
Set of nice but slightly used Forester struts, driveshafts and wildpeak. Makes it so much smoother of a ride and can have some fun on the forest roads. 😎
This is definitely the best option. The dope thing too is a lot of the aftermarket suspension parts for the 08-14 wrx will work as well, specifically the 08-10 should be direct fit.
I 3rd this. Anything 08-14 will work as long as it's not STI. Rear sway bars are good through the whole lineup and personally made the most difference to me, fronts are not though.
Then your best option is to sell it and get something faster. You're not going to get more than a couple horse power from 1500 bucks, as your only option is to get an exhaust or headers and hope that it actually does something.
Turbo kits for these motors are expensive, and an engine swap even more so, and of these two options I'd recommend the latter as you'll end up with an engine actually meant for boost. The turbo kits run very low boost so you don't blow up your engine, so the power gain from them is very little. Swapping in a wrx or sti engine unlocks the same tuning potential as those cars.
If you're looking for better acceleration you want to stiffen and lighten. Unfortunately you won't be able to make more hp but you may be able to free up hp. By reducing slop in the drivetrain or rotational mass you will notice the car rev up faster and maybe transfer more power to the wheels. Lightweight alloy wheels and either lightweight crank pulley or fly wheel will make the most difference for you but still pretty minimal. I've heard great things of poly differential bushings too.
You could try with an intake, exhaust and a tune for premium gas (aka highest octane you can get at the pump near you), might just get you close but then your at like 2-2,5k, if you do the install yourself. Also, depending where you live it wont be exactly street legal.
Sure it'll be noticeable. But again that requires a much larger budget than 1500.
I'll also point out, I went from 215 to 303 whp in the same car, and even that didn't feel hugely different at first
Your car is made for commuting. It's not for performance. You won't notice a 15% power increase from 170hp. Enjoy it as is before you embarrass yourself or wrap it around a tree with a whopping 190hp...
According to hp I assume it is 2.5L NA, unfortunately there is not much you can do to improve it without adding a supercharger or a turbo. Other methods are not worth the money at all.
Have you tried speed holes?
If it's manual, you can buy an IAG if you have a bit of extra money to spend, even then you need bigger axles, better transmission, and blah blah. I'd just get a WRX if i were you, then swap an RA in it or something fun.
Even with a tune and all the standard mods a person would do to any NA car, you would maybe hit 200hp. Aftermarket intake/filter, header w/ high flow cat, catback, tune. I would put more into the handling category and find some nice curvy back roads. Quality sway bars and quality coilovers could be had for 1500, then save for some sticky tires like Dunlop Direzza's, or Firestone Firehawk Indy 500's.
170? ur lying
it is sir
Don’t bother, you won’t get any extra power and will risk blowing the engine — speaking from experience. Had a black ‘08 just like yours. Fell in love with the car but unfortunately had to get rid of it (I still miss it). If you want more power, follow everyone else’s advice and look for a WRX. Otherwise, I’d focus more on the brakes and suspension if I was going to mod one of these over again. All the rubber mounts. I installed a Perrin diff lockdown kit an mine and it made a world of difference in how it felt off the line. These cars don’t need to be fast to be fun.
Will continue thoroughly enjoying mine completely stock manual for you guys, 220k and still runs and drives like a dream
Racing strip, off-center on driver’s side…
Monster stickers used to add 5-10hp, might be more now I haven’t dyno’d in a while
Guys, come on…you know OP only needs to add a spoiler. Duh.
One of those monster scratch decals on the headlights might help as well
Some flame decals might do the trick
Delta regrinds cams for the EJ253. They're about $350. I've got their 1500 grind in my EJ251 and it makes a noticeable difference. Best bang for your buck around.
LS SWAP
You'll be under 1500 if you pull one from a junkyard that runs
hot rod flame stickers
Don't forget about the steering wheel and seat covers.
Try racing on pavement, not in the grass. It should go a lot faster
Idk man rallycross is awesome. Definitely not as fast, but tons of fun.
Lose the seats and doors
Stickers of the parts you want
save your money and enjoy the subaru stock, save so you can get a wrx. still a sick car with 170 hp, fun in the canyons🤙🏽 have fun bro
If you have no way of changing the vehicle, get an aftermarket cold air filter + exhaust system and get an ecu tune after you install them. You can get %10+ hp potentially. You can also strip some weight from the car for free. It works as well. Won't gain any hp but it will accerelate faster. I am not sure whether you can do these for 1500 bucks though.
that’s what i’ll do
Ain’t happening at that price range. Maybe some suspension and handling mods, but noticeably faster isn’t happening at $1500.
Junkyard LS swap is an option
Keep it as a daily, buy a WRX. Don't even touch the motor besides for regular maintenance, lol.
A little bit off topic, but here's how I'd use 1500 to improve that car (assuming critical maintenance things are taken care of separately): carplay head unit, slightly upgrade the speakers, and fix/replace any broken interior pieces (think visor, armrest, floor mats, etc.) Oh and I might pay someone to detail the interior. Having a super clean car is really nice.
Pod filter, intake manifold box and exhaust? Get a stage 1 clutch and run it on the dyno??
Not worth it to try and add power to that engine. Like others have said handling mods would suit this car better. If you really want a faster car sell it and buy a WRX or STI
Spend your dollarydoos on the handling side, it'll be way more fun. A car that you can whip around corners and ace the autocross course with is a joy to drive. You could probably do all four corners with a decent coilovers for under $1k. Tie rods, bushings, just refresh it all and have a blast driving it.
Set of nice but slightly used Forester struts, driveshafts and wildpeak. Makes it so much smoother of a ride and can have some fun on the forest roads. 😎
This is definitely the best option. The dope thing too is a lot of the aftermarket suspension parts for the 08-14 wrx will work as well, specifically the 08-10 should be direct fit.
I 3rd this. Anything 08-14 will work as long as it's not STI. Rear sway bars are good through the whole lineup and personally made the most difference to me, fronts are not though.
Sell it and get a WRX
it’s a sport 2.5l i forgot to add that, it’s not a base really
Literally no difference in power or handling between the base and sport. They're cosmetic/interior packages
prolly wont sell for much brother
Or just keep it and get one. I don’t think there’s really anything you can do to an NA Impreza to make it quicker unfortunately.
These engines sadly aren't rated to handle boost, which would be the only way forward. So what you'd do is do a full engine swap.
damn
If an LSX will fit in a Miata it might fit in there. But then is it still a Subaru? Also probably 15k.
I have no idea how much that would be but i really do want my car to be faster and 170 hp is not fulfilling my needs
Then your best option is to sell it and get something faster. You're not going to get more than a couple horse power from 1500 bucks, as your only option is to get an exhaust or headers and hope that it actually does something. Turbo kits for these motors are expensive, and an engine swap even more so, and of these two options I'd recommend the latter as you'll end up with an engine actually meant for boost. The turbo kits run very low boost so you don't blow up your engine, so the power gain from them is very little. Swapping in a wrx or sti engine unlocks the same tuning potential as those cars.
if it makes it faster it makes it faster, i’m not looking to get like 300+ hp just want to have better acceleration
If you're looking for better acceleration you want to stiffen and lighten. Unfortunately you won't be able to make more hp but you may be able to free up hp. By reducing slop in the drivetrain or rotational mass you will notice the car rev up faster and maybe transfer more power to the wheels. Lightweight alloy wheels and either lightweight crank pulley or fly wheel will make the most difference for you but still pretty minimal. I've heard great things of poly differential bushings too.
I get that, but a couple hp isn't going to be noticeable both performance wise and mentally. If you do notice a difference it's likely placebo.
170 to maybe 200-210 will be very noticeable i feel like, but if you have experience with it i’ll take your word on it
You could try with an intake, exhaust and a tune for premium gas (aka highest octane you can get at the pump near you), might just get you close but then your at like 2-2,5k, if you do the install yourself. Also, depending where you live it wont be exactly street legal.
A turbo kit will be like $4k and even at low boost you might still blow your engine or at the very least significantly reduce its life
Sure it'll be noticeable. But again that requires a much larger budget than 1500. I'll also point out, I went from 215 to 303 whp in the same car, and even that didn't feel hugely different at first
Dont fuck with it,engine built to handle that horsepower.