Daily driver reliability of FI frs??

[nodeal]

damn, okay, I love my FRS. Really do. The handling is great, fun car to drive, etc. Like many of you, I want to up the power in the car and am considering FI.

But I am concerned about daily driver reliability. I don't have any other car right now. I will be driving this car every day. Rain or shine, summer or winter. This is my car.

Not one person I have spoke to has told me I can add a turbo without 0 issues. Everybody keeps telling me an aftermarket turbo comes with a variety of potential problems on a car that is your daily driver, regardless of how well installed.

Also, if I get a turbo then I want the exhaust, the stickier wheels, better clutch and everything that goes along with it. When everything is said and done, I am looking at around 10k to spend. The last thing I want to do is put this money into my FRS and deal with overheating issues as one example.

Dealing with car problems really is the last thing I need right now. I am taking on a lot in my life right now and coming to the point where I am looking to get married, have kids, etc. Unnecessary car problems is just something I don't want to deal with.

And with me mentioning kids (maybe going a little off topic here), I am looking into an STI as an alternative to my FI problem. I know the car is an entirely different beast, and the fact that I am considering buying it maybe goes to show my purchase of the FRS wasn't the best timed one. But I test drove it and it's handling is pretty damn good (albeit not as responsive as the FRS), and the straight-line power is obviously dominant. Also, I can use the STI long term as it satisfies my desire for power and the practicality of family life.

So, opinions on FI FRS as a reliable daily driver, and you think my desire for an STI is well-founded, or another case of "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome. Would really love to hear from ya'll! Thanks!

[Koa]

Look, if you're daily driving and appreciate the twins' agile demeanor, an STI will just hurt your pocket book and leave you wanting more. I DD'd a big power awd for over a year, and for 4-5 years DD'd my WRX with tune and mods to support 18 psi on the stock TD04 and RA 5MT tranny. I speak from experience albeit one perspective.

The realistic thing about FI is that there are so many different configurations and characters/flavors of forced induction setups, especially turbo based rigs, that it's all about pairing the right snail with the right supporting mods to the right engine to get the result you want.

Therefore, if you want a DD-able FI rig, go for the turbo. Being load dependant, you can keep N/A character for cruising and non-boost loads, or put your pedal to the floor and get a surge of power on tap.

Furthermore, if you do go turbo, and want a streetable rig, don't go all out balls to the walls GT35R paul walker on steroids setup. Especially if you have to report to the dealer or cannot have "unnecessary car problems". Go with a fast-spooling turbo with decent midrange performance and throw in some cooling solutions and call it a day. Boost is addictive, though, so be prepared to want more no matter what the course of action.

We pay to play. The expenditure for an STI just doesn't make sense in my book if you say you're working with a limited budget and already have the twin. It's a hog on gas, is understeer for days, and imo the only good STIs are the imprezas of yesteryear, which I doubt you're looking at.




It sounds like you're approaching that time in life where the family is pulling you one way, and your inner petrolhead is pulling you another. I would think long and hard about solutions to keep the FRS and get another vehicle for the family. The STI is not a good family vehicle, imo. All my opinions but you asked!

[nodeal]

thanks so much for your input. I value it as you're coming from a history with FI.

Definitely was looking at a turbo setup. The reason I was looking at the STI is because of the family aspect. Idk where to put my kids when I have them, LOL. That's why i said perhaps my purchase of the FRS 2 years back was poorly timed, as I didn't see my life accelerating this quickly. Although this is an issue separate from the DD reliability of a turbo charged FRS. Any reason why you say the STI is not good for family?

Was definitely looking for something mid range… not trying to go fast and furious with this thing if I did turbo my frs. Do you have any setups to recommend for this mid-range type configuration? Thanks buddy!

Originally Posted by Koa

Look, if you're daily driving and appreciate the twins' agile demeanor, an STI will just hurt your pocket book and leave you wanting more. I DD'd a big power awd for over a year, and for 4-5 years DD'd my WRX with tune and mods to support 18 psi on the stock TD04 and RA 5MT tranny. I speak from experience albeit one perspective.

The realistic thing about FI is that there are so many different configurations and characters/flavors of forced induction setups, especially turbo based rigs, that it's all about pairing the right snail with the right supporting mods to the right engine to get the result you want.

Therefore, if you want a DD-able FI rig, go for the turbo. Being load dependant, you can keep N/A character for cruising and non-boost loads, or put your pedal to the floor and get a surge of power on tap.

Furthermore, if you do go turbo, and want a streetable rig, don't go all out balls to the walls GT35R paul walker on steroids setup. Especially if you have to report to the dealer or cannot have "unnecessary car problems". Go with a fast-spooling turbo with decent midrange performance and throw in some cooling solutions and call it a day. Boost is addictive, though, so be prepared to want more no matter what the course of action.

We pay to play. The expenditure for an STI just doesn't make sense in my book if you say you're working with a limited budget and already have the twin. It's a hog on gas, is understeer for days, and imo the only good STIs are the imprezas of yesteryear, which I doubt you're looking at.




It sounds like you're approaching that time in life where the family is pulling you one way, and your inner petrolhead is pulling you another. I would think long and hard about solutions to keep the FRS and get another vehicle for the family. The STI is not a good family vehicle, imo. All my opinions but you asked!

[Koa]

Driving an STI for family's sake is just going to confuse the poor bastard. You will be consuming more gas than say, a base impreza, and driving severely under the limits of the vehicle for when you have children (and hopefully in general since you DO want to be around for them, and not die), negating the benefit of owning an STI without an intent to track the thing.. just being realistic here.

It's nice to drive if you can afford it, even if that just gives you a little bit of your edge back into a life that's soon to be filled with pampers, little leagues, school bus duty, and whose only life events where one can justifiably unlock the STi's potential is spirited runs to the store when one hears, "Honey, we need _____". Ask me how I know

As far as a turbo kit with that kind of performance.. I wouldn't reinvent the wheel here and go for a stage 0-1 kit from a reputable company. FBM, P-tuning.. or perhaps more budget-oriented offerings like AVO, godspeed.. FT86SF is even throwing their hat into the ring. I haven't done an exhaustive, holistic review and research on all these kits by the way so I can't tell you specifics beyond what each kit's "character" is.

Most stage 1 kits will have your interests in mind of low operating costs and only making the necessary modifications needed to safely run their package ad continuum

[BRZZZZZZZZZZ]

Mine has been reliable so far, 3000km and temps as low as -20 Celsius.

[bfrank1972]

[QUOTE=nodeal;2176308
Dealing with car problems really is the last thing I need right now. I am taking on a lot in my life right now and coming to the point where I am looking to get married, have kids, etc. Unnecessary car problems is just something I don't want to deal with.
[/QUOTE]


Sounds like you're not prepared to pay up if something breaks on your fi kit. I wouldn't do it if I were you, and I think from the tone of your post you know it too. Anybody that tells you that it's not a risk to put a turbo kit on your car is misleading you - not saying a turbo kit can't be reliable, but too many factors to really say. You can get a really good turbo kit, and have a bad installer, or bad tuner. Boom, you're paying for a new motor. You can have a great tuner and installer, but faulty turbo kit. Boom. You can have a great everything but something else goes wrong with your car that normally would be covered by Toyota or Subaru.... Boom and guess what, they're not going to cover anything on a motor with fi. Lots of great kits out there, and you can totally dd an if few/brz, but if you're "taking on a lot" and aren't prepared to deal with small or big issues, aftermarket fi is not for you. Buy a more powerful car, or learn to love what you have (I.e. Spend your money on local track events, will get your adrenalin pumping way more than an fi kit!)

Just my 2 cents, good luck with the marriage and kids thing



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[glamcem]

first of all street use hinders many potential problems that you may have to deal with down the road as opposed to track use, so if it lasts at the track it will definitely last in the street, adding a turbo for is a bigger project than adding a SC..

if this is your only car and will be used for DD for the most part, I would highly recommend you to consider a WRX instead of an STI, especially if you're not planning to track your car (you can still attend to track days occasionally with your WRX), the differences between STI and WRX only important when you track your car ..s

also motor in the WRX is a completely new design vs STIs 13 year old problematic EJ series (I owned two STIs as my title states) I would totally consider a WRX, save money and have a better/newer designed engine ..

you need to do your research on both cars..

[cdrazic93]

If anything WRX>STi at this point until the 2016 STi comes with the new 2L. That being said, this is assuming you have to sell your wrx, why not think about a budget daily? I know there's ALOT of outbacks and foresters still running strong. Doesn't even need to be an old one either, theres an abundance of them in all flavored to suit your needs.

[Xero-Limit]

Honestly the BRZ/FRS/GT86 FA20 has been the most bulletproof NA motor we have had the pleasure of working with. We've not yet seen a single one fail directly as a result of FI out of HUNDREDS. Keep it under 250-300 tq and have at it. Tune certainly has a lot to do with that, though the knock control is so good that even half assed ones have survived a good while.

If you want the most OEM like setup that's affordable, go for AVO or Greddy with a turbo, or pick any one of the SC kits. If you want big power then JDL and any of the US based manufacturers will get you there.

But anything up to about 12 psi will hold up just fine. Above that it likely will for a good while, but then it becomes a numbers game.

[xuimod]

Originally Posted by nodeal

damn, okay, I love my FRS. Really do. The handling is great, fun car to drive, etc. Like many of you, I want to up the power in the car and am considering FI.

But I am concerned about daily driver reliability. I don't have any other car right now. I will be driving this car every day. Rain or shine, summer or winter. This is my car.

Not one person I have spoke to has told me I can add a turbo without 0 issues. Everybody keeps telling me an aftermarket turbo comes with a variety of potential problems on a car that is your daily driver, regardless of how well installed.

Also, if I get a turbo then I want the exhaust, the stickier wheels, better clutch and everything that goes along with it. When everything is said and done, I am looking at around 10k to spend. The last thing I want to do is put this money into my FRS and deal with overheating issues as one example.

Dealing with car problems really is the last thing I need right now. I am taking on a lot in my life right now and coming to the point where I am looking to get married, have kids, etc. Unnecessary car problems is just something I don't want to deal with.

And with me mentioning kids (maybe going a little off topic here), I am looking into an STI as an alternative to my FI problem. I know the car is an entirely different beast, and the fact that I am considering buying it maybe goes to show my purchase of the FRS wasn't the best timed one. But I test drove it and it's handling is pretty damn good (albeit not as responsive as the FRS), and the straight-line power is obviously dominant. Also, I can use the STI long term as it satisfies my desire for power and the practicality of family life.

So, opinions on FI FRS as a reliable daily driver, and you think my desire for an STI is well-founded, or another case of "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome. Would really love to hear from ya'll! Thanks!

I highly recommend u install it yourself, that way you will understand the system much better and be able to troubleshoot problems much quicker.

For dealing with heat issues, during the install just wrap the downpipe (and maybe part of turbo manifold) in thermal wrap and the electrical wires and tubing near the DP and near the turbo in thermal tape. Also painting DP in VHT flameproof wouldn't hurt, $10 on Amaz.

Also, steel zip ties are really handy.

Thermal wrap and thermal tape are diff things.

Thermal Wrap: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Heatshield-Products-372005-Exhaust-Insulating/dp/B0051USD80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426812586&sr=8-1&keywords=thermal+wrap"]Amazon.com: Heatshield Products 372005 2" Wide x 15' Lava Header and Exhaust Insulating Heat Wrap Roll: Automotive[/ame]

Thermal Tape: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Tec-14002-15-Thermo-Shield-Roll/dp/B00029KC2U/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1426812455&sr= 1-2&keywords=thermal+tape"]Amazon.com: Thermo-Tec 14002 1 1/2" X 15' Thermo-Shield Roll: Automotive[/ame]

[nodeal]

Thank you so much for the input! I really appreciate it! As this thread progresses, I am wondering what I will do even if I find a turbo kit that holds up reliability wise. A year or so from now, I will need a backseat. Though now I am rethinking the STI, it might be overkill and unnecessary for my needs. Perhaps I'll look into the WRX.

[nodeal]

Originally Posted by glamcem

first of all street use hinders many potential problems that you may have to deal with down the road as opposed to track use, so if it lasts at the track it will definitely last in the street, adding a turbo for is a bigger project than adding a SC..

if this is your only car and will be used for DD for the most part, I would highly recommend you to consider a WRX instead of an STI, especially if you're not planning to track your car (you can still attend to track days occasionally with your WRX), the differences between STI and WRX only important when you track your car ..s

also motor in the WRX is a completely new design vs STIs 13 year old problematic EJ series (I owned two STIs as my title states) I would totally consider a WRX, save money and have a better/newer designed engine ..

you need to do your research on both cars..

very interesting you prefer the WRX new motor over the older one. A lot of subie lovers are actually trashing the new WRX for having the fa20 motor. This was actually my concern, as I was under the impression the EJ was therefore better. Any particular reason why you prefer one over the other? Thanks!

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by nodeal

very interesting you prefer the WRX new motor over the older one. A lot of subie lovers are actually trashing the new WRX for having the fa20 motor. This was actually my concern, as I was under the impression the EJ was therefore better. Any particular reason why you prefer one over the other? Thanks!

All of the EJ problems were fixed with the new motor. Those who trashed the FA and preferred the EJ didn't know what they were talking about.

The FA in the WRX is much less prone to head gasket leaks (happens to almost every EJ at 100k miles) The FA has better ringlands, that won't snap like an EJ's will (although I'm guessing newer iterations would be better against this). It's a smaller displacement motor, better fuel economy. Better fuel system. Stock for stock the WRX has a much more beautifully useable powerband than the STi.

Like I said, those who hate on the WRX motor and the FA20 don't bother to do their research and are quick to judge and hate.

[nodeal]

Awesome insight. It seems like you get much more for your money with the wrx than you do with the sti. I need to do more research, thanks again for the input.

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

All of the EJ problems were fixed with the new motor. Those who trashed the FA and preferred the EJ didn't know what they were talking about.

The FA in the WRX is much less prone to head gasket leaks (happens to almost every EJ at 100k miles) The FA has better ringlands, that won't snap like an EJ's will (although I'm guessing newer iterations would be better against this). It's a smaller displacement motor, better fuel economy. Better fuel system. Stock for stock the WRX has a much more beautifully useable powerband than the STi.

Like I said, those who hate on the WRX motor and the FA20 don't bother to do their research and are quick to judge and hate.