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NA Tuning questions

3662 Views 11 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  silverton
Hey there I’m new to the forum I drive 2001 2.5rs. NA of course and was curious as to what chip tune if any truly work I was looking around online and couldn’t really tell by just the information they provide. Anyone have any recommendations or advice?
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I’m also open to ecu flash if that’s even really an option or viable. Just looking to liven her up a little around town.
I’m by no means an expert, but from what I’ve gathered online and from my experience with the same vehicle a tune is a waste of money. Tunes work best on turbo vehicles, or vehicles with extensive engine modifications. Tuning a mostly or completely stock NA Subaru will probably do next to nothing for performance. You may be able to squeeze out a little more power, but it’ll probably also lose fuel efficiently.
Again, I might just be spouting nonsense as I’m new to mechanics. But the other people on this site are wonderful and very knowledgeable with these cars. I’m sure one of them will reply with some much more accurate information. Also, I’m sure this questions has been posted before on this site. Use the search tool and I’m sure you’ll find many other very similar questions that have already been answered.
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This question has been asked very regularly for almost 20 years on here. If you search around you'll find that there arent any 'chip tunes' available thst provide a significant gain. If you mod the car you can have a tuner flash the ECU but the best performance gains are to swap the car. Youll spend more money on NA mods to make the same power.
Yea that’s the plan in about a year as budget doesn’t permit a swap currently. Was just curious if there’s anything to just liven it up I’m not looking to make high hp by any means. I will check out the other posts to see if they don’t say anything as well.
Yea that’s the plan in about a year as budget doesn’t permit a swap currently. Was just curious if there’s anything to just liven it up I’m not looking to make high hp by any means. I will check out the other posts to see if they don’t say anything as well.
Start reducing that weight. Depends on how much you are willing to spend and if this is a daily driver or not. Remove the spare tire (31.2lbs) and jack (haven't weighed that yet). Pull the plate out of the glove box that people say weighs 5lbs (haven't pulled it out yet). If you have some money, buy the JDM bumper beams while they are still available ($100 each) (56.4lbs weight save together). Start working off some of the Covid 19lbs you put on from being home (I've gained 40 not good lbs since buying my car almost 15 years ago lolz). CD player (2.8lbs). OEM Subwoofer which probably doesn't work anymore (4lbs). Antennae delete (1lb). Put the OEM 16's back on it since you probably aren't going to find anything lighter that isn't forged. If you are getting new wheels, make sure you are losing weight. Tell your buddies or significant other that they need to be under a certain weight or you are buying the airbag delete for the passenger side to help compensate for their weight (joke).

I'm not saying doing all of that is going to make you Johnny Racecar, but losing weight is typically a good thing. There is a whole thread on weight reduction, but I can't find the good one that I am addicted to with the little effort I am putting into searching.

Edit: I'd listen to stalkergc. He is infinitely more knowledgeable than me.
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There isnt really much you can do besides an intake or exhaust which provide negligible performance gains. If it was easy to go fast without swapping the car then a lot more guys would be running modified NA cars.


Weight reduction doesnt't really change much in terms of noticeable performance. I've read removing 100lbs is about .1 second gain in the quarter mile. There isn't much 'extra weight' in these cars and even if you gut the entire interior down to the metal is makes little difference in speed and handling.
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I know you're looking for power, but if you're definitely planning to do a turbo swap and have a little bit of cash to play with now, I'd say spend it on suspension. That will make the car more fun now and you'll definitely be glad to have better suspension when/if you swap it later.
Yea that’s the plan in about a year as budget doesn’t permit a swap currently. Was just curious if there’s anything to just liven it up I’m not looking to make high hp by any means. I will check out the other posts to see if they don’t say anything as well.
your best option as budget wise would be just putting a turbo on it, and sending it till you can afford a swap. Did it with my build.
I have a 2000 RS n/a and have a older Delicious Tune reflash... which at the time was a "stage 4 tune" in his newer offerings it would be a "stage 3".
I noticed a big difference on how my build was running and it was a lot smoother going thru the RPMs. Delicious now offers WiFi tuning with our generation of ECUs. Its one of the only options I've found in the 19+ years I've own my RS. You can always go full stand alone ECU but finding someone to set it up and tune it would be pretty expensive. Delicious Tuning is going to be your best bet budget wise I feel.
I'm not a builder or a tuner I work on my own stuff and I kept my car alive all these years.
~~~>>>>Delicious Tuning <<<<~~~~~

-Justin
I have a 2000 RS n/a and have a older Delicious Tune reflash... which at the time was a "stage 4 tune" in his newer offerings it would be a "stage 3".
I noticed a big difference on how my build was running and it was a lot smoother going thru the RPMs. Delicious now offers WiFi tuning with our generation of ECUs. Its one of the only options I've found in the 19+ years I've own my RS. You can always go full stand alone ECU but finding someone to set it up and tune it would be pretty expensive. Delicious Tuning is going to be your best bet budget wise I feel.
I'm not a builder or a tuner I work on my own stuff and I kept my car alive all these years.
~~~>>>>Delicious Tuning <<<<~~~~~

-Justin
I know you said your rpm’s where smoother would you say there was any power difference just wondering I have been looking a little into delicios tuner but I didn’t really see if it said any power gains? Haven’t dug to deep but just wanted to hear your opinion
I know you said your rpm’s where smoother would you say there was any power difference just wondering I have been looking a little into delicios tuner but I didn’t really see if it said any power gains? Haven’t dug to deep but just wanted to hear your opinion
My dude, right here on the product page, breaks it down what mods are applicable and the power increases that can be expected by all four tunes they offer...

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