Hi been watching you’re channel and been super helpful so thank you. I was wondering if you can give your opinion on the base wrx vs a civic hatchback sport manual for a daily which one should I choose ?
Warning: impending essay. And I apologize for that. Smeedia, love your videos, as they always make me think and consider the mod paths taken. I've always been a summer/winter tire set person, and I live in the Northeast US. My swapped impreza was just too twitchy on allseasons. My top 6 mods for most used Subarus as Daily Drivers would be: 1-Appropriate tires for the car and the mission. 2-Brake pads and fluid. Historically, All non-STI models have mediocre-to-terrible brake pad compound. A good brake fluid, such as Motul RBF600, even when totally shot, has a better boiling point than most DOT3/4 fluids do. 3-Sway bar end links. The ball and socket joints are soft-ish and after a couple of years, they have to be sawed off of the cars. The dogbone style replacements offered by Kartboy, Whiteline, etc are awesome. 4 and 5-shocks, shocks/springs, or coilovers--depending on your use and what you can afford. Coilovers are adjustable, let you go stiff, and stuff wide tires on, but most are linear-spring units and absolutely punishing on most street driving. You need a decent performance alignment here too. 6-Driver enjoyment mod of choice. Cars with the 5mt virtually require a shift kit and heavier shift knob of some kind. Very notchy. The 6mt, especially the STI's has always felt pretty good to me. (your mileage obviously varies). An exhaust, even an axleback--if sound is what you want. Maybe it's a new steering wheel, or some other cosmetic choice that you touch frequently. Bonus: Go to a driver's school or autocross. Driver improvement is always the best mod. Also, fun.
Agreed, the coilovers are a good option the only thing to be weary of is buying cheaper or second hand coilovers that either ride like poo or have been used beyond all belief. Ive seen a handful of people make this mistake and regretted it quickly. But agree with you on those suggestions!
Love videos like this where it's factually realistic mods for a daily. Especially liked the "run mufflers and all season tires" part since some of those crappy "daily mods" talk about "yeah straight pipe it and run sticky performance tires so you can enjoy your ride"
Fumoto oil valve was night and day for me, so much easier to change engine oil and no mess, no oily hands. Also got the hose so when is windy there's no spill on driveway
@@Smeedia I felt the same way but is well tucked in and has a safe locking piece to prevent from opening. Once you do ur first oil change it will change your thinking.
once i can travel without having to quarantine for 14 days i play on making a 2hr trip to pick up a 2019 sti, so i appreciate your videos and putting me in the right direction
Great video! I guess the one thing I’d disagree with is the reason for switching to all season tires. Summer tires typically outperform all seasons in the rain as long as the temperature is above 45-50 F.
The only comment I would make about any mod is actually the research you do on it. If you're buying a specific product from a specific brand, make sure you look at a few factors: 1) Number of reviews 2) Quality of reviews [look for things other than "this is great" or "this sucks"] 3) Review extremes You have to remember that most items will only get reviews if something is negative. With such a niche item and consumers who typically care a lot more about their parts, it's more likely that you'll see positive reviews than for regular household items. But you still want to see if there are common trends in either direction. If a bunch of people say that something is crap, it probably is. But if those reviews are outnumbered 100:1, then you're probably seeing an emotional reaction based on someone feeling like they wasted money. It happens. When you see single-sentence reviews either praising or trashing a product, take them with a grain of salt. If someone can't confidently express their ideas in an in-depth description yet still feel the need to speak about it to others, they're probably not worth listening to. That's not always the case, but it's a good general rule. Inversely, someone can write a huge testimonial (either positively or negatively) but manage to say nothing. You know, kinda like someone thinking WAY TOO FAR into themselves and writing a lengthy TH-cam comment on a video about a car that they don't even own yet... Not that I would know anything about that... You also need to look at the total number of reviews on a specific item (and to see if it is something that a living, breathing person would write, or if it came from a bot). If something has very little info or only a couple of reviews, then you have to use discretion about the information therein. What really matters here is the ratio of good versus bad reviews. And the more reviews there are, the more significant the extremes AND average become to the overall determination. Now that I think about it, everything above is actually just good advice when it comes to researching any consumer product or service. And for many people, this stuff is common sense. But for others... Well, they need all the help they can get. After all, there are STILL people buying CROCS........ Enough said
Good list! I just got my first “performance” mods today...Perrin strut tower brace, spherical end links, and rear sway bar...can’t wait to install them!!! I think I’ll do that transmission fluid next. Thanks man! 👍😆
Smeedia I just did the Strut tower brace real quick before a road trip...it makes the car feel so much more stable at high speeds!! Can’t wait to get the other stuff installed.
Turns out the used 2020 I got, had a short throw shifter installed through their dealership in Michigan. Either ordered it that way, or had it installed later. Found that out through my dealership in Indiana. Win!
@@Smeedia well, the reason I didn’t realize it is because it’s my first subie, I don’t know really? How would I find out? I just thought it was the oem option you can get from Subaru. They have them as an option in the accessories brochure so idk
You know at 1st I avoided watching this video and the one before because I felt like I already had known this stuff...... but this is some pretty good information.
Tires are hands down the best mod you can buy for a daily driver. Lights... eh. From a safety perspective, I can get behind that if you're buying an older car, but on modern cars I don't see the point. Trans and diff oil can be important from a maintenance perspective (particularly if you bought a used car), but on a new car that's something you won't need to worry about for 30 or 60k miles. Bushings are a bit involved for a newbie. Typically on a daily, I'm going for comfort over stiffness, but depending on what you're going for, that could be a decently cost effective mod. I'd go for sway bars or coilovers before I swapped the bushings though. Short shifter is personal preference.
Veey late comment but i CANNOT stress enough how big of a difference is made by having a separate set of winter tires if you live in an area with long harsh winters, on any vehicle
Of course this video was uploaded while I'm in the middle of yard work... head phones it is! If I can't watch it I'll listen to it instead 😂🙌 another quality video!
1st mod - pull seats and some of carpet, and door panels -sound treatment, new spkr's and s.woofer amp ,head unit, cap, no display for nite driving, xm, ?, let the car break-in for ? miles , then other performance mods
Great video man! MAde me do some of my own thinking. If I may add, on the note of not sacrificing the daily driver aspect, if you buy an old car pick through it for worn parts. If you buy a car from the 90s or early 2000s its gonna have a lot of bad bushings in the suspension. That alone instantly breathes life back into em.
Well thought-out suspension mods and a proper turboback exhaust with stage 2 pro-tune on any WRX\STI should satisfy the majority of new owners until they're ready to go stage 3 or built engine.
Absolutely agree with all and any of this, all 6 are very good points. I would add, don't be scared of getting acquainted with people who know the make of your car very well as they might have tips that apply specifically to your car. E.g. a short shifter for my own car was disapproved of as it just didn't stick with the gearbox very well, on the other hand I was advised uniball front top mounts numerous times, and I kept thinking "well this may be a bit much for a road going car surely?" but I still bought some and it absolutely changes the car's feeling on the road. So be sure to hit up some people that are specifically knowledgeable about your car would be my 7th point if there had to be one. :)
My first modification I would say to anyone who is really interested in driving would be a high performance driving course. Anything else is just temporary pleasures.
I agree with almost everything you said, but the tires I disagree with a little. I agree that unless you live in an area that has little to no rain, summer tires will be great on a daily. But I feel you shouldn't discount them vs an all season if you're in a different climate. All seasons are designed for less grip and better tire wear. They have a harder rubber compound vs summer and thus give less grip to your car. When the season isnt summer, have all seasons on your car. But when summer comes, and you plan on maybe a track day or a few canyon runs, but some summer tires on! Great video.
Totally agree with you there! Just from living up here I've had the best experience with all seasons on my daily. I use to run thr Bridgestone potenza RE760 Sport but there just was not enough evacuation channels for the water to escape from under the tire and it would lose grip so quick. A few people recommended Pilot 4S and ill be trying those next time around. Appreciate the added information and support!
Subaru has really changed never thought I would see people daily driving a WRX STI a daily driver is usually a car you drive to keep miles of a car like this.
I keep my 2018 Outback Premium in the garage till the weekend, Drive my 2007 Malibu 280,000 miles, 2nd transmission , 2nd engine (78,000 miles). A used WRX is on the list when the Outback is paid off
I'm with you on the tires, the bushings and the high flow catted exhaust (im guessing is what you were getting at for a turbo car), but everything else is extra to me. I replace/reinforce known fail points (like the stock BPV in turbo Subarus) first then increase efficiency so the car gets better gas mileage as well as power. A short shifter is nice to have on a daily driver, but its something I would buy with the money I end up saving on gas. Also, an Accessport is a great item to have so you can make the most of the efficiency as well as monitoring all the sensors on the car and read/clear any trouble codes that may come up. Cobb makes them for a bunch of cars nowadays, too. Those are my firsts.
Agree with you on those, video was geared a little bit for mods that would not void warranty on the car as a handful of people want to do those modifications but tend to wait until after the warranty had expired
Once you're done with the exterior mods get a high quality nano ceramic coating professionally applied. It'll cost 3 or 4 hundred dollars but it's like teflon for road grime, break dust, and dirt. A quick spray down with a pressure washer and it will look showroom new. Line the car with dynamat or other sound dampening material
@@PandorasFolly I was referring to the amount of flex that part has, you can simply press it with a finger and it squishes. It's that rubber type of plastic. I was just wondering how long it'd last with all the possible flexing and thermal expansion of such a soft piece.
I swear bro been watching ur videos for the last 2 years maybe? Been wanting to pull the trigger on an STi soon as i could afford one and let me tell you your videos have really helped me have certain things to look for and keep an eye on. Picked up a 2020 sti a few weeks ago. 😍
@@Smeedia love it bro just hit 1,000 miles the other day lol its been hard to behave but this is my first turbo and subaru in general so just constantly researching and trying to get as much information as possible. Plus im staying away from any mods that could potentially void my warrenty lol.
@@Smeedia Feels great! My first impressions were in makes the car feel like a higher quality vehicle. The front bushings weren't a problem but I couldn't get the rear to fit on no matter what I did. Only one bolt would catch and thread on at a time. Could have been a manufacturing error.
On my second wrx, I always get dyno tune(stage 1), full exhaust, CAI, coil overs, tint windows, sti rear wing and front lip and change tyres never go to soft as chew out in Australian conditions and debadge the car and yes always use good quality oil, on the WRX CVT stay away from 2015-2017 as oil pump seal leaks common issue in Australia as our WRX are built in Japan so can't comment on the American ones.
Pitch stop mount should be on here for sure. Night and day difference when I replaced that crappy plastic OEM one with a Perrin. Downshifts feel soo much smoother now!
I learned at lot watching your ch just picked up a 2016 wrx limited Crystal white Pearl with some mods on her already. I Already did mods myself on her with the help of your vids for the installs. Thank you keep up the great vids!
Smeedia im going with the wedssport SA-20r RLC 18x9.5 +35 r face. Check out my Ig at blimitedrexi got pics of her up on there. Got the Dino sheet from the original owner on Sunday.
Yep I always liked motul but thought they were too expensive. Turns out for 20$ a year at amsoil you get 25% off everything and free shipping. I've already saved so much money and now I have top quality fluids.
I am amazed at how clean and sharp you keep your WR Blue STI when it rains 300 days of the year where you live in the Pacific Northwest, and I know that you are not exaggerating.
Yeah its more expensive, but a full exaust, air filter and a stage 2 tune to wake up the car is cool! It give a fun factor for a daily :) my wrx have been stage 2 for 118 000 miles and still pass compression and leakdown as good a a new engine!
First mod in my car was a new set of breaks and rotors and calipers all around and a brand new set of rims and tires due to my car only having 38k miles engine wise it's strong but have raceland 4 to 1 headers and possibly megasquirt I would love to itb it but that's very expensive
All-season tires don't have an advantage over summer tires in the rain unless you are driving out of the summer tire spec range (low to mid 40s). Summer tires WILL outperform all-season compounds in the wet with a similar tread pattern and water evacuation. Summer tire does not mean racing slick (though that's a bit how I picture them in my head too)! A better recommendation would be to have a set of winter tires as well giving you the best tire performance AND safety all year round. We need to remember that compound ratings like 'summer' or 'winter' are based on a functional temperature range and not the presence of water - tread pattern and depth are what you want if you're worried about rain. Not saying that all-seasons are a poor choice but the recommendation in the video is perpetuating a common misunderstanding.
Someone suggested Pilot 4S to test out, the bridgestones i used last winter were awful in anytype of rain due to a lack of evacuation channels and colder temps. Definitely gling to be location specific but instead to see hos thr pilots due this coming winter time
Summer tires grip better than winter tires or all-season tires in the rain. It's freezing conditions that give summer tires issues with grip. The problem is that summer tires get too rigid to grip properly when it gets cold, so if rain is your reason to get all-weather, don't.
The summer tires that I used prior were awful in the fall/winter and early spring. Temps dip down to high 30s and low 40s so thr compound is not able to fully heat up, there was also a lack of evacuation channels in the tires.minimal amounts of water made the car hydoplane in the fall/winter time. A few people suggested the pilot 4S to try next time with better results from what ive heard.
I enjoy watching your channel. Very informative as always. Im inspired to get myself an sti very soon. Looking simetime in sept hopefully id still be able to get the current gen sti
Hey tanner, E85 kit, what does it all entail? What is E85 exactly. I’ve tried looking it up, but am only more confused. Do you have to run different fuel? What are the pros and cons?...besides pros being amazing power gains.
Hey @Smeedia, just about to get my first STI! and I live in Iowa, so lots of snow and with that comes salt/de-icer stuff on roads, do you recommend anything for rust prevention other than simply taking it to car wash? I had a spray done to my truck, but want to make sure that wouldn't hurt anything by doing it?
Get it undercoated to prevent most of the rust. It's not 100% effective but it will definitely aide in keeping keeping rust at bay. Congrats on the car Jordan 😁😁😁
@@Smeedia Sounds good! Thanks for the help! Really enjoy all the content btw!!! I think I have almost watched all of your videos on your channel since I discovered you!! Keep up the awesome work dude!!! :)
tires are the best "mod" for any car, but summer tires are actually the best in the rain, not all-season! All-season tires are fine for climates that also get cold but not enough to warrant two sets of tires (summer + winter). All-seasons are the Mario of tires--good enough for a little bit of everything, but not great at anything. For best stopping distance and handling in non-freezing wet conditions, you absolutely want summer tires
I'd have to disagree on that, thr Bridgestone potenza RE760 (the summer tire injse) are awful in the rain, the smallest amount of water on the road and the car struggles with grip and will hydro plane. Swapped over to thr contential extreme contacts and they've done much better for me. But can also vary on tire to tore, which summer tire do you use? Curious on a set that handles good in wet conditions 🔥
@@Smeedia I see people raving about the Michelin Pilot Super Sports all the time. Those seem to be stellar in dry and wet conditions. I'll be considering them when these dunlops wear out
Watching Mod videos is rough for me... Makes me itch for more... '19 WRX, so far Axleback, IAG AOS, Strut Brace, Mishi Rad and AP3 with Stage 1 etune from Torqued Performance (Eric is excellent by the way). Boost controller is sitting on the shelf and the rest of the exhaust is in the near future. AEM AFR and Oil Pressure gauges are to come soon after, just want to keep an eye just in case and no, gauge monitoring doesn't stop me from having a little fun, especially in the snow!
So, my Daughter came in during this Video. She thinks you look similar to Justin Timberlake, She said "When did JT get a Cool STI DAD" by the way she is 6. Thanks for the video man.
I disagree on 4 and 6 because the 2019 STI is too stiff from factory for daily driving already. The steering is too tight and the suspension is stiff as hell. I think go down 1 in for the wheel and little thicker side for comfort is best. I don't like aftermarket exhaust because they are too loud. If I cruise on highway, I want a quiet cabin.
I don’t know about the 2019 STI but my 2015 STI was not stiff at all. It had too much body roll. I found the steering to be the same as any other car. I came from an Evo and the steering is much tighter and suspension is stiffer than the STI
I have a GR WRX, and it can definitely use some tighter steering and suspension. New STi's must be crazy. And your point on the exhaust was exactly what he was trying to say. I have an SPT exhaust, it has a good sound, and I can converse with people in the back seat. I hear Invidia has a quieter sound, too.
My 17 STI and 13 BRZ both felt too loose for what I prefer. But we all have different tastes for what we want. I like to be Blw to hear what the car is doing so personally I prefer the cabin to be a little more noisy 😅
a tire's ability to perform in the wet is dictated moreso in the tread / tire design and compound used. most summer tires actually perform great in the rain, given the right design, a summer tire actually outperforms an all season tire in wet conditions. you've probably had experiences with certain tires that make you think otherwise, but trust me on that, look it up. where it might make more sense is if you want one dedicated tire to be able to handle every condition decently, including cold/snow, where a summer tire would harden up and get sketchy, awd or not. most people do not like to have multiple sets of tires/wheels, but even in the PNW: a dedicated 'summer' set to be used 10 months out of the year, and a dedicated winter setup for the spontaneous bits of winter where it's necessary (or if you are going over the pass/up the mountains), is the best setup.
Thr Bridgestones I normally use as my summers did not have enough evacuation for water to escape and were awful in any wet conditions. I've had a few people recommend the Pilot 4S as a good summer to trst out in some wet conditions so next round of tires will be those to see how they do 🙌
@@Smeedia - I figured you had an experience that made you feel that way :). I can heavily recommend Pilot 4s's, I have had a set on multiple cars now. I've driven them through some really deep puddle areas during heavy down pours here in Lake Stevens areas and no hydroplaning - even with some big ol 295 rear tires / rwd. Continental DW series makes excellent summer tires as well.
"You don't want to compromise the reliability and versatility of you're daily" everyone in my area, where car guys don't know how to do anything but slam their car and put obnoxious ricer shit on it: I'm gonna ignore that
Hey there. Happy new STI owner here. I've been driving an old 2009 Mazda with a K&N performance short shifter. The shifting feels really nice, but now with the STI, it's pretty much the only thing good left with the Mazda if you know what I mean. I'm looking for the OEM Subaru short throw shifter, but from review's i've seen, the throw does not seem to be that short if I compare to the K&N. Of course it's hard to judge without feeling it. Looks like it seems to be thoughts too (seen previous comments). Are there good aftermarkets to look for that won't void the warranty?
Love the vids bro, keep it up. I am from Barbados and I have a 2010 WRX STI, the automatic version, yes I said automatic, lol. Would love some tips and tricks to keep this car performing to its peek and what other mods you think I should undertake as it is my daily.
About to do my 1st oil change on my new(used) 08 sti with 100k miles on it. Thinking of going motul also cause of this video. Would you recommend motul oil for a daily? Or oem Subaru oil? PS. I'm not trying to build a race car. Just wanna keep it reliable.
Yo why did no one tell me I looked homeless in this video lmao
I’m new .. really enjoy your channel I’m going to look at a 17 wrx tomorrow after work was on the channel looking around .. really helpful thank you
I was too busy trying to avoid making eye contact. I don't have any change sorry bud.
😅😅😅😅
Hi been watching you’re channel and been super helpful so thank you. I was wondering if you can give your opinion on the base wrx vs a civic hatchback sport manual for a daily which one should I choose ?
What are you looking for out of a daily?🙏
First mod I would recommend, is a catback exhaust. It motivated me to do other mods. 🤪
Project 2OH9 same, my first mod was a muffler delete and it kept me motivated 😂
@@marcobissuett 👍
Same!!
I agree, its the single modification that always makes me excited to mod whatever car i may have at the time
Like a ...full exhaust 🤔
my favorite mod is no friends.
weight reduction
Lol almost got me 😅
my favorite mod is no tyres
More weight reduction yo
@@botandrew1 how about no engine? Morr weight reduction...
My fave mod is having homies that can go with me to the track 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
.....and lose weight 😂
Ceramic window tints are for sure one of the best mods too! I can hold my hand up to my window in direct sunlight and feel zero heat coming through.
Agreed! No one likes driving around in a fishbowl either 😅
Ah ha - the ego/modification paradox: what can I do to get more attention from people, but I don't want attention from people.
@@AsinineComment what was the song ? doors - people are strange
I personally go sway bars first. Upgraded sway bars are felt and make the car much more fun for spirited driving.
Gets rid of the understeer also.
Led lights are a must for me. But the best is upgraded suspension, but i would wait for it when you need to replace. Lets not throw away money now.
great advice i'll going with that idea
Whats a good led headlight for the WRX?
Oftentimes, a weighted shift knob can really improve the feel and action of an installed short-shifter.
100% 😁🔥
🤦🏼♂️
Facts!!!!! Also I like the placement of your anxiety port! Soon as I can afford mine I was thinking about setting mine up right where yours is.
I just bought a WRX and your videos have been super helpful when planning what I want to do and in what order.
Glad that the videos are helping and congrats on the car! 🔥😁
Warning: impending essay. And I apologize for that.
Smeedia, love your videos, as they always make me think and consider the mod paths taken. I've always been a summer/winter tire set person, and I live in the Northeast US. My swapped impreza was just too twitchy on allseasons.
My top 6 mods for most used Subarus as Daily Drivers would be:
1-Appropriate tires for the car and the mission.
2-Brake pads and fluid. Historically, All non-STI models have mediocre-to-terrible brake pad compound. A good brake fluid, such as Motul RBF600, even when totally shot, has a better boiling point than most DOT3/4 fluids do.
3-Sway bar end links. The ball and socket joints are soft-ish and after a couple of years, they have to be sawed off of the cars. The dogbone style replacements offered by Kartboy, Whiteline, etc are awesome.
4 and 5-shocks, shocks/springs, or coilovers--depending on your use and what you can afford. Coilovers are adjustable, let you go stiff, and stuff wide tires on, but most are linear-spring units and absolutely punishing on most street driving. You need a decent performance alignment here too.
6-Driver enjoyment mod of choice. Cars with the 5mt virtually require a shift kit and heavier shift knob of some kind. Very notchy. The 6mt, especially the STI's has always felt pretty good to me. (your mileage obviously varies). An exhaust, even an axleback--if sound is what you want. Maybe it's a new steering wheel, or some other cosmetic choice that you touch frequently.
Bonus: Go to a driver's school or autocross. Driver improvement is always the best mod. Also, fun.
Agreed, the coilovers are a good option the only thing to be weary of is buying cheaper or second hand coilovers that either ride like poo or have been used beyond all belief. Ive seen a handful of people make this mistake and regretted it quickly. But agree with you on those suggestions!
@@Smeedia 100% agreed on the used coilovers and other struts. I have run some raggedy setups in a pinch. Absolutely positively the last resort.
Haha we've all done it before 😅
I think one thing that would be great is linking the parts you’ve used for the things you’re recommending
I do in most videos, but with so many different parts and chassis it would be very limited for videos like these lol
If i could go back, i would've done a stage 2/3 clutch with a 9.5 lb flywheel first. Reducing rotational mass makes the car a lot more fun to drive
I can vouch for Motul. After about 100 miles on it there is a huge improvement in shifting being smoother and easier.
Sooooo much better than OEM fluid 🔥
Love videos like this where it's factually realistic mods for a daily. Especially liked the "run mufflers and all season tires" part since some of those crappy "daily mods" talk about "yeah straight pipe it and run sticky performance tires so you can enjoy your ride"
just got a intake and exhaust for my daily! going to be adding some LED lights onto that list for sure.
🔥🔥🔥😁😁😁
One thing I have liked about your channel brother. The subie education on all of our platforms never ends. Great videos. Stay safe.
Trying to help spread the info when and where I can 😁❤
Fumoto oil valve was night and day for me, so much easier to change engine oil and no mess, no oily hands. Also got the hose so when is windy there's no spill on driveway
Not a bad idea, there is something about it that freaks me out that having my oil held in by 1 valve 😅
@@Smeedia I felt the same way but is well tucked in and has a safe locking piece to prevent from opening. Once you do ur first oil change it will change your thinking.
I guess it's bad thing to get your hands dirty and actually to work
once i can travel without having to quarantine for 14 days i play on making a 2hr trip to pick up a 2019 sti, so i appreciate your videos and putting me in the right direction
Glaf that the videos are helping and hopefully your able to pick it up soon 🔥😁
Great video! I guess the one thing I’d disagree with is the reason for switching to all season tires. Summer tires typically outperform all seasons in the rain as long as the temperature is above 45-50 F.
All depends on where you live 🙏 up here in the winter, late fall and early spring temps hang out in the low to mid 40s
For sure! I’m in eastern WA and swap my summer tires for winter tires usually in November.
The only comment I would make about any mod is actually the research you do on it. If you're buying a specific product from a specific brand, make sure you look at a few factors:
1) Number of reviews
2) Quality of reviews [look for things other than "this is great" or "this sucks"]
3) Review extremes
You have to remember that most items will only get reviews if something is negative. With such a niche item and consumers who typically care a lot more about their parts, it's more likely that you'll see positive reviews than for regular household items. But you still want to see if there are common trends in either direction. If a bunch of people say that something is crap, it probably is. But if those reviews are outnumbered 100:1, then you're probably seeing an emotional reaction based on someone feeling like they wasted money. It happens.
When you see single-sentence reviews either praising or trashing a product, take them with a grain of salt. If someone can't confidently express their ideas in an in-depth description yet still feel the need to speak about it to others, they're probably not worth listening to. That's not always the case, but it's a good general rule. Inversely, someone can write a huge testimonial (either positively or negatively) but manage to say nothing. You know, kinda like someone thinking WAY TOO FAR into themselves and writing a lengthy TH-cam comment on a video about a car that they don't even own yet...
Not that I would know anything about that...
You also need to look at the total number of reviews on a specific item (and to see if it is something that a living, breathing person would write, or if it came from a bot). If something has very little info or only a couple of reviews, then you have to use discretion about the information therein. What really matters here is the ratio of good versus bad reviews. And the more reviews there are, the more significant the extremes AND average become to the overall determination.
Now that I think about it, everything above is actually just good advice when it comes to researching any consumer product or service. And for many people, this stuff is common sense. But for others... Well, they need all the help they can get. After all, there are STILL people buying CROCS........ Enough said
Good list! I just got my first “performance” mods today...Perrin strut tower brace, spherical end links, and rear sway bar...can’t wait to install them!!! I think I’ll do that transmission fluid next. Thanks man! 👍😆
You'll love thr feeling it gives! And sounds like you got some fun goodies to install 🔥😁
Smeedia I just did the Strut tower brace real quick before a road trip...it makes the car feel so much more stable at high speeds!! Can’t wait to get the other stuff installed.
Loveeeee seeing “Smeedia” pop up on my phone from TH-cam lol
Eyyyyy, appreciate the aupport my friend! 😁😁😁
1. Lighting
2. Shift knob
3. Better gear oil
4. Chassis bracings bushings
5. Tires
6. Muffle exhaust
Turns out the used 2020 I got, had a short throw shifter installed through their dealership in Michigan. Either ordered it that way, or had it installed later. Found that out through my dealership in Indiana. Win!
What brand?! 🔥
@@Smeedia well, the reason I didn’t realize it is because it’s my first subie, I don’t know really? How would I find out? I just thought it was the oem option you can get from Subaru. They have them as an option in the accessories brochure so idk
My dealership looked up my vin, as I was asking about service records etc, and they said a short throw was installed.
You know at 1st I avoided watching this video and the one before because I felt like I already had known this stuff......
but this is some pretty good information.
Glad that it helped! 🙏
Tires are hands down the best mod you can buy for a daily driver. Lights... eh. From a safety perspective, I can get behind that if you're buying an older car, but on modern cars I don't see the point. Trans and diff oil can be important from a maintenance perspective (particularly if you bought a used car), but on a new car that's something you won't need to worry about for 30 or 60k miles. Bushings are a bit involved for a newbie. Typically on a daily, I'm going for comfort over stiffness, but depending on what you're going for, that could be a decently cost effective mod. I'd go for sway bars or coilovers before I swapped the bushings though. Short shifter is personal preference.
Veey late comment but i CANNOT stress enough how big of a difference is made by having a separate set of winter tires if you live in an area with long harsh winters, on any vehicle
Of course this video was uploaded while I'm in the middle of yard work... head phones it is! If I can't watch it I'll listen to it instead 😂🙌 another quality video!
Haha appreciate the support my man! And hipefully you got that yard work done 😉
A good stereo system is paramount also... Better to get these new android double din.
Amazing video, more of them please
Will have more on the way! Have some others to get knocked out but ill def do more of these 😁
when you got full header and exhaust, pretty much cant hear the radio in older cars..might as well yeet it xD
1st mod - pull seats and some of carpet, and door panels -sound treatment, new spkr's and s.woofer amp ,head unit, cap, no display for nite driving, xm, ?, let the car break-in for ? miles , then other performance mods
Great video man! MAde me do some of my own thinking. If I may add, on the note of not sacrificing the daily driver aspect, if you buy an old car pick through it for worn parts. If you buy a car from the 90s or early 2000s its gonna have a lot of bad bushings in the suspension. That alone instantly breathes life back into em.
100% i seap bushings on newer cars as well just for the extra bump in stiffness. Bushings and mounts are some of my fav mods!
i replaced suspension parts + on an 87 and 01 , later i decided to buy new, the old still felt old and slow..
Im so excited to watch your channel blow up. A+ Quality
Eyyy, thank you! Appreciate the support ajd would be awesome to see happen! 😁
Well thought-out suspension mods and a proper turboback exhaust with stage 2 pro-tune on any WRX\STI should satisfy the majority of new owners until they're ready to go stage 3 or built engine.
Oh yes, when i first got into subarus an intake/turbo back satisfied me for a majority if the time until I started going deeper into the engine 😅
Just ordered some motul Transmission fluid couple days ago actually. Haha
Motul transmission fluid
😁 yasssss, I love the stuff!!!
@@Smeedia Have you tried redline before? Much prefer that stuff, why motul??
Smeedia I hear the shifts are buttery smooth. Confirm? Haha
Never tried recline but have heard good things, might have to give it a go
Absolutely agree with all and any of this, all 6 are very good points.
I would add, don't be scared of getting acquainted with people who know the make of your car very well as they might have tips that apply specifically to your car. E.g. a short shifter for my own car was disapproved of as it just didn't stick with the gearbox very well, on the other hand I was advised uniball front top mounts numerous times, and I kept thinking "well this may be a bit much for a road going car surely?" but I still bought some and it absolutely changes the car's feeling on the road. So be sure to hit up some people that are specifically knowledgeable about your car would be my 7th point if there had to be one. :)
Very good point to add on! 🙏😁
My first modification I would say to anyone who is really interested in driving would be a high performance driving course. Anything else is just temporary pleasures.
Driving courses are definitely worth the money if you have access to them!
Getting my 2020 WRX tomorrow, definitely the first think im doing is new headlights and tailights
I agree with almost everything you said, but the tires I disagree with a little. I agree that unless you live in an area that has little to no rain, summer tires will be great on a daily. But I feel you shouldn't discount them vs an all season if you're in a different climate. All seasons are designed for less grip and better tire wear. They have a harder rubber compound vs summer and thus give less grip to your car. When the season isnt summer, have all seasons on your car. But when summer comes, and you plan on maybe a track day or a few canyon runs, but some summer tires on!
Great video.
Totally agree with you there! Just from living up here I've had the best experience with all seasons on my daily. I use to run thr Bridgestone potenza RE760 Sport but there just was not enough evacuation channels for the water to escape from under the tire and it would lose grip so quick. A few people recommended Pilot 4S and ill be trying those next time around. Appreciate the added information and support!
Well glad my sti came with led’s and the sti short throw shifter honestly was surprised 😂
Subaru has really changed never thought I would see people daily driving a WRX STI a daily driver is usually a car you drive to keep miles of a car like this.
Very common now adays 🙏🙏🙏
I keep my 2018 Outback Premium in the garage till the weekend, Drive my 2007 Malibu 280,000 miles, 2nd transmission , 2nd engine (78,000 miles). A used WRX is on the list when the Outback is paid off
I'm with you on the tires, the bushings and the high flow catted exhaust (im guessing is what you were getting at for a turbo car), but everything else is extra to me. I replace/reinforce known fail points (like the stock BPV in turbo Subarus) first then increase efficiency so the car gets better gas mileage as well as power. A short shifter is nice to have on a daily driver, but its something I would buy with the money I end up saving on gas. Also, an Accessport is a great item to have so you can make the most of the efficiency as well as monitoring all the sensors on the car and read/clear any trouble codes that may come up. Cobb makes them for a bunch of cars nowadays, too. Those are my firsts.
Agree with you on those, video was geared a little bit for mods that would not void warranty on the car as a handful of people want to do those modifications but tend to wait until after the warranty had expired
Had to get my winter tires since I live in Alaska. Those Yoko's are great otherwise.
Once you're done with the exterior mods get a high quality nano ceramic coating professionally applied. It'll cost 3 or 4 hundred dollars but it's like teflon for road grime, break dust, and dirt. A quick spray down with a pressure washer and it will look showroom new.
Line the car with dynamat or other sound dampening material
Agreed ! Good ceramic coat saves the paint and keeps it easy to clean. 🔥
and insulation , and upgrade 4 ch w/s .woofer new speakers amp n head n cap no display for nite driving
I wonder how something like that would last on my Fiero, especially on the soft plastic front bumper.
@@mistersomaru a good quality nano ceramic should stick to just about any surface used on cars. They are definitely made to be applied to plastics
@@PandorasFolly I was referring to the amount of flex that part has, you can simply press it with a finger and it squishes. It's that rubber type of plastic. I was just wondering how long it'd last with all the possible flexing and thermal expansion of such a soft piece.
I swear bro been watching ur videos for the last 2 years maybe? Been wanting to pull the trigger on an STi soon as i could afford one and let me tell you your videos have really helped me have certain things to look for and keep an eye on. Picked up a 2020 sti a few weeks ago. 😍
How are you liking the car?! 😁
@@Smeedia love it bro just hit 1,000 miles the other day lol its been hard to behave but this is my first turbo and subaru in general so just constantly researching and trying to get as much information as possible. Plus im staying away from any mods that could potentially void my warrenty lol.
Summer tires are great in the rain . They just don't fare well when it gets cold .
Just got a 17 wrx stock af cant wait to start putting my personal touches into her. Glad I found your channel
Eyyyy congratulations on the car!!!! 🙌🙌🙌
@@Smeedia thanks man!! Definitely going to be checking out your channel alot! You got good ass taste hahaha
Thank you 🙌🔥
Great videos but definitely need to delete the mufflers. The EJ257 sounds too good to be help back by mufflers.
Some like it a little quite, 3" mufflers sound awesome with thr EJ 🔥😁
Smeedia make that 5” and you’ve got it right
Wow timing! Installing my Kart boy short shifter this weekend.
You'll love it! Really does make a huge difference. Let me know how you like it!
@@Smeedia Feels great! My first impressions were in makes the car feel like a higher quality vehicle. The front bushings weren't a problem but I couldn't get the rear to fit on no matter what I did. Only one bolt would catch and thread on at a time. Could have been a manufacturing error.
I like the slammed frame on the ground idea instead.
🤌🤌🤌
This is such a straightforward and quality video.
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback and support 🙌
On my second wrx, I always get dyno tune(stage 1), full exhaust, CAI, coil overs, tint windows, sti rear wing and front lip and change tyres never go to soft as chew out in Australian conditions and debadge the car and yes always use good quality oil, on the WRX CVT stay away from 2015-2017 as oil pump seal leaks common issue in Australia as our WRX are built in Japan so can't comment on the American ones.
Thr US ones do thr same thing with the CVTs, seems like the engineering team did not see that issue all the way through
Thank you again for inspiring me in getting a Subaru I just brought home my wrx bugeye wagon with the STI swap thank you so much
How are you liking the car? 😍 and congrats on the new purchase 😁
Their car feels great and hugs the road like nothing else I've been in runs great super healthy
I didnt fully agree with the 6 donts but I do agree with these exactly the mods I plan to do on mine
Send itttt 🔥
Also good mod would be enhancement of sound insulation of the interior but it contradicts the weight reduction mod, lol.
Not a bad idea! Dyno mat is always a solid option 🔥😁
Pitch stop mount should be on here for sure. Night and day difference when I replaced that crappy plastic OEM one with a Perrin. Downshifts feel soo much smoother now!
Agreed! I would classify that as bracing and bushings but makes a solid difference with the car 😍
This along with a strut brace and short shifter were my first mods. This list is spot on to what I did.
I learned at lot watching your ch just picked up a 2016 wrx limited Crystal white Pearl with some mods on her already. I Already did mods myself on her with the help of your vids for the installs. Thank you keep up the great vids!
Congrats on the car! Just got done working on a WRX today! Appreciate the support 🙏 😁
Smeedia thank you I love the car. Just got done installing the blackvue Dr750s-2ch dash cam. I’m already picking out the rims for her lol.
Ive got thr same Dashcam! Works great. And what wheels? 😁
Smeedia im going with the wedssport SA-20r RLC 18x9.5 +35 r face. Check out my Ig at blimitedrexi got pics of her up on there. Got the Dino sheet from the original owner on Sunday.
Yep I always liked motul but thought they were too expensive. Turns out for 20$ a year at amsoil you get 25% off everything and free shipping. I've already saved so much money and now I have top quality fluids.
Nice! Amsoil has a program like that for a large % off as well.
@@hedrokka5727 shit I actually meant amsoil!!!! 😂👴
Good to know, i might switch over to them 😅
Castrol 0-20 is my choice but, a OEM Subaru filter
i went with borla catback for my 2020 wrx it sounds amazing and its not to loud and gives that great sound
I am amazed at how clean and sharp you keep your WR Blue STI when it rains 300 days of the year where you live in the Pacific Northwest, and I know that you are not exaggerating.
Haha its always raining, a good ceramic coat and regular cleanings def help a lot 🔥😁
Smeedia
Ceramic coating! That explains it. I saw the ceramic Series White STI in the dealership, next to a Crystal Pearl White - huge difference!
Yeah its more expensive, but a full exaust, air filter and a stage 2 tune to wake up the car is cool! It give a fun factor for a daily :) my wrx have been stage 2 for 118 000 miles and still pass compression and leakdown as good a a new engine!
Yassss!!!! For someone not wanting to spend too much this is a good way to go 🔥😁
Took me a while to look for something like this, mod a car without sacrificing reliability
First mod in my car was a new set of breaks and rotors and calipers all around and a brand new set of rims and tires due to my car only having 38k miles engine wise it's strong but have raceland 4 to 1 headers and possibly megasquirt I would love to itb it but that's very expensive
All-season tires don't have an advantage over summer tires in the rain unless you are driving out of the summer tire spec range (low to mid 40s). Summer tires WILL outperform all-season compounds in the wet with a similar tread pattern and water evacuation. Summer tire does not mean racing slick (though that's a bit how I picture them in my head too)!
A better recommendation would be to have a set of winter tires as well giving you the best tire performance AND safety all year round.
We need to remember that compound ratings like 'summer' or 'winter' are based on a functional temperature range and not the presence of water - tread pattern and depth are what you want if you're worried about rain.
Not saying that all-seasons are a poor choice but the recommendation in the video is perpetuating a common misunderstanding.
Someone suggested Pilot 4S to test out, the bridgestones i used last winter were awful in anytype of rain due to a lack of evacuation channels and colder temps. Definitely gling to be location specific but instead to see hos thr pilots due this coming winter time
Great video! Only one I would add if you’ve got an older model is apple car play. One of the best interior quality of life improvements
Apple car play is very nice to have! The lady's car has it and its so nice to use
Where can i get one. 2011 sti
DIGO8867 google....
I miss my 02 imprezza, eventually when I move back up to WA I'll get that thing working!
Yessss, save the bugs!
@@Smeedia yes! I think I'm almost at the age where I need to have a project. You know, instead of just watching TV all the time?
Tptally feel it! And youve got the perfect one to jump on!
Way to go, lovin this channel! Keep it coming bro....👍
Thank you! Appreciate the support and as always mkre to come 🔥
Paused the video at the start. I’ve been talking up the Perrin trunk handle on your channel for a while better be on the list 😂
Haha I use the OEM Subaru trunk handle but also a good mod 😁🔥
I live in northern Arizona where we get four seasons with rain and snow. So a wrx is in mind.
Awesome car to consider for the weather and fun to drive! 🙏🙏🙏
Great video. Pnw represent. About to get a wrx for a daily driver this helps.
Glad it helped 🙏😁
Summer tires grip better than winter tires or all-season tires in the rain. It's freezing conditions that give summer tires issues with grip. The problem is that summer tires get too rigid to grip properly when it gets cold, so if rain is your reason to get all-weather, don't.
The summer tires that I used prior were awful in the fall/winter and early spring. Temps dip down to high 30s and low 40s so thr compound is not able to fully heat up, there was also a lack of evacuation channels in the tires.minimal amounts of water made the car hydoplane in the fall/winter time. A few people suggested the pilot 4S to try next time with better results from what ive heard.
LED replacements for the incandescents tend to trigger the computers' "freak out" mode
Looking into buying a older wrx been watching these videos for the past 3 days lol thanks for these
Good luck on your search 😁😁😁
hey man, its been a while, im busy this month or next but still support you and your future videos.. god bless ,
Appreciate the aupport my friend 🙏😁
AOS - air oil separator people. Great investment and your engine will thank you.
I enjoy watching your channel. Very informative as always. Im inspired to get myself an sti very soon. Looking simetime in sept hopefully id still be able to get the current gen sti
Hopefully your able to find thr one your looking for 😁
Hey tanner, E85 kit, what does it all entail? What is E85 exactly. I’ve tried looking it up, but am only more confused. Do you have to run different fuel? What are the pros and cons?...besides pros being amazing power gains.
That's some good advice right there
1st: Buy the best tires you can find, and have 2 sets if you're in a cold weather winter climate.
Dint you dare stop bro. Bluebaru is coming to a theater near you.
😈😈😈
With my 2011 sti a stage one tune made a massive difference in drivability. Way better torque on the bottom end.
Didn't really affect my mpgs
Glsd you haven't had any issued with the OTS tune 🙏
With led make sure you have the right cut off and alignment if not its just unfocused light thats blinding to people
Very true, 9/10 times re aligning the headlights is never done
Your videos are great, and each one is getting better and better.
Thank you! Trying to make them better anyway I can 😁😁😁
Super Awesome intro! Another great video!
Eyyyy, thank you Kyle 🙌
@@Smeedia Thank you for the great videos, my man! Really appreciate them!
Hey @Smeedia, just about to get my first STI! and I live in Iowa, so lots of snow and with that comes salt/de-icer stuff on roads, do you recommend anything for rust prevention other than simply taking it to car wash? I had a spray done to my truck, but want to make sure that wouldn't hurt anything by doing it?
Get it undercoated to prevent most of the rust. It's not 100% effective but it will definitely aide in keeping keeping rust at bay. Congrats on the car Jordan 😁😁😁
@@Smeedia Sounds good! Thanks for the help! Really enjoy all the content btw!!! I think I have almost watched all of your videos on your channel since I discovered you!! Keep up the awesome work dude!!! :)
tires are the best "mod" for any car, but summer tires are actually the best in the rain, not all-season! All-season tires are fine for climates that also get cold but not enough to warrant two sets of tires (summer + winter). All-seasons are the Mario of tires--good enough for a little bit of everything, but not great at anything. For best stopping distance and handling in non-freezing wet conditions, you absolutely want summer tires
I'd have to disagree on that, thr Bridgestone potenza RE760 (the summer tire injse) are awful in the rain, the smallest amount of water on the road and the car struggles with grip and will hydro plane. Swapped over to thr contential extreme contacts and they've done much better for me. But can also vary on tire to tore, which summer tire do you use? Curious on a set that handles good in wet conditions 🔥
@@Smeedia I see people raving about the Michelin Pilot Super Sports all the time. Those seem to be stellar in dry and wet conditions. I'll be considering them when these dunlops wear out
I'll have to check them out next time I order tires 🔥
Watching Mod videos is rough for me... Makes me itch for more...
'19 WRX, so far Axleback, IAG AOS, Strut Brace, Mishi Rad and AP3 with Stage 1 etune from Torqued Performance (Eric is excellent by the way). Boost controller is sitting on the shelf and the rest of the exhaust is in the near future. AEM AFR and Oil Pressure gauges are to come soon after, just want to keep an eye just in case and no, gauge monitoring doesn't stop me from having a little fun, especially in the snow!
Don't blame you! And I'm all about them gauges! The mod bug is real 😅
@@Smeedia Daily problems. I swear I'm just gonna stop at Stage 3...
Summer tires work great in the wet. They work way better than all seasons. You're thinking of snow, brah.
So, my Daughter came in during this Video. She thinks you look similar to Justin Timberlake, She said "When did JT get a Cool STI DAD" by the way she is 6. Thanks for the video man.
Dieing laughing that is great lol appreciate the support and the comment 🔥😁 I cluld be JT under cover 👀😅
I disagree on 4 and 6 because the 2019 STI is too stiff from factory for daily driving already. The steering is too tight and the suspension is stiff as hell. I think go down 1 in for the wheel and little thicker side for comfort is best. I don't like aftermarket exhaust because they are too loud. If I cruise on highway, I want a quiet cabin.
I don’t know about the 2019 STI but my 2015 STI was not stiff at all. It had too much body roll. I found the steering to be the same as any other car. I came from an Evo and the steering is much tighter and suspension is stiffer than the STI
I have a GR WRX, and it can definitely use some tighter steering and suspension. New STi's must be crazy.
And your point on the exhaust was exactly what he was trying to say. I have an SPT exhaust, it has a good sound, and I can converse with people in the back seat. I hear Invidia has a quieter sound, too.
My 17 STI and 13 BRZ both felt too loose for what I prefer. But we all have different tastes for what we want. I like to be Blw to hear what the car is doing so personally I prefer the cabin to be a little more noisy 😅
Love the discussion videos and videos like these keep them coming
Definitely will, been. While and was slacking kn some of them so mkre to come 🔥😁
a tire's ability to perform in the wet is dictated moreso in the tread / tire design and compound used. most summer tires actually perform great in the rain, given the right design, a summer tire actually outperforms an all season tire in wet conditions. you've probably had experiences with certain tires that make you think otherwise, but trust me on that, look it up. where it might make more sense is if you want one dedicated tire to be able to handle every condition decently, including cold/snow, where a summer tire would harden up and get sketchy, awd or not. most people do not like to have multiple sets of tires/wheels, but even in the PNW: a dedicated 'summer' set to be used 10 months out of the year, and a dedicated winter setup for the spontaneous bits of winter where it's necessary (or if you are going over the pass/up the mountains), is the best setup.
Thr Bridgestones I normally use as my summers did not have enough evacuation for water to escape and were awful in any wet conditions. I've had a few people recommend the Pilot 4S as a good summer to trst out in some wet conditions so next round of tires will be those to see how they do 🙌
@@Smeedia - I figured you had an experience that made you feel that way :). I can heavily recommend Pilot 4s's, I have had a set on multiple cars now. I've driven them through some really deep puddle areas during heavy down pours here in Lake Stevens areas and no hydroplaning - even with some big ol 295 rear tires / rwd. Continental DW series makes excellent summer tires as well.
I'll have to give thr Pilot 4S a try next time I am ordering tires then! Definitely interested to see how they handle 😁😁
All season tires work in the snow up here in the northeast, at least for me lol
For light snow they've done pretty well for me as well
I saw your Washington plates. Hola from Tumwater! Keep up the great content!
🙋♂️🙋♂️🙋♂️ over in Puyallup 🙏😁 and thank you!
@@Smeedia Awesome! That's where my favorite Subie dealership is. Got my wife's Forester there, and plan to buy an STi there.
"You don't want to compromise the reliability and versatility of you're daily"
everyone in my area, where car guys don't know how to do anything but slam their car and put obnoxious ricer shit on it: I'm gonna ignore that
Love it,love the chemical guy's products..
They make some good stuff 🔥
Thanks for the vid bro. 💚💚💚
Much love and support from Philippines
Appreciate the support my friend! 😁😁😁
What light do you use for you headlights ?? They look amazing 😻
Diode dynamics 🥳
Hey there. Happy new STI owner here. I've been driving an old 2009 Mazda with a K&N performance short shifter. The shifting feels really nice, but now with the STI, it's pretty much the only thing good left with the Mazda if you know what I mean. I'm looking for the OEM Subaru short throw shifter, but from review's i've seen, the throw does not seem to be that short if I compare to the K&N. Of course it's hard to judge without feeling it. Looks like it seems to be thoughts too (seen previous comments). Are there good aftermarkets to look for that won't void the warranty?
For short shifters I'd highly suggest Kartboy 👌 and congrats on the new STI!
It shouldent cause warranty issues
Solid list 👌🏽
Thank you! Tried to think of some things outside of the standard youtube lists out there 😅
Love the vids bro, keep it up. I am from Barbados and I have a 2010 WRX STI, the automatic version, yes I said automatic, lol. Would love some tips and tricks to keep this car performing to its peek and what other mods you think I should undertake as it is my daily.
I would suggest an AOS or catch can, radiator, oil pick up and pan for reliability and aporeciate the support my man!
@@Smeedia thanks man, looking forward for more informative vids from your channel.
great content as always!
Eyyyyy, thank you!
About to do my 1st oil change on my new(used) 08 sti with 100k miles on it. Thinking of going motul also cause of this video. Would you recommend motul oil for a daily? Or oem Subaru oil?
PS. I'm not trying to build a race car. Just wanna keep it reliable.
I use motul 5W40 in my STI normally and it does great no issues for the past 8 years 🔥😁