Pictures & Mods

Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it.
Chinese Proverb		 The problem is never how to get new, innovative thoughts into your mind, but how to get old ones out.
Dee Hock		 All truth passes through three stages: First it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed and third it is accepted as being self-evident. Unknown Author If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn’t thinking. General George Patton

Welcome to StiLtd.com/E85STI.com

There are many great sites about Subarus and in particular the WRX and STi versions of the Impreza so I won't try to duplicate what they have already done. I'm just putting up this website to show the mods I've made to the car. My intention is to show the world and Subaru would this car could have been from the factory. My primary motiviation is alternative fuel, in this case E85. I'd prefer E100 (100% Ethanol, but that would be illegal.) So for now I'll work with E85 and maybe at some point move to E99.9.

There is a lot of misinformation, lies and just plain BS on the net about ethanol as a fuel. All I ask is that look at the data I provide below with an open mind.

What did I do? The main thing is changing the injectors (1100cc) & fuel pump (Walbro) so I could run 100% e85. Then a Cobb Access Port for tuning. Other than that and a KN air filter, nothing has been done to the engine.

Other mods: Volk Wheels, Coilovers, an X-Brace, a bunch of JDM trim pieces including the dash, door sills and front grill.

What are the results:

  • 3/12/15. Highway: 18.80mpg E85. Which converts to 26.85mpg gasoline equivalents, hereafter "26.85mpg GE." How tested: A 161.7 mile trip took 8.6 gallons of e85. The car was driven 90% highway, one part hilly, the rest flat. No A/c, driving the speed limit and no rapid acceleration.
  • 6/14/15. Rural/city: 17.2mpg E85, 24.57mpg GE. How tested: Drove 43 miles in a rural community with little to no traffic, but stopping and going, stopping for shopping, etc. Never drove over 55mph, mostly 35-45mpg in the flow of traffic. Consumed 2.5 gallons of fuel.
  • 6/20/15. Highway: 21+mpg E85, 30mpg GE. Preliminary test on highway, 65-70mpg after adding front lip to spolier, vortex generators, blocking off the upper part of the grill, removed windshield wipers. This test is preliminary because I have not yet refilled the tank and I'm going off what the computer shows for the mileage. However in both tests above the computer did accurately predict what the actual mileage turned out to be by measuring fuel and miles so I'm confident the car can do that number.

    This is on an otherwise stock Subaru STI, which developed about 295hp, 320ft/lbs Tq, on the dyno, runs 13.20's at 2800', 3315# with driver.

    Compare these numbers to the official government number of 16/23mpg on gasoline and you see with e85, some tuning and some easy mods I've exceeded the official government numbers for the car. It's the tune and how you drive. Tune for max torque at very low boost, use that torque w/o getting into the boost heavy and upshift as soon as you can. Keeps the revs under 3K at all time. 2200-2500 seems to be a good spot to shoot for.

    Other mods that helped get these numbers:

  • Coilovers put the car very low to the ground. Ground clearance from the bottom of the front spoiler to the ground is exactly 4". UPDATE: I've added a small lip to the underside of the front spoiler, I'm now 2.5" from the ground to the underside of the lip. This should limit the amount of air that goes under the car and reduce drag. I've also added vortex generators to the roof and blocked off the upper part of the grill (nose and wings.) All to further reduce drag.
  • Perfect weather: 68-72F, no A/c was used.
  • Perfect weather: Slightly overcast, no winds of any kind.
  • Goodyear F1 DS3 tires pressure set at 38psi.
  • Perfect weather: All windows and sunroof were kept closed for 80% of the trip. Only when I neared home did I roll down the windows and open the sun roof.
  • Driving like granny. Drove the speed limit almost everywhere, only exceeded it a few times and only by up to 5mph over.

    If this car had a .70 or .65 OD ratio in 6th gear it'd easily bust the 30mpg threshold. The problem is it's doing over 3200rpm at 75mph. Knock that down to 2600-2800 and the mileage would jump. :-)

    So the next time someone tells you e85 will kill your mileage you'll know they have their foot in it all the time. ;-)

    Best sites for e85 station location are:
    ethanolretailer.com or AltFuelPrices.com
    US Govt (afdc.energy.gov)

    Highlight the features of the Limited edition in the hopes of generating more support for this type of vehicle. When you buy the Limited, you get the following changes and additions to the Impreza WRX Sti:
    • Leather Interior, really very nice leather too. Very soft, not hard like so many other japanese cars.
    • Heated front seats.
    • Sun Roof.
    • Front chin spoiler. (I think it's really sharp looking.)
    • Lustrous silver painted wheels.
    • Fog lamps.
    • Auto dimming rear view mirror with compass.
    • Fold down rear armrest with access to the trunk.
    • Emblem noting the number of the vehicle.
    • Pearl White or "Urban Gray" paint. The gray is more a rich, deep, dark silver color than gray to me.
    • Delete rear wing, IOW, "The Picnic Table" is gone. :-)
    • Delete roof mounted rear spoiler. Makes for a cleaner look.



    The total package creates a car that can stand out, or blend in, depending on your surroundings. By that I mean, on the standard STI, the big wing totally dominates the looks of the car. With the wing missing, now you can see the lines of the car and appreciate the ground effects, the fender flares, and the overall look of the vehicle. It has a European/Japanese hybrid look to me. One I very much appreciate. :) One thing they could do to clean up the lines of this car is remove the ugly front license plate mounting boss.

    DragTimes.com - Drag Racing Timeslip Database


    Disclaimer: This site is not endorsed nor sponsored by Subaru. I do not work for Subaru, I just like the car.