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Old 04-08-2008, 10:47 AM   #1
Ti Pit
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Default Interested in Baja Turbo 5spd. Questions inside

Hello

I have a few questions for Turbo Baja owners.

I currently own a 2002 WRX with some light mods. I've been eyeing the Baja out for a while now but this model is very rare where I currently live and I have no way of finding and test driving a turbo baja in my area. My wrx was stolen on Sunday night and recovered monday morning, I'm waiting on the insurance co to see whats going to happen but I'm considering my options.

I love my WRX. How would a Baja stand up to a WRX for driving pleasure? I read on many websites it handled as well as a sports car and was a blast to drive, is this true? How would the performance rank next to the WRX?

Do all baja's have LSD rear Diff's?

What is the aftermarket support for the Baja? I don't need to go all out but an Exhaust, intake, up pipe, ecu is always a bit of fun.

Finally, is that hood scoop interchangable with the STI scoop? I find the factory scoop a little small.

Finally, I seem to be having a hard timing finding a 5spd turbo baja. In the scenario where I can't find one in my budget, would the better option be a NA 5spd that I can swap turbo or a Turbo Automatic that I can swap 5spd?

Thanks for the info,
Alex
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Old 04-08-2008, 02:33 PM   #2
steven765
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I know there's a upgraded exhaust aviliable can't remember the site off hand.

Only manual's have LSD's; automatics's have electornically controlled diff's

ECU tek works with the baja

5sp NA has been great for me, sure every so often I wish I had more power.. until i roll up to the gas station these days 93 is killer thank God the NA can use 87
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Old 04-08-2008, 05:38 PM   #3
twheats1
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Turbo 5spd FTW! My son has an 02 WRX so I'll try to answer your questions.
The Baja does handle well, but keep in mind that it is about 600 lbs heavier than the WRX. The WRX does handle a little better and also is a little faster. The Baja does have more torque and higher numerically gearing, so in "every day" driving, the acceleration difference is not too apparent. In some respects it is the more enjoyable car to drive. It does ride better and I do get better mileage than my son does.
Aftermarket parts can be difficult to find, but not impossible. Open source tuning does support the Baja's now, so tuning options are available.
My son's WRX is fun, but I like the Baja more.
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Old 04-09-2008, 03:15 PM   #4
ez bturbo
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Where are you located? If you happen to be nearby SC you are welcome to drive mine, a 5 speed lightly modded 04 turbo (MBC ~13.5 psi and flowmaster rear exhaust section, also have a perrin short ram intake but it is not on the car now, too much blowoff noise for me) which I have been thinking about selling for a full size truck actually.
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Old 04-09-2008, 03:42 PM   #5
Ti Pit
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Thanks for the offer however I live pretty far, I`m up in the great white north.. Montreal, Canada to be exact.

We never got the Turbo Baja`s in Canada so I will have to source one from the USA. The only Baja`s we had here were sold from 2003 to 2005. My local dealer ordered 4.. sold 3 and were stuck with the yellow 03 for years before useing it as a shop car.

My chances of actually trying one before purchase are very slim thats why your opinions are usefull to me.

Thanks
Alex
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Old 04-09-2008, 04:03 PM   #6
ez bturbo
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Ok well to answer your questions, it is not feasible to swap the turbo into an NA baja. Aftermarket support for the baja is not great, but certain things can be had. Tuning is still a bit of a problem as far as I am able to determine, altough I have not looked in a while. Some of the more radical setups would take the pcm from the Sti and lose the cruise control. You can definately get a nice turbo back exhaust, and some of the wrx parts work as well.

The baja wont handle like a wrx, but some have put sway bars and so on and say they are pretty good. The acceleration is similar, with the heavier baja needing the 2.5 litre for more lower end grunt than an 02 wrx. Stock for stock, the wrx is faster, although from a roll I have run neck and neck with a couple. I have also found the wrx easier to launch, the baja tends to wheel hop or spin the rears if you dont get it right, that alone probably makes the difference.

Not sure on the hood.
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Old 04-09-2008, 07:12 PM   #7
bulwnkl
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STi hood/scoop is not a direct bolt-on if you want perfect function. Things are a little different under the hood.

I don't have a WRX, only a turbo Baja. The Baja is a Legacy, the WRX is an Impreza, so they're not going to feel the same. Similar perhaps, but not the same.

You don't have to run premium fuel with the turbo Baja, though of course you won't have max power running lower octane. I run 88 octane gasohol all the time and everything's fine, though I do live at ~4,800 ft.

I've never had wheel hop on the Baja, though I have an A/T. The A/T Baja turbo does have a rear LSD, or at least most of them do. Don't know about the rear end of the 5MT. ECU programming is available via open-source options. Don't know about proprietary options.

If you're well enough funded and/or a good enough fabricator and electronics person, you can swap transmissions and/or engines. But IMO you'd have to want a Baja more than anything else in the world really bad to do that.
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Old 04-09-2008, 09:34 PM   #8
JLBaja
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ez bturbo View Post
...also have a perrin short ram intake but it is not on the car now, too much blowoff noise for me...
Not to hijack the thread, but my perrin short ram intake is coming off next week....same reason. Going back to stock with a K&N filter, maybe leave the snorkus off.
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Old 04-09-2008, 10:36 PM   #9
deadlydave
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I just got open-source ECU Reflashed by getadomtune. 17psi on essentially an all-stock engine and it's safe, hauls ass, and is the same or better on gas. IMO it's manual trans or bust on these, they already weigh almost 3600lbs, the weight and worse gearing of the Automatic cannot possibly be good for the 'fun factor.'

Megan Racing makes a solid-looking and well-reviewed set of coilovers. The stock 18mm rear sway is pretty nice already, but replacements do exist. As far as body panels, I have a replacement cf hood that has a GC-style scoop insert that can be removed and swapped for a larger one, but the stock hood's is made from the metal of the hood itself. Random Technologies makes a cat-back exhaust, and xcelleration makes a full turboback for the Baja-T. The stock exhaust is somewhat louder than the stock WRX's I've been around, but still quieter than the STi's. I like my stock suspension's handling ability, but it is way too high for my taste. I autocrossed it once bone stock and did pretty well. Beat out some European sedans, coupes, and a Saabaru wagon.

-2004 Baja Turbo 5MT-STi front seats, momo shift knob, 4-pot front brakes, GC RS wheels(v7's for autocross), de-badged, domtuned, de-snorkused, K&N panel filter, 1-off CF hood, ghettomod grille.

Last edited by deadlydave; 04-10-2008 at 10:34 AM. Reason: company name wrong on exhaust
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Old 04-09-2008, 10:50 PM   #10
twheats1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deadlydave View Post
I just got open-source ECU Reflashed by google. 17psi on essentially an all-stock engine
Dave, who did your tune? I have an open flash tune and the tuner had a difficult time getting 14.5 psi. 16.5 - 17 would be WAY more fun!
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Old 04-09-2008, 10:56 PM   #11
deadlydave
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twheats1 View Post
Dave, who did your tune? I have an open flash tune and the tuner had a difficult time getting 14.5 psi. 16.5 - 17 would be WAY more fun!
The Gent's name is Dom. his site is *filtered on nasioc*. He did a great job, was patient with me, and taught me a lot about my engine I never knew.

We also had the same problem: Many of the td04's he's tuned have been unable to make peak boost. For me, my boost control actuator was shot. Throwing in a new one got it to boost higher than 19psi. (the td04 can only generate 20 psi max). Another problem could be a malfunctioning boost control solenoid--just swap out for a new(er) one. We had that problem with an STi he was tuning the same day. Your turbo may be wearing out too. IF you physically wire(with metal wire) the wastegate actuator shut and still cannot generate higher than 14.5, your turbo may be going or your might have a leak somewhere.

Last edited by deadlydave; 04-10-2008 at 10:35 AM. Reason: dom's url is filtered on nasioc, LOL
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Old 04-09-2008, 11:21 PM   #12
twheats1
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I'll have to check the BCA and the solenoid. Adjusting the wastegate arm 2 turns got us to 14.5 so I think the turbo is ok. I really do not want to resort to using a helper spring on the wastegate.
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Old 04-10-2008, 11:00 AM   #13
Hawk296
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Mine struggled to make anything above 12.5 PSI on the TD04 with stock everything. Thats even with the wastegate arm all the way in. Boost control solenoid is in perfect workign order as well.

VF-39 Easily makes 19 PSI however. There no more fuel available for anything more though
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Old 04-12-2008, 12:08 AM   #14
Dreammaster2.5RS
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Haha deadly, so google did you tune. Its a shame they censored the actual name. Gotta love it.
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Old 04-13-2008, 02:41 AM   #15
peterdaniel
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I had a WRX and am now getting a 5 speed Baja Turbo. The Baja is a nicer car to drive and will do some serious cornering. Personally I couldn't tell the diiference but I felt more secure in the Baja.

The nightmare of switching out an Automatic is not worth it. Don't even think about going there.

5 speed Turbo's are the hardest to find for sure! it took me alot of searching and I finally found an '06.

I do know where there is a 9800 mile black Subaru executive 5 speed turbo for sale. Its going for 23900.00 though..

These things hold serious resale value. Everytime I would find one that was just listed on the internet, it would be gone. I seriously suggest that if you do find one JUMP ON IT. Especially if it is low mileage.

As far as I know, they have not advertised the black one yet..

Not sure why the above poster had wheel hop. I have never experienced that..

5 speeds also have in my opinion the true AWD 50/50 split power transfer. Automatics are like 80/20 front bias and then transfers to the rear when needed


I was up in Sonoma county with a 5 speed Turbo and those back roads are hella tight with hair raising 90 degree turns... The Baja handled outrageously good.. and turned on a dime.

Hang in there, its worth it!!
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Old 04-13-2008, 02:49 AM   #16
peterdaniel
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oh and as far as the scoop goes, the BAJA's hood does not have a removable scoop.
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Old 04-13-2008, 10:06 AM   #17
bulwnkl
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Just for clarification, the Baja turbo A/Ts have the VTD system, which supposedly actually biases more torque rearward under 'normal' conditions.
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Old 04-18-2008, 10:20 PM   #18
Loscocco
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i have almost 100k on my Turbo 5sp Baja and love the thing.. Still drives liek a raceohorse and hauls all my crap around.
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Old 12-30-2023, 12:26 PM   #19
deanrocker
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Do you still own your Baja? Any chance you can provide some info for mine?
I have an 06 MT Baja Turbo. I need to swap the ECU. HOWEVER, the engine was swapped from 2.55 to a JDM 2.0. Everything was working great, except cruise control, until the vehicle was briefly flooded up the seats. I'm told the ECU is likely damaged.
What should I get for a replacement ECU? One that is a straight swapout for the one currently in it, that was for the 2.55 engine, or one that is geared for a 2.0 engine?
Thanks.
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