Ok well I have been saving for a turbo kit but am now at a dilemma at what to do. I have enough money for either the stage 1 star or hahn kit. Summer is comming closer to an end and that means money for me stops coming in( I do alot of yard work). Also my impatience is getting to me as its taken me awhile to get the money (teenager not making great money). I thought about taking the custom route, researched it, but i dont think my knowledge it would be a good idea. I have read josiahs turbo comparison like 10 times and still am not sure.

Now with stage 1 I would be without an intercooler ( luckily it will begin to cool down soon), the Hahn you need to do some welding apparently, but the prices for these intercooler kits for both kits seem dam expensive, couldnt i just have a shop build one.

Also since im not on highway much and use more low end power, another plus with Hahn. And when it comes to installation, i could get someone to help with Hahn, and Ive heard about Stars guide.

"Star have a better BOV, external waste gate, and a better turbo." <--I dont want to end up changing everything in the end.

I guess you should know my goals and what I have. Its a 97 engine, manual, 63,000 miles. I want to just have a daily driver with some power. 280-300. I will rebiuld the bottom end but that will come later on.

Basically I would like to hear from from some of you guys with either stage 1 kits and how you are liking them so far. Regrets with not getting stage 2s at all? Thank you

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

Unless you have another car and you have AAA, don't put a turbo on it or start seriously modifying it. Things will go wrong no matter how careful you are and you will get stuck.

2016 WRX STi Limited (current)
2001 A4 1.8tqms (donated)
1991 GVR4 #1933 (sold)
old.dsmregistry.com/detail.php?carid=218 (dismantled)

if you can get the manifold, turbo and downpipe all together then just get everything else you'll need separately, its not that hard and much cheaper, there's usually some sort of turbo kit or part out on a turbo kit here, that's how i got mine, including all gauges and sfmu and fuel lines (almost 700 right there) the whole thing only cost me about 1800 and i didn't really know what i was doing until reading many posts on this site after some reading its easy

I contributed to the Wiki!
EVO IX - just a really expensive boost gauge and a K&N air filter
96 Eclipse RS -awaiting registration and inspection
95 Eclipse GS - parts car
Mods/Profile - http://www.2gnt.com/index.php?d=cs82685

Thank guys..WEll right after i did this post i got an email saying some bidder dropped out on evay so i got a complete HRC stage 2 with intercooler and boost controller with less then 1000 miles on it for a pretty good price so I took it. Thank guys. Now the task of installing this thing..scary.

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

there was a post about a week or two back about tips too

I contributed to the Wiki!
EVO IX - just a really expensive boost gauge and a K&N air filter
96 Eclipse RS -awaiting registration and inspection
95 Eclipse GS - parts car
Mods/Profile - http://www.2gnt.com/index.php?d=cs82685

Go to Borders or Barnes & Noble and buy "Maximum Boost" by Corcky Bell, trust me it will be the best turbo money you ever spend. Good luck with your install, you will love the change.

Life is short...sucks huh?

Thanks for the help guys, I have heard of that book but forgot about it. I will go pick it up tomorrow

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

Where do you live? If you're near Lynchburg, VA, I'd be more than happy to come and help you install the kit. And an HRC Stage 2 kit is a good deal. You might want to replace a few parts, but you can get to those later.

96 Indy Red Dodge Avenger I4 5spd
225.7whp/227.2wtq @ 10psi, currently running 12-14psi.
HRC Stage III turbo setup
JE 8.8:1 pistons
Eagle rods
block bored .020" over
GReddy FMIC w/ custom piping
1G crushed BOV
SPEC Stage 3 clutch
2.5" DP, 2.5" high flow cat, 3" ERT catback w/ Magnaflow muffler and 3" tip.
much much more...

Thanks, im in near reading, PA about an hour out of philladelphia. That might be kinda of a long drive for you lol.

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

hey i live like 45min away from reading. I'm about to install my kit sometime in the next 2 weeks. PM me when you got it installed. It'd be nice to see another turbo'd 2gnt.

Nice, will do, you installing yourself or having some1 else do it?

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

im doing it myself. I went the homemade route and pieced a kit together.

Is your eBay kit used or new?

I'm betting it's used, and given your time restraints it will be a good combination of cheap and getting to know the parts (what happens when you do a custom install).

Your gonna get hooked on that boost my friend. Enjoy it

Joel Baldridge, ASE Certified Master Technician, Audi Certified Expert Technician

Haha thanks. I think I already am hooked. Its all I can think about, ill be driving and when i hit 2700 rpms, i think this is where id be flying. I just got my car back today from the new engine getting put in. Im happy with it, it seems to sound better with my exhaust.

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

Good luck guys! Plan on saving half of your money for repairs I would help out but I'm on the west coast.

_____________________________________
Scott
90' GSX, 06' Effo SSL

(parting out 95 GS)

___________________________________
97 Talon-SOLD
95 GS-T-SOLD
08 F-150

Well I pretty much live in York, PA. Not far from you at all and I built my own, so I guess you could say, I know some, lol.

I HATE EBAY! The guy was a scammer! URG This is the second time now. I cant take this. Im just going to buy a stage 1 kit i think.

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

thats messed up man. did you pay any money?

No. Thank fully I didnt. That would be the turbo money down the drain.

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

Hey you have consider concept illusions Stage 2 kit. Just another option to look into though.

Its not out yet. If I kne when it was coming out then maybe. But with them its really hard to tell. I would be up for it otherwise.

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

can you put a link on which turbo kit you got? just curious i wonder if its chris's

Boca Raton, Florida
95 Eclipse GS- sold
99 Eclipse GSX- 386awhp
98 Eclipse GS- sold
92 Prelude

Lol rub it in some more. Guess you didnt read last few posts...kit was a scam. Am buying a stage 1 kit now.

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold

buy the stage one then look on this site or somewhere else and get a 1g smic and piping of your choice. You should be able to get the smic and piping for like at MOST $200.

AFter the install go to a muffler shop and get them to make you a down pipe or order hahns b/c the way to hook up the turbo to the factory down pipe is Mad Ghettoezzzie ya herd!

Lol yea I heard about this, I couldnt believe it lol. Didnt expect something like that from Hahn.

2002 WRX
Eclipse RS-T..sold