Looking to add some extra power to your Subaru WRX with some easy bolt-on mods? You probably want to go stage 2. With an ECU tune, flashed from your Cobb AccessPort, and a j-pipe, you can add significant power to WRX, remove the rev hang present in the stock tune, and smooth out the throttle pedal response. Some of these kits also include an intake.
Luckily, there are some bolt-on kits from a few different manufacturers, making it easy to select Here are the best Stage 2 kits for the Subaru WRX.
GrimSpeed's kit is similar to COBB's. It includes just a j-pipe rather than a full turbo-back exhaust system. It also comes with GrimmSpeed's intake. This stage 2 kit also comes with GrimmSpeed's boost controller, which many tuners prefer or even require when creating custom stage 2 tunes.
Keep in mind, GrimmSpeed's stage 2 kit does not include an AccessPort. This is great if you already own one, but you'll need to purchase one separately if you don't already have one. GrimmSpeed does not provide an off-the-shelf tune, but some WRX owners report that they have no issues running Cobb's tune with other j-pipes. This is a great kit if you're already running a stage 1 tune and are ready to upgrade.
COBB is a huge name in the Subaru tuning community. Anyone who's modified their 2015+ Subaru WRX will have a COBB AccessPort, with open source tuning not being an option for these models.
COBB's Stage 2+ kit includes a full turbo-back exhaust system, meaning a catback system with the addition of a j-pipe. It also includes their Cobb Big SF intake. If you're starting from a stock car, this is a great option, since it also includes the COBB AccessPort, which comes preloaded with the tune for this kit.
MAPerformance is another very well known name in the Subaru tuning community. Their Subaru WRX tunes for the AccessPort consistently outperform COBB's own tunes. This stage 2 kit includes a full turbo-back exhaust system, MAPerformance's intake, and their Stage 2 tune.
If you already have an AccessPort, this is a great option. Everything you need is included, including the tune file. MAPerformance claims gains of 83 horsepower on 91 octane gasoline, and 98 horsepower on 93 octane gas. For anyone who already owns an AccessPort and has flashed a stage 1 tune, this is a great step up.