Coming from a WRX - How does the SHO Compare?

[brasstacks]

Hey Everyone... a little bit of background on me.

I currently have a 98 Impreza with a stroked 2.0L from a 2004 wrx, e85, bigger turbo, intercooler, etc.. etc... I am at a point in my life now where I have to move on to bigger and more... refined... things. I am cross shopping a few cars and the SHO is high on my list, but I need some advise.

Are the 2013+ shos that much better than the pre update?

What kind of times, trap speeds, and whp can I expect with a tune, dp, plugs,tstat, 3bar, 93oct?

What are my limitations to running 100% e85 and has there been enough development to support it
(fuel pump kits, injectors, fuel rails).

The closest competitor I am considering is the Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec. Faster than a stock sho, but no aftermarket support. Maybe the new Chevy SS if I am able to stretch my budget.

[SHO-TYM]

I currently have a 2011 pre update SHO without the performance package.  I have Catless DP, Corsa catback, Livernois Windstorm Intake, 3 bar, 160 degree thermostat, Tune, and Methanol Injection all running on 93 octane.... all that netted me 392WHP.  There is another guy with the same set up as mine exactly, and he managed to get 395WHP out of his from the same tune.  I will let the other (smarter) guys comment on the E85 conversion options. haha.

[Wojomojo]

I'll chime in with what I can!

The 13+ SHO's are a great improvement over the 10-12s. I currently have a 2010 and really want to get a 13. A refined interior and the performance package in the 13+ is well worth the extra money.

Those mods should net you around 380-390ish awhp and more torque than that. You'd probably be running mid to high 12's in the quarter around 107-110 mph depending on conditions and traction.

E85 isn't really feasible right now unfortunately. One has done it using a auxiliary fuel pump or something along those lines, but there is no direct upgrades for the fuel pump as of right now. I believe I read something not long ago about a company almost having one built. If not, we're hoping with the release of the second gen 3.5 coming in the raptor and gt that a direct fit fuel pump upgrade could be had from those.

Most run methanol injection instead (I run meth) and it's pretty amazing. Lots of support and guides/dyno/quarter mile times from people with meth. If you did get meth with those mods you'd be running low 12s. Given perfect conditions and the whole list of bolt ons, livernois says you can hit high 11s, but I'm assuming that includes the atp turbo upgrade as well.

I know nothing about the Hyundai, as I tend to stay American due to ease of finding parts and people in my small town area that can work on my car. Ford dealerships are everywhere here, Hyundai not so much.

The SS is a cool car, but it depends on what you're looking for. If you want a perfect daily driver that can handle any weather conditions, the awd SHO is for you. If you just want a summer cruiser to tear it up with then the rear wheel drive manual ss might be a better and funner option.

[IHeartGroceries]

I just traded my SHO.

I was similar to you. I came from a modified Mazdasped6, which I bought new in 2006. A similar car to the WRX/Impreza. It was time to get out of that car, once components began failing.

So, picked up a loaded 13 SHO with PP, tuned it and had fun with it for about a year and a half.

Wonderful platform for good, reliable, easy power. Quiet, rocketship of a car. And very comfy and feature laden.

But, very large and very heavy. What's a first gen Impreza weigh? 3000 lbs? 3200 maybe?

You're looking at jumping up 1200 to 1400 lbs of more car. It's a big leap.

And you're looking at jumping into an auto. And even though I felt I was prepared for that, and mostly getting into a car my wife could also drive, it caught me off guard. It's amazing - a humdrum automatic trans can zap nearly every once of fun out of a high powered lux sedan. You can only bust ass in a straight line so many time, before it isn't fun anymore.

If you intend to keep your Scoob, get a SHO. You can keep the Impreza for playing around. The SHO will be a comfortable and refined rocketship. And the Subaru will just be pure entertainment.

[brasstacks]

The classic imprezas are at like 2600 lbs... mine is a wagon which is still a scant 2800. Going from that to a pig like this will be a big change.

What did you trade your sho in for? Why the change?

Thanks for the information so far guys. I would think with the dp I could get low 12s, but it seems like its almost needed to get into them. 

[AJP turbo]

The classic imprezas are at like 2600 lbs... mine is a wagon which is still a scant 2800. Going from that to a pig like this will be a big change.

What did you trade your sho in for? Why the change?

Thanks for the information so far guys. I would think with the dp I could get low 12s, but it seems like its almost needed to get into them.

You need more than down pipes for low 12's...however these cars I would bet a paycheck in that with only a maxxed out 2 bar tune would run high 12's..stock everything else...14-15 psi...and before u all speak up saying 14.7 is max for stock map sensor that's not the case...I could explain later if u like

[14SHOCAR]

I think people are missing the biggest part of these cars. WRX & STI are boy racer cars. It lacks the sophistication that a SHO has. The SHO may weigh more, but it also has a ton more features that is lacking in the WRX. Don't get me wrong, the WRX is an amazing platform, but you feel like you're riding in a beefed up go cart. Probably a more valid comparison would be a SHO vs an STI.
Check out this thread:
http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=2209.0

[PokerMunkee]

I looked at:

G37x
TL SH-AWD
Charger R/T AWD
335xi

All used in the $30K range.  The SHO won on value due to it's heavy depreciation.  The SHO is also much rarer and only one with snails (big plus at my altitude).  The Bimmer was nice but no where near the toys the SHO has and I don't want to drive a high end brand, prefer domestics.

My previous cars were Sonata 2.0T, Magnum R/T AWD, and a GTO. 

The new 2015 WRX Limited can be had for $30K, which is the best bang for the buck new car.  But lack of luxury features and a go kart ride is a turn off to me. 


I've had my SHO for 11 months now.  I still love it and can't think of anything for $30K that touches the value as a used one.  Slap a $400 tune on it and you'll be doing high 12's all day long.   Same goes for a used 2010-2012 SHO, which can be had for low $20's.

If you want AWD+4DR+Manual, your options are very limited.  Acura TL SH-AWD, BMW 335xi, Audi S4, and an older Legacy GT.

[IHeartGroceries]

The classic imprezas are at like 2600 lbs... mine is a wagon which is still a scant 2800. Going from that to a pig like this will be a big change.

What did you trade your sho in for? Why the change?

Thanks for the information so far guys. I would think with the dp I could get low 12s, but it seems like its almost needed to get into them.

Suckers are lighter than I thought! I'll bet that thing is fun. But raucus?

The SHO really is a hard to beat value. And I forgot all about what was about big selling point for me at the time, just mentioned above, which was exclusivity. They're not exactly rare. But they are definitely uncommon.

I abondoned my SHO for a Mazda 3. LOL
It really is humorous when it's typed out. But the new 3 is a heck of a car for an econobox. I'm really enjoying it. Heartburn wasnt as bad as Id anticipated from the downgrade. Needed to make the change for a myriad of reasons - relocating and need the efficiency for a longer commute, wife is becoming a stay at home mom, the SHO was a weekend car and wasn't being driven, and I'm pursuing other projects.

Anyway, wasn't the car. It was a fun car.

I will say this, I'll never own such a large, heavy vehicle again, short of a pickup truck.
Loved the power and straight line acceleration, but even in PP trim, that's ALOT of car to hustle around.
Best of luck!

[Blackhawk]

I had a 2011 WRX Sedan for a couple years, great little car but I was surprised at how cheap the interiors and features were for a 28,000 car.  Then there is the boy racer image with them which I am a little too old for.  The SHO is a great car and has every feature/comfort you could want but as others have said it is a heavy car.  If you like whipping around corners and auto-crossing then it might not be the car for you.  I've always been a drag racer so the car is perfect for me.   It's also ridiculously easy to make it a 12 second sleeper.  The is a lot of stop light satisfaction when people try to beat your 4000 pound boat off the line.

[jtoddk98]

A CPO 2013 is your best bet. That way you get a clean low mile car with the 100k mile warranty from Ford. The only thing I like more in the 2010-2012 cars is the gen1 navi system and gauge cluster. I myself have a 2011, got a deal on it that I couldn't refuse


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[brasstacks]

Yeah the impreza is fast, but rough. Its about that time I give that up.. which is why I am shopping for a new car.

The SHO is such an amazing value I think I just need to go to the dealership and drive one. It's going to be a tough call between the SHO and the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec. They both have so much to offer.

[pjw315]

I looked at:

G37x
TL SH-AWD
Charger R/T AWD
335xi

All used in the $30K range.  The SHO won on value due to it's heavy depreciation.  The SHO is also much rarer and only one with snails (big plus at my altitude).  The Bimmer was nice but no where near the toys the SHO has and I don't want to drive a high end brand, prefer domestics.

My previous cars were Sonata 2.0T, Magnum R/T AWD, and a GTO. 

The new 2015 WRX Limited can be had for $30K, which is the best bang for the buck new car.  But lack of luxury features and a go kart ride is a turn off to me. 


I've had my SHO for 11 months now.  I still love it and can't think of anything for $30K that touches the value as a used one.  Slap a $400 tune on it and you'll be doing high 12's all day long.   Same goes for a used 2010-2012 SHO, which can be had for low $20's.

If you want AWD+4DR+Manual, your options are very limited.  Acura TL SH-AWD, BMW 335xi, Audi S4, and an older Legacy GT.

Don't forget about the EcoBoost MKS. They have more options available than a SHO and a better warranty. Even though it costs more than a SHO new you can find better deals on used Lincolns. I just picked up a loaded 2013 MKS with every option that had a windows sticker at $58,500 for $25,400 with 34,000 miles on it.

[PokerMunkee]

Genesis is RWD and no way to cheaply get it into the low/mid 12's.


I'd check out a 2012+ Charger SRT8, much better than the Genesis.  If I didn't need AWD, I'd have a fully loaded SRT8 in my garage instead.