2016 Subaru WRX Stage 1+ Cobb Tune Review

Cobb OTS Stage 1+ Tune Review | 2015-2020 Subaru WRX
I am finally Stage 1+. I put on my Cobb Big SF Intake and my Subaru WRX is certainly a different car. It is crazy that I now have a Stage 1 WRX. Never thought I would take my Subaru WRX to Stage 1. Soon I will have a Stage 2 WRX, wild....A good old Cobb Satge 1 + tune on my Cobb accessport is enough to make my 2016 WRX really move. Check out my review on this tune to see whether or not it is worth it for you! I go over horsepower and torque gains, solving rev hang, and much more!
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Topics:
Cobb OTS Stage 1+ Tune
Cobb Stage 1 Tune
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Cobb stage 2 tune
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2016 wrx
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[@BarriecudaVids]

Really good video, sensible and helpful without unnecessary fluff, appreciate it a lot

[@anthonywrx449]

I agree 100%..... definitely should be first mod, intake access port... stage one changes car completely. Can't wait to go stage 2 and also agree should have car pro tuned for sure... good info.

[@willt4822]

About to order a stage 1+ for my WRX and I cant wait!! Hoping to stage 2 before I go off to school.

[@iTzLagz1995]

Love the car, and just gained a sub

[@Simplepinoy703]

hit 1000 miles on my 2020 WRX. Installed Cobb+Sf1 intake..... It makes a HUGE Difference!!!

[@InnerElev8tion]

I’m at like 550 miles on my 2020 wrx. How much did you pay for the Cobb+SF1 intake?

[@Simplepinoy703]

@@InnerElev8tion close to $1100. Very easy to install. If you gonna get a BPV do it at the same time.

[@rays.8253]

@@Simplepinoy703 are you running an aftermarket bpv?

[@Simplepinoy703]

@@rays.8253 I bought the Boomba. Its sounds 🔥

[@romankartsev220]

I like your review. So you don't think Cobb comes with a good off the shelf tune for stage1? I have Green air filter and Catback exhaust on my WRX and I ordered Cobb Access port. So I should not use the Off the shelf MAP Cobb tune? Do I have to get it pro tuned if I only have Exhaust and air filter?

[@CarDietrich]

Good stuff 👍

[@AutoEnthusiast]

Thanks

[@mrbeans2425]

I appreciate the fact u waited till 2+ to do a review... for perspective. I just went 1+ and I'm loving it! My DAM is currently. 875 what was ur fix for that?? And currently running normal Westgate, but was told if not hitting target try high.. but it did get rid of all the lag and creep. And YES Rev hang gone!! it's soooooo much smoother!! I'm gonna do some pulls and logs and send em to Cobb so they can check em out for me. They do that for free incase anyone didn't know. I feel like 1+ really smooths things out, then 2 and up is where you really start to add power. Cuz even 1 to 2 is kind of a jump. I was gonna hold off on the pro tune but maybe I'll do it to be safe. BAXELY speedshop in maine specializes in subarus. What kinda lip is that??

[@Samus84]

Mine DAM was like that and I fixed it by changing the gas (I'm in Cali) from ARCO to 76 and heard that people put 2 gallons of E-85 then 91 to help clear up their DAM numbers.

[@vavo4902]

Add an upgraded turbo inlet hose which deletes 2 mufflers and it will sound like a different beast with an upgraded intake

[@saigoneze4465]

wow the stock ride height you have is super high compared to mine .Cant wait to get a cold air intake too ive got the milk jug delete with K'N Filter and gfb bov and sounds great .The cobb ap il be getting does obv come with there ots tune but il my shop also supplies there own custom tune with it which il use has a lot more power than cobbs

[@AutoEnthusiast]

What year do you have? It might just be the camera perspective that is making it seem like high ride height.

[@romank6594]

Bro I like your videos. My tuner told me if I go stage3 on my 2020 Wrx then my engine is not gonna last even 100k miles. Is this true?

[@zdenekruzena851]

Sounds sweet.

[@AutoEnthusiast]

Zdenek Ruzena yes it does

[@vavo4902]

A tune is an absolute must for these. The stock tune is nauseatingly bad.

[@kgalbreaith]

I have a k&n intake, but i think im just going to buy the stage 1 plus package and run an ots tune until i can afford an etune

[@bryanm092]

What mods are you currently running?

[@OLMmedic]

Cool vids

[@AutoEnthusiast]

thanks!

[@lu8434]

Bro I had to pass on the 2022 WRX it was too much but now I’m getting a 2016 WRX and want to tune it

[@alexryan2521]

2:26 is when the actual review starts

[@gaivoron]

Wouldn't off the shelf be more of a safer tune, that's why it's cutting back on timing just like oe tune?!

[@Grc011]

If I have the big sf stage 1+ ots map can I try runnning just regular stage 1 ots map???

[@mikeefoxx]

Your wrx sounds so much better now. Can u jump from a stock tune to stage 2 ?

[@AutoEnthusiast]

As long as you put a turboback exhaust on, then yes. And yeah, it sounds great now.

[@mrbeans2425]

If u do the build all at once yes.

[@mrbeans2425]

@@AutoEnthusiast i believe you have to delete restrictor pill too.

[@airithmedic5052]

My wrx on any tune is 10/10 I just love my car

[@BCyyGaming]

Hey man! i am receiving my accessport tomorrow . i have an AEM cold air intake , a boomba bypass valve, and a axle back exhaust. do you think the stage 1+ tune would run well??

[@janieljustiniano888]

You good, when I was at stage 1+ I had my Cobb air intake, boomba bypass and car back exhaust. Never had an issue and every tuner said you don’t need a retune. But hey if you want a retune by all means go for it but you’ll run fine.

[@mrbeans2425]

Yes but it really should be cat back... not sure 8f it HAS to be. But I know it's recommended.

[@sadsquad8124]

SF Intake actually contributed to LESS power and more intake noise. If you had a snorkel or something that allowed the intake to actually get good air flow, then it could increase your throttle response and give a slight power increase. Otherwise, the SF intake contributes to heat sink and other overheating related issues. Stage 1 gives pretty rich A/F ratios and has been known to cause electrical issues as soon as 15k miles( happened to me). E-tune and protune are the only reliable options to consider if you want a long lasting, fun Wrx. Hope this helps.

[@19hundoc47]

That’s so much bull lol. Ya I’m sure Cobb just designed a POS intake to lose power and ruin your car. I’ve run stage 1 and stage 1+, both very reliable and both made a difference over stock

[@Squigbillies]

@@19hundoc47 it does use the stock snorkel too lol. Doesn’t come with their own.

[@tommanning7337]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@andrewjackson8060]

I have a 2020 wrx close to 7,000 miles. at about 3 to 4 thousand I did a muffler delete or axle back exhaust by remark. Brand new car was perfect I upgraded to the 20 from at 17 love the 20 hated the 17. After the axle back exhaust car ran the same perfect as always just louder and I noticed the pop or back fire etc from the exhaust was louder than most of the videos Or reviews on the exhaust. No biggie in performance still ran perfect temps idle acceleration etc. I had the oil changed at Subaru tires rotated new air filters at around 5 to 6 thousand miles. The car was normal no problems. So about a week after the oil change or two I bought the Cobb stage one plus. Which included the access port big sf intake filter and box. I installed it along with my cousin one afternoon in his garage exactly how multiple videos showed on KZbin. I didn’t receive any instructions in the shipment for the install but it’s pretty self explanatory and I watched multiple different videos of how it’s done. Install went effortlessly and I set the tune to stage one plus big sf 91 octane no high or low waste gate. I wasn’t sure if I had 91 or 93 in it because the gas station I always use has both and I just wanted to be safe. honestly couldn’t remember what I put in it even though I always run premium lol. I test drove after the install didn’t hammer on it to bad but wanted to see if I could feel a huge difference. there was a slight difference but I wasn’t satisfied I had a little bit of a long drive from my cousins to my house. I was playing on some back roads and noticed a slight increase of power but some of the reviews I saw people say there should have been a significant change. I watched a different review and install video again and the guy ran the 93 tune than I had a great idea to change mine to 93 and it opened the car up a lot more the big change I was hoping for. I didn’t notice any bad numbers on the access port or anything from the feeling of the car as I daily drive it. Quite a few miles after install of stage one plus it was super hot and humid out and I decided to blast the ac and run some errands. After a 20 minute drive and a 10 minute or 15 shopping adventure I had to go to another store. Ac on full blast and hot outside I accelerated hard to merge onto the highway and the car started missing or motor started to struggle to breathe like jumping etc. the access port had 8 knock sum -4.8 or worse knock feedback and learn it was pretty messed up. So I let up and cruised to the next store let the car idle and turned it of did something reviews and went into the store. About a hour or so after not running I started the car everything was normal and went home. Car ran fine ac was on no hard accelerations not bad numbers on the car or access port. Asked around people stated things about false knock or the intake air temp to high ac pulling to much power from the motor etc. some people said do a reflash so I did no issues from the car same 93 stage one plus ots tune. Car ran great for a couple more weeks but than I started noticing like a slight flutter in the pedal like a tiny tiny miss or something but knock numbers or bad numbers no ac on it just did it whenever I would cruise in like 4th gear around 40 or 45 mph. A Couple more days Later I was driving to work it was very cool morning after a very rainy night around 65 degrees the car started fine warmed up fine no bad numbers etc. got to work realized I forgot something at home decided to try and make it home and back to work without being late. Drove it like I stole it and ran excellent until the highway I got on and set the cruise at 80 mph. I decided I needed to pass a car and downshifted and accelerated hard the car started a hard flutter or miss and and some knock feedback back around -4.8 or higher. I let up and slowed down car ran fine I got home left the car idling ran in and back out. Drove moderate to low power to work and the car ran fine. I reflashed the ecu again but this time I ran the low waste gate 93 tune and the car ran fine I emailed Cobb did some datalogs. They said the car is running almost perfect except I’m running rich and I possibly could have a boost leak? The car seems to be running fine now still a small flutter at low rpms I reflashed it back to the 93 stage one plus no low or high waste gate. Have you heard or had these issues or similar sorry for the long comment and horrible punctuation and grammar 😓I’m getting a pro tune today or tomorrow just want to see if anyone knows what’s going on.

[@the100zombies]

i would love to go stage one but at the same time I dont want to void my warranty

[@AutoEnthusiast]

Very true. It is a risk

[@MD-pz3cn]

Your entire warranty won't become void when tuning. If your radio stops working for some reason, they can't say "oh well you're tuned so we can't replace it" because the tune has no connection to the radio failing. Sure, if your motor blows up or something, the dealer may have some more leverage to back their reasoning of denying a warranty replacement for the motor. But overall, you still have your 3y/36k and 5y/60k mile warranty even with a tune.

[@CryptoBro0700]

what components are needed for stage 1+, and what if at stage 1, put without the downpipe shredding

[@mrbeans2425]

1+ requires accesport, Cobb big sf intake, cat back exhaust. And what is ur question about 1? I don't understand

[@crypticmushu1560]

@@mrbeans2425 You don't need a Catback Exhaust for Stage1+

[@mrbeans2425]

@@crypticmushu1560 you dont NEED it but it is highly recommended. and will sound so much better!

[@crypticmushu1560]

@@mrbeans2425 it definitely does sound better. But you don't need it at all. Also I am confused about OPs question 🤔 stage 1 is just the tune

[@alexnorman7200]

I know stock these cars run 0-62mph in about 6 seconds flat, after the stage 1+ any ideas what you're hitting?

[@dlg5485]

The stock WRX is actually way quicker than that, mid to lower 5s if you know how to shift.

[@mrbeans2425]

@@dlg5485 true

[@stancemedia4727]

Lmao your hitting that if you don’t know how to shift. I know stock I’m hitting that in low 5s

[@Beardedplanb]

What do you have for exhaust?

[@AutoEnthusiast]

nameless catback with muffler deletes and an invidia jpipe with a high flow cat

[@paulocarrillojr1136]

Can it be another brand intake or it has to be Cobb

[@AutoEnthusiast]

for the cobb ots, it has to be a cobb intake

[@somersfamily]

everyone is different, but I've had the MaPerformance tune for 13k now and love it and trust it. but I for sure agree with a pro tune or a e tune is the way to go. I like the e tune idea better, sense no tuner i trust near me. but great vid man

[@MrNoNameForYou]

I've been curious about that tune. How aggressive is it? I'd like one economy map for babying my car for gas and one map for fun.

[@Legitgamer2323]

anybody notice the red rx-8 in the background at 1:32?

[@romank6594]

By the way stage 1 will void your warranty!!

[@dougdavis8482]

auto enthusiast please see these notes from cobb our fa20 motor is more sensitive is all turning on you defrost will give you -1.44 or the -2.8 mine does it all the time but it took about 1000 miles to get the computer to learn the stage 2 tune dont worry. your car is safe. cobbtuning.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PRS/pages/172752967/Subaru+Datalog+Guide

[@dougdavis8482]

mostly what the pro tuner is going to do to solve the false knock issue which is what's causing your dam drops is turn the microphone on the block down some to not make it so sensitive what I found that solves the dam drops also is use shell gas only and about every 1000miles use some octane boost

[@interceptingfist5682]

Ots tunes are a risk. An actual custom tune is the best bet.

[@dougdavis8482]

there just conservative ots tunes are fine just follow the notes from cobb the issue that people have and why they say that is because they didn't install the parts properly or are redlining it constantly.

[@dougdavis8482]

ots tunes are fine .. but yes ultimately pro tune is best but the ots mapps are good if you follow the instructions on Cobb's website.

[@evoman44]

I have been running an OTS Stage 1 tune on my 05 WRX for years without problems. The only modification has been the SF Cobb intake which is supported in the tune it's self. But if I would ever upgrade to stage 2 I would definitely get a custom tune as not all turbo back exhausts are the same. Unless Cobb already has a map available for their own exhaust system.

[@ericdubois8117]

Do cardio= weight reduction= faster car ;)