Weds is killing it lately. First the SA-15R now these. I'm dying to see how the R face (pictured on the GT86) looks in person. The RR face is out of the question for me since I don't plan to own a car where the specs for that will be functional.
Monday, April 21, 2014
WedsSport SA-10R
Weds is killing it lately. First the SA-15R now these. I'm dying to see how the R face (pictured on the GT86) looks in person. The RR face is out of the question for me since I don't plan to own a car where the specs for that will be functional.
First Modded 2015 STi.
Courtesy of Ravspec, WD Ultimate, Tarmac SPL and Auto Vision NY, at the 2014 NY Auto Show. Respect to these guys for putting out a properly modded STi so soon. Possibly a little lower than I would do by myself, but maybe not. Wheels are gram lights 57C6 and it's lowered on KW coilovers. World Rally Blue is definitely the best color for this car.
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Thursday, April 17, 2014
2015 STI.
This
is my first time trying to write about cars. So If anybody sees this,
go easy on me. Or don’t, it’s the internet after all.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI. To most people, this sounds like a boring
subaru car and random acronyms added to the end. But to enthusiasts
they know there is history behind this name. WRX stands for world rally
cross and STI subaru tecnica international. It invokes names such as
Colin Mcrae, and for youngbloods such as myself, Ken Block.
In 1992, Subaru produced the first version of the WRX (chassis code GC8) for use in the world rally championship. It was based on the Impreza, except now it had a turbocharged motor making 236 horsepower. This, coupled with subaru’s all wheel drive system made for an excellent rally car that was unrivaled at the time along with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I. In 1994, the STI version of the WRX was released making 247 hp, and had many upgraded suspension components and a Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD). The first generation sti was raw, pure-bred rally car. The GC8 was the first and last wrx/sti available as a coupe. However, the US did not get the GC wrx or the sti. US owners were left to swap motors into their imprezas if they wanted to experience wrx in some form, or play gran turismo.
In 2002, the US finally got it’s piece of the wrx pie with the GD chassis “bugeye” wrx. The motor was the EJ25 making 230 hp mated to a 5 speed manual transmission. However, the US didn’t get the sti version until 2004, a year after the lancer evolution was introduced to the american market.
The Sti made 305 horsepower and packed its signature DCCD. Also, the headlights were changed to a more conventional design after the polarizing design of the bugeye. The nickname for this would be blobeye. Thus would begin a decade of Sti vs. Evo in the states, you were either representing Mitsubishi diamonds or Subaru Pleiades stars.
In 2008, the third generation sti (GR chassis code) was released to much controversy. Same EJ25, same all wheel drive, 6 speed, brembos, upgraded suspension components. But now, it was only available as a hatchback. The internet cried afoul that this was an ugly car, and bemoaned the lack of a sedan option, what the wrx was “supposed” to look like. Also, subaru had attempted to go upmarket with the GR, and for the first time had added sound deadening and framed doors.
Surely enough, in 2010 subaru brought back the sedan version of the sti and simply stated “The wing is back”. All was right again, for the most part. Also, the wrx, was given the flared fenders of its big brother sti, giving it a much more attractive exterior over its narrow body from 2008-10. The community embraced both the hatchback and sedan wrx/sti, which gave it a functional rally car usability. I myself preferred the hatch to sedan.
Now that is the history of the previous generations of wrx/sti.
In 2013, it was clear that we would soon see the next generation of wrx, and there was speculation and sketches surfacing on the internet. Then, during car show season, subaru unveiled the wrx concept.
"Wow" was my first reaction when I saw this. Nobody had expected this coupe-like profile. Obviously this was just a concept, but it seemed the next generation wrx would finally have both form and function. There were no mentions of what was under the hood, but there was speculation/hope in power bumps to 280 hp for the wrx and 350 hp for the sti. After all, the power figures in these cars had stayed the same for the last 10 years and it seemed only natural to see an increase. It is also noted that subaru stated that the new wrx would be the first to separate from the impreza. So there was a lot of hope from the community that it would be its own fresh, standalone platform.
Fast forward to November 2013.
Subaru teases the next generation of wrx for unveiling at the L.A. auto show. Everyone is excited to see what is an aggresive front end, even though it is still a restyled impreza front end contrary to what subaru had previously stated. Then comes the L.A. auto show.
Suddenly, it’s 2008 again. Comparisons to the civic and corolla were made. It wasn’t an ugly car, but it surely wasn’t exciting either. Our beloved rally car for the street had become a beige econobox, at least appearance wise. The power had stayed at 265 horsepower, although from the new fa20 engine from the brz. This would also mean the end of the subaru rumble as the fa has an equal length header as opposed to the ej’s unequal length header. Also, a CVT transmission would be available. A CVT, not a dual clutch seen in many automatic sports cars today. However, early reviews showed the wrx drove fantastically, with the FA20 having more torque in the low end than the EJ.
So clearly the wrx still was a driving machine, but it was ugly. There were people who had begun saying they don’t care what it looks like, as long as it drives good. I don’t buy that personally. I do subscribe to the school of function over form, but I would like my car to be at least somewhat aesthetically pleasing. I decided the 2015 wrx was no longer a choice for me, and had decided on purchasing a GR hatch when the time came.
It’s funny how the Subaru community is with new models though.
In January 2014, Subaru unveiled the new STi.
Suddenly, the STi was attractive again, especially in person. All it took was the signature giant wing and better looking and fitting wheels. When you put the 2015 next to a GR, the GR just looks dated. The has ej25 remained, the steering ratio went from 15:1 to 13:1. Rigidity has increased, torque vectoring is implemented. This is the best STi to date, besting the GR in every way.
So when the time comes, I will buy a new STi. Most likely a white base model because I prefer the base wheels and alcantara seats. Like so:
Can’t wait to see what rallysportdirect does with this. I’m hoping they put te37sl’s on and bride buckets. Also would be interesting to see the new STi with a voltex wing, but I want to see it with wheels and coils with the stock wing first.
Also, here is a photoshop somebody on the forums did. It will be interesting to see this modded, although I probably wouldn’t go that low.
Some notes:
In 1992, Subaru produced the first version of the WRX (chassis code GC8) for use in the world rally championship. It was based on the Impreza, except now it had a turbocharged motor making 236 horsepower. This, coupled with subaru’s all wheel drive system made for an excellent rally car that was unrivaled at the time along with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I. In 1994, the STI version of the WRX was released making 247 hp, and had many upgraded suspension components and a Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD). The first generation sti was raw, pure-bred rally car. The GC8 was the first and last wrx/sti available as a coupe. However, the US did not get the GC wrx or the sti. US owners were left to swap motors into their imprezas if they wanted to experience wrx in some form, or play gran turismo.
In 2002, the US finally got it’s piece of the wrx pie with the GD chassis “bugeye” wrx. The motor was the EJ25 making 230 hp mated to a 5 speed manual transmission. However, the US didn’t get the sti version until 2004, a year after the lancer evolution was introduced to the american market.
The Sti made 305 horsepower and packed its signature DCCD. Also, the headlights were changed to a more conventional design after the polarizing design of the bugeye. The nickname for this would be blobeye. Thus would begin a decade of Sti vs. Evo in the states, you were either representing Mitsubishi diamonds or Subaru Pleiades stars.
In 2008, the third generation sti (GR chassis code) was released to much controversy. Same EJ25, same all wheel drive, 6 speed, brembos, upgraded suspension components. But now, it was only available as a hatchback. The internet cried afoul that this was an ugly car, and bemoaned the lack of a sedan option, what the wrx was “supposed” to look like. Also, subaru had attempted to go upmarket with the GR, and for the first time had added sound deadening and framed doors.
Surely enough, in 2010 subaru brought back the sedan version of the sti and simply stated “The wing is back”. All was right again, for the most part. Also, the wrx, was given the flared fenders of its big brother sti, giving it a much more attractive exterior over its narrow body from 2008-10. The community embraced both the hatchback and sedan wrx/sti, which gave it a functional rally car usability. I myself preferred the hatch to sedan.
Now that is the history of the previous generations of wrx/sti.
In 2013, it was clear that we would soon see the next generation of wrx, and there was speculation and sketches surfacing on the internet. Then, during car show season, subaru unveiled the wrx concept.
"Wow" was my first reaction when I saw this. Nobody had expected this coupe-like profile. Obviously this was just a concept, but it seemed the next generation wrx would finally have both form and function. There were no mentions of what was under the hood, but there was speculation/hope in power bumps to 280 hp for the wrx and 350 hp for the sti. After all, the power figures in these cars had stayed the same for the last 10 years and it seemed only natural to see an increase. It is also noted that subaru stated that the new wrx would be the first to separate from the impreza. So there was a lot of hope from the community that it would be its own fresh, standalone platform.
Fast forward to November 2013.
Subaru teases the next generation of wrx for unveiling at the L.A. auto show. Everyone is excited to see what is an aggresive front end, even though it is still a restyled impreza front end contrary to what subaru had previously stated. Then comes the L.A. auto show.
Suddenly, it’s 2008 again. Comparisons to the civic and corolla were made. It wasn’t an ugly car, but it surely wasn’t exciting either. Our beloved rally car for the street had become a beige econobox, at least appearance wise. The power had stayed at 265 horsepower, although from the new fa20 engine from the brz. This would also mean the end of the subaru rumble as the fa has an equal length header as opposed to the ej’s unequal length header. Also, a CVT transmission would be available. A CVT, not a dual clutch seen in many automatic sports cars today. However, early reviews showed the wrx drove fantastically, with the FA20 having more torque in the low end than the EJ.
So clearly the wrx still was a driving machine, but it was ugly. There were people who had begun saying they don’t care what it looks like, as long as it drives good. I don’t buy that personally. I do subscribe to the school of function over form, but I would like my car to be at least somewhat aesthetically pleasing. I decided the 2015 wrx was no longer a choice for me, and had decided on purchasing a GR hatch when the time came.
It’s funny how the Subaru community is with new models though.
In January 2014, Subaru unveiled the new STi.
Suddenly, the STi was attractive again, especially in person. All it took was the signature giant wing and better looking and fitting wheels. When you put the 2015 next to a GR, the GR just looks dated. The has ej25 remained, the steering ratio went from 15:1 to 13:1. Rigidity has increased, torque vectoring is implemented. This is the best STi to date, besting the GR in every way.
So when the time comes, I will buy a new STi. Most likely a white base model because I prefer the base wheels and alcantara seats. Like so:
Can’t wait to see what rallysportdirect does with this. I’m hoping they put te37sl’s on and bride buckets. Also would be interesting to see the new STi with a voltex wing, but I want to see it with wheels and coils with the stock wing first.
Also, here is a photoshop somebody on the forums did. It will be interesting to see this modded, although I probably wouldn’t go that low.
Some notes:
- If the STi moves to the FA engine in two years like everybody thinks it will, I would like to buy a used 2015/16. I know the FA is the “better” motor, but I have always wanted a subie with the rumble of the EJ. It’s one of the things that makes subarus unique and I love the sound. If the aftermarket develops a unequal length header that isn’t too inefficient, then maybe I’ll consider it. Who cares what nasioc thinks.
- Speaking of the EJ, I wonder if the ringland failure issue will be something to worry about this time around. If it is, I’ll save to build my motor before going crazy. Early reports are saying the stock tune is improved though, so we’ll see.
- Aside from the EJ/FA issue, many people say the STi isn’t worth the premium over the wrx for daily driving. I will definitely be driving on congested roads more than the track and back roads, but I would rather have a STi when those situations do arise. Plus cherry blossom badges sen!
- I hope the aftermarket shows a lot more support than they did with the GR. Curious to see what it looks like at Tokyo Auto Salon and SEMA.
- I would like to see some taillight options the way the brz/fr-s has. They’re not terrible, but they’re not really exciting.
- Mods I would like to do are:
- Front lip/splitter, sideskirts, rear spats, rear fog, possibly bi-xenon retrofit + clear lens if the led cutoff isn’t as sharp
- 20% tints
- short shifter
- Invidia q300
- Pioneer double din unit, backup camera, single 10”sub enclosure, upgraded components, amp, etc.
- KWv3/BC BR coilovers depending on funds
- TE37SL/NT03/RPF1/57DR again depending on funds
- sway bars, endlinks etc.
- Blizzaks
- carbon fiber brake ducts
- Thule roof rack (for winter use only!)
- Then if I decide to get crazy: Cobb SF, Invidia Catted downpipe, FMIC, EWG, boost controller, Bride Buckets
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