January Car of the Month Winner: Impreza_GC8

[Ishouldaboughtasubie]

Member: Impreza_GC8
Journal: My 00 BRP RS
Contest: Precipitation

RS25 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
---------------
RS25: So how did you find RS25?

impreza_GC8: I was pointed towards RS25 in 2006 by Wedge and some other Subaru fans at PastelitoRacing.com, a Florida forum, which I joined when I was a Junior in high school before I even owned an RS. I don't know how I ended up on that forum seeing as I'm from the midwest! I looked up to Wedge and his "dirty whore" EJ22T-swapped RS. He didn't pay much attention to me then but did answer some of my n00b questions. He probably still doesn't know who I am!

RS25: Since you have been here, how has the site helped you?

impreza_GC8: I'm sure all you have to do is go back through some of my early posts to see just how far I've come. For one, I learned quickly that my username is INCORRECT! I don't own a GC8 at all (2.5RS coupe = GM6) but I haven't changed my username because its reminds me of how far I've come and how much I still have yet to learn.


RS25: What was your first Subaru?

impreza_GC8: The one you see right here! I bought it when I was 17. I knew from the age of 7 that if I wanted a car, I needed to save. My first car (89 Escort GT!) was practically given to me by grandparents when I was 16 so I kept stockpiling my pennies and working my minimum wage job until finally the summer before my senior year of high school with the help of my dad and a bank loan I was able to get my dream car, this gorgeous bone stock BRP RS coupe with 67,000 miles on it. I flew 1,000 miles across the country to get it and drove it back with my father. It got 31 mpg on the way back to Missouri from New Jersey.

RS25: Tell us about your car. Any plans of modification or upgrades?

impreza_GC8: Here is what it comes down to, The sense of satisfaction that I get when an STI or Evo owner realizes my car is NA after I just beat their time on the AutoX course by several seconds makes it all worthwhile. Simply put, I'd rather learn to drive a slow car as fast as it can possibly go, at its limits, and completely understand that machine inside and out, than spend a ton of money on a swap and still be slower than the next average joe who has a bigger wallet.
I hear the same thing often: "That car is begging for a swap" or "why havent you turbo'ed that yet?" Honestly, I don't plan to swap it anytime soon. For one thing, I have a Satin Black '97 Outback with a hybrid EJ22T/EJ25 destroker and a VF8. So, technically, my turbo fix is taken care of.
The styling mods on the car are meant to mimic the clean styling cues of our Japanese and European counterparts. JDM corners with painted skirts and spats and of course a debadging. Performance mods are there to enhance the already nimble characteristics of the RS. AGX/Tanabe GF210/Group N. 22Fr/20Rr swaybars. WRX seats, harness and JDM WRX steering wheel finish up the interior. Motor work is simple; Borla header, stock cats (ST-class legal), STI exhaust with custom midpipe, AEM intake, grounding kit.
While I'm talking about AutoX, I wanted to say that my first time on an AutoX course with this car, everything just made sense. I felt like it was what this car had been meant to do all along, literally what it was build for. It was an amazing experience and every time I get back on the track the feeling returns.
There are a ton of little things that I could list that I have done but I'll move on to the future plans. I want to follow in Wedge's footsteps a bit with the idea of staying SOHC and using a standalone EMS on the existing wiring harness. Therefore, when my motor finally lets go (hopefully in a spectacular fashion while on the track or AutoX course) I plan to park the car and do the job right. No halfway hackjobs or 15 year old EJ20G swaps for me, I want an EJ257 shortblock with the RS SOHC heads, turbo crossmember, at least a VF39 if not larger turbo (20G?), injectors, FMIC, and a plug n play Megasquirt EMS. No wiring issues or merges to deal with this way!
One thing I plan to finish out soon is the exterior. Ive been snagging a few items off ebay UK in the past few months, some are fairly rare so I'll make everyone wait to find out what they are, but in the next year I'd like to have a Cwest lip on the car, JDM grill, JDM rear bumper and a few other trick items that should look really good but in a subtle way that will leave you scratching your head to figure out what is different about it. No boy racer wings or giant hood scoops for me.

RS25: Help us get to know you. What is your name and what do you do? Have any hobbies?

impreza_GC8: My name is James and I am a Junior at a large state university in the midwest. I am studying photojournalism and have been working for newspapers in the midwest and southern United States for the past 3 years. The newspaper industry has taken me to so many places and I have had the pleasure of meeting many amazing people while at work. It is odd for me to even think of it as work, I get paid to make pictures of the people and the world around us. I have worked events ranging from NASCAR races to night club wet t-shirt contests, covered the best and worst of society from military funerals and suicides to returning soldiers, oyster eating competitions and high school dances. The job NEVER gets old, I love it. I also photograph weddings, do portraits and do quite a bit of magazine style automotive feature photography on the side. I plan on taking that further in the next few years, but for now newspapers are getting me the most experience.

RS25: So how did you know about this rusted out building?

impreza_GC8: I guess this is from last months contest. But I'll answer it anyway. Ironically enough, this photo is taken in my high school parking lot, a year or so after I graduated. The same lot that I proudly parked that car in every day when I first got it allowed me to make this beautiful picture years later. I have been snowdrifting in that lot since I first started driving, many memories in that lot for sure!

RS25: What makes your RS unique?

impreza_GC8: My RS is unique because it has grown and changed with me, as I have matured. It has incredible sentimental value to me. I was 17 when I first got it, so that car saw me through my ricer stage (didn't last long thankfully). I took my high school girlfriend out in that car, have all your typical senior year memories (prom, etc) in that car. Plenty of "miss wrongs" have passed through those doors as well! The car changes to reflect what I find to be important. It has been through flashy lights, big sound systems, stripped race ready interiors, etc. I even used that car for an internship at a newspaper in Mobile Al, hauling camera bodies, lenses, studio lighting, etc all over the southern US for 4 months, putting 10,000 miles on the car in process. (By the way, commuting 1.5hours every day on GF210's isnt fun!)
The point is, is it unique in its appearance? I think so, but to anyone who cant spot the nuances between JDM and USDM or tell the difference in wheel types, it probably doesnt look unique. But it truly is very unique to me because it is as unique as I am and will continue to grow with me, as I grow. I'm 20 years old now (21 in 3 months!!!!) so who knows what the future will bring. I'll never let this car go though.

RS25: Well thank you for your participation in the contest and congratulations on winning. Any other comments you would like to add?

impreza_GC8: Those of us that own the GC/GM/GF Impreza and truly love it are a special breed. We can have pride because we literally own the best looking, most iconic Subaru ever produced (in my opinion). This car changed the way people viewed Subaru. These cars put Subaru on the WRC map, they are the reason for the EVO vs STI debate, these cars are what every "new" WRX or STI owner secretly wants. These cars, turbo'ed or not, RS or L or OBS, are HOT! Be proud and don't let anyone tell you that you need a turbo. Learn to drive it the way it is, build it how you want it, carefully research your modfications, know that there is always time to spend money on motor builds later, in the meantime learn to drive the car the very best, the very fastest, that you possibly can NOW. Race the CRAP out of these cars! (On a track of course, because lets face it, theres not much you can beat on the street!) You'd be surprised how fast these cars can be on a track or rallyX or AutoX course with the right mods and a good driver.

Winning Image:

[danimprs]

Congratulations! Really an awesome pic. Also, nice to hear another person encouraging others with GC/GF/GM's to do as they please and mod it the way they want without giving into the "it's easier and cheaper to just turbo it". For some people, especially me, doing an N/A build helps you learn the ins and outs before jumping to swaps, etc.

Thanks for the motivating words GC8.

[jdmflcl]

cool car and congrats, but bashing ej20g's as hackjobs and "not doing it right" is a bit :unamused:

[Kevin]

Thread Stuck. Congrats and its now on the home page.

[impreza_GC8]

Originally Posted by danimprs

Congratulations! Really an awesome pic. Also, nice to hear another person encouraging others with GC/GF/GM's to do as they please and mod it the way they want without giving into the "it's easier and cheaper to just turbo it". For some people, especially me, doing an N/A build helps you learn the ins and outs before jumping to swaps, etc.

Thanks for the motivating words GC8.

Thanks! Don't get it twisted though. I still think its not a great idea to spend too much money on any N/A mods that go much beyond the bolt ons. But I do highly recommend doing the bolt-ons as they aren't that expensive. It is easier and more cost effective to do a swap if you decide you want more power, then you have room to grow. I was just trying to say that you should not think your car is any less effective a track weapon because its not turbo. Trust me, if you can learn to drive this car fast, then once you are swapped or have a faster car you will be an even faster driver.

Originally Posted by jdmflcl

cool car and congrats, but bashing ej20g's as hackjobs and "not doing it right" is a bit :unamused:

I really like the early EJ20G variants and did not say they were all hackjobs. There are many ways to do a swap and the EJ20G is still the best bang for the buck in my opinion. But its still an old used motor.

[danimprs]

Originally Posted by impreza_GC8

Thanks! Don't get it twisted though. I still think its not a great idea to spend too much money on any N/A mods that go much beyond the bolt ons. But I do highly recommend doing the bolt-ons as they aren't that expensive. It is easier and more cost effective to do a swap if you decide you want more power, then you have room to grow. I was just trying to say that you should not think your car is any less effective a track weapon because its not turbo. Trust me, if you can learn to drive this car fast, then once you are swapped or have a faster car you will be an even faster driver.

Yeah, I know. I mean, yeah it's obviously a better route eventually. I was thinking more along the lines of people with budgets who get down on themselves instead of taking the time to learn more before jumping ahead so many steps from complete stock.

[George of the Jungle]

grats man. is an awesome picture.

[Silicon_70]

Is there a higher resolution version of this picture.

[2 Door]

Congrats man, I agreed completely and feel the same way with everything that you said in the interview. Amazing picture.

[jdmflcl]

agreed

I love your wheels