[555jay]

2000 Subaru Impreza RS Coupe 5MT.

I'm the third owner. I bought it in October 2003 with 13,XXX on the odo. It has been daily driven and now has over 120K miles on it.

Current mods: Removed/spares shown in gray

Drivetrain:
USDM Subaru Impreza RS EJ251 Phase-II SOHC motor running strong for over 120,000 miles. (Will be swapped when/if it ever dies!)
JDM STI Version II pulley cover, with original badge "Handcrafted and Tuned by STI"
JDM STI Version II TY752VB4AA 5-speed as found in STI Special 555 Edition model
JDM STI Version IV OEM Exedy clutch
JDM STI Version IV short shifter linkage
STI Group N 5-speed transmission mount
STI Group N engine pitch-stop mount
USDM Subaru Impreza RS R160 4.111-ratio viscous limited slip rear differential
STI Version VIII exhaust custom fit for non-turbo application

Wheels/Tires:
STI Exclusive Ray's Engineering model RS-Zero forged wheels in size 17x8" +40 offset
STI + RAY'S carbon fiber & aluminum center caps.
RAY'S valve stem caps
Muteki black open ended lug nuts
Nexen N3000 tires in size 235/45R17
USDM RS 6-spoke 16x7" in silver with Nexen N2000 205/55R16

Suspension and Brakes:
USDM Subaru Impreza WRX front 4 piston red brake calipers
USDM Subaru Impreza WRX rear 2 piston red brake calipers
ISC Street/Sport Coilovers
Cusco front strut tower brace
GT Spec rear strut tower brace
GD Impreza WRX 20mm rear sway bar

Exterior:
Full JDM STI Version VI aerodynamic body styling kit, featuring:

• STI Version VI front lip spoiler
• STI Version VI front grille with JDM green 'i' Impreza badge.
• STI Version VI fog light covers
• STI Version VI side skirts
• STI Version VI rear bumper skin
• STI Version VI rear spats
• STI Version VI flat metal fuel door (with JDM Gas Frog sticker!)
• Bakemono Replica STI Version VI carbon fiber wing spoiler

JDM license plate bracket
Clear front corner lights
Clear front turn indicators
Clear side turn indicators
STI Version VI red and clear taillights
STI Version VI power-folding, heated side mirrors.
STI Version VI JDM rear windshield with STI Version VI rear wiper
Window tint:

• 18% on door windows
• 5% on rear quarter windows
• 35% (?) JDM burple on rear that came with the glass

Interior:
STI 22B special edition stainless steel coupe door sills
STI Version V 555 WRC Limited Edition blue seats with exclusive embroidered STI + Subaru World Rally Team logo
STI Version VI WRC Limited Edition center console with numbered plaque # 0837 of 2000 with original JDM factory blue paint
Bakemono black alcantara shift boot with red stitching
STI Version V 555 WRC Limited Edition center console with numbered plaque # 0413 of 1000 with original JDM factory gunmetal paint
Bakemono blue suede shift boot with red stitching
STI Version VI WRC Limited Edition gauge cluster with DCCD display in original JDM factory blue
STI Special Edition Subaru World Rally Team titanium 5-speed shift knob with matching blue STI shift gate pattern plaque
STI Version VI optional gauge pod hood with USDM Forester compass/temperature/altimeter display.
STI Version VI JDM red hazard button
USDM Forester dual cup holder
USDM Subaru Impreza WRX 6-disc AM/FM cassette stereo
STI Version VI DCCD white control roller switch
Subaru Legacy GT-B heated folding mirror switch
STI Version VI aluminum pedals
Prodrive floor mats
STI Version VI red-stitched handbrake lever
STI Version VII MOMO Subaru Impreza red-stitched steering wheel
STI Version VIII blue carpet custom fit to coupe layout
LED map lights with JDM sensor for auto climate control
LED dome light
LED trunk light
STI Version VI Type RA sun visors (No airbag warnings! No girlfriend mirrors!)
JDM Clarion Addzest rear deck package speakers (featuring illumination for the logo panel)
Hella Twin Tone horns

 

[555jay]

story and updates

Journal Updates:
2010/11/10 - Journal created.

2011/3/1 - Welded on JDM license plate bracket.
2011/3/5 - Installed ISC coilovers.
2011/3/8 - New pictures.

 

[555jay]

Photos, in general chronological order.

2004:

2005:

2006-2008: Era of disrepair.

2009:

2010:

2011:

 

[555jay]

555Jay's other Subarus

1983 Subaru BRAT GL Turbo

New BRAT owner - Ultimate Subaru Message Board
WIP rebuild/troubleshooting thread:
EA81T starts then dies; video inside - Ultimate Subaru Message Board


2001 Subaru Forester S Premium

('01-'02) 555Jay's 01 SF S Premium - Subaru Forester Owners Forum

 

[jton]

First. Can't wait to see the details.

 

[itsmyturn]

looks good so far...if you ever want to sell the wing let me know

 

[555jay]

Filled it out with mods and pics. Comment away!

 

[kgeezy]

wow your cars incredible! very clean and great taste in mods. has it been repainted?

 

[555jay]

Thanks!

looks good so far...if you ever want to sell the wing let me know

The wing is Bakemono's carbon fiber Version 6 replica. I got it second-hand from a member on here, and it was already mostly painted blue, so I had no problem paint-matching it over the c/f. I know it's c/f, and that's what counts.

wow your cars incredible! very clean and great taste in mods. has it been repainted?

The front end was resprayed in July 2009 and again in March 2010. Both were from insurance claims; the first not my fault, the second a little bit more my fault. Most of the other body parts (wing, lip/skirts/spats, rear bumper) were painted along with the repair work in 09.

Next up:
- Roll fenders more aggressively to fit the Rays with less rubbing Edit: DONE!
- Install painted aero guards
- STI stickers for fog covers. Edit: DONE!

 

[dohtem8]

nice stuff

 

[Jake]

pinnacle of stm coupes right here

 

[X379]

This car is gorgeous. This is basically how I want my car to look, the full V6 interior/exterior treatment. Great looking STM Coupe buddy.

 

[Combat Chuck]

Nice car! That's quite an impressive list of JDM goodies! Did you pick them all up from a clip, or have you done it the hard way?

 

[555jay]

Thanks again, all! Progress on my to-do list was slowed not only by the holidays, but also by misplacing my wheel lug key for a week.

Pro tip: don't misplace your wheel lug key!

Nice car! That's quite an impressive list of JDM goodies! Did you pick them all up from a clip, or have you done it the hard way?

Almost completely the hard way. I was able to get a couple things combo'd together. For example, the limited shifter trim came with the WRC knob and the STI linkage.

 

[Dusty9197]

Those are really nice looking Ray's wheels. Where did you come across those? I've got a set of V7's that I'm going to be putting on but those are my next choice.

 

[555jay]

Those are really nice looking Ray's wheels. Where did you come across those? I've got a set of V7's that I'm going to be putting on but those are my next choice.

Thanks! Got them used as wheel/tire combo direct from Nagoya, Japan. My buddy is getting into importing larger items, so I got to be his test run which saved me a few fees, but all told the shipping and handling costs were nearly double what I paid for the wheels themselves. And I still feel like I got them for a steal. Definitely a right place, right time type of thing, especially given that these were at the top of the very short list of wheels I'd bother to try and track down.

The RS-Zero were an STI factory option near the end of the GC era, and this size/width was a carry-over made to fit the GD STI and clear Brembos, hence the lower offset. Anecdotally, I have read that my set may be only the 8th or 9th set in the US, and maybe only the 4th or 5th in this larger size.

There is also a STI/Rays gold 5-spoke in 17x7.5" that looks similar, but missing the characteristic dimples on the spokes. These were often fitted to STI Foresters in Japan and are less rare overall, but still plenty hard to find in the US.

 

[kuJoH-GC]

where did u get ur front lip? was it from that shipment from your buddy? kudos on the car btw

 

[555jay]

where did u get ur front lip? was it from that shipment from your buddy? kudos on the car btw

Thanks! Original STI part I picked up used ages ago from a guy in my local car club. If I remember correctly, I'm the fourth guy in the club to have it.

 

[555jay]

JDM Gas Frog.

(Temp pic until I get a better one)

 

[impreza_GC8]

Woah I love that wheel/tire fitment? Got any more pics? Any issues with rubbing on the fender lip or on the strut body? You've got a great car with exceptional mods.