I purchased my 2005 2.5RS Sport Package in September 2004, budget wise, i would have loved to get a WRX, but as it turns out insurance would've raped me and the sheer cost pretty much ruled it out. I also wanted a new car so this was my chance. Compared to everything else in the market; Mazda 3, Honda Civic Si, etc. etc. the 2.5RS pretty much won every category that I had compared the cars to.
My goals for the car immediately shifted from just being a comfortable cruiser, to pretty much where i'm going with it now.. a dailydriver that is also a weekend warrior. I was always a motor sports fan as well (love everything, WRC especially, DTM, BTCC/WTCC, V8 Supercars, etc.etc.), just didn't have the budget to do so until the RS, and even its still Autocross for now!
I was introduced into autocross at the beginning of the 2005 season and haven't turned back. The modifications beside the few exterior have all been aimed toward the performance and feel of the car. At the beginning I ran STS with the slim mods I had, S-tech's, 215/45/17 on Enkei Bortex RPM2, Cusco Rear Sway. Immediately I had jumped on a deal to trade the heavy 17lb RS hood for something much lighter, sans STi hood with a painted reverse cowl.
That of course, put me in Street Mod. So the different things i've tried started occurring, removing front bumper beam/subframe to reduce weight, throttle body port/polish, different intake combinations, different exhaust combinations (catless/catted)
All while I was improving my driving skills, and becoming an avid autocross nut, I think nearly every week of 2007 I was autocrossing somewhere, from spring to winter. Giving me a total of 60 autocrosses since I started in 2005, and counting. I was even involved in some testing for Dunlop on their Direzza Z1 tire which was released last year. Also I won SM championship for my local region (NORA) with consistent top 3 finishes even though my car was primarily setup for STS, just with bigger tires.
During the last part of last season, I had bought some used Nitto NT-01's Rcomp if you will.. That changed my mind completely of ever going back to STS. DSP may be feasible but my future plans would rule that out as well. Rcomps pretty much made my car come alive, with the suspension setup the way it was with the custom front sway bar it was very exhilarating to drive.
My aspirations for the car will not stop there though; since I'm already in street mod, figured why not make it worthy.. I plan to do a N/A H6 swap within this year, as well as prepare it for HPDE/track days and maybe some time-trial stuff. Including better seats/rollbar/better harnesses, some underbody aero, bigger brake upgrade (haven't decided on which setup just yet). That is where the future of my car will be.
100,000 miles 2 days ago, and counting.. Maybe I should get a daily before I really do break this car, lol.
2005 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS Sport Aspen White
Suspension:
Tein Flex Coilovers ( 6K front 8K rear )
Custom Fabricated 28.5mm Solid Front Sway Bar
Cusco 22-24mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar
Energy Polyurethane Sway Bar Bushings ( front and rear )
Custom Heim Joint Front Endlinks
Hotchkis C Rear Endlinks
Whiteline Steering Rack Bushings
Whiteline Rear Differential Outrigger Bushings
Front and Rear Strut Braces
Custom Fabricated Fender Braces
Wheels:
Race: 16x7 OEM 2001 Subaru / 225/50/16 Kumho V710
Race/Daily: Enkei RP02 17x7.5 / 225/45/17 Bridgestone RE070 & 225/45/17 Nitto NT01 / Winter; 235/40/17 Sumitomo HTR+
Daily: Rota G-Force 17x8 / 245/40/17 Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1
Rays Engineering Duraluminum Lugs; Teal
OEM Nissan Nismo Steel Lugs; Black
Braking:
WRX 294mm Front Rotor Conversion
Hawk HPS Pads/Hawk HP+ Pads
Goodrich SS Lines
Super ATE Dot 4 Fluid
Engine:
Short Ram Intake
Unorthodox Underdriven Pulley
Borla Header
Gutted Rear Cat
2.5" Stainless Midpipe with Glasspack mated to 2.5" Apex-i WRX Axleback / Custom 2.5" "quiet" Axleback
Exterior:
2004 Cleared Headlamps
Replica JDM front aeroguards
Replica JDM Optional front lip
DIY Scrape Lip
DIY De-post Grill
DIY WRC-esque Grill Mesh Top & Bottom
4800K HID
EDM Rear Lights inc. Rear Fog
STi Aluminum hood with Seibon Aqua Replica Carbon Fiber Reverse Cowl color match painteWebbing
JDM Broadway 360mm Convex Mirror
DIY Painted S203-esque Interior Panels
Custom Aluminum Shift Knob/Trust Delrin Knob/Supra Getrag Knob
Kartboy Short Shifter/Taller eBay All Metal Bushing Short Shifter
Modded Stock Seats for better support, added bolster
Innovate LM-1 Wideband + AFR Gauge Monitor
Some kind of JVC Deck with MP3, a Removable Sub in the trunk
Hella Supertones (painted black)
