It may not be Dolph, but it's definitely in Carl Weathers territory. The setup is pretty straightforward, but the perfection is in the details-the front-mount intercooler, the GGD up-pipe, the TurboXS blow-off valve, the Walbro fuel pump and STi injectors, the BPM exhaust, the Unorthodox Racing underdrive pulley, and so on. It's the kind of fine-tuned engine package that you just don't get out of a kit, which I find out soon after Brian hands me the keys. Acceleration is smooth and even, though it does have jerking-power on demand. With the bright row of GReddy gauges glowing at me from the center of the dash and Brian monitoring me from shotgun, I shift early in the dial and keep the rpms at 50-percent in Third gear down the empty Long Island two-laner. And that's when I hear: "Don't worry about it. Hit the limiter." Brian is smiling when he says it. I am too when I react, pounding the gas in First, but my smile disappears quickly. My stomach drops and my head jolts like a bobblehead. I've hit the limiter in what seems like no seconds flat. Shifting into Second, I repeat my mistake: I hit the limiter. The IHI VF34 is a ball-bearing turbo, the same one used on the STi models overseas, and it spools quickly. It takes some getting used to.
The suspension, however, is easy enough on the arse. No harsh coilovers here, just H&R springs, a Cusco sway bar and a Tanabe front strut tower bar. "I'm not racing professionally on the track yet," Brian says. "So I don't really need to spend two grand on coilovers if I'm not going to be using it for races." The wagon is a daily driver and on the smooth suburban pavement, the springs do their job nicely. The steering is controlled and the ride is more comfy than a tanin-don combo on a cold winter's night. For now. I turn into a parking lot and we switch seats. With Brian behind the wheel, it's a different story altogether. It's his car and he knows the limits, which don't seem to exist. The gauge needles flutter wildly as the WRX shoots around the long bends. The JDM HIDs fan out in front of us in the gathering blue darkness, and I can see flashes and blurs of green bushes mixed with black tar. It's enough to spin your mind. Needless to say, my head is squished against the seat. We return to where we started in no time and Brian tells me, "I try not to go too crazy with other people in the car." Nice to know.
On the outside, the silver WRX wagon is much more understated. Most won't look twice at the JDM body kit or the STi side markers, but the look is enough to throw them for a loop. "I get people asking me what kind of car it is, until they read the license plate," Brian says. "'Does that come in turbo?' I get that a lot. 'Does the wagon come in a turbo or is that only in the sedan?' It's pretty funny."
One person who doesn't ask him any questions is his car-savvy dad. "He's got a new Z06, so I'm trying to beat my father's car," Brian says. "But he loves the Subaru. He's always bragging about it to everyone."
Fast FactsOwner Brian PatanjoHometown Medford, New YorkDaily Grind Driver For Pepsi ColaRide '02 Subaru Wrx Wagon
Under The Hood 2.0L four-cylinder boxer engine, IHI VF34 turbocharger upgrade, GReddy front-mount intercooler, oil catch can, and gauges (EGT, oil pressure, boost), BPM turbo-back exhaust, GGD up-pipe, Unorthodox Racing underdrive pulley, Turbo XS blow-off valve, A'PEXi AVC-R and S-AFC, Blitz turbo timer, STi injectors, Walbro fuel pump
Stiff Stuff H&R springs, Cusco sway bar, Tanabe front strut tower bar
Rollers 17-inch Volk Racing Gram Light wheels, 225/45ZR17 Kumho tires
Outside Carisma carbon-fiber hood, Zero Sports blinker covers, JDM body kit and HID headlights, STi front grille, badges, and foglight covers
Inside Rzo shift knob, Kartboy short shifter with bushings
By Richard S. Chang
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!