[TheLastSTI]

Hey All,

My name is Chris Walker; I wanted to share the results of my five year long STi build, while concurrently reintroducing both my STi and I to the IWSTI community.

If this build is anything, I hope that it will serve as an example of what building with purpose, direction and patience can yield.

Below you'll find a full modification's list, along with a couple of photos; I welcome and appreciate your comments.

Best,

-Chris

Modification’s List:

Engine / Engine Bay:

ARC SMC Prestige R Radiator
ARC Front Mount Intercooler
ARC / Zerosports Custom Intake
ARC Thermostat
ARC B.O.V
ARC Oil Cap
ARC Radiator Cap (1.5 bar)
ARC Titanium Pulley Cover
Beatrush Forged Pitch Stopper
Church Automotive Tune – 370awhp / 342awtq (91 octane @ 19psi)
Deatschwerks 850cc Injectors
Denso IK22 Spark Plugs
Grimmspeed 3-port EBS
Motul Fluids – Engine Oil, Coolant, Differential & Transmission
Mugen Reservoir Sock
Project Mu Reservoir Caps
Samco Turbo & Radiator Hoses
Tein Hood Dampers
Tomei Equal Length Manifold / Up-Pipe
Tomei Down-Pipe
Tomei Titanium Exhaust
Tomei M7960 Turbo
Walboro Fuel Pump

Driveline:

ACPT Carbon Fiber D/S

Suspension / Bracing / Braking:

Carbing Subframe
Carbing Bulkhead Divider
Cusco Front Strut Tower Bar
Motul Brake Fluid
Ohlin’s DFV Coilover Suspension
Perrin Rear Swaybar Mounts
Swift Rear Sway Bar
TIC Adjustable End Links

Interior:

AIM MXL Pista Digital Cluster – Flush Mounted in Carbon Fiber Panel
ARC Titanium Shift knob
Carbing Partition Plate
Defi Gauges: Boost, EGT and Oil Temp Gauges
Defi Link2
Gutted Interior / Trunk
HKS Turbo Timer
Status Ring Carbon Fiber Seats in Black Suede
Status Brackets / Sliders
Zerosports Carbon Gauge Pod

Exterior:

Beatrush Rear Tow Hook
OEM Subaru Limited Trunk (Yes, I bought a new trunk lid for the Voltex wing)
PIAA Lighting
Voltex Front Bumper
Voltex Canards
Voltex Front Diffuser (Aero Wing)
Voltex Side Steps
Voltex Type 5V Rear Wing
Voltex Rear Diffuser
Window Tint

Wheels:

Advan RZs – 18x8.5 et45 w/ Limited Black Advan Center Caps
Toyo R888s: 225 / 40 / 18
Project Kics – R40 Lugs

Photos:

 

[user1029]

unbelievable :tup:

 

[Shrek]

Gorgeous.

 

[Dspin_1080]

So damn tasteful !!!!!

So much win !

 

[got2boostit2]

Kinda sad that you are parting it out.

 

[YeloFva]

Top-notch parts! No expense spared!

Moar pix pwease

 

[TheLastSTI]

unbelievable :tup:

Thank you, I appreciate it!

Gorgeous.

Thank you!

Kinda sad that you are parting it out.

It's alright, I'm hoping to start a '13 Subaru STi project, after I sell my '07.

So damn tasteful !!!!!

So much win !

Thank you, I appreciate that!

Top-notch parts! No expense spared!

Moar pix pwease

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

Here's another shot or two:

 

[RT Tuning]

The build did come out great. I can't believe you could part with it now after all of that hard work is behind you.

 

[GoodKnight]

Wow!

Pics of the dash?

 

[TheLastSTI]

The build did come out great. I can't believe you could part with it now after all of that hard work is behind you.

Thank you, I really appreciate the support; it's not too common these days to see builds that have actual direction and aren't just a mess of random parts.

It's quite painful parting the car out, so much time/energy/money invested, but it's on to bigger and better things.

With the progressive trend that the JDM oriented cars have been shifting towards (knock-off everything), it's probably best to leave now anyways.

The mass influx of knock-off parts and the overwhelming support they've received, from "enthusiasts," is simply disheartening.

Wow!

Pics of the dash?

Thank you, I appreciate it!

This is the best shot I've got of the dash, it's a little older though.

 

[bossdog]

Nicely Done!
Looks like it was built to run, do you track it?
Based on my experienc you never get your $$ out of a build like this. I have considered selling my 2005 and starting over but I get too little for mine and it costs way too much to get a 2012 or 13 back to racing stage.

 

[bzguy78]

Very nice indeed and real jdm parts you put on your car. Props on your effort! But with our cars, it is really a bad investment because we don't get back or even close to what we invested in it, time, effort and esp Money. I've experience that with my RSX type S too when I sold it, that's why I will try to hold on as much as I can on my GR and my Evo.

 

[TheLastSTI]

Nicely Done!
Looks like it was built to run, do you track it?
Based on my experienc you never get your $$ out of a build like this. I have considered selling my 2005 and starting over but I get too little for mine and it costs way too much to get a 2012 or 13 back to racing stage.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

That was the idea, originally, but the lack of time has been a huge factor in why I didn't end up tracking the car.

You can, but it depends largely on how you quantify your return. I've run my car like a small business, picking up investors, and enjoying the end results. Media exposure and sponsors, to help establish a foundation for a future business, can help absorb some of the diminished returns you speak of.

Either way, this car has held its value exceedingly well and it was definitely a hell of a fun way to build a nest egg. :lol:

Very nice indeed and real jdm parts you put on your car. Props on your effort! But with our cars, it is really a bad investment because we don't get back or even close to what we invested in it, time, effort and esp Money. I've experience that with my RSX type S too when I sold it, that's why I will try to hold on as much as I can on my GR and my Evo.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

A car in general is a bad investment, but what you get out of it has its own subjective value.

Building a network of sponsors, friends and knowledge has enabled me to approach each build I take on with more confidence and greater ease.

There's nothing like knowing that when you purchase a new car, it's only a couple calls away to being back on your way again.

A lot of people question why people modify their cars, why to such an extent and with what parts.

For me, this has been a passion and a privilige; I really believe we see a lot of people in the community modifying for the sake of modifying because they believe it's the cool thing to do, not because they genuinely enjoy it.

If you look at my build, it's not insane. I'm not pushing 500awhp and I'm not dragging my frame every where I go. If anything this build was designed to demonstrate the ideology of quality over quantity. Yeah, there's some rare trinkets, but the vast majority of the components utilized were utilized because of their function and quality.

I'm really torn with the Subaru community, currently waging a war on Nasioc, with the obesession with cheap parts.

The goal isn't to make people who think eBay sourced knock-off parts are inferior, but to recognize the impact that the consumption of those parts has on our community.

If you continually emulate, you drive innovation in to the ground.

I can only hope that my build serves as an example of what building with purpose, direction and an attention for quality yields.

 

[bzguy78]

nicely said bro..

 

[GoodKnight]

A car in general is a bad investment, but what you get out of it has its own subjective value.

Well said! From a financial perspective, a lot of our toys are a very dumb thing, but it's very hard, if not impossible, to put a price on the enjoyment we get out of being car guys.

I'm really torn with the Subaru community, currently waging a war on Nasioc, with the obesession with cheap parts.

Me too. What i hate the most is when knock-offs badge themselves as the real thing (i.e. putting RECARO on fake recaros).

 

[majik]

You sir, should be a motivational speaker. I swear I was almost hearing the Allstate guy reading this to me hahaha

 

[TheLastSTI]

nicely said bro..

Thank you, I appreciate it!

Well said! From a financial perspective, a lot of our toys are a very dumb thing, but it's very hard, if not impossible, to put a price on the enjoyment we get out of being car guys.

Me too. What i hate the most is when knock-offs badge themselves as the real thing (i.e. putting RECARO on fake recaros).

Thank you!

Agreed, it's hard for a lot of people to really quantify why we do what we do.

Personally, I've never found emulation to be innovative - on any level.

What's disheartening is the blatant disregard for the mentality that we, as a community, exude to our manufacturers and vendors.

If we demonstrate that quality holds no value, because it costs too much, how can we expect to have new quality parts developed?

We want quality, but we don't want to pay for it.

We want factory Recaros, but not the corresponding price increase on our Subarus.

This is the issue facing our community and to think we're so quick to call the Honda community a bunch of ricers. :lol:

You sir, should be a motivational speaker. I swear I was almost hearing the Allstate guy reading this to me hahaha

Thank you, I appreciate it!!

 

[TheLastSTI]

Thank you for the support everyone, I appreciate it!

 

[TheLastSTI]

Pardon the double posts!

I've been looking into '13 MY Subaru STi sedans, they're pretty tempting!

There's a chance I might just drop out of the JDM scene though, it's just not what it used to be.

Either way, I believe I should've spent a little more time on this board, as opposed to Nasioc.

 

[nufan4322]

i just can't see myself selling my car ever. I know what you mean about fake parts. But for people who track and etc, fake or replica exterior parts to me is ok. I have trash many diffuser and front lips on the track and even local. I believe that exterior parts I am ok with. But with moving parts like suspension and etc, I trust companies like RCE and etc. Those people did the R&D and etc. Not all Japanese stuff are great sometime, cause they also take the easy way out and manufacture their stuff in China also. But it is sad that you are selling your car. I don't see myself ever selling my 2006 unless something happen to it. I always though about selling it and go to a gas saving car. Cause my car is just like your, used to drive it and track it a lot but now it is just sitting in a garage and only driven on weekend.