Muddy's 2002 WRX - GONE...

[MuddyREX]

Way back when, I had one of the first WRX's around. Bought in early 2001, I paid over sticker for my brand spanking new WRB WRX sedan with the rear spoiler and auto dimming rear view mirror. Yay!

I was on top of the world.

The day I bought the car the intake snorkel came out. Other first mods were a turbo timer and a few gauges. Soon after came the STi shifter trim surround, matching dead pedal and STi key fob.

Never mind the crappy pics, as I have never had what you would call a "good" camera.




I put on some JUN eyelids and a blue I badge onto the front, then discovered the fine art of off road travel.



Not long afterwards, went on the HKS Carbon Ti catback, Samco intercooler hoses, boost controller and GFB 50/50 blow off valve. I also added a radiator shroud. An Injen CAI has come on and off the car a few times, and at one point I cut it in half into a short ram.

At that point I added a Perrin adjustable rear sway bar and STi front strut bar.



Next came painted side skirts, STi hood scoop and mesh foglight covers.



By now, I was having tons of fun in the mud.




After around 75,000 miles of abuse, my stock struts/springs were toast. I wanted to upgrade, but didn't want to lower the car a whole lot so I could keep the offroad capabilities.

I decided on stock 2004 STi struts/springs/and tophats, and at the same time installed Whiteline steering rack bushings and rally armor mudflaps.



I've added a few lights. It started as two....



And then four....

[Buster]

I had no idea you had all that done man. Sweet!

[teh DIRT]

my muddy brother. so sweet.

[sisforsurfing]

Your threads about offroad excursions were my inspiration for taking my wagon into the mud/dirt/gravel. Sweet, and a great example of Subaru's reliability and durability (barring the trans, at least.)

[Buster]

what are you talking about! these trannys rule!

[Jourdan]

i like the mud. and your car.

[MuddyREX]

Originally Posted by sisforsurfing

. Sweet, and a great example of Subaru's reliability and durability (barring the trans, at least.)

+1 for that. In 110,000 miles, the only thing that I have broken was the trans. Other than that, this car has never left me stranded on the side of the road or anything.

[MuddyREX]

And now for more pics..... (in no particular order....)































This one's kinda cool, notice the rainbow in the mist behind my car...

[Snoozie]

Haha the slow down and pay pic is great! Lookin good!

[Honest_Bob]

Nice story. What exactly broke in the trans? Do you drive it like a grandma or like you stole it? I've been wondering exactly how reliable my wrx is gonna be after she gets around 100k.

[wrx_snobordr]

I love your car... used for what it is made for. Huge fan of the rally lights. Next should be a set of white OZ Rally Raid's or supertourismos to finish the rally style!

[MuddyREX]

Originally Posted by Honest_Bob

Nice story. What exactly broke in the trans? Do you drive it like a grandma or like you stole it? I've been wondering exactly how reliable my wrx is gonna be after she gets around 100k.

I don't baby my car. I stripped 2nd gear at about 29K miles, and ended up having to pay for an entire new transmission. In hindsight, an STi RA transmission would have cost me just as much and would have been a much better replacement.

Regardless, the new stock trans has held up fine for 80K. It all boils down to shifting. If you slam gears like a madman, stuff will break. A little finesse with the clutch and you'll be fine.

[Honest_Bob]

Got any pictures on how you mounted all those lights?

[05Accent]

car is lookin sweet..love the lights.. and thats whats a wrx is ment to do.. play in the mud, snow, rain.. sweet job..

[dt98gsr]

Cool car man, it seems like it has become less and less common to see WRX's being used for what they were designed to do. Car looks like a lot of fun.

The light bar looks bad ass and I like what you did with the laminex.

BTW cool pic with the Weiner mobile, I was actually driving next to it on the road not to long ago but didn't get a chance to take a pic of it.

Keep up the good work.

[MuddyREX]

Thanks for the comments.

Originally Posted by Honest_Bob

Got any pictures on how you mounted all those lights?

I actually didn't take any pics of the install, and since everything comes together behind the grill I cant take any good pictures now.

[MuddyREX]

Update: 4/15

Well, after one of my pulleys decided to take a poo, I ended up replacing a few things. So 1st off, thanks to Ralph (UnderpoweredRS) for hooking me up with the needed pulley to get my car healthy again.

With the addition of an HKS downpipe I am now officially catless (after 114,000 miles), and apparantly there is a turbo in my passenger footwell that likes to be heard. Wasn't expecting it to be such an audible difference. My neighbor complained to me about my car being loud for the first time yesterday.

I also installed a Perrin lightweight crank pulley, which I can say feels like a complete waste of money. There is no noticable difference whatsoever, and its gunmetal in color so I don't even get any bling from it. Don't buy one.

Yeah, so thats it.

The saga continues....

[sisforsurfing]

Originally Posted by MuddyREX

With the addition of an HKS downpipe I am now officially catless (after 114,000 miles), and apparantly there is a turbo in my passenger footwell that likes to be heard. Wasn't expecting it to be such an audible difference. My neighbor complained to me about my car being loud for the first time yesterday.

I have the same downpipe. Makes the car sound like a Mack truck, these little stock turbos are so noisy!
Keep us updated (and getting muddy)

[Honest_Bob]

Good to know on the crank pulley. I was thinking of picking one up.

[Buster]

i have the same downpipe also, i roll it on legacy wheels son!