GRM / Subiesport Project Car Suggestion

I've mentioned this idea before, but with the marriage of GRM and Subiesport, it seems even more relevant.

-Take a commonly available, affordable used performance car like the WRX, (non-STi, because they're more plentiful and cheaper. Plus, I own one).

-Add appropriate safety equipment that would be relevant to various forms of motor sports, like a roll bar, seat and harness, braided brake lines, maybe bigger brakes.

-Then, once you have a solid, safe car that can stop, develop various drop-in suspension packages, alignment settings and wheel and tire packages so that the car could be converted over the course of a weekend and the same car could be used for street, autocross, track days, rallycross or ice racing.

Realistic idea? Discuss.

I like the idea. For simplicity one suspension that is adjustable would be best.

I do know that this car is the DD of both Tom and his wife to haul their two kids so the roll cage is probably out the question while it still serves that funtion.

Greg Voth wrote: For simplicity one suspension that is adjustable would be best.

That's even better, if you can find something that is sufficiently adjustable. I'm not sure you can find a shock/spring combo that will cross over, though

That sounds pretty bland IMO. I read what you suggested something like this:

Buy common car.

Buy off-the-shelf parts for said common car.

Race. The end.

Boring!

Legacy Wagon+ EJ20-25=win. That is all.

Nashco wrote: That sounds pretty bland IMO... . . .

After reading your sig and seeing the car list you have I can see why you would thing this is boring. For those of us that don't own one and have more than once considered the purchase of said car it would be very interesting.

I say "Game On" !!!!!

Do a Subie wagon. Do it.

Nashco wrote: That sounds pretty bland IMO. I read what you suggested something like this: Buy common car. Buy off-the-shelf parts for said common car. Race. The end. Boring!

I agree!

And also take a look at the project cars, it looks like it's already happening.

I think the idea of swapping multiple suspensions is where you will lose people. I wouldn't want to spend the money on specific suspension/wheel-and-tire packages for autox, racing, etc. If anything, it should be the one setup that gets you darn close to the guys that spend all their time and money tuning for that last .1 second. Finding a setup that will get you competitive in a variety of sports with at most alignment/tire pressure/tire changes would be the ticket for most.

I'd like to see a WRX/STi swap to an GC chassis. Detailed. With all the quirks to watch out for. I'd buy that issue twice.

Justy + STi power + sicky rally suspension = cooler than Mr T

• Is it possible to make the Baja cool?
• H6 into an Impreza.
• Forester as (lightweight) tow vehicle?

The Baja IS cool already!

I want a Baja w/ EJ25 very badly.

With my ZX2SR I have done something similar. The stock SR suspension with a much stiffer rear bar and adequat caster and camber make the car handle very well at track days. Ice racing is a whole different thing. With Blizzaks the suspension must be softer. So I aquired a set of stock springs and struts, easy change over. Remove the rear bar and disconnect the front. stock alignemnt. good to go.

fornetti14 wrote: Do a Subie wagon. Do it.

We've done 3. I'm personally a little bored with wagons. Not never again bored, but not this time bored.

Driving the bugeye sedan lately also highlights the dynamic differences between the wagon and the sedan. The overall weight difference may not be huge, the the way the chassis carries the weight is noticeable.

I like the oddball stuff, but this car is meant to be a driver more than a one-off. Autocross and track days are in its future. (Rallycross too, if the events start to happen again locally.)

Finding the best bang for the buck upgrades on the "lowest common denominator" of Subaru performance (Bugeye WRX) is applicable to other generations and chassis as well.

The next Subaru project could be something more exotic or unique, but I'm not in a hurry to trade the WRX on a Legacy wagon. An H6 powered Outback has been on my mind for a while, and who wouldn't want an STi-swapped Impreza coupe?

Tom Heath wrote: Driving the bugeye sedan lately also highlights the dynamic differences between the wagon and the sedan. The overall weight difference may not be huge, the the way the chassis carries the weight is noticeable.

I may be wrong, but isn't the sedan's track an inch or so wider?

Greg Voth wrote: I do know that this car is the DD of both Tom and his wife to haul their two kids so the roll cage is probably out the question while it still serves that funtion.

What Greg said.

It will still do events, but nothing that would require a cage. Real guy, real car, real needs.

If somebody wants to send us their Subaru to cage and go over the top with, I'll get you our shipping address.

In reply to Woody:

Yup, you're correct.

I was bound to be right sooner or later.

Tom Heath wrote: If somebody wants to send us their Subaru to cage and go over the top with, I'll get you our shipping address.

Hmm...I currently drive a '99 2.5 RS coupe...how over the top are you talking? :)

Whatever you guys do, I suggest keeping it cheap. I see that GRM just picked up a bugeye sedan, which I think is great. They are becoming affordable, and there is so much you can do to one to make it competitive in just about any motorsport. I used to have a bugeye wagon with tons of stuff done to it, and I now have a 2009 WRX hatch.

There have been tons of magazine buildups for these, but none of them have really done things on the cheap. When I built my bugeye, I had to keep costs low for a few reasons.

• It was a daily driver
• I thought that I could do things cheaper than others could
• I didn't have a lot of money to spend on this with 2 other project cars kicking around

I ended up "going stage 2" (turboback, engine tune, full gauge package, upgraded brakes, suspension mods, etc...) for well under $1000, when most people were spending over that just for the exhaust alone. You guys should show people that you don't need to spend megabucks to do this stuff! Buy used parts when you can, tune the car yourselves, and you can make the car competitive for not a whole lot of money! DIY FTW!!!

Appleseed wrote: I'd like to see a WRX/STi swap to an GC chassis. Detailed. With all the quirks to watch out for. I'd buy that issue twice.

+lots and lots

RoadWarrior said:

Tom Heath wrote: If somebody wants to send us their Subaru to cage and go over the top with, I'll get you our shipping address.

Hmm...I currently drive a '99 2.5 RS coupe...how over the top are you talking? :)

I've got an '01 2.5 RS sedan and I'm thinking about picking up a DD with better milage since today my fiance and I are putting down an offer on a house that's gonna make my commute 30 miles longer one way. So, if you give me a couple months, we may be able to talk about that shipping address.

asterisk wrote: - Forester as (lightweight) tow vehicle?

I like this. I speak volumes to anyone who will listen about the virtues of the Forester as a daily, offroader, snow hooligan, and family truckster.

Though it wouldn't be as marketable as one of the famed forced induction cars, I'd like to see some work put into a normally aspirated Impreza. A buildup on a GC OBS, bugeye TS or a 2.5i would warm the cockles of my heart.

Appleseed wrote: I'd like to see a WRX/STi swap to an GC chassis. Detailed. With all the quirks to watch out for. I'd buy that issue twice.

Yes, please. If my old GC coupe wasn't so damn rusty, I would have done a WRX swap.

RoadWarrior wrote:

Tom Heath wrote: If somebody wants to send us their Subaru to cage and go over the top with, I'll get you our shipping address.

Hmm...I currently drive a '99 2.5 RS coupe...how over the top are you talking? :)

For cereal, I have a cheap '99 2.5RS coupe I'd gladly deliver it to you guys to work on. I'd be curious what sort of payments/who gets what would be expected though if this deal was based on me getting the car back. Its in just dandy shape, motor burns a couple 100mils of oil every couple thousand kms. Let me know how that shipping address is coming along ;)