2007 Subaru Impreza WRX TR

[racer_f50]

Hello everyone! On Friday I became the proud owner of a brand new 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX TR!!!! :D

First off, the ever important custom shot: (You can remove the Celica now)
http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/racer_f50_WRX_Customshot.jpg

Now, coming from a '91 Toyota Celica the performance, handling, interior quality, and overall bad-ass-ness of this WRX are just incredible.

Of course being a fan of WRC I got it in World Rally Blue. Everytime I see it sitting in my garage or in a parking lot I get a huge thrill seeing a blue WRX sitting there for me.

The handling and grip are just crazy. There's a bit too much body roll, but it's a very well balanced car and the traction is 100% pretty much all the time in the dry. I definitely look forward to some rain (or snow in the winter) so I can really play with the differentials.

The engine is still in its break-in period (which means keep it under 4000rpm), but I cheated a couple times so that my girlfriend could feel how fast this thing is. And speaking of the engine, I'm really loving the sound this boxer engine makes. It's very growly and deep at low revs, very sweet. I've got about 600 or 700 miles left on the break-in period, which will certainly be hell!

The short throw shifter is also really nice. The gears lock in place very solidly.

Onto more pictures! They kinda turned out poorly due to the sunny day, but I'll take some better ones another time.
http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/tn_IMG_0313.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/IMG_0313.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/tn_IMG_0318.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/IMG_0318.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/tn_IMG_0319.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/IMG_0319.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/tn_IMG_0320.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/IMG_0320.jpg)
http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/tn_IMG_0322.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/IMG_0322.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/tn_IMG_0324.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/IMG_0324.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/tn_IMG_0325.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/IMG_0325.jpg)

[Caplax40]

Should of bought a used STI man, should have bought an STI......shame shame.

[Zot09]

Nice ride dude! Sure, a used Sti would have been awesome but that satisfaction of having a car nobody else has owned is also nice! Have fun and drive safely!

[sentra_dude]

Awesome dude! :good: A nice upgrade from the Celica. :D I'd love to get a slightly used WRX but there's no way I can afford that right now. Speaking of, how is the insruance if you don't mind me asking.

Congrats, and keep us updated, very cool ride. 8)

[5vz-fe]

Congrats dude

[racer_f50]

Awesome dude! :good: A nice upgrade from the Celica. :D I'd love to get a slightly used WRX but there's no way I can afford that right now. Speaking of, how is the insruance if you don't mind me asking.

Congrats, and keep us updated, very cool ride. 8)
Insurance isn't as bad as I thought, but it's definitely pricey. I have a clean driving record and qualified for a bunch of discounts at Allstate (for planning ahead, getting renters insurance through them, etc...) so I'm paying around $185 for full coverage with a $250 deductible on comprehensive. Kinda sucks, but in 2.5 years my price will go down.

[nthfinity]

Hey... I'll be in town tomorrow (monday) evening, want to meet? Do you still have my cell?

[Pokiou]

Welcome to the WRX CLAN :D

lets see HOW many jabba people will end up buying a wrx :D

also for the body roll... if you lower it.. that will kill the body roll :)

[racer_f50]

Thanks guys :)

I'm not sure about tuning it just yet. At a minimum I'll wait for the engine to be through its break-in before I do anything with power. I'm not sure I want to lower it either, I like the current rally-ish stance (for now, at least).

First suspension upgrade would be sway bars & end links, then down the line I'd consider other changes.

Tires are also on my list to save up for. I'd like to get some winter rims & tires and by next summer get some nice summer tires. These Bridgestone all-seasons do the job just fine for now, though.

Any suggestions for a good winter tire?

[SilviaEvo]

i was going to suggest those sway bars first instead of lowering it. its a really sexy scooby for sure but why arent the mirrors painted is that just on the TR pack? and what is the TR pack ive never heard of it before.

[saadie]

awwsome!!

congrats dude ;) i really like this car .. for its shape .. and alll the technologies it has within :) .. .

take good car of it 8) 8) 8)

[racer_f50]

i was going to suggest those sway bars first instead of lowering it. its a really sexy scooby for sure but why arent the mirrors painted is that just on the TR pack? and what is the TR pack ive never heard of it before.
The TR is mechanically the same as a standard WRX, but was built to be about $1000 cheaper.
-Unpainted side mirrors
**WRX has part of them painted
-Previous generation WRX side skirts (painted, though)
**WRX has same skirts as STi
-Seats with identical bolstering, but separate headrests
**WRX has race-looking seats, just have connected head rest really
-Single disc CD player, lower wattage
**WRX has 6-disc changer
-Regular HVAC controls
**WRX has automatic climate control

I mostly got the TR due to availability, but I really don't mind the differences much.

[SilviaEvo]

wow i wouldnt mind the differences either. it is a sexy beast!

[ARMAN]

cool :) drive safe :wink:

imo it asks for lowering and maybe different and wider wheels :twisted:

[racer_f50]

Thought I'd give you guys an update. I've got 449 miles on the car now, so only 551 miles left on the break-in. It's really tough to keep it under 4,000rpm! I slip up occassionally when taking interstate on-ramps since I just loooooooove how you can floor the gas on clover-leafs and the car just stays perfectly in line.:twisted:

Installed a new shift knob today :) The stock one wasn't too bad, but I much prefer the spherical ones (balls, if you will... :lol: ). I just couldn't justify spending $80 on the MOMO/Subaru one, so I grabbed a $30 knob off eBay.

The auction claimed it was real carbon fibre, which looks pretty accurate based on how the light reflects off the different parts of the weave. I could care less either way since it looks pretty nice and fits my hand well.

The shift is a lot more solid now, the stock shifter was a bit softer and absorbed some of the vibrations and the like.

Since the stock shifter has a plastic piece on the bottom which keeps the shifter boot up, I had to rely on ScoobyMods.com to find a way to keep it up with the new knob. Basically you just take about 2 inches of fuel hose, slit it lengthwise and fit it around the shifter rod. Then use a zip-tie to hold it tight and slide it up the rod high enough to keep the shifter boot right at the knob. Works great and only cost $2 (for the ties, the hose was free at Autozone since the clerk was cool).

Anyway I took more pictures :D
(higher resolution shots are available, just PM me if you want them)
http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/t_steer.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/steer.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/t_carbon1.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/carbon1.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/t_carbon2.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/carbon2.jpg)
http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/t_enginebay.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/enginebay.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/t_front1.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/front1.jpg) http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/t_front2.jpg (http://sio.midco.net/mmonhoia/mywrx/front2.jpg)

[T-Bird]

start shopping ebay for Stock STi parts if you want just a decent up in power.

[Pokiou]

hmm the mountain roads are fun in these cars.. i took mine out a few times to the hills.. just loved it.. then took my uncles 2005 model.. loved it again ... lots of grip.. seriously fun car.

like i said .. awesome purchase..

[SPEEDCORE]

Welcome to the Rexy club :D

I really love the look of the 07 model! and with the fugly model only afew weeks away your car can only gain in value! hahaha.

Congrats on the purchase!

I still have my Rex, coming to 8yrs now! I really have to start a thread about it one day :oops: :P

[corvette97]

hey congrats on that car...that shape has grown on my a LOT!

really nice...for first mod you should get a rear sway bar, i have cusco 22mm adjustable, and the 21mm front, get those and the car will be incredibly diferent...also play with tire pressure (i basically use 31 front/28 in the back)
i get a lot of oversteer...when i really want to get wild in the hills i use 23 in the back! :D

also another cost free mod, no repercusions is the intake silencer delete...also know as snorkus...my car is runing .5psi more, the cai sound... its a very nice sound...

and something you have to HAVE is an exhaust... just as a recomendation dont get american stuff, buy jap parts

if i where you id paint the stock wheels gold and get blue lug nuts...that would be great!

congrats!

[racer_f50]

Thanks man :)

I'll definitely be saving up for sway bars, but that may take a while since my girlfriend and I are saving up for a house down payment. I've heard that its worth doing both front and back sway bars, so I'll probably do both at the same time.

I've seen people talking about the "snorkus" on ClubWRX and NASIOC, but really don't know what it is just yet. I'll read into it for sure, as anything which may make my engine louder (it's just too quiet in the cabin!) will be appreciated. I just love the grumble of the boxer, but it's too muted inside.

I've thought about exhaust, and would probably lean towards SPT since it's made by Subaru and I could easily get it, but what recommendation would you have for a nice deep sound which isn't too loud?

Not sure on the gold wheels, I'd definitely do that if I had an STi, but for now I really like the blue/silver color combo. However, someday I plan on getting winter tires/rims, so perhaps those will be gold as it seems more appropriate in those road conditions.

[corvette97]

snorkus delete is worth 100%...basically youll hear your turbo spool perfectly, you will hear you stock bypass and a deep growl like a intake.

as for an exhaust id say greddy EVO2, not really the power maker but sounds very nice... personally im goign for a TANABE wich is LOUD as hell but thats what i what really...

i encourage you to try 25pounds in you back tires ...youll get MAD oversteer :p almost too much fun but recalibrate later, in cold of course .

:D