REVERSE - LETTERS FROM READERS
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VIRTUES STAND ALONE
Thank you for the enjoyable publication devoted to the Subaru performance cars. Having owned perhaps every auto produced worldwide (except M-B and Rolls-Bentley), I was pleasantly surprised with my first Subaru, a 2004 STi.
My experience has been at an amateur level on a number of well-known U.S. tracks driving Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, as well as open wheelers. The STi equals, and in some instances beats, the above list. I have had a blast, even at my age: retired MD.
Modifications: titanium exhaust by Magnaflow, K&N air induction, Optima battery, strut brace, carbon kevlar brake pads, adjustable blow-off valve, 5Zigen 18-inch wheels in black, Toyo T1S tires and – here the designers will cringe – a modified, decreased-height rear spoiler. The spoiler now does not have a top cross-piece.
All of the work was done by me, except the remnant spoiler painting. As you can see, the only identifications are the STi badges. I did this to many of my rides, since I feel that the car’s virtues stand out better when there is little or no wording. It gets people walking all around to find out what it is! All of the mods were bolt-ons – no hammering to fit them in!
Keep the publication coming!
Sam Adornato
Oklahoma
PERFORMANCE DRIVING SKILLS
I am 18 years old and am currently driving a wonderful 2005 Crystal Gray Metallic STi.
At the age of 15, I received my learner’s permit, and it all started when I slipped behind the wheel of a V8-powered American luxury car. After turning 17, I purchased a motorcycle. A high-powered sports bike tucked between your legs is an experience any future STi owner should look into before making their purchase. Speed in my blood, my mother decided to purchase a “sane” graduation present for me, and I received my STi.
I take my drives seriously. Whether it is a jaunt to the corner store or a cross-state trip, I follow a personal checklist to ensure my and others’ safety.
Something I learned from riding my motorcycle is constant vigilance. Whether a driver is young, old or a professional, negligence at the wheel, even for a moment, can end in disaster.
Something else I realized from riding with friends in their vehicles: if your children are not in love with their cars, they are much more likely to drive recklessly because they could care less about what happens to the vehicle. I take fewer chances and drive much more defensively in my father’s muscle car than I do in my mother’s beater. I will baby 400+ horsepower, but her 125-horsepower beater will find itself driven much harder because it’s “replaceable.”
Horsepower though, is not the only factor. The power in a vehicle should be less of a concern than a teen’s skill.
I also have a recommendation for parents – they are called “track days.” I have found heading out to the local racetrack or autocross event on the weekend helps keep me level-headed and calm for the rest of the week. Just as some parents let children run and play at the park to get it out of their systems, teens as well as adults can find solace in the therapeutic effects of the local racetrack. It teaches responsibility and encourages folks to “keep it on the track.” It would also be a good way for a parent to judge their child’s skills when it comes to deciding on a vehicle, in a safe environment.
Aaron Jones
From an e-mail
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DAILY DRIVER
I read the second edition of your magazine and wanted to show the editors of your magazine (and possibly your readers) a daily driver that gets tracked regularly at SpeedTrialUSA events in southern California. My STi was the Invidia-sponsored car at SEMA 2003 and was featured at JTuned.com (July 2004).
Philip Klotz
Glendora, CA
PHILIP KLOTZ’S LIST OF MODS:
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