Never back down, Never give in.

This is something that a member of RS25.com posted over there, and I found it very inspiring, and thought I'd share:

I know we’ve all been there at one point; we hate our cars because it takes so much to turn it in to something that it’s not. We spend so much time, effort and money to replicate our favorite version Impreza, or make it our own, and all we get are head aches and empty bank accounts. (Garrett ‘poormansporsche’ knows exactly what I’m talking about.) The unexpected break downs, receiving the wrong parts, the bloody knuckles, the waiting for the container to arrive from Japan, the dirt and rust ridden undercarriage, the bolts that are so tight you’d swear someone welded them in place, it all takes a toll. Then there is the discouragement of those that bought faster, better built, newer Imprezas that always seem to pass us on the long straight at the track or squeeze out those extra tenths of a second while auto-crossing. “Those bastards! Once I swap my VX WRX/STI/RA motor I’ll be faster…â€

We’ve all been there.

Some traded up because they’re sick of it or lost hope. One day it finally sunk in, despite the persistent resistance, “My RS/L/Brighton/Wagon/OBS is an inferior chassis.†Finally they succumb. “I’ll always love and miss my RS,†they say, “but a swap just wasn’t possible so I bought a WRX.†Threads like this pop up all the time and responses are mixed. Some look at it rationally and congratulate them on their new purchase while others label them as traitors, half joking but sometimes not. Despite the surprisingly successful “Fanboyism†thread there are still those that claim they’ll never sell, never leave the cult. They have pride that is easily mistaken as arrogance but they have the right! Their car paved the way for later models, for the WRC, made Subaru what it is today!

I am one of the forsaken.

The challenge and cost were too large for me. I wanted my car to be turbocharged. I wanted a stronger transmission. I wanted a quicker ratio steering rack. I wanted less compliant suspension bushings. I wanted larger sway bars. I wanted coilovers. The wants continued to build and so did the costs, to intimidating amounts. Then rationality set in. “Why should I spend all this money to make my intended econo-box as good as a STi?†That’s when my will was broken and hope was lost. That’s when I put my Impreza Wagon up for sale.

Fast forward three months and there I am, a grin that looks to be splitting my face in half surfaces as I turn the key and start my new-to-me 2005 STi. The interior is ten times better! The sound of the exhaust is menacing! Good God, look at that hood scoop! It’s a sensory overload and I haven’t even let out the clutch and began moving. The initial drive signs the papers, finalizes the terms and agreement, stakes it’s claim; that face separating grin is here to stay. The ride is firm and tight like a car that is meant to be on a race track should feel. The handling is confidence inspiring to the point that I thought my chest was going to break the seat belt. Oh my, the power orgasmic! “I’m glad I decided to upgrade.†I say, not knowing that I’d be sitting here three months later contemplating whether I should keep my beloved STi or go back to the will breaking, money draining, soul rending state of owning a project car that I thought was once a lost cause.

Everyone I talk to about this conundrum reacts the same way. “You just bought it!†“It’s everything you wanted!†“Tim, you make no sense.†I’ve heard it all before. The problem is that all the fun of the STi came too easily. I made a few phone calls and signed some paperwork then it was all mine. That was it. I don’t appreciate the crisp steering as much as I would if I installed those Whiteline steering rack bushings myself. I’m not as proud of the instantaneous power as I would have been if I had spent hours upon hours merging wiring harnesses and finessing that beefy turbocharged 2.5L motor in to an empty engine bay. I don’t appreciate the years of engineering put in to this car, the time spent testing it off the beaten path as much as I should. I don’t appreciate the blood, sweat and tears put in to this car because they are not my own. As the saying goes, “Without the bitter the sweet wouldn’t be as sweet.†I am a DIY Guy that likes to do things the hard way.

I’ll end with a few encouraging words to those still struggling, those with their vision still vivid and full of hope. Don’t quit. Never stop. You are a unique breed that have ban together here to share your knowledge, gather information, ask for help, and whore your projects. Without you sites like this would diminish and the moral of the Subaru community surely would follow. You are the building blocks, the back bone of automotive enthusiasts and it should be known. You and your projects serve a high purpose than only your personal enjoyment, they are inspiring. One day I will rejoin you with another project car of my own. Until then, I salute you.


original thread here:
http://www.rs25.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61226

 

good thing to read before I go out and scrape away at the sound tar thats left after the dry ice.....

 

I remeber when this guy put first got that STi. he was wishy washy about doing it and asked for advice in the members section.

Half the fun is diving it, the other half is building it!

 

Um, why doesn't the OP just turn his STi into a project car then?!?

Sometimes you just can't polish a turd.

 

Tom the man who is well versed in Turd polishing... ha ha ha jk

 

*cough* :wavey:

 

I'm much more qualified at knob polishing.

 

touche... ha ha ha but not sure if that is worse...

OP... he is correct.. it is easier to buy something, but the joy of the end product is worth it.. till you realise all the money and time youwont get back and would have been better of buying and modding something newer...

it all depends on what you want in the end...

 

indeed....and a genuine hats-off to you! there's a reason you dominated the first car of the month!!

 

Thank you sir, and I owe you a ride real soon.

Exactly. If you want a *nice* car, get a newer model. Or you could save 15-20K, and build something that suits your needs. I may have squeaks, rattles, and no AC(overrated), but I'm actually starting to be happy with my car, and thats a tall order.

 

Yeah piddster, I was the guy that passed you about a month ago in my Evo IX on 35W on a rainy night looking at your car.

I'm sure at the time you were like "that prick probably doesn't even know what I'm driving" haha. But I was ooohing and aaaahing over your car, your car is amazing and I respect it more than most other Subaru's. It's people like you who inspire others to keep their Legacy or GC8 and make them great machines.

Kudos to you man.

 

Gotta say that I have been ready to give up on my car as of late but each time I think about it I refer to this thread and read it once over. Always makes me step back and smile at MY car. It may be a month here or two without driving the car but when its all said and done you can always say that nothing compares to your ride

 

Thank you. I get more laughs due to the multicoloredness and hood pins than anything else. Occasionally someone knows what they're looking at.

I thought you had a subie at first untill you got up next to me. The only people I think are jackasses are the kids in a Saturn or something w/ a fartcan that do the flyby.

 

Wow, this post makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

 

this post makes me want to go work on my cars. lol

 

I just changed the oil on my Leggy. I've been driving it non-stop for the last 2 weeks. The M5 sits in the garage and waits to take the family somewhere on the weekend, while the Legacy gets all the love. The Legacy fuels all my trips to various websites in search of parts and advice. The Legacy fuels my dreams of the blow-your-doors-off sleeper of the century. The Legacy makes me want to go climb underneath the car and breath deep the sights and smells akin to that of a past lover, re-met. The M5 is a status symbol.

Time to buy brakelines, swaybars, bushings, wheels, tires, fuel pump, injectors, BBK, heads, Stand-alone ECU, bracing, seats, gears, and all the other things that made me love my WRX.

 

and this is why you swap a 5spd into an svx.

 

makes me wish i had the time and money to do more with my car...