PDA

View Full Version : Story of Karen the Swaggin Wagon



Matt M
01-08-2013, 10:07 PM
This is Karen as she was introduced in the "Daily ZHP Pics" thread. She is a Subaru 2005 Legacy GT, Turbo, 250hp stock, basically the same platform as your typical wrx/sti aka lots of power potential. As of now all she has is H&R springs (-1.5 inchces), Upgraded Brakes, and wheels. Hopefully a stage II setup will be in the near future. While car shopping after my brother took the car (then a 2002 TDI Jetta) I was told noting German and nothing with a V8 so I chose this, little did I know my brother would return a couple months later with a German sports sedan :eyetwitch. Regardless I'm not bitter, I love my girl and with a couple hundred dollars I'll be able to blow him off the road.

The First Day I got her
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6148/6009102683_e873d3639d_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8363943012_b0d8e40b0c_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8362861551_be6885c207_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8362866087_29872e2efb_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8363949386_218f494fcd_b.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8051/8363921098_b456175117_b.jpg

Matt M
01-08-2013, 10:13 PM
She wouldn't look near as she does today without the detailing help of my brother. We spent the entire day restoring the headlights, plasti-dipping the grille, and washing and waxing the two cars. Brother Bonding yay!

danewilson77
01-09-2013, 04:16 AM
Badass Matt. Good seeing you around.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

cakM3
01-09-2013, 04:41 AM
Looks great Matt! :thumbsup

Torxuvin
01-09-2013, 04:53 AM
Very cool. I really like the legacy. Very sleeper. The sti parts do give it way more potential.

johnrando
01-09-2013, 08:12 AM
Badass Matt. Good seeing you around.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

+1 Now, get off the hood of your car! You too Chris! :biggrin

Matt M
01-09-2013, 10:46 AM
+1 Now, get off the hood of your car! You too Chris! :biggrin

It was a painful experience for both of us but Mom insisted

Mtnman
01-09-2013, 11:03 AM
I like this thread. Not only is it some brotherly love, but its got a sport wagon in it! I do like the utility of the sport wagon. If only Audi corporate didnt piss me off, id still be driving one too!

Wish my little brother was in to cars.

derbo
01-09-2013, 12:05 PM
loving the subaru. I got an 05 outback xt myself.

Johal E32
01-09-2013, 05:19 PM
Nice car.

I LOVE the LAMBO replica wheels, they look awesome on the swagon!

danewilson77
01-09-2013, 06:36 PM
Nice car.

I LOVE the LAMBO replica wheels, they look awesome on the swagon!

Not Lambo reps.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Johal E32
01-09-2013, 06:47 PM
Not Lambo reps.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Rotiform BLQ's. Well, after seeing the two pictures side by side, I guess they are a bit different.

http://rotiform.com/images/product_photography/cast_1piece_blq_01b.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p101/BlackWarez/Supercars/2008-Lamborghini-Gallardo-LP560-4-W.jpg

JupiterBMW
01-09-2013, 07:02 PM
Sweet ride... My brother had an '05 STi and DAYUM, that car was fast. He had lots of bolt ons in terms of intake/exhaust.... Fun car...

Matt M
01-09-2013, 11:19 PM
I have really enjoyed my power wagon and I think I may be part of the wagon mafia for the rest of my life. My dream car is a CTS-V Wagon but realistically I hope to get an Advant after the Subaru. After some experience driving my brother's ZHP I love the instant response and handling but I am also in love with the potential and joy I get out of the turbo. Ahhh so conflicted

bcleaver
01-10-2013, 07:56 PM
I love a good wagon. Used to have a bugeye wrx wagon myself and still miss that thing. The hotness for wagons out there right now for me is the new Audi RS6

Johal E32
01-10-2013, 09:19 PM
I have really enjoyed my power wagon and I think I may be part of the wagon mafia for the rest of my life. My dream car is a CTS-V Wagon but realistically I hope to get an Advant after the Subaru. After some experience driving my brother's ZHP I love the instant response and handling but I am also in love with the potential and joy I get out of the turbo. Ahhh so conflicted

The CTS-V is a beautiful car.. I am torn between that and the new E63 Amg wagon :drool

BRGcoopahS
01-10-2013, 10:24 PM
I used to think wagons were dumb. Then I realized how much better they are than a pointless SUV and started to love them.

A performance wagon is pure sechs. Kinda why I give Ferrari props for not making an SUV like every other high end brand and instead making a shooting break.

derbo
01-10-2013, 11:23 PM
Rs4 avant is the wagon I would love to have.

Ot end


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

HokieZHP
03-31-2014, 03:20 PM
Ok so Matt isn't on here much anymore but there is a BIG update coming... I may have kind of sort of blown his turbo (known issue with these cars, but I was driving when it happened) and with some convincing, Karen will be getting the full Stage 2 treatment in the next couple weeks. All parts and turbo have been ordered and just waiting for the last couple to come in before they all get installed and Karen becomes a true sleeper wagon. To the tune of around 400hp. If he comes back on here I'll let him explain what all was ordered. All I know is a new turbo, full maganflow exhaust, uppipe and catted downpipe and lots more.

I can't wait for it to be done cause now both Matt and I will have fast tuned cars which puts the pressure on my dad to finally tune his new Audi A6 Avant 3.0T!

johnrando
03-31-2014, 03:50 PM
:jawdrop

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

Torxuvin
03-31-2014, 04:04 PM
Sweet. Rebuild ftw

danewilson77
03-31-2014, 04:09 PM
:jawdrop

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

+1

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

HokieZHP
03-31-2014, 07:20 PM
Yeah he's pretty excited. AWD + auto transmission (no loss of boost while shifting) means it'll be pretty quick! He's just trying to decide which tuner to go with but luckily he still has a week or so to decide.

brettbimmer
03-31-2014, 07:30 PM
Excellent! Had a friend who had one of these Subies a couple of cars back and it was def. a sleeper. Hope that Matt enjoys the added performance!

HokieZHP
04-01-2014, 05:07 PM
All parts are in except the downpipe which the vendor forgot to ship. I think he will be overnighting it though luckily so the build should start later this week and be done possibly early next week depending on how busy our mechanic is. He's got a lot full of track porsches and other fun toys that need engine work done too. Luckily, being long-time customers, we get to cut in line

PirateZHP
04-01-2014, 05:09 PM
Don't forget about the locals who would like a ride when it's completed...

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

HokieZHP
04-01-2014, 07:02 PM
*locals in Blacksburg? haha If he's home we could maybe make that happen for any certain locals who would like a ride.

PirateZHP
04-02-2014, 05:09 AM
I guess I didn't realize that he was in Blacksburg as well... but... you guys do come home sometime!!

HokieZHP
04-09-2014, 01:34 PM
It's alive!....


Over the next week or so he will be datalogging and working with his tuner to get it all dialed in. Went for a ride today on a very base map (used by the tuner t get base readings and atmospheric conditions) with the new turbo. Definitely quicker than stock but I'm excited to see how it feels once the tuner actually starts tuning it up!