It’s Winter… 2

… Time to reminisce.

By modest standards, I’ve owned some really good cars. Or at the very least… I’ve formed some really great relationships with cars that I’ve owned. For the last two decades, AE86 has always been front of mind. Raw, wrench friendly, and personal, I still dream of AE86 often. The AE86 however, is no longer a car that I want to drive everywhere.

These days, the car that I’ve owned and sold, and think about more than anything is my GDA.

When snow flies, race tracks dreams explode, and low down cars go into hiding, is there anything better than rally dreams?

Given my age, and distaste for popular car culture, my love for the GD is something that is hard to admit. The sights and sounds of tuned up GD Subaru’s on the street used to be something that I enjoyed and envied. Now, more often that not, it just pisses me off.

It seems to me that there are only two different GD’s in the whole country.

(A) The one that sits on Rota’s and no name tires, rust bubbles on the quarter panel, boost gauge on the steering column and the biggest loudest, fattest exhaust tip ever.

(B) The one that sits on Volks with proper rubber, bubble flares covering the rust bubbles on the quarter panel, four different gauges on the b-pillar, the fattest exhaust tip ever and an annoying BOV, and some weird rear door windows that have holes in them (WTF?).

Cars A and B are both blue… ahh… err… World Rally Blue.

Looking back, I suppose color is the first thing that I would change about my GDA. If you are old and need (or at least want) respect from friends, colleagues, your kids friends parents – don’t drive a WRB Subaru.

Along the same lines… The car must be quiet. When driving a GD anywhere, you must always come in the back way and park out of sight. If the exhaust is wrong, you’ll be parking a few blocks away and finishing your commute on foot to save yourself the embarrassment of being a 19 year old hoon with a future selling shoes at Sport Check. You don’t wear a jacket or a tie in a tractor. 

Enough of the negativity though… let’s talk about why there is another GD in my future.

1. Brilliant driving position.
I’m a freak, and not many cars (fun to drive cars) feel like home. Two manufacturers got my back though. Subaru is one (thank God they had influence in the ZN6). The other car builder that understands freaks also likes 180 degree engines. Go figure.

Cars with long doors and low seats are a chore to drive everyday. They also tend to offer limited visibility when cutting up traffic. The GD fits me great right out of the box, and gets perfect with a simple mod to the seat brackets. It also fits adults in the seats behind me.

2. It’s A Truly Wrench Friendly Vehicle.
Parts? Whatever you want, you can find it new or used all over the world. Full race dampers? Cheesy aero? Steering boss? It’s not an NA Miata. It’s not an EK Civic. It’s better. There are GD Impreza’s in drag racing, autocross, time attack, road racing, rally… even drifting.

It is also an exceptionally knuckle friendly vehicle… especially considering that it has three differentials, two cylinder heads, and a turbocharger. I changed a clutch outside in the middle of winter and didn’t even go on a killing spree half way through.

Parts from other Subaru’s +/- 15 years in age often bolt on. A lot of those Subaru parts are awesome. (Brakes, seats, transmissions, differentials, gauge clusters, hoods, bumpers, intercoolers… everything)

3. One Car To Rule Them All
Do it right, and it is the only street car you will want. It can do it all: autocross, track day, winter, road trip, groceries.

Of course there are always compromises, but I don’t believe there is anything else out there that does everything so well for so little money. It can be competitively built into a number of autocross classes, many of which could content for the fastest local times. For the dollar, it can cut up practically everything on the racetrack with only light modifications. When the weather turns to shit, there is no other vehicle out there that you want more.

Furthermore… you can load it up with the family and go on holidays. I did.