Mark's 2012 Sport Limited - Spring Wash & Wax

[Wiscon_Mark]

Figured it was about time I started this. It's not going to be a terribly exciting journal as I don't plan on modding the Impreza.

Picture shortly after I got her:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/KFGfE79l-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/KFGfE79)

Things to do:

Sound deadening to quiet things down & make the stereo sound better
Replace the crappy Cooper tires eventually. Plan is to get some Nokian zLine summer UHPs mounted on Kosei K4Rs - 14lb wheels!
Do Forester Shifter mod: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2676079
Tint the car - staying legal, 35% rears all the way around, 50% front doors.
Custom DIY Foglight delete mod (more details to come, but I'm looking to reduce weight and drag)
Custom Grille Mod (also to reduce drag) - possibly integrating Hella FF75s into the grille.


5/31 Update:
Replaced all interior lights with LED. Also ordered LEDs for the License Plate & front running lights, but haven't gotten to that yet.


6/16 Update:

Vaccumed the interior and cleaned & conditioned the seats with the Lexol leather care set. Used Meguiar's natural shine detailing spray for the dash, etc. I also fixed the stupid rattle my son's car seat has when he's not strapped in and the harness is dangling inside the seat.

Washed, clayed, cut & buffed some scratches and blemishes, and then sealed everything with collonite 845. The lighting by the time I was done doesn't do it justice, but it's *ooooh, shiny*

Click image for full size:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/Zp9rof1l-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/Zp9rof1)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/05/enwYg0Wl-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/enwYg0W)

7/21/15: Put STi rear sway bar on. (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/showthread.php?19205-Mark-s-2012-Sport-Limited-CVT-now-with-STi-sways!&p=276620&viewfull=1#post276620)

7/28/15: Wagon Mafia & Snoobaru Stickers (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/showthread.php?19205-Mark-s-2012-Sport-Limited-CVT-now-with-STi-sways!&p=276799&viewfull=1#post276799)

12-9-15 Winter Mode Activated (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/showthread.php?19205-Mark-s-2012-Sport-Limited-Winter-Mode-Activated&p=279808&viewfull=1#post279808)

4/13/2016 Added an interior bit to quiet down the blower motor. (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/showthread.php?19205-Mark-s-2012-Sport-Limited-Winter-Mode-Activated&p=282134&viewfull=1#post282134)

5/10/16: Spring Wash & Wax (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/showthread.php?19205-Mark-s-2012-Sport-Limited-Winter-Mode-Activated&p=282567&viewfull=1#post282567)

6/1/16: LED daytime running lights & AMP upgrade (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/showthread.php?19205-Mark-s-2012-Sport-Limited-Spring-Wash-amp-Wax&p=282925&viewfull=1#post282925)

[Wiscon_Mark]

reserved for future use.

[dodik]

Congrats, it will beat Tribeca's mpg for sure.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Haha, yes, it will. The 'Beca has been doing pretty well though - averaging 20mpg (mostly in town) since it got warm.

[98legwag]

Haha, yes, it will. The 'Beca has been doing pretty well though - averaging 20mpg (mostly in town) since it got warm.
Dang, my Legacy 3.0R gets about 22-23 mpg average now that its warm. But most of my driving its "city" driving.

[dodik]

i get 15 on average but that mostly city standing as its hard to call it driving. :banghead:

[Wiscon_Mark]

Got the rear aero strakes in and put the STi 19mm rear sway bar on. Also put Moog endlinks on, check out the picture for comparison with stock:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/07/AYz3xZQl-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/AYz3xZQ)

Also have added the aero splash guards & removed the front bumper guards, which was quite the job. Getting all the adhesive off was not my favorite thing.

[Wiscon_Mark]

Now with Wagon Mafia stickers:

[click for larger image]
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/07/y4Xl7sRh-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/y4Xl7sR)

[Wiscon_Mark]

Winter is coming! I have the Impreza in full winter mode, which includes:

Michelin Xice tires (carryovers from the Forester, so they're a tad big at 215-60-16) mounted on Sport Edition 16" rims.
Engine Block heater
Husky Floorliners (front & back)
Fresh coat of Collonite wax
I'm also loving the cold weather package so far- seat heaters work really well.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/12/VoGNSPnh-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/VoGNSPn)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/12/bbBSf1sh-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/bbBSf1s)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/12/s12p5zJh-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/s12p5zJ)
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/12/j80QtyC-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/j80QtyC)

[Yamazaki]

The car is looking good.
But you, my friend, have willpower that I can scarcely believe. I have no idea how you've been able to resist doing more mods to this car by now....

[Wiscon_Mark]

It's not willpower, it's more lack of money (2 kids will do that!).

Just noticed I messed up on an image link, fixing now...

[Wiscon_Mark]

The last winter step - I sprayed a can of this all over the frame and suspension/drivetrain bits on the bottom of the car. It came highly recommended on reddit for rust prevention, we'll see how it does!

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2015/12/i4R0cF8l-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/i4R0cF8)

[Wiscon_Mark]

Did an interesting little mod that I discovered when browsing accessories on SubaruOnlineParts. It was billed as Crosstrek-only, but it fits the GP Impreza as well. It's a lower blower motor cover and not only does it prevent you from directly kicking the blower motor, but it also nearly eliminates the motor noise that is very noticeable when you have the fan on, even at low fan speeds.

Picture of the cover:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/04/yRJn98oh-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/yRJn98o)

Part #s:
1 - 66066FJ010 Under Cover
2 - 99045AE020JC Retainer Clips

[Wiscon_Mark]

Gave the car a fresh wash (power washer broke, so I did it with my crappy multi-nozzle) and waxed it up with Eagle1 Nanowax. I'm very impressed with the deep shine you get with that stuff on the Dark Grey Metallic paint. Easy application, too, and it doesn't leave any white residue on plastics!

Picture (click for full size):
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/05/fKSHbGgh-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/fKSHbGg)

[Wiscon_Mark]

I upgraded the LEDs on the front - they're quite bright, certainly enough to use as DRLs (I disabled the awful high beam system). Pictures don't do it justice, but I'm no tease:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/06/46Llqvfh-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/46Llqvf)



In other news, I installed a JL Audio HX series (compact) 50watt x4ch amplifier to drive the upgraded Kicker sound system better. Got a really nice custom harness from ae64.com that eliminated the need to cut into the factory harness while preserving the factory stereo: http://www.ae64.com/20-pincombinedharness.htm

Overall, it definitely drives the speakers better. I used to have the bass & treble cranked to get anything resembling good sound, now it sounds good with the EQ flat and no SRS enabled. Eventually I'd like to get some JL Audio C5 series components to compliment the amp, but sound deadening will be the first priority as it'll make a bigger difference.

[Wiscon_Mark]

So I couldn't resist:
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2016/06/v96oT3Uh-1.jpg (http://imgur.com/v96oT3U)


Also got 40MPG on my trip, which is cool.