MkIII's 2002 Legacy GT [Winter Pictures 12.19.2008]

[MkIII]

{{Updated Posts at the End}}

I figured for a first post it may as well be my car as it's one of the reasons I felt this particular forum might be appropriate for me.

My 2002 Legacy GT was purchased to replace my old '95 Golf, which I do miss. However, this is a decent car and I've enjoyed the quirks... which I'm still getting the hang of.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/04/2008NewWheels0051-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/04/2008NewWheels001-1.jpg

These two pics show my car now with the new wheels. 17" Gram Lights 57Maximums. I've got some KYB dampers and H&R springs waiting to go on, but I couldn't wait to get the wheels installed.

The rest of the car is mostly stock. Although I've put in a short-shift from Kartboy, K&N filter panel, SSI front skid plate, and a few factory upgrades like the alarm and interior air filters.

Thanks for looking. :)

[BE-Fresh]

I saw MK III and knew you had a dub. I'm came from a '95 GTi VR6 myself. The wagon looks hott!

[WinterKnoll]

Wow, very nice and clean. Welcome.

[Huffer]

Looks very clean.

[henryq89]

nice and clean wagon man...keep it up :grin:

[MkIII]

Yeah, I've used this MkIII screen name for so long that it's become quite out-of-date. However, it's easy to remember so I stick with it. :grin:

Thanks for the comments. I'll hopefully have more to share as time goes on.

[battman]

That is one clean wagon. Sometimes I wish I had a wagon! Oh well, can't wait for the Springs to go on!

[rougeben83]

Yes, another silver BE/BH :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin:

[MkIII]

Well the suspension is finally done; approximately 8 hours of work and one week later. It was what might best be termed as a "learning experience." One of those is that you really do need those Impreza upper spring perches.

For some reason I thought my existing perches would be fine. What I didn't realize is that the H&R springs are actually wound smaller at the top. So the Legacy upper perches won't work and if you didn't get those ordered up front and they aren't locally available, you're in for a wait with your car up on jack stands. But heck, let's show a picture that I hope makes this clear to some other suspension novice. :oops:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/SpringPerchCompare-1.jpg

I'll have some pictures of the finished product soon. The car is a bit dirty right now, but it's almost perfect (to me) in stance, ride quality, and improved handling. :grin:

[rougeben83]

Well the suspension is finally done; approximately 8 hours of work and one week later. It was what might best be termed as a "learning experience." One of those is that you really do need those Impreza upper spring perches.

For some reason I thought my existing perches would be fine. What I didn't realize is that the H&R springs are actually wound smaller at the top. So the Legacy upper perches won't work and if you didn't get those ordered up front and they aren't locally available, you're in for a wait with your car up on jack stands. But heck, let's show a picture that I hope makes this clear to some other suspension novice. :oops:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/SpringPerchCompare-1.jpg

I'll have some pictures of the finished product soon. The car is a bit dirty right now, but it's almost perfect (to me) in stance, ride quality, and improved handling. :grin:

Yeah, only the USDM OEM springs have that...the JDM/Europe models use the same perches as the imprezza, H&R apparently based their spring design on a european model IIRC.

[MkIII]

That would definitely make a lot of sense. I was absolutely puzzled as to what to do when I went to rebuild the assembly.

In my brain I knew exactly what was wrong, but it took a while for me to come to terms with it and admit that I was a dummy. :grin:

[Airgne]

YEAH MORE NW PPL!!!!!!!!!!!

[sansMYSTi]

Well the suspension is finally done; approximately 8 hours of work and one week later. It was what might best be termed as a "learning experience." One of those is that you really do need those Impreza upper spring perches.

For some reason I thought my existing perches would be fine. What I didn't realize is that the H&R springs are actually wound smaller at the top. So the Legacy upper perches won't work and if you didn't get those ordered up front and they aren't locally available, you're in for a wait with your car up on jack stands. But heck, let's show a picture that I hope makes this clear to some other suspension novice. :oops:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/SpringPerchCompare-1.jpg

I'll have some pictures of the finished product soon. The car is a bit dirty right now, but it's almost perfect (to me) in stance, ride quality, and improved handling. :grin:

Yeah, only the USDM OEM springs have that...the JDM/Europe models use the same perches as the imprezza, H&R apparently based their spring design on a european model IIRC.

Sounds about right - I had no problem mating my JDM Bilsteins up with my H&R springs.

[J-Rock!]

I love them wheels!!!

[ndto]

i want that spoiler, the dealer up here is charging 400+ but it would be painted though

very nice wagon

[MkIII]

I gave the car a good cleaning and took it up to Bald Peak State Park.

The current set up is now; H&R Spring, KYB Dampers, and the 17" Gram Light 57Maximums. It's probably more subtle than I could have hoped for, which makes it just about perfect.

I expect the springs to settle a bit more, but I doubt that it will be more than 1cm. Anyway, it's the pics we want so here they are. :grin:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/2008SubaruLegacy016-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/2008SubaruLegacy005-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/2008SubaruLegacy020-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/2008SubaruLegacy004-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/2008SubaruLegacy008-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/05/2008SubaruLegacy006-1.jpg

[subieyacht]

You would be supprised how much those h&rs are going to settle. Ive had mine on for two years and my car is about an inch lower than when the springs were new

[MkIII]

Well, nuts.

On my old Golf they really didn't settle all that much, but it was a significantly lighter car (I had an H&R cup kit on there). I was hoping that it wouldn't settle much more than that.

Well, if this does pan out for a full inch extra drop then I'll have to be WAY more careful creeping over the speedbumps. :D

[Huffer]

That thing looks SICK!

[subba]

The drop looks perfect

[ndto]

very very nice drop!

thats the stance im looking for with my wagon

nice!!

[sybir]

Very clean, nice work!

[BE-Fresh]

Sittin pretty

[99gtlimited]

love it. nice work, well done, and good explanation of problems for future troubleshooting

[Airgne]

sexy.

[MkIII]

Thanks for the compliments guys. I must say it rides very well with this set up. I'm actually a little surprised about how comfortable this ended up being given what I was expecting.

[Wagonista]

Man, your BH is sexy. I'm considering selling my wagon for one so that I can make it like that. :razz:

[Reason]

Wow looks great, clean drop, clean car!

[deadlydave]

Excellent choice of mods and great looking car. Well-played!

[WinterKnoll]

This is one tight, clean car. Nice work.

[DOOK]

another silver BH with nice wheels and dropped... LOVE IT!!!! Here's mine:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/03/photoshoot12-1.jpg

I need your sideskirts

[dubkeith]

^^ Damn! Thats deadly too. Are those 18's?

[MkIII]

Black might have been a little too subtle in the end. :wink:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/08/2008SubaruLegacy034-1.jpg

I wish I had more to add than some snappy new vinyl, but it doesn't look like any significant updates will happen until next year.

I'm still happy with the suspension and I haven't noticed any appreciable settling yet, but we'll see what it looks like a year from now. I do feel like the handling could yet be improved, but it also might be helpful if I just came to terms with the fact that she's a bit of a porker. :grin:

[MkIII]

Here's a few I took today around Newberg on a rare winter day here in Oregon. You've got to take these while the weather lasts. I wish the camera was a bit nicer though. These little point-and-shoot jobs really aren't good for much more than candids.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/12/2008SubaruLegacyWinter007-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/12/2008SubaruLegacyWinter005-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2008/12/2008SubaruLegacyWinter017-1.jpg

[Huffer]

Nice Aaron!

The P+S cameras really are pretty good these days. Looks like you took those pics at the height of the sun's travel (12-1pm?) so the light is going to be harshest then. If you take pics right around sunrise or about an hour before dusk, you'll get the best pics for natural lighting.

Also, when taking a pic of the car, try to be on the side where the light is hitting it, if you shoot in the shadow all you get is a shadow.

That first & 2nd pic would be pretty nice if you were standing with the car to right of you, instead of the left... but again mid-late afternoon works best.

Love the last pic though! Sweet area.

[MkIII]

Thank you for the advice; believe it or not, it was about 9:30 in the AM when I took them. But the keeping the sun behind is something I frequently forget.

The last picture was a throw-away, but after reviewing it at home I found it was probably one of the best. It's taken really close to my house near the Hazelnut Orchards. I like how all the colors, save lenses, are roughly in the gray scale.

Alas, the snow has been melting so no more cool opportunities, but we're expecting to get more throughout the weekend. :grin:

[nwsubie]

that orchard pic would look good in a frame! I'm gonna be gettin some H&R's on my wagon soon. I've had them on all my VW's and loved them...

[hallowpoint]

the wagon looks good. im thinking about getting a newer gt wagon in silver

[ndto]

that orchard pic would look good in a frame! I'm gonna be gettin some H&R's on my wagon soon. I've had them on all my VW's and loved them...

yeah that pic is awesome, kinda like a brochure pic for the AWD

[Greavesy]

great lookin BH mate!