Speed and convenience doth have no friend save the WRX wagon. Don't understand any of that? Think about this then: What car can you easily find for under $25k new that can hold five adults and a small refrigerator while making you look like a rally superstar? The WRX wagon, of course. But ask any would-be Subaru owner if they'd rather own a WRX sedan or wagon, and you'll get responses ranging from: "Everybody gets the sedan," to "Station wagons are for grandmas."
Please bitches.
The wagon packs the same gravel-churning drive system of the WRX sedan, carries a weight disadvantage less than any adult passenger, and has enough room for three perfectly molded ladies when the back seats fold down. For the real world, it is the ultimate choice.
When it was brand new, bystanders would write off Judson Bryan's 2002 WRX wagon as just another station wagon, able to blend into the background at will. Now packing more JDM goodness than Japan itself, this wagon is not the wolf in sheep's clothing that it used to be, and it has the scars to prove it. The custom rims took four months to arrive from Japan; freeway debris split the first bumper in half; a rock cracked the first hood scoop; the first hood arrived broken, and a Sea-Doo fell on the second one. This wagon is a product of patience.
All the cracked and broken hood pieces will bring a tear to your eye once you realize Bryan only goes for the best in JDM products. No knock-offs, replicas, or copies-only the real deal. All those hoods were genuine C-West dry carbon-fiber hoods with the C-West dry carbon hood scoop. The front Version 2 grille and headlamp eyelid covers are also from C-West, while the body kit comes courtesy of Liberal. Installed and painted by M1 Autobody, the wagon also features STi fog lamp covers, Ganador side-view mirrors, Zerosports carbon air ducts, and JDM Subaru HID headlamps. Details you might not notice right away include the UK-market waist spoiler on the rear hatch, and the JDM Impreza badge, which replaced the U.S. version.
What makes the body really work is the custom 17x7.5-inch +43 offset Volk Racing CE28N wheels colored the same green as the wheels on the JGTC Takata NSX. Held down by Rays Engineering lugs, the wheels were sourced from Japan through Mackin Industries and specifically sized to clear big brakes. Those stoppers are now Endless six-piston fronts with Brembo rears. Fitted with front Endless two-piece 13.5-inch rotors, rear Brembo 13-inch rotors, Endless stainless-steel braided brake lines, a MRT master cylinder bracket, and Endless Vita Nuova brake pads, the wagon puts the hurt on Yokohama AVS Sport ES100 tires.
With a pretty tight EXEDY single-plate carbon clutch and lightweight flywheel, it's commendable that Bryan drives this car everyday to work. A Z1 braided stainless-steel clutch line, B&M short shifter, and Kartboy shifter bushings help. But with a Sony Xplod head unit as his only entertainment upgrade, Bryan must take pleasure in his interior work.