2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Interior

Like many other aspects of this street/track killer, the drivetrain retains a surprisingly large number of the original pieces. The transmission, flywheel, shifter, differential, axles and CV joints are all stock. The only drivetrain mods are a Crawford Performance pressure plate and 6-puck Max clutch.

A powerful engine isn't enough to make a winning time trial car. Suspension tuning can make or break it. But just because Crawford Performance spends a lot of time playing in the dirt with buggies doesn't mean they can't set up a roadracing car. To the contrary in fact-these guys have done a killer job.

Just like an engine, a good suspension needs a solid foundation-in this case a stiff chassis. To prep for the suspension install and tuning, Crawford bolted on Do-Luck interior and exterior chassis stiffeners and M1 Fabrication front and lower braces. The STi rides on a set of DMS 50 dampers at all four wheels, while 700 lb/in springs up front and 650lb/in springs in the rear keep the car suspended. Whiteline front and rear anti-roll bars, measuring 22mm and 27mm, respectively, keep the car flat through the turns while the driver turns the stock steering wheel. Other suspension mods include custom trailing arms and Whiteline end links.

While the STi still sports a slew of its stock parts, the brakes on this machine see extreme duty, and needed upgrading. Now sporting 13.1-inch rotors and Brembo Gran Turismo 4-piston calipers up front and Brembo calipers in the rear, Crawford's ride has the braking covered. A set of Volk LE28N wheels and Kumho tires keep the car glued to the pavement on and off the track. Measuring 18x8.5 at all four corners and shod in 245/35/18 rubber, the STi sits pretty while getting the job done.

Speaking of beauty, all of the body mods came from APR Performance and include a carbon-fiber adjustable wing, front air dam, front splitter and front bumper canards. It's surprisingly simple and effective.

Take a peek into the interior of this car and you can see that it really is a street-driven machine. Other than the Sparco seats and harnesses, a few gauges and an Alpine 6-disc changer, the interior is completely stock. You could feel comfortable driving this car every day-in the real world.

Many of the dual-purpose street/strip cars we see around here are seriously biased towards one end of the equation or the other. Either they are great track cars, but awful street cars or the other way around. Not the case with this car... It has all the comforts of a commuter, but take it to the track with a good driver and it will humble even the full-blown racecars that have to be towed to the track on a trailer. And that's just what we like to see, because come on, what's the point of having a street/strip car when it can't do both this well?