haha i totally agree

 

pho king already exists, its in oakland, u can see it from 880.

If you like the look of the older suby, then stick with what you like, having a better car that you don't like, doesnt make sense.

 

Gosh I don't want to step on any toes here, and I agree that a lot more research needs to be done by the OP before doing anything but... I find your comments and story to be quite odd, based on around 10 years of track experience. Most of my experience has been in light, underpowered cars and there has NEVER once been a point in time where I have thought that I had "too much" braking power. Simply saying that a car that only has 100hp so it doesn't need better brakes is... Wrong among other things. A competent driver in a low weight, 100hp car will carry much more speed than a novice driver in a car with 4x the powah. In this case it's the "lesser hp" car that is in greater need of braking power. That said, I do not think this is the case here.

I am sure your brakes are very nice, but "professional driver could not get the brakes to fade at the race track" hmmm... There is something wrong with that story - even without the RA1s in there. I can definitely imagine the brakes working very well, after my own experience with my '01 RS coupe w/ stock brakes + Porterfield R4-S pads, but "could not get them to fade" is a whole different ballgame, even without knowing which track, how many laps and how hard the driver was pushing the car.

For myself, I would go for the LGT setup up front most likely if I did another coupe. The Brembos are also very heavy - this is worthy of consideration. For a street-ONLY car, there is no need whatsoever to upgrade the brakes beyond a better pad compound. Talking about "going really low" and such makes it sound like bling factor rather than performance factor - so none of this even matters in that case!!

 

I get my brakes to lock! WRX size front and rear. Locking = bad!

I didn't read through the thread, but... I should mention that the L fronts are 1-pots and smaller diameter rotors than the RS, and the rear is a drum. But yeah... My WRX size stuff at the track is... in many respects... excessive. Not to say that you shouldn't spend a little more on good quality pads, rotors, lines, and fluid. Anyways... not enough brakes is bad. Too much brake is bad, too!

 

Stock brakes fade bad. In just spirited driving, Ive experienced major fade on the stock brakes on all of my Subarus.

If you upgrade power first, just know that your stock brakes cant handle more than 3-4 120-0 hard stops in a row.

 

I purposely sought out a GF wagon (1996) because I like the body style and Ive always wanted one with an STi motor in it.

now I have it! I cant get that in a GG or later wagon, so I bought mine. It ws cheap, too.

 

Yeah, I know. That's basically the point of what I asked the guy - does he REALLY want a GC or is he just going the "start out cheap and get expensive later" route?

Cause I'm in that boat. I bought my bugeye brand new off the lot and spent a lot of money on it when a lot of bugeye owners on i-club traded for an STI. But I don't regret it now since aspen white bugeyes have become desirable to suby enthusiasts.

However ask me a few years ago and I definitely would have told you I regretted not saving up and trading for the STI.

 

Are you seriously asking me wether I meant what I said? I know you aren't calling me a liar, but still, you think someone like me whos been around the boards for nearly a decade and has some level of driving skill would make such a statement just cause?

I asked him, after 15 laps straight laps if we needed to let the brakes cool down, and he laughed at me saying "WHY?! They're freaking unbelieveable, they aren't fading at all..."

My car is 130whp, at the time 2800lbs. on 235/40/17 RA-1s. Back at the Subydude track day in April of 07. Hot sunny day, afternoon. It was my first track day, I did a 2:24 in my car. He stepped in and on lap 3-5 was doing 2:15s....


But that's ok if you don't believe me. You're more than welcome to ask the driver himself.

http://www.grand-am.com/standings/index.cfm?series=k

His name is Christian Miller, he's on the Compass 360 Team.

 

I already have a 05 STi completly stock. I am mainly going for looks. just want a good looking L. Brembos, BBS's lowered and thats it. Maybe down the line ill think about swaping it out if i get/find a good deal. This has just been made too big of a thing, I simply wanted to know what it would take and how much i was looking at and for some of you guys it turns out into a big lecture. I mentioned above that it was "Preference" that is all. Everyone has there own likes and dis-likes. Lets just get over it and move on, I just want Brembos, I do. You guys dont have to agree with me. Thanks to those who helped me and gave good info. Someone close this thread.