As some of you know, we have a new project in the stable. It is a Aspen White 2006 STI. Currently it has been used for testing and various product reviews and tech articles. We are considering goals for the project now and some possibilities.

The main goal was to keep it a street car first. Secondary goals are to be a track terror and show peice. We would also like to use it to spread the i-Club name. We are interested to hear what you guys are interested in seeing.

 

Here is a little insight into its current state and some of the plans. The car has already been tested for 2 comprehensive suspension setups and had good success on road course but has now been returned back almsot to stock with just a downpipe, flash, recaro seats, and steering bushings. We are working with JRZ USA and will be testing a new double adjustable street/track coilover setup soon. Giro disc has also expressed interest in us using a new brake setup (using stock calipers).

Another serious possibility for some real impact and exposure is the WRC kit pictured below:

 

Thats hot! Suscribed!

 

hahahahha camber like what

 

A project car is a unique idea, but I think I would be against it. This is totally my opinion though, but I feel that an "I-Club Project Car" will not accurately represent the views of the I-Club community. I've only been around a year, so I am more or less making a pretty large assumption.

I think there is a fine line between an I-Club STi and an STi that promotes I-Club. I wouldn't mind you sticking a bunch of I-Club logos all over the STi, but I would really uncomfortable if you were going to promote the car as being an I-Club sponsored project car. Kind of get what I am saying?

As for the idea as using it as a guinea pig to test and review different products, I'd say that's a great idea, but I would like to say that I would prefer not to see I-Club exclusively promote any one product or brand.

Just my two cents.

Yes to you making the STi your own project car and promoting I-Club with it.
No to making the STi a sponsored "I-Club Project Car" that may not represent the views of the I-Club community.

 

^ rubbish

I like the idea of having an i-Club car with WRC parts. It'll look frickin sickkkk
But i'm afraid with the exposure and falling prices of used WRX's, i-club will turn into a ricer forum. I want i-Club to be bigger, but then again I like how i-Club is right now.

But hey, I'm just one i-Clubber. I'd like to see some opinions from other guys on this forum.

 

I do understand the concerns and we do take those into account. It is not really an i-Club sponsored car as it is part of i-Club. It is our car and it would be/is used for a variety of uses. One reality of creating project cars and getting support to do so is that the vehicle needs exposure. This includes through this site, magazines, and events. All of which are intended for all out projects. This would also not be the the one and only i-Club project. We hope to continue on with project after project for all different generation and model Impreza. For example, a 2006 STI ceratinly would not be of much relevance to someone with a 98 2.5rs, nor someone with a 2008 WRX. The main purpose behind projects is to be able to supply you guys with interesting and relavant unbiased content. We do not write revews for or keep products that we do not like/believe it.

As for keeping the site exactly how it is and the people that are on it, it sound good untill you realize that this would lead to it's demise. We need a constant refresh of new people or it will slowly disappear. This means exposing our name and site to the public. Of course this inevitably means somes less savory people, but at the same time it means new quality members that contribute to the community.

IMO, another benifit of a well executed site project car is it give us a mascott of sorts. A physical representation of our community that we can all get behind and be proud of. We also plan to work with our i-club vendors to help build the project up. This helps our community as a whole.

 

Other goals of the project are to do things that are not common. For example, a new JRZ street suspension that no one has used yet.

We have already gone through two rounds of suspension testing on this car. The first of which went against conventional wisdom with realyl great results. We used a custom Robi-Spec KW V3 Clubsport with an ALK, complete set of whiteline lateral links which for some reason people seem to think do not exist, dual whiteline 27mm bars, and a crazy alignment. The results were realtively low hp car that was beating up heavily on modified Z06s and 911 turbos at Sebring. Not to mention Evos . The setup also included a reduced rear track width for increased rotation using upper camber plates with the adjustable lateral links. The alignment was set at -3.25 camber and 1/8th posityive toe front, -2.5 camber and zero oe rear. I will be re writing an article about this setup and the parts used to be posted soon. While this car has been my personal car as well for the last year, as of July, it will actually be transfered as a site/company car.

 

I think it's a great idea as long as the i-Club community can help in the form of input on its design etc.

I've been with i-Club actively for a few years and as a lurker for a year or two before that. I would love to see i-Club get some attention it's always deserved.

Polls like we've had here in recent history regarding what parts to use, what the car should look like, etc. would go a long way to making the car truly feel like it belongs to the community, addressing the issue darkonion brought up earlier.

 

Sorry to post again, but a couple other projects we really want to get into are a GC STI project...maybe even wagon, and although unpopular, a 2008 project.

 

As with most cars geared to marketing, it seems the latest gen. possible, an '08, would be the best idea. It would give i-Club the most modern face possible and remain relevant longer. Making a one-of-a-kind '08 early in their production would be way more effective at getting i-Club exposure than any "outdated" model which has already been modified by countless other companies/organizations.

 

Thats one of the reasons of this thread...to get input. Some stuff comes from what businesses would like us to test. If we like it, we keep it. But othertimes, its what the members wold like to see or what is new and interesting.

I agree a 2008 is a important car to work with the remain relavant and cutting edge

Also, on another note, this is not some wimpy show only car. It will continue to see track time.

 

I agree. Although a 06 STi would be more pleasing to the eye, its been done before. My vote goes to a 2008 STi, with a custom paintjob that would make it unique. This way anyone who sees it will remember the "I-club car" and not just some random modded Subaru.

 

ooo touche pwnx. I agree somewhat with pwn. I think that if this is going to be an "i-club" car, it should not be what everyone expects it to be. If it is on the street, or on the showroom floor, it should be a car that stands out different then the other poeples cars. Now whether that means a sick 08, or an 06/07, I think that something should be done to it to make it special and unique

 

Hey, I just saw this thread.

Too bad you guys are all the way in Tampa, I was hoping when this car is done/in progress we can check it out. Anyways, is this car mainly for show or race? The reason I ask is because setting up a car usually means one or the other. I suggest doing the latter since show queens usually get a different crowd (ricers) coverage than race cars in things like time trials. As we know, in the Subaru community recently, many of the bigger vendors are getting into time trials ie. crawford, GST, FIA, Cobb, and other vendors that run Subaru's in the time trials. If we were to get real coverage, build a car and find a drive that will BEAT each of these teams, and I guarantee you that you will have more traffic, ESPECIALLY if it's under the I-Club name. It seems like your funds are adequate since I see the plans you guys are making. But building a car and finding a driver that can compete with those guys won't be easy. If done though, it will be amazing.