When the Subaru WRX first made it’s debut to North America most would agree that the front fascia of the car was a little…undesirable. It featured big round headlights giving it the term “bugeye” WRX and came with a 2.0 flat 4 turbo motor which turned out nearly 230 hp. Most would agree that it isnt the most sought after model when compared to the similar body styles of the blobeye and hawkeye which would eventually offer both WRX and STi trims. I for one love the bugeye’s, they’re different and being different is good in my book which eventually led me to buy my Legacy GT wagon, but this isn’t about me. This bugeye happens to belong to Boston Maler and like the few who wholeheartedly love them has made great strides to truly turn this thing into something pure!
Words from the Owner:
“Five years ago, I owned an 03 PSM WRX. i did what most everyone else tries to do and sourced every bolt-on modification possible. From exhaust/intake/tune, to basic suspension upgrades. The modifications were about as far as they could have gone with the stock EJ205. I loved driving it on my daily commute to work while still in college, which at the time was a road with about 150 – 250 turns and an elevation change of about 500 – 700ft. I’d have to say i was very blessed to live and grow up around some of the best driving roads on the eastern half of America. These roads soon led me to wanting more out of my 03 bugeye, in which I realized the benefit of the STi over the standard WRX. Better transmission/rear diff, control arms, brakes/hubs, engine, better power band and more low/mid range torque. All of which seems to help defy physics while blasting your way down challenging mountain roads.
So the next step? I could either pick up a higher mileage STi (something affordable) or find a STi swapped WRX but usually are never the complete package. I stuck it out on the NASIOC classifieds for 10 – 12 months hunting for the right car. Coming close multiple times to pulling the triggers on WRX’s and a few 04 – 05 STi from New Jersey to Florida, until I finally came across an FS posting located in Alpharetta, GA. i told myself in the past that i would never own a red car but the Sedona Red Pearl quickly changed my mind. it was exactly what I had been looking for and located relatively close to me. The posting had only been up for two days and I messaged the owner asking for details on the car and made arrangements to meet and look over the car in person.
When I got down to GA and met with the owner, I actually found out that the car belonged to his wife. His personal car was a matching 03 SRP wagon with a hybrid build. The previous owner and his wife were two of the nicest and most professional people I have ever met in the community and very caring of their Subaru’s. his wife wanted less car and more practicality, as he told me they were planning on flying down to Florida to pick up an 05 2.5GT after the bugeye sold.
Back to the 02, he had bought it from a friend’s brother who was a Subaru tech at All Pro Subaru in Georgia and had watched the swap/tear down from an 80k 05 STi donor car over the course of several months. If you haven’t heard of All Pro then go check them out! They are known for their remarkably clean and extensive STi swaps into every other kind of chassis. Absolutely no corners were cut with the swap, as everything was taken from one car to the other including rear glass/fuel tank/all wiring/dash, etc. The trans was bought new and is from an 07 STi. I had put a deposit down on the car for him to hold for me. About two days later I received a phone call from the owner in which he told me a gentleman from Tennessee asking him to pass a message over to me. He told me the guy would give $400 plus my deposit not to buy the car! At that point I knew I had found the right Subaru, I replied sorry but it’s mine!
After picking up the bugeye, my plan of action was to modify it in the sense of only adding the highest quality parts. My ideology was to keep the vehicle extremely clean but simple, to add nothing that takes away from the car but only adds value and refinement. When I owned my 03 bugeye, it opened the door to the JDM marketplace of parts that never reached dealers shelves here stateside. Things that I never knew existed created a desire that is reflected in the bugeye today.
Now fast forward roughly three years and we come to where the car is today. I focused on all the aspects of the car, from brakes, wheels, interior but with the majority spent on suspension, engine, and exterior. To me the most important areas of the car will be driven on a regular basis, through the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. As with all project cars it is still a constant evolving state and always on the pursuit of perfection. i can say with honesty that she will never be finished and for that very reason i get great enjoyment due to the people I meet and the friends I make along the way.”
Engine:
EJ257 swap
CP forged pistons
Injector Dynamics Fuel Injectors 1300cc with top feed billet fuel rail conversion
Injector Dynamics Side to Top Feed conversion Fuel Line Kit
Injector Dynamics Injector PnP Adapters
Tomei Type S FPR
Tomei Fuel Gauge
255lph in tank fuel pump
TGV deleted
APS turbo inlet hard pipe
APS fenderwell cold air intake
KillerB Ultimate oil pick up
KillerB Windage tray
Process West Black TMIC wrapped in gold DEI heat tape
Blousch Dominator 1.5XT-R 10cm Twinscroll Turbo
High Heat Lava Turbo Blanket
Torque Solutions motor mounts and pitch stop mount
Twinscroll J-Spec C Header/uppipe – wrapped in thermo tec
Spec C Catless bellmouth downpipe for USDM catback exhaust
Stromung 3″ catback dual tip muffler
APR headstuds
APS High Volume Twin Vent BOV
Prova AOS
Samco red radiator hoses
Moroso aluminum coolant expansion tank
APS overflow tank
JUN radiator cap
Mishimoto radiator
Cobb Accessport V2
STM small lightweight battery
Omni 4 bar map sensor
Grimmspeed 3-port Boost Solenoid
NGK one step colder plugs
OEM magnetic drain plug
Transmission:
2007 STi with 3.54 gearing, matching 2007 R180 rear diff
All DCCD controls work like factory setup on an 05 STi
DriveShaftShop 1-piece Carbon Fiber Driveshaft
Torque Solutions Trans Mount
ACT race sprung 6 pad clutch and lightweight flywheel
Kartboy short shifter
Kartboy front and rear shifter bushings
Suspension / Brakes:
All of the suspension/steering components are 2005 STi (quick ratio steering rack)
BC Racing BR Series Coilovers with rear valve extenders
Turn In Concepts Fender Braces
Whiteline 25 – 27mm front sway bar
Whiteline 22 – 25 – 27mm rear sway bar
Kartboy Solid front endlinks
Whiteline rear adjustable endlinks
Whiteline Steering rack bushings
Whiteline Front Roll center adjustment kit
Whiteline Anti-lift kit
Whiteline Rear Diff support lock bushings
Kartboy rear subframe lockdown bolts
Kaminari rear lateral links – adjustable race version
Moog inner tie rod ends
Stoptect SS brake lines front and rear
Grimmspeed Master Cylinder brace
RBF600
Wheels / Tires:
(on the car) Volk Racing Gold CE28N 18 x 9 +50
Volk Racing GT center caps and valve stems
Toyo Proxes R1R 255 / 35 / 18
Project Kics R40 composite lugs
(off the car) 2005 17 x 8 Gold BBS STi wheels
BF Goodrich G-Force 245 / 40 / 17
BBS red gold center caps
Exterior / Interior / Dress-up:
WC Lathe Werks titanium STi teardrop shift knob, blue / bronze faded finish
Prosport Boost Gauge
Innovate Wideband
Hella Sharptone horns / subiemods harness
Torque Solutions Billet Red Rad stays
Autodimming rear view mirror w/ compass
All weather impreza mats
Authentic “Discontinued” ARC Alternator cover
04 WRX door cards
05 STi front seats
04 WRX rear seats
JNA front lip soon to be replaced with a JDM V7 V1 STi front lip
JDM V7 STi hood scoop and splitter
JDM V7 wrx front grille
JDM V7 STi matte black HID headlights w/ Lightwerks plug&play harness
JDM V7 STi multi coat fogs “Rare”
JDM OEM front aero splash guards
Professionally paint matched side skirts and splash guards
Voltex style FRP Forcewerks rear diffuser
.
“Many many thanks go out to all my friends and family inside and outside the car community who have helped along the way especially my good friends Jacob and Tobin. Thank you Jordan @ Defined performance for always giving the best prices on the parts I need, because Subarus aren’t evos and there seems to be more paying than playing with them haha. Lastly thanks to the founders of Nasioc for creating such a great resource for everything and anything Subaru related and connecting people from around the world who all share the same interests.”
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