|
|
Time to read 15 min
When we first discussed starting an article series focused on customers and their cars, we immediately became excited thinking about the possibilities of connection, inspiration, and the level of gratitude we would feel after talking with people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and levels of automotive expertise. The most important thing about these features is not necessarily about how modified the car is, how much money the person spent on their car, or even the degree of popularity the enthusiast has gained within his local or regional automotive loving community, or how active they might be within the larger, more vast Subaru Tribe of faithful. If a car enthusiast's dedication, passion, and level interest were judged, determined, and ultimately qualified by the amount of money they have invested on their car, the amount of time they have spent at track events, or the amount of Subaru knowledge they have regarding the entire brand including all the platforms, engines, and pioneering innovations they have achieved through their history, it is reasonable to think that the actual definition would be much different, the population of the overall community would shrink dramatically, and those holding membership would consist of a few professional motorsports drivers, experienced industry professionals, and some dedicated Subaru employees. The greatest thing about our wide ranging community is that it is unique, diverse, interesting, helpful, and incredibly creative, which allows it to stand alone amongst the other groups and assemblages that exist within today's modern automotive universe. It is amazing to experience a Subaru event for the very first time and even better to witness someone else who has either been connected with the event by another enthusiast, or had no idea these events existed. Where else can this wide bandwidth of people gather - a place including those who have recently been turned on to a Subaru, took the plunge, made the purchase, and are now excited to see what possibilities exist on their new journey, to the others, those old school, experienced modifiers with plenty of dirt under their nails, mileage on their souls, and a modded car to show for their efforts. Like these events, we hope to bring like minded people together through their cars, stories, and ambition, but moreover driving home that the enthusiast spirit is born of pure desire to learn, to express yourself, and become part of a dedicated alliance of creators that share one common goal - to be proud and passionate about their Subaru.
As the winter months steadily take hold here in New England, we see confident Subaru drivers motor forth without real concern about the conditions that may surround them in very short order. Even though the prediction lays out a very mild season, the Subaru enthusiasts we meet are almost craving the challenges just to prove the capabilities of their vehicles whether they own a rugged sports utility like the Outback, Forester, or Crosstrek, or an aggressive performer like the WRX. Last month our series began nicely with 2019 Subaru WRX owner Justin Veilleux an enthusiast and customer local to our area here in Bloomfield, CT, which made it both an interesting story close to home, but also gave us the opportunity to get to know one of our customers face to face through a method that wouldn't have been possible through the process of a simple online order. Coincidently, last months feature spawned the creation of our newest article that outlines the story of another local enthusiast who, like Justin, got bitten by the automotive bug early in life outside the Subaru realm, but as soon as one crossed his path, he knew that he had to make the connection and begin his journey. Our new friend is much further along with the enhancement plan on his Subaru, but he stands as proof once you get the brand in your blood and feel how the rewards affect your life, you just fall in love with your car and its potential. During our interactions in creating last month's feature, we were fortunate to cross paths with Zach Lanza, a proud, 24 year old owner of a 2017 Subaru WRX Premium which has been his faithful companion and daily roadster for the past four years. He acquired his WRX as a used vehicle at a dealership in Milford, CT after deciding to step into the world of performance ownership for the first time after a few years of young man dreams and goals began to push him towards commitment. Growing up in the Naugatuck Valley in the town of Oxford, CT, Zach had the same dreams and interests as many young enthusiasts admit to having earlier in their lives. No matter who you talk to, the fixation begins when the automobile is your primary focus. Whether it's a passion for Hot Wheels, model kit building, running remote controlled hobby cars, or just wanting to know the name of every car you see as you strain to look out the passenger window of your parents car, there is a definite starting point that we all experience. It's either in your blood forever, or it's not. As we learned about Zach, we discovered that he is no different than the rest of us - hopelessly devoted.
Stepping back to this young man's life in Oxford we can identify immediately with what was going on in his mind and what would lay the foundation for his future love for the car that found him. "From a young age I expressed a great deal of interest in cars", Zach explained. "I used to name the cars on the road that we would pass or sometimes even count how many of one car I saw during a road trip. I always enjoyed going to car shows and when my dad would take me to On Track in Wallingford." As time passes in the life of a newborn enthusiast, there are only so many events and situations involving just watching or admiring your favorite cars. For many of us, it is heartbreaking not to follow through with something that has invaded your soul with so much vengeance and passion. It would be crushing for someone who loves to listen to, write, and play music to never own an instrument to fulfill their desires and live out their fantasies. "As I grew older, my passion for cars increased as I gained a better understanding of them and my interest in driving increased as well", Zach remembered. "I began to play the Forza Horizon series at the beginning of my high school years and that is the same time I also got into the Fast and Furious movies. My passion for “not staying stock” became stronger as I modified my first vehicle – a 2006 Nissan Frontier." Again as many enthusiasts realize, the first vehicle you acquire may not be the vehicle that was destined to find you, deliver your purpose, and gift you with the ultimate rewards and feelings that brand you a dedicated, faithful member of a wider community. As Zach's life progressed and as his educational challenges changed, his original plans would become redirected by detours and adjustments that, quite frankly, we all experience at one point or another. His passion for getting under the hood, making changes to his freshman vehicle, capturing the spirit of the modification warrior, and exercising his desire to take ownership of his growing ingenuity and creativity would not be in vain since it only built up his resolve to deliver on a deep, unconscious want for more possibilities and more performance options which would come from a clear well of practicality and common sense. He would learn that everything happens for a reason. "During my junior year of college I was looking for a change", Zach said. "School was starting to pick up with clinical assignments and having to commute more. Having a truck was just not looking like it was going to make sense for that", he continued. "I also was getting an itch to drive a manual as I had learned to drive manual from a friend and I was hooked." He was about to be introduced to his perfect match, one that would finally scratch that itch.
We can all identify with the direction that Zach's life had taken at this point in time. We have all been there in some way, shape, or form. The fun part is, when you are an enthusiast that needs to fulfill a desire that is a little different from the average driver, these decisions come from a unique section of the heart that is very distant from something that lives in a person who just wants to get from point A to point B with not thinking about the car's personality or style. The funniest and most truthful fact about the enthusiasts life, is at the point when we, including someone like Zach, crosses over into the performance realm, they will never feel at home in the universe of the normal driver. Like Zach, this is something we all come to experience when our first performance Subaru finds us in the wild. Ironically, this car, although built with extraordinary performance potential, pulled him in for all the right reasons. "The WRX was the best of both worlds where I could get good gas mileage, fulfill my desire to drive manual, still have a beast for the winter, and overall gain a great driving experience", Zach explained. "A manual transmission and All-wheel drive (AWD) were huge proponents of what I was looking for. I really fell in love with the VA body style and the opportunities it provided for modifications, both cosmetic and performance." Now, getting back to our point regarding the uniqueness of the Subaru community, like many others who first fell for the brand, a desire is born to put your own personality and dreams into your platform. Not everyone who first connects with a Subaru, whether it be a WRX or Outback, is a born modifier or stellar mechanic, but an off-the-lot car with as much personality, potential, and impressive specifications as a 2017 Subaru WRX will inspire even the greenest novice to sharpen their chops, roll up their sleeves, and begin to run with the pack of faithful. Zach's decision is a good example of how to start and how to move forward with patience, persistence, and enthusiasm since all will pay great rewards to the conscientious owner in time. "I would not consider myself an expert", Zach admitted. "I know a lot about the various platforms and what to do and what not to do. I feel like the timing that I bought my Subaru and where I was at financially did not allow me to fully dive into the vehicle the right way", he noted. "I’ve learned that these cars are great platforms but they have to be done the right way. Supporting mods are a huge factor. I wish I had the opportunity to really dive into the vehicle but long commutes steered me away." When time allowed, and finances permitted, Zach began to bring his dreams to reality with smart, informed decisions.
Everyone starts somewhere so it would be ridiculous to say that a modification project or even a long term plan is easy or without anxiety. "This is the first performance car that I have owned", Zach explained. "My parents were never into performance vehicles so my exposure to them came from elsewhere." Any modification, big or small in investment or in effort should be taken seriously and never approached with the attitude that you know everything. One simple mistake caused by an assumption or because you refused to ask for help can be both extremely disappointing and incredibly expensive. The best path is one that is mapped out with informed decisions and patient actions to make sure all the steps are completed correctly and accurately. "Supporting mods are a huge factor", Zach confirmed. "I wish I had the opportunity to really dive into the vehicle but long commutes steered me away." Truthfully, it can quickly get expensive to modify a vehicle all at once, but planning accurately can allow a smart, affordable investment to bring your vehicle to a satisfying place over time without discouraging any progress in the future. When we asked him about his total investment to date, he said, "I would say with this car, I am somewhere near $7000.00 . I have utilized used parts for certain modifications where I felt comfortable in the condition to save money." Logic dictates that there is really no deadline when modifying your car, unless you are a professional driver or individual that is supported by their vehicle. Even then, any expert will tell you that patience and caution always wins over haste and cutting corners. "I have been modifying the WRX since I bought it", Zach confirmed. "Over the course of 4 years, the car has taken multiple forms." A great example to other enthusiasts who may have challenges with time or money, Zach has spent the past four years giving attention to his exhaust, suspension, wheels, tires, headlights, and interior which has brought him continued satisfaction and hunger for more, but with logic setting the boundaries. "I chose the exhaust (3 inch mid-pipe and 3.5 inch axle back muffler delete – single wall from Remark) due to wanting more sound. Surprisingly with the 3 inch mid pipe and axle back deletes, there is not a lot of drone on the highway. I chose the wheels and tires (AVID SL02 18x8.5 +35mm Hyper Black wrapped in 245/40/18 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 tires) because I wanted to get a better fitment from stock and change the look of the car a bit. The (FactionFab FL-spec) coil overs added to this by helping to get rid of the fender gap." Like all of us, he also has dreams for the future. He continued to say, "I would like to do some power modifications but at this point in my ownership I am comfortable with where it is. Possibly a high flow j-pipe." All good goals for sure.
Zach's story would not be complete without looking between the lines and seeing the details behind his very patient driven modification journey. Reading along you might understand that he has walked with an incredible attention to detail and needs to do things the correct way which, more times than not, leads to the path of victory or at least extreme personal satisfaction. Zach takes great pride in his Subaru ownership and the quality time he has spent keeping his car running efficiently, looking good, and maintaining his spirit of pride without losing focus on his investments. He is definitely proud of what he has accomplished. "Everything you see on the WRX has been done by yours truly", he says with pride. "From swapping the exhaust multiple times to installing the coil overs and setting the height myself. Of course friends were involved along the way whether that be for the extra set of hands or to use to bounce off ideas." Now, four years in, we can really see how much the reward has gifted this enthusiast and helped define what being Subaru faithful is all about. You know that if Zach were to be at an event, a gathering of drivers or owners, or just hanging out at a local shop filled with the like minded car obsessed that we happily admit to be, he would be as generous with his experience as we would expect. His attitude and steady persona has continued to pay off through his ownership as it did during the sectors of his modification process since he didn't run into any obstacles along the way. "Regarding modification, no real problems came about", he admitted. "The [Subaru] community provided me with a great place to find advice and things to look out for. The biggest issue I have had with the car in general was when the clutch went...but, this was something you can’t really avoid with the car being used", he said. "Previous owners leave a lot to be desired in regard to how a vehicle has been treated." As he moves into the future with his 2017 Subaru WRX, his expectations will always be as simple as they were at his journey's beginning - respectable and honest - which seem to keep in line with this diverse community that keeps us unique. "A fun daily that can be cleaned up to be a head turner was my vision", he remembered. "I am quite surprised that I have gotten so many compliments on my WRX. There are so many of them out there, all done up to the owners liking", he adds. "I have tasteful modifications on my car but nothing over the top...and that is how I like it."
Learning more about Zach's journey and how our team had contributed to the personal rewards he has achieved over the past four years were the frosting on the cake for us at the end of this experience. We meet many enthusiasts through our showroom in Bloomfield, CT, at events around the region and throughout the country, and most importantly in our own communities when we are recognized while wearing a company shirt or hoodie while walking out and about in the surrounding towns. Zach is just like many of the enthusiasts that walk through our doors each day, proving that connections can and will be made when like minds get together. "I love Subimods for their convenience", he explained. "Supporting local businesses is something I enjoy doing and having them in Bloomfield makes it all the better. Being able to walk in and get help from someone face to face is awesome. When things are in stock, even better, I am able to leave with what I need that day", he added. "Prior to knowing about Subimods I shopped elsewhere, but Subimods has been the first place I look to now when trying to get parts. Subimods have been great for support and product selection."
Here is breakdown of just some of the modification components Zach has installed on his 2017 Subaru WRX Premium for anyone who would like to follow in his footsteps:
• FactionFab FL-Spec Coilovers
• Molded Innovations 3rd Brake Light
• Stop Tech Stainless Steel Brake Lines
• iDoing Android Head Unit
• Remark 3.5 inch Axle Back Muffler Delete (Single Wall)
• AVID SL02 18x8.5 +35mm Wheels in Hyper Black
• Firestone 245/40/18 Firehawk Indy 500 Tires
• Thule Evo Wing Bar Roof Racks
• Billetworkz Weighted and Engraved Sphere Shift Knob in Red
• Vent Access Port Mount
• Subispeed Headlights, Redline V2
• STI Recaro Bucket Seats
• Black Badges with White Lettering and Stars
A very special "Thank You" to Zach Lanza for getting involved in our "Customer Profile" series and choosing Subimods to help bring his 2017 WRX Premium closer to fulfilling his modification dreams.
As always, our dedicated team of enthusiasts strive to provide aftermarket solutions to customers who want to take their Subaru to new heights of performance and style. It doesn't matter if you need to create a new, more exciting, daily drive, give yourself a more exciting weekend on the track, or discover a new view of the wilderness through an overland experience, we've got you covered.
We would be very interested in your thoughts regarding this article and would encourage your feedback and comments regarding your Subaru and what your modification experiences have been during your car's lifetime.
If you need more information regarding aftermarket parts for your Subaru, please visit our website and explore the section dedicated to your platform. We would be happy to serve you !
Write your comments below and continue this conversation. We are always thrilled to hear your opinions. THANK YOU!
Give Your Subaru WRX a Gift Today!
Take a look at the selection of upgrades we have in the Subimods catalog for the Subaru WRX. Scroll through our product rotator below to sample some of the quality products we have available.
Bryon Turcotte - Marketing Writer/Analyst
Turcotte has worked as a writer, journalist, and digital content developer for 30 years. He began his career in music journalism in 1995 then worked for several years as both a staff writer, managing editor, and a freelancer for both regional and national music publications. Over the next three decades his contributions extended beyond the music industry as he served within the realms of higher education, science and technology, manufacturing, and finance. He has been serving as a content developer and writer on the Subimods Marketing team since August 2023.
{"one"=>"Select 2 or 3 items to compare", "other"=>"{{ count }} of 3 items selected"}
