[avishenoy1]

So I've been thinking about making this thread for a while and finally decided to bite the bullet since I want a journal of the car's progress from start to finish. Hopefully you guys will appreciate the build and provide some feedback.

First off, the primary goal for this build is on-track performance and as cliched as it sounds, function over form. I'm a big fan of racing, especially production based series, and have taken a lot of inspiration from GT and Time Attack cars. I'm an engineer and I have the utmost respect for the engineers at Toyota/Subaru that designed this car, so I always do my research before messing with what truly is a well designed sports car in stock form. That being said, I also understand that cost dictates design in the corporate world with very few exceptions, which leaves plenty of room for improvement.

I'm also a big fan of another cliched phrase, built not bought. Anyone with enough money can go out and buy a Lotus or a BMW that is track ready off the lot, but where's the fun in that? I love working on the car myself and learning how it works, plus I can't stand paying for labor, so I do all of the work on it myself. That being said, I did buy the Release Series 1.0 because it came with a lot of very nice TRD parts already installed and I got it at an insane bargain since it was "Used" (4500 miles). I wasn't a huge fan of the bright yellow but it's grown on me.

Eventually I would like this to be a dedicated track car but for now it's also my daily. I firmly believe that the FT86 platform has huge potential in GT racing, but due to fact that it's a relatively new car, cost is a big factor keeping it out of competition in most entry level classes.

Last but not least, it's an Automatic. At this point you're probably wondering, why did I read this far? Why would anyone buy an automatic, let alone build it? Really, a slush box track car?

Hold the jeers. When I first drove this car in automatic form, I was expecting to be disappointed. I was expecting slow shifts and flappy paddles. I was expecting to be bored.

Let's just say that after the test drive, my expectations were shattered. The shifts in manual mode were crisp and quick, and I enjoyed being able to use either the paddles, or the stick to shift in Manual mode. I was also pleasantly surprised when in Drive with sport mode engaged. The car revved high, shifted almost telepathically, and even engine braked for me. The whole experience was unlike anything I've had in an automatic and offered plenty of driver engagement when desired, as well as daily driving convenience. The main thing that sold me on the auto was that the car was still FUN to drive.

After having the car for almost a year I have no regrets, and actually find that I'm able to focus more on steering input and line at the track without having to take my hands off the wheel. On that note, I'll finish with another cliche that sums up why I love the automatic, it may be slower, it may be less engaging at times, but it's the driver, not the car. Here are some pics from when I first bought the car, more updates to come.