BRZ STi x TRD "BSTiRDized"

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by Khazzy

how much to you recommend the rubber extension for the STI lip? Working on getting my STI lip kit and was wondering the necessity of it. I am in Nebraska for an idea of quality of roads, although the KC roads in my opinion are much better haha. Stock height too.

By the way great pics!

Thanks!

The lower you go, the more I recommend it. At stock height, you won't need it as much especially if you're always careful and aware of imperfections of the road on which you're driving. But people still scrape even with no aftermarket front lip at stock height... it's those unexpected dips/rises in unfamiliar areas that get you. May not happen as frequently in our cities compared to others, but spots to scrape do exist anywhere. You usually find out exactly where the moment after you've scraped and the damage is done. The rubber skirt is a worthwhile measure of idiot-proofing, especially for something expensive as the STI lip.

[chanomatik]

Good point. I still think it looks better without it, though. I'll take my chances when I get mine! Of course, I don't see why I couldn't cut out my own of rubber to fit underneath and glue it? Like maybe something just a few mm thick. I just don't like how much longer the lip protector is, making your car lower and even MORE prone to scraping. I almost feel like its unnecessarily long and more of a ploy to make people spend more money.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by chanomatik

Good point. I still think it looks better without it, though. I'll take my chances when I get mine! Of course, I don't see why I couldn't cut out my own of rubber to fit underneath and glue it? Like maybe something just a few mm thick. I just don't like how much longer the lip protector is, making your car lower and even MORE prone to scraping. I almost feel like its unnecessarily long and more of a ploy to make people spend more money.

I did temporarily try the Home Depot lip mod and was almost going to suggest it. But the color was too off for me to recommend.



The challenge is finding rubber that's a better match for the stain black paint of the STI lip. Also finding rubber with an "L" shaped cross-section so one leg of the "L" aheres to your lip and the other leg extends down towards the ground for a few centimeters of protective "cushioning."

I scraped yesterday through an everyday intersection which dips (sometimes I don't scrape depending on my speed and entry angle) and today on a 123 mile cruise into an unfamiliar town in another state. And recently for an oil change and alignment, I've had all 4 wheels of my car rolled up onto jack ramps that suspended my car so techs could work on it. I watched the "L" rubber skirt get completely pressed/folded so it became a "V" with both legs closed into each other as it rolled up the incline, protecting my lip. Then they let it roll too far to the end of the jack ramp where there were wheel stops that protrude up. The rubber skirt ate it and nudged my lip upward (the lip mounts/bumper have some flex play). After painfully watching all that, I checked/felt all along my lip and found there was no damage thanks to the rubber. Then again, I'm lowered on Sportlines. But when I was lowered on 0.6" STI springs, I did scrape the rubber several times on unfamiliar roads and the lip saw no damage. So I have firsthand experience of seeing the rubber being effective at protecting the lip from damage. And in cases where I saw the ground fold the rubber into itself and flex the whole lip up, if the rubber weren't there, the lip would have touched ground instead.

But that's not the purpose for which STI markets the rubber skirt. It is intended to be an aerodynamic piece which blocks air from flowing to the underside (similar to how JDM underpanels and TRD rear diffuser keep air pushed downward) to reduce airflow/air pressure to the underside. Similar to why stock cars/race cars have near zero ground clearance; so air is diverted away from the underbody to prevent lift. So the STI lip is for downforce and the rubber skirt is to reduce air entering the underside. I don't remember seeing STI market it as a protective piece; that's just an extra benefit that nudged me to get it.

[chanomatik]

Damn... thought I almost had you in check, then you had to end with, "Basic science." haha

Yeah yeah yeah, flow flow flow. Function > form, but I still will fight it because I think it looks tacky.

I do appreciate your firsthand experience with it. I wish there was a suitable replica of the STI lip because that thing is a sizable investment. For the price you'd think it would e much more durable.

Most likely I would have mine removed for the winter because there's pretty much no way it would survive anyways. My car scraped after a heavy snowfall and I was just driving through a busy intersection. Apparently no other low car had gone through there that day. :derp: Would've given me a heart attack if I had owned a front lip.

[Khazzy]

cool. Sounds like a plan. I did scrape one day and after I did it I knew exactly why I never went to that gas station. They did not even have what I wanted there! took the paint right to the plastic haha.

[ChandlerSwyng]

Unsure if you have a Instagram but I posted your car on "BRZGram" go check it out. Insanely nice car man!

[Stierzy34]

wow. Beautiful car!

[ChandlerSwyng]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

So here's what all my wheel shopping and research boiled down to.

$3k for this?


Or $580 for this.


$3k for this (no concave nor fender roll utilization unless with spacers)?


Or $580 for this, no spacers.


Breaking it down like that resolved the madness and gave me so much clarity to decide. If I ever need to replace a wheel for whatever reason, it'll only cost a buck fifty. If I ever get JDM wheels, I'll already have lightweight 22 lb. 18" tires ready to swap on. Sorry for dragging this out but I'm still stoked with my decision.

I understand why some people don't like the XXR'S ,(they are too common, too cheap, etc.) but I LOVE the gold on blue look. It really brings out the classic subie look to me and I love the 527's. I can't wait to get them in gold on my red BRZ. You've done a great job on your car and it looks like you put twice as much money as you actually have into it!

[switchlanez]

Thanks @mrauburnhd, your red on gold will look killer! I'm not caught up with the times on Instagram yet lol (still using fb as a one and all solution) but I saw it on BRZGram. Gonna try to comment tag the photographer for photocred, hehe.

[chanomatik]

I would've preferred the $3k wheels option. That's probably just me, though, because spending almost $600 on your 2nd choice means you would have had to put up $2,400 more for ones you actually wanted.

Not gonna lie, $580 is actually a really good deal.

Everything I look at is at least $900, up to $1,800. My dream wheels are the ASGA Spirits and they're $912USD right now.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by chanomatik

I would've preferred the $3k wheels option. That's probably just me, though, because spending almost $600 on your 2nd choice means you would have had to put up $2,400 more for ones you actually wanted.

Not gonna lie, $580 is actually a really good deal.

Everything I look at is at least $900, up to $1,800. My dream wheels are the ASGA Spirits and they're $912USD right now.

Well.. the Prodrives weren't even a strong 2nd choice. They were just a "meh" consideration being one of the few wheels available with original gold paint. The face is too flat (Prodrive does offer them in a concave face but not in the right size/bolt pattern for my car). If the face is going to be flat, at least have a lip (like CE28N or GC-010G). I wanted something that would utilize the stock rolled fenders; the best Prodrive offers to get that fitment is 18x8 +43 which is only about halfway between stock and flush (they are fitted with spacers in those pics I posted). I didn't want to settle for halfway. The XXRs come up right behind the roll without chance of rubbing. From a style and fitment standpoint, XXR was my #1 choice among all available gold wheels by far. Weight is relatively light for cast wheels (about the same as stock despite being bigger/wider, lighter than costlier Rays Gramlights and OZ Formula HLT, and likely the same weight STI 18" wheels). Safety/reliability checked out to be perfect from my research with the same JWL/VIA certifications as OEM but no TUV (which STI also doesn't have) and no widespread issues from hundreds of XXR 527 owners through the years. The low price just sweetened everything.

The only faults I can think of are they're not as "exclusive" and the paint can sparingly have minor defects upclose which I gladly overlook.

[BugeyedWagon]

Did you consider these in gold? Front negative camber would however be necessary for no poke. I'm happy with them as this is my car...



Cosmis MR2

I consider them the same category as XXR's. I would have preferred the WedSports, but they are far more expensive.

[switchlanez]

Originally Posted by BugeyedWagon

Did you consider these in gold? Front camber would however be necessary for no poke. I'm happy with them as this my car...

Attachment 45406

Cosmis

Split spokes aren't my thing (personal preference) but, dude, I was the one who went up to your car and asked about your wheels/suspension when your AZ group met us at In-N-Out on 86EXPO weekend! I was a judge for the event's show portion. One of the judges even selected you as his top choice! Seeing your similar setup pretty much confirmed what I had been planning for my car and made me excited. Ordered everything soon as I flew back home.

For front poke, I used OEM camber bolts. Super easy correction and maintains factory alignment specs. I recommend it.

[BugeyedWagon]

Originally Posted by switchlanez

Dude, I was the one who went up to your car and asked about your wheels/suspension when your AZ group met us at In-N-Out on 86EXPO weekend! I was a judge for the event's show portion. One of the judges even selected you as his top choice! Seeing your similar setup pretty much confirmed what I had been planning for my car and made me excited. Ordered everything soon as I flew back home.

For front poke, I used OEM camber bolts. Super easy correction and maintains factory alignment specs. I recommend it.

Awesome! Lol I had no idea that was you. Haha

Nice meeting you!