Subiesport Magazine - April/May 2008 - (Page 28)

WICKED WAGON M ost of the time when we feature a “tuner” car, it has some sort of huge turbo with big power and little road usability. All go and brawn, but would you want to drive it? Every now and then we try to mix it up a bit with a car that you could actually build, drive and enjoy. Yukio Taira’s 2002 WRX wagon is a perfect example of real-world functionality. While the low-slug JDM Liberal body kit may not be the most livable part on the planet, a careful driver can negotiate most aggressive slopes and driveways. And with a stock turbo and stock engine, there are no issues with trying to harness a wild turbo system with aftermarket ECUs and hours and hours of dyno time. Yukio isn’t your normal tuner geek; he is a special kind, which came from a somewhat different place than most other import enthusiasts. “I’ve always been a big fan [of the WRX],” said Yukio. “Even when the bugeyes first came out in 2001 and people were telling me they were ugly, I was amazed at how cool they looked and that it came turbocharged from the factory. At the time, I had a 1994 Toyota Camry show car that was fully kitted and supercharged, so I wasn’t in a rush to purchase a WRX. As time went, on I did more things to the Toyota Camry, and even had a custom paint job with Java Black Pearl (so I was a Subaru fan even with a Toyota). Eventually I got bored of the Camry, and it was time for me to look for a new project. When I worked at JIC Magic USA, one of my dealers was selling this bugeye wagon. I contacted him about the wagon, took a test drive and I was hooked! For once I knew how it felt to drive an AWD vehicle.” While we all tell ourselves that we just want to keep things simple, it usually gets out of hand. However, Yukio seems to have found a way to strike a balance, and for a guy in the industry with easy access to all the parts one would ever want, that is saying quite a bit. “I just wanted a daily driven (60 miles a day), good-looking, awesome-handling street cruiser that got looks where ever I went,” said Yukio. “I wanted it to be special from the get-go, being a guy that has been into cars since 1995 and being in the industry since 2002; driving a stock car wouldn’t cut it for me. I just needed it to be reliable, fun, and drivable. I do a show from time to time, so I have to make sure that it looks presentable as well. All of my cars have been heavily influenced with the JDM style. I have nothing against the USDM companies, but I want to make sure that I run a certain consistent theme with my cars that I build.” With that esthetic in mind, Yukio went about choosing parts and equipment that would accentuate the performance and looks of his wagon, without compromising daily driver reliability. With the stock mill and turbo in place, he went about upgrading the suspension and adding a few more ponies with proven and reliable parts. Holding the chassis up off the ground is a set of 28 MAY 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Subiesport Magazine - April/May 2008

Subiesport Magazine - April/May 2008 Contents Travis Geny Letters Readers' Rides Subaru News Wicked in White Pink Rules Harman Motive Nouveau Tuning the 2008 STI 2008 Rally Guide Alcan 5000 Rally Alcan Unleashed WRC Rally Monte Carlo WRC Rally Sweden WRC Rally Mexico 100 Acre Wood Kumakubo! D1 Drifting Where to Buy Subiesport 2008 Impreza WRX 2007 Legacy GT 1993 Impreza Wagon Fueled Up Ad Directory Spotted!

Subiesport Magazine - April/May 2008

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