Reverend's Hyper Blue WRX STI



"Higgins Blue" STI
2016 Subaru WRX STI Series.HyperBlue
Purchased October 3rd, 2015​
This is my 2016 WRX STI. Of the 700 that Subaru made of the Series.HyperBlue models, this was the 44th one they built like this. I bought it around the same time that David Higgins and Craig Drew completed their Perfect Season for the 2015 Rally America National Championship, so I've made it a bit of a "Celebration Car" for that. I've taken it with me to several Stage Rally events and met up with the champ, who has since been a passenger and a driver in it. I also compete at local rallycross events with it and enjoy taking it to Subaru meets with friends. It's been a fun car to work on and a thrill to enjoy on twisty roads.



Photo Album (Flickr)
 

IGOTASTi

System Operator
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Been a busy two months and I can't stop myself from driving this thing all over creation. Didn't take long for me to want to protect this thing, so I got some Clear Bra on there on Day 3. Lots of construction, road work, and rocks on the road around here. Also got 20% Tint all around done. Then I took care of my pet peeve with the grille and swapped it out for a nicer cleaner JDM one.



1,000 Mile Update

The car has been absolutely brilliant so far. I changed the oil at the first 1,000 miles and replaced it with Rotella T6. Can't tell too much of a difference but the motor does seem slightly quieter and runs a hair smoother. During the break-in process I got after it a little, but now that I'm past that, I've been a little more aggressive with throttle inputs and pushing it a little more. When I first started driving this, the "Intelligent" mode was plenty of fun for me. Now I'm quite bored with that economy setting and find myself leaving it in Sport most of the time, punching it every so often in Sport #. Still getting used to that Turbo kicking in when I'm coming out of a turn!

Outside of the joys of ownership, I have managed to turn this "Hyper Blue" car into a "Higgins Blue" car thanks to a friend and his vinyl skills. I asked if he could make me "#75" logos for the wing of my STI to commemorate SRT USA driver David Higgins' perfect 2015 RallyAmerica Season. He delivered and they look great! Actually, they looked so good that, when I posted them on Facebook, David Higgins asked if he could share it on his page!

https://www.facebook.com/davidhiggi...60928.276908009011106/952384901463410/?type=3

 

IGOTASTi

System Operator
Staff member
So awesome! Thanks for the update. ;)
 
This car won't see much snow, but driving on the roads in the winter with these Summer Tires is admittedly a bad idea. So, for my alternate set of wheels for it, I found some BBS wheels from a 2005 WRX STI. They were covered in 4 coats of chipped-up rattle-can paint jobs, so we stripped 'em and had them powdercoated black. REALLY happy with how they turned out!

I wrapped them in Continental Extreme Contact DWS 245/45R17 Tires and added Rally Armor UE Mudflaps while I had each wheel off (for easier installation). Really happy with how it all turned out!
 
Been seriously considering getting the JDM Fog Lights for my Hyper Blue. I've been pushed even further to considering this after seeing them in person.


The main reason I'd like them is to change the finish on the bezel itself. I had considered painting the stock ones gloss black, but it doesn't seem like paint wants to adhere to such a textured surface quite right. That, and that extra light would be pretty sweet, especially considering I've got the Boomerang Driving Light conversion done already. I'd probably just tie the JDM Fog DRL into the wiring for those so they're both on when I'm driving during the daytime. I'll probably pull the trigger on these soon, but I'm still recovering from the cost of the new wheels and tires.

NOW my only other concern, that I didn't consider earlier, is that the lower grille will look funny since it's not glossy black. However, I don't think it's nearly as noticeable on lighter colors like mine. It was pretty obvious on the black and dark gray STIs I've seen.

 

IGOTASTi

System Operator
Staff member
How much are they?

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They are $435.95 from @SMY Performance. I decided to purchase a set from them and have them mounted but not hooked up.



IMG_0214 by 86Reverend, on Flickr

I LOVE the look of these! The glossy black not only compliments the JDM grille perfectly, but it really goes well with the Hyper Blue-on-Black look that these cars have.



IMG_0194 by 86Reverend, on Flickr

I've been considering different wiring / lighting options with these. I have the SubiSpeed DRL Boomerang kit for mine and I've been thinking of trying that LED strip in so they come on with those. Right now I've just been too busy to get in there and hook 'em up but I've been drooling over the look of my front end. Really enjoying how well these work on this car.

Any suggestions on wiring these things up would be appreciated! I'm open to different ideas.
 

IGOTASTi

System Operator
Staff member
[MENTION=5554]Reverend[/MENTION] oh we're jealous now!

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I've been wanting those JDM Fog lights for a very very long time now. Probably next purchase once I clear out my paypal debt of parts lol.
I would recommend splicing the DRL wiring for the fog led light bar. I guess subiespeeds DRL harness would simplify it.
 
Yeah, it would be easiest to do that. Originally I was rethinking of rewiring all the DRLs to be on their own separate toggle switch. Right now the only downside I have with the current set up is that my hand brake can't be on to get those cool "Angry Eyes" pictures at night.



I'm also preparing this car for it's first long trip. After much deliberation, I've decided to take this car to the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in Missouri. I was originally going to take my Rallycross Car, but the amenities in the STI make for a much more pleasant trip (like that it has a radio and working A/C). It seems fitting to meet David Higgins by driving the "Higgins Edition" WRX STI anyways. I've already got rally armors to help protect the car, but I'm also getting it Full Body Armor courtesy of Primitive Racing. A front skid plate and rear differential skid plate will go on the car to protect it when we get to the rally. I'm not actually competing in the rally, but as a Volunteer, I'll need to use the same stage roads that the rally drivers will be on to get to my assigned positions throughout the rally... so I kind of DO get to be in a rally car. MY rally car! Haha

 

SMY Performance

On Vacation
They are $435.95 from @SMY Performance. I decided to purchase a set from them and have them mounted but not hooked up.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1548/24803419679_118fc9c99e_z.jpgIMG_0214 by 86Reverend, on Flickr

I LOVE the look of these! The glossy black not only compliments the JDM grille perfectly, but it really goes well with the Hyper Blue-on-Black look that these cars have.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1609/24544298303_86038cb53e_z.jpgIMG_0194 by 86Reverend, on Flickr

I've been considering different wiring / lighting options with these. I have the SubiSpeed DRL Boomerang kit for mine and I've been thinking of trying that LED strip in so they come on with those. Right now I've just been too busy to get in there and hook 'em up but I've been drooling over the look of my front end. Really enjoying how well these work on this car.

Any suggestions on wiring these things up would be appreciated! I'm open to different ideas.

Thanks for the support! They look great installed. ;)
 
This post isn't so much of a "I changed something with my car" and more of a milestone for the car... and for me.

On March 17th, while everyone else was celebrating St Patricks Day, I was driving my Series.HyperBlue WRX STI to Salem, MO. Why would I drive to the middle of nowhere Missouri on a Thursday? Well... the intent was to sign up and volunteer to work at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood being held there on the 18th and 19th. It was the first Stage Rally and first Rally America National Championship event I've attended, so I was eager to see my heroes in action on the backwoods stages through the Mark Twain National Forest. However, my plans got a bit of an upgrade thanks to getting a tank of gas in downtown Salem on Thursday night.

I pulled in next to Agatino Fortunato of the All Fours Rally Team. He wanted to take some pictures of my Hyper Blue WRX STI next to his rally-ified WRX STI. I was thrilled to finally meet him in person and got in on the photo fun.

Untitled by 86Reverend, on Flickr

Minutes later, a white WRX with Vermont plates and Method Race Wheels showed up to the station. It was a Subaru so I instinctively waved to the driver. The driver waved back.
IMG_0362 by 86Reverend, on Flickr

Turns out the driver was David Higgins. He had finished the recce of the stages and was filling up. So... I was kind of ecstatic and surprised and trying my best not to sound like a complete goober talking to him. David and I had traded messages before, but I've never had the chance to meet him in person. Although he seemed just as eager to see this car in person.

IMG_0363 by 86Reverend, on Flickr
IMG_0364 by 86Reverend, on Flickr
IMG_0366 by 86Reverend, on Flickr

He took some photos of my "Higgins Blue" car and shared them.
Untitled by 86Reverend, on Flickr

Over the next two days, I was the course marshal for Stages 5 and 9 on Friday and Stage 11 on Saturday. I also got a chance to spectate on Stage 16. While I was waiting to head to that stage, I visited the service area and somehow got David Higgins and co-driver Craid Drew to sign a piece of my dashboard (which I will have photos of later once I've protected the signatures).
IMG_0857 by 86Reverend, on Flickr

Long story short, I got to meet my rally heroes and see them in action... plus David asked to sit in my car and took pictures of it.... plus Higgins and Drew signed my dash. So yeah, this was not only an eventful weekend for me, but also a bit of a milestone for the car. It was also the first time this car saw gravel and dirt (and it did quite well) and it's first road trip, so I couldn't really be happier with how everything turned out!

 
Nice to hear that. Can't wait to see the dash with the signatures


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

IGOTASTi

System Operator
Staff member
Now that's an awesome post right there. ?

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HolyCrapItsFast

Drinks beer!
You sir! are one lucky son of a B. That is some awesome goodness right there and I am jealous!
 

War_Panda04

STill Plays With Toys!
Thats the coolest thing ive ever heard in my entire life. Im so peanut butter and jealous right now!!


And thats all i have to say about that...
 
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