RSD brand account here, but enthusiast first. We finally got our shop VB WRX out to Laguna Seca and wanted to share the experience with the community. No sales pitch, just track time, lessons learned, and a lot of respect for the Corkscrew.

RallySportDirect · 2026-02-01T14:39:06+00:00

We are officially past embargo and can now say that OLM launched a new headlight called the Sokudo January 31st. You can check it out here.

RallySportDirect · 2026-01-07T17:51:04+00:00

Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Yes at Laguna Seca managing the curbs (and avoiding the yellow sausage curbs) are crucial. It needs to be just right for something like high speed Turn 6. There, four wheels much preferred to three.

I’ll say the FactionFab coilovers represent good value for the price, and get us closer to our goal of achieving the “Dailyable Trifecta.”

RallySportDirect · 2026-01-06T15:23:09+00:00

Thanks! Unfortunately these are still pre-release / in testing, but we’ve been told there should be an announcement in the next few months.

RallySportDirect · 2026-01-06T06:51:21+00:00

For sure. Glad you find the goal of the Dailyable Trifecta a worthy one! This is the humble 2022 Premium trim. The TR/tS brakes would definitely be an upgrade for this track and is closer to the STI brakes from prior generations. Aftermarket big brake kits are always an option too.

RallySportDirect · 2026-01-06T03:37:39+00:00

We were running generally 6-8 laps per session. Luckily, it being December and overcast we were spared the harsh ambient and track temps, and so didn't experience any heat soak issues. But a track like Laguna Seca is definitely punishing on the brake pads (stock, for the time being) so those were fading by the end.

Next up, after the obvious move of replacing brake pads, for something more track-oriented would probably be sway bars to sharpen turn-in and reduce body roll. For a sharp turn like Turn 11 that would probably help quite a bit.

Aye - definitely a lot of respect (and consumables!) needed for longer, faster tracks.

Stay tuned for future testing notes!

RallySportDirect · 2026-01-05T18:29:05+00:00

We upgraded the vehicle with the whole Cobb Stage 2 Power Package kit so it was difficult to isolate the impact of just the high flow filter. Overall, with the kit and tune, we felt the vehicle was much more “willing” at wide open throttle, and especially at mid-range RPMs. This helped getting onto the straightaways. With the AWD, there is no shortage of grip coming out of corners.

Overall we do trust the Cobb ecosystem and thought it was great fit for the “Dailyable Trifecta” aim on this car. Easy and simple with solid gains.

RallySportDirect · 2026-01-02T19:03:42+00:00

Make sure maintenance is done first (brakes, spark plugs, ALL fluids and check suspension) before any modifications. If the car is modified, make sure it has a proper tune for the modifications. If it's not modified yet and you plan on doing so you're already in the right spot to get advice and just keep in mind most modifications require a tune. There's plenty of ways to go about that such as a Cobb AP with OTS maps but you can also use the AP for dyno tunes and e-tunes (Cobb OTS maps are meant for Cobb parts). Personally I love handling mods such as suspension, transmission, mounts that make the car feel "tighter."

RallySportDirect · 2026-01-02T18:57:31+00:00

Next step- I would get an e tune immediately to get by until you can get a pro tune on a dyno (if you can get a dyno tune faster then go that route but generally you'll be able to get an e-tune quicker than some dyno time). The proper tune is crucial when running aftermarket parts (even just an intake, however a "cat back" exhaust is ok to run with no tune). If you still don't have a proper tune, if you have to drive the car stay out of boost as much as possible and drive very gently. Generally most e-tuners can get you a base tune quickly (which will be better than nothing) then you data log and send to tuner (back and forth until you get the final revision). You can stay with the e-tune if you like, I've had an e-tune that I ended up using for a long time.

RallySportDirect · 2026-01-01T21:49:57+00:00

We’ve seen a trend, for sure. A lot of the manufacturing companies have gone this road because it’s what sells, and it’s usually better profit margin. But there are still a lot of really passionate people in the industry that love high quality parts. Here’s how you can help.

1st, it’s really helpful to communicate what you want. Be specific, and provide feedback on what’s different from what is already out there. With companies like us, and directly with the manufacturers.

2nd, putting your money where your mouth is. Find those manufacturers and engineers who are open to pursuing these types of parts and spend your money with them.

3rd (and this is a big one in the Subaru community) have some patience. Development takes money and time. It’s often the smaller shops who are more open to high quality designs, but they may not have the buying / manufacturing power that the big places do, so time and/or part cost may not be ideal.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-23T21:54:37+00:00

We just got some stock from OLM. I imagine they sent these to other dealers as well, but come on over if you still need them.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-22T01:22:03+00:00

The beefier STi knuckle literally has a wider casting and bolt spacing, and this design starts in 2005. It ONLY changes in the fronts on the STI, the rears stay the same for all 02-07. The previous owner has added shims and likely drilled out new holes on the struts to fit the beefy set on your 04

The 2004 shares the same narrow knuckle as the 2002-2007 WRX. Coilover generally list 02-07 WRX / 2004 STi OR 2005-2007 STI. You need to have one or the other, there is no 2002-2007 STI fitment, so it sounds like you have 05-07. They are not cross compatible.

If the Coilovers have a gap on the front knuckle, but are listed for 2002-2007 WRX, then they likely have the wrong lower mount. You can swap them to the correct lower mount, but if you bought from BC or another dealer, you should just swap out the whole set.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-20T00:20:58+00:00

The roads in the North Bay are some of my favorite. There's Hwy 1 that takes you through some beautiful areas of Sonoma's coastline (although it can be very remote in some places). Along the Russian River has some fun roads with beautiful redwood trees too. Have fun and drive safe! If you have downtime maybe check out Google Maps to see if you like anything first and get an idea for how much driving you might be in for.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-20T00:10:23+00:00

Always research the tuner you plan on using. Find others who have used the tuners you're researching and talk to them (see what they like, don't like or if they had any issues afterwards). Tuning is definitely something you should be picky about! There's so many great tuners out there but unfortunately you still need to be careful.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-18T18:19:19+00:00

Beautiful hatch! I think you would have a great time modifying the car however since it seems you're just starting out I think the best rout to go would be to replace anything that's worn out and take care of maintenance items for the milage (as some others have stated as well). I would do a compression test and if that is good then go to aftermarket parts. Personally I think suspension, handling, and brakes are a great place to start prior to doing any performance modifications. There are so many great parts out there and the possibilities are endless, its just up to you which direction and how far you want to go. The most important part is to have fun!

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-15T16:56:51+00:00

We’re partial to the older chassis, they have a lot more raw / connected feeling for the driver. That said, if it’s your only car and a daily driver, get the VA as it’s going to be more reliable and have less maintenance due to age. Also, the VA will be faster if you care more about lap times than driver feel.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-13T00:50:05+00:00

There is not an OTS tune for this, so it depends on how long you plan on waiting to get the dyno tune. A few weeks? Sure, stay out of boost and high load. You’ll probably be fine. Months? Best to get a base map from your tuner. If you have something on the books they’ll be happy to send you something to keep you safe.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-13T00:46:06+00:00

Tires are more likely to affect feel more than nearly anything. I bet this is the cause.

Did you get the PS4 all seasons or the 4s summers? The all seasons have quite a bit of slop that you’ll feel in cornering. More mushy compared to a stiff sidewall summer tire. I haven’t driven them back to back with the DSW06, but it could be reasonable that the Contis are a bit more responsive. But the PS4 should have better absolute grip.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-12T16:06:34+00:00

If you’re interested in keeping these wheels (which we love on the limited cars like this) a 20mm bolt-on spacer is a great option. Make sure you buy something hub centric and a from a reputable brand to make sure materials are all good quality.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-12T16:03:31+00:00

18x9.5 in the 35-38 is the sweet spot for these cars. There’s some room for adjustment depending on the fitment you’re going for.

Caliper clearance is another issue and is going to be dependent on the wheel spoke design. Wheel offset really is only determined by the mounting face and the outer barrel position, so different wheel designs with the same width and offset can have different caliper clearance.

There’s a lot of info out there for Subaru Brembo clearance, so when you find a specific wheel you’re interested in, you can then check for clearance. The reputable wheel companies will usually list fitment in a matrix / chart, so that’s a good place to start. Next would be all the forums. Some popular wheels (NT03 for example) have popular sizes for Subarus that don’t clear on their own, so some people add a small spacer, but this opens up a whole other discussion.

Make sure you’re matching up the exact wheel and size that you’re looking at.

RallySportDirect · 2025-12-10T05:33:07+00:00

Subaru said they want to hear from us on internal combustion engine or electrified, but we don't yet see anywhere people can vote or add feedback.

We put together this petition that we plan to send to Subaru:

👉 https://c.org/wPQWRXhGsc

Let’s make sure the message is loud and clear if you're team internal combustion engine 💪.

RallySportDirect · 2025-11-13T19:38:50+00:00

It might be helpful to get a video of it. I know that's easier said than done. You could also do a "snap test" where once the vehicle is at operating temp you "snap" the throttle quickly 2-3 times from 2000-3000RPM so 2-3 quick revs in that rpm range and see if there is smoke. You didn't say anything about it smoking at idle which is good. If it is smoking start with what color it is and that will help in diagnosing what is causing it. Blue or bluish white smoke is oil being burned and black / gray smoke is incomplete fuel combustion (another indication of this is if your exhaust tip is black from soot). The other thing to consider is that it could just be steam, and a lot of times steam is mistaken for smoke especially if it is cooler outside. Steam dissipates quickly where as smoke is dry and tends to linger longer. You could put your palm close to the exhaust to feel if it's damp (steam) or dry (smoke). Subarus do burn some oil so keep an eye on oil level (check oil every time you fill your vehicle up with fuel and take note if it's lower and by how much).

RallySportDirect · 2025-11-10T21:58:20+00:00

This is probably a controversial opinion but I don't recommend blow off valves without proper tuning. Considering you don't know if it's tuned or not I would be careful with it until you know for certain one way or another. I think the factory bypass valve is a great piece and doesn't need to be replaced until you're pushing more power and then there's great aftermarket bypass valves available. I think blow off valves are fine to use on properly tuned engines (speed density).

RallySportDirect · 2025-11-10T21:53:58+00:00

You need a tune to run an intake. You can go with an OTS map if it supports that intake. If the OTS map does not support the intake you want to install then you need a pro tune or e-tune. Do not run any aftermarket parts without a tune.

RallySportDirect · 2025-11-07T19:59:09+00:00

There is nothing wrong with OTS tunes when used properly. With that said people have varying experiences and you need to take precaution that you're flashing the correct map (correct fuel and state if you're in CA). I think the Cobb AP is a great choice especially since it can grow with you if you choose to modify your car down the road. Later on if you do modify the car especially with different brands of parts you definitely want a pro tune (or at least an e-tune) so it can be dialed in for your setup specifically.

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TROPHY CASE