Zyla's 1993 Subaru Legacy - "Mandy" - Mandy's Last Days

[Davis]

doofwoot

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Why not both? I mean, if you can indeed make it street legal, you can do navigational rallies, too...


Look up "time speed distance rallies" on Google to find some near you. They're less likely to break your car, and therefore also less likely to break your wallet.


Tuning advice: weld stuff. Weld your rear strut towers together with steel tubes. Install a huge roll bar which can easily be removed for gravel stages... Or snow. Do you get snow?


Buy a front strut tower brace bar, which can be easily removed (unlike the rear one).
Buy a reinforced subframe thing... It'll bolt right up to the existing stuff. In conjunction with the cage, rear strut tower bracing, and front strut tower brace bar, it'll be faster on every surface you'll drive on.

Don't skimp on tires or brakes; these are super important.

Don't be tempted by overly pricy coilovers unless you absolutely need them. The money you could save with super high quality struts and springs makes up for it.


Have winter/gravel rims and summer rims... The winter rims should be narrow, and have narrow off-road (snow) tires mounted. The summer/pavement rims should be 235/45R17 if they'll fit, or even 245/45R17.


Get roll bars first, and then buy springs and struts or coilovers in order to balance out the handling with the roll bars... Sometimes, because roll bars make the biggest difference, people will regret buying the springs they bought, because the roll bars made a bigger change than the springs, and suddenly they've gone "too far" with their setup. For example, before I got my rear roll bar, I had understeer. I would've gotten some super stiff rear springs. Then, with the roll bar, I would've had way too much oversteer. Even with OEM rear springs, I've had huge problems with oversteer.



All if this is irrelevant, however, if you get adjustable roll bars; best decision I ever made.

 

[Zyla]

Look up "time speed distance rallies" on Google to find some near you. They're less likely to break your car, and therefore also less likely to break your wallet.

Sounds cool!

Don't skimp on tires or brakes; these are super important.

Tires and brakes are two of my favorite things on a car; you don't have to worry about me skimping. lol

Have winter/gravel rims and summer rims... The winter rims should be narrow, and have narrow off-road (snow) tires mounted. The summer/pavement rims should be 235/45R17 if they'll fit, or even 245/45R17.

Totally had this in mind. I was actually going to buy a set of steelies to mount winter tires on and wear during the snowy season. Although the truck may be the one wearing the winter tires this year.

 

[Joey D]

Wait, since when does @Ferraridude308 have an Elise?

As for TSD rallies, unless you have a good navigator it's going to be super frustrating. I've done a handful of them in the past and it takes a ton of finesse to learn how to judge your speed and make sure you are going where you need to go. They're fun if you know what you're doing but the first couple of rallies will be a PITA.

Also, @Zyla the video you posted looks like Targa or a Road Rally, I don't know of many of those. The big one is in Newfoundland.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Targa NFLD is a long term goal of my own... I wonder if they would still allow Impreza wagons in, when I finally buy another.


I love being the fastest wagon in Ontario... I wouldn't mind being the fastest in Canada

 

[Zyla]

@Joey D his dad bought it a few weeks ago.

I haven't been to Miller Motorsports Park like Frari, but I hear it's excellent. Supposedly has some relation with Le Mans.

 

[SVX]

What sort of modifications are you thinking? If you're trying to be able to compete somewhat seriously with it- don't. This is a base model non turbo Legacy. The chassis is going to be as agile as a stone brick. And, judging by that rust on the guard, who knows what condition the chassis could be in?

Not to be a negative nancy, but seriously, if you're thinking of making it a purpose built racer, you're going to have a bad time.

 

[Zyla]

What sort of modifications are you thinking? If you're trying to be able to compete somewhat seriously with it- don't. This is a base model non turbo Legacy. The chassis is going to be as agile as a stone brick. And, judging by that rust on the guard, who knows what condition the chassis could be in?

Not to be a negative nancy, but seriously, if you're thinking of making it a purpose built racer, you're going to have a bad time.

Hey, it's totally fine. There's gotta be a way to strengthen the chassis, right? No way to be sure, but I don't think the rust has reached the frame itself. I know it's gonna take a lot of work, but I'm willing to endure it.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

What sort of modifications are you thinking? If you're trying to be able to compete somewhat seriously with it- don't. This is a base model non turbo Legacy. The chassis is going to be as agile as a stone brick. And, judging by that rust on the guard, who knows what condition the chassis could be in?

Not to be a negative nancy, but seriously, if you're thinking of making it a purpose built racer, you're going to have a bad time.

A friend of mine has this exact model. He even has a big wing on the back which provides functional downforce.

Edit: Zyla, contact me privately if you want more info


While I will agree that his engine lacks power, the chassis could hold its own; it just requires stripping, lightening, and new bushings/bracing... Which is something you would do regardless.

 

[Ronald6]

I missed alot in this thread while at the WCSS. Let me see if I can hit all the points I missed.

I'm liking your idea of the track racer. I'd prefer a rally car but I prefer you having thought it out more. Sounds like a good plan.

I loved the one TSD (Time, Speed, Distance) rally I did last year and plan to do more as a navigator for my friend in his STi. If you enjoy stressful driving on beautiful roads while doing math you'll love it. 👍

You're getting alot of good advice in this thread (I don't mean my own). It's good to see you taking it seriously.

Rally or track, you'll want to go to a high performance driving school.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

You're getting alot of good advice in this thread (I don't mean my own).

Well, I do mean your own... Because:

Rally or track, you'll want to go to a high performance driving school.

So much fun! Truly a wonderful experience.



@Zyla, I'm going to message you about something I'm 100% certain you'll enjoy.

 

[Zyla]

Mandy had a little bit of face surgery yesterday due to a silly decision I made on my mountain drive on Monday.

Aaaand here's the culprit.

It was fun, but it wasn't worth it.

I did get these wallpaper-worthy pics, however.

 

[Doog]

You silly goose.

 

[Joey D]

At least you didn't get stuck, so you got that going for you.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

At least you didn't get stuck, so you got that going for you.

It's what really makes a Subaru a Subaru.


Seriously, I passed a Hummer which was stuck. No, no I didn't help. I did help the Suzuki, though. No one likes being trapped in what can only be compared to prison.

 

[Ronald6]

Greenlanding is so much fun. Zipties are your friend.

 

[Zyla]

Drove through BCC today during the rain showers.

The grille is off because I got impatient the other night when I took the front end apart and just left it off. I will probably put it back on tomorrow.

 

[Zyla]

It was bound to happen. Being that I'm somewhat indecisive and keep buying problematic cars, I have finally decided to let go of Mandy altogether (instead of buying the second vehicle I mentioned) and purchase a new car to have as a daily driver. I'm sad to see the Legacy go, but it was a dumb move to try and turn it into a racecar when it's my primary vehicle. Experience is the best teacher, I suppose. It was an awesome car, but this decision was for the better, methinks. The new car can be seen in this thread.

 

[Davis]

RIP MANDY​

​

~1993-2k14~

Gone to the big ol' racetrack in the sky.​

 

[Aquarelle]

Try not to ruin the new one eh?

I feel like it would be mean to laugh and say I told you so. Experience is the best teacher? and not several of us more experienced drivers explaining to you repeatedly why it was a bad idea and why you had to slow down and think it through? not just hurl abuse and completely ignore the advice while labeling honest real world advice as "Hate"

 

[SVX]

Wait... didn't we warn you of this? Like, months ago? Oh, no, of course we didn't, judging by how you took it in.

We don't say it for the heck of it...

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

An Accord?!


I'm sorry for your loss. No, not the loss of Mandy, although that's also upsetting... I'm sorry for the loss of any credibility you had...


I'm really not a fan of that generation of Accord

 

[Doog]

An Accord?!


I'm sorry for your loss. No, not the loss of Mandy, although that's also upsetting... I'm sorry for the loss of any credibility you had...


I'm really not a fan of that generation of Accord

*Legend

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

It was bound to happen. Being that I'm somewhat indecisive and keep buying problematic cars, I have finally decided to let go of Mandy altogether (instead of buying the second vehicle I mentioned) and purchase a new car to have as a daily driver. I'm sad to see the Legacy go, but it was a dumb move to try and turn it into a racecar when it's my primary vehicle. Experience is the best teacher, I suppose. It was an awesome car, but this decision was for the better, methinks. The new car can be seen in this thread.

I have been through just about any offroad you can imagine and had many vehicles built for it. Honestly there is nothing that destroys a vehicle quicker than going through mud. Especially a little car.

If you want a mud vehicle, build a vehicle specifically for mud. But you sure as heck don't want your daily driver going through it unless your daily driver is built for it. At least you will learn from your experience.

 

[Zyla]

Try not to ruin the new one eh?

I feel like it would be mean to laugh and say I told you so. Experience is the best teacher? and not several of us more experienced drivers explaining to you repeatedly why it was a bad idea and why you had to slow down and think it through? not just hurl abuse and completely ignore the advice while labeling honest real world advice as "Hate"

I can be ignorant sometimes; it's not something I'm proud of.

Wait... didn't we warn you of this? Like, months ago? Oh, no, of course we didn't, judging by how you took it in.

We don't say it for the heck of it...

This is true.