The Beginning: Choosing the BRZ
Meet Hunter, a car enthusiast and proud owner of a 2013 Subaru BRZ. We sat down with him to learn about his journey with car modification and how he’s transformed his vehicle into a one-of-a-kind ride.
“I was in college in 2013 when the BRZ came out. I loved the look and said I’d get my own one day. When I graduated and started in my career I found the perfect car in Memphis, about 3 hours away. My best friend drove me there to pick up my manual 2013 Subaru BRZ limited in satin white pearl. What I love most about it is the endless aftermarket parts for the platform. It allowed me to put my own spin on it.”
Modifications and Transformations
Hunter’s BRZ has gone through several phases of modification.
According to Hunter: “The first phase was a stock body; I focused on wheels, exhaust, aero, and suspension, only using the most high-quality parts I could get. GMR GS-108 3-piece wheels, Greddy Evo GT IV catback, Berk front pipe, Tomei over pipe, and Tomei UEL headers. Airlift, ISC rear LCAs, Verus toe arms, Racer X front LCAs, APR wing and mirrors, Rocketbunny v1 diffuser, Aeroflow Dynamics front splitter, and side skirts. Valenti tails and custom-built RGBW LED show-worthy headlights. On the stock body, I wanted a way to stand out from the rest, so I wrapped it myself in half-black/half-white camo. It was my first wrap job ever and I couldn’t have been happier with the result. I miss the wrap but it was never the plan long term. When I got the Rallybacker v2 widebody kit, I removed the wrap and had the kit painted satin white pearl. You see so many ricer BRZ builds, I wanted to make this one as clean and high quality as possible. The only downside to building it this way is the -10.5 degrees of camber all around. You lose the handling that is perhaps the best part of actually driving the car. But I wanted the best fitment possible with the deepest lips I could buy. And on these cars, a lot of camber is the only way to do that.”
Using the Car
Before the widebody kit Hunter used his BRZ as a daily driver. He commutes 40 miles to work now so driving it every day wasn’t feasible. Now he just drives it around town and takes it to shows every now and then.
Challenges and Key Decisions
We asked Hunter what challenges he faced while modifying his car.
“Pretty much all suspension and tire related. I run through tires about every 2-3k miles. I’ve debeaded countless times and blown tires on the interstate. I’ve rubbed a hole in my bags, replaced camber arm pillow ball joints, and the list goes on. When a problem happens I just dust it off and say it can be fixed, and get right on it. I pride myself in doing all the work on it myself.
The Look
“I just wanted a clean look with high-quality parts. I wanted a way to stand out and be unique without being too flashy or distasteful. The challenge with that is figuring out all the little details that will accomplish this, which you might not see right away but when you get up close you notice and appreciate the attention to detail. Matching rose gold dress-up washers with the rose gold hardware in my wheels is an example.”
Uniqueness
“You see so many BRZ builds, you want to have something unique. I chose a wheel design that I’ve never seen on my car before, and I’m still in love with the look. Directional wheels will always be my favorite.”
Newcomer Advice
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to modify their vehicle for the first time?
“Know that you’ll encounter problems along the way, and you may end up feeling in over your head or being way more into it than you originally planned. Just remember why you wanted to modify it to begin with. If it brings you happiness, nothing else matters. I say all the time this car saved my life during a really hard time of my life.”
Relationship
How has owning and modifying your vehicle changed your relationship with cars and driving in general?
“I wasn’t a car guy before I bought the car. Didn’t know much beyond the standard maintenance my dad taught me. It’s become a part of me. I know I always have my car to turn to as an outlet when life gets stressful.”
Favorite Memory
Can you describe your favorite memory or experience you’ve had in your vehicle?
“Probably the two Slammedenuff Gatlinburg shows I went to. Not only the show but the drive up there. You run into so many cool cars and people along the way. Driving down the strip at night, turning heads, goofing off with your buddies. Those are times I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
What future modifications or plans do you have for your vehicle, and why?
“Recently I’ve ditched the wing and replaced it with a Seibon car on fiber trunk. I also have a Robot Craftsman front bumper and hood with carbon fiber canards. It needs some body work to line up with the Rallybacker kit. Life’s been busy but I’ll get around to it eventually. Once the fiberglass work is done and I can get it painted, it’ll bring the car to a whole new level.”
