Perrin Performance: Inspiring a Subaru WRX Build

Explore the story of an electronics professional and father of two, who turned his childhood passion for cars into a stunning Perrin Performance-inspired Subaru WRX build, inspired by the Fast and the Furious and his love for the outdoors.

StanceAuto

Joe Renowden

2022 Subaru WRX

Instagram: @VB_FOSTER

Photographer: Pablo Colon

Instagram: @Fireblazinmedia

I have an electronics background, building electric and automated construction vehicles for a career. I'm a husband and father of two boys, and I hope to share my passion for cars with them when they're older. With a passion for music, I was once a guitar player in a country band, which I left to focus on fatherhood. Building this car is something I can involve my sons with, and in my free time, I enjoy spending quality time outdoors and hiking with my family.

Front shot of a 2022 Subaru WRX

The Spark That Ignited the Passion

I was 12 years old when my friends and I went to see the first Fast and the Furious in theatres. Between the green underglow Civics driving under semi-trucks and the green Eclipse with its 100 gears to shift in a street race, it's safe to say the movie started it all. Followed by my first Super Street magazine, which I would religiously look over before bed as a kid, I daydreamed my whole childhood, hoping for one day to build a car like those in the magazines. Before YouTube and Instagram, getting ideas for your car could be found on Cardomain.com, which hosted everyone's builds.

The Search for a New Ride

I left a lifted Silverado pickup and when looking for another truck, prices were through the roof in 2020-2022. I decided to switch it up and take a shot with Subaru. I was looking primarily for a commuter for work, something decent on gas, safe for kids, and fun to drive.

The Perrin Performance Partnership

What started as a family sedan with an interest in OEM+ modifications quickly took a turn when I started a relationship with Perrin Performance. I've spoken to many companies when researching what I wanted to do with the car, and it seemed that a lot of companies just wanted to push the product. Perrin was by far the most humble experience when seeking information. I was completely new to this platform and wanted to make sure I was going in a positive direction.

Engine bay of a 2022 Subaru WRX

2022 Subaru WRX : The Addiction Begins

I purchased the intake as the car was missing the cool turbo noises, and that was supposed to be it for performance. After installing the intake, I decided to add the accessport and get protuned by Graham at Booster Performance Tuning. Well, after getting a taste of 20lbs of boost, I was addicted and wanted more. Back on the phone with Perrin, I started adding more. As this was a new platform, Jeff Perrin was kind enough to help me with sourcing what I should do next.

Building the Dream

I ended up installing the Front Mount Intercooler and Air to Oil Separator. Shortly after that, I added the turbo inlet pipe to finish the intake. It was time to upgrade the diverter valve as it wasn't sufficient for running almost double the boost. The latest addition was the Perrin oil cooler that has made a huge difference in oil temps. Well, after adding almost the entire Perrin catalogue to the car, I told Jeff I wanted to make a "Perrin Car" as a thank-you to all the help and support I got with this build.

The Livery Design

I reached out to a local vinyl company, Ninja Graphics, that helped me with the livery. Inspired by Japanese racing culture, I knew I wanted a pretty vibrant design that also displayed Perrin's neon yellow and pink colors. I wanted a weekend track car that looked like something out of an early 2000s Super Street magazine. I started focusing more on track modifications to get me started with HPDE events.

The wrapped 2022 Subaru WRX with Perrin Logos

2022 Subaru WRX: The Complete Package

I contacted Corbeau Seats, and they hooked me up with a pair of FX1 Pro seats that I had wrapped to match the livery. Velossa Tech came on board and hooked it up with the Air Ram snorkel kit. I threw in an AutoPower roll bar for the 5-point harnesses that I still need to install. Wide wheels and tyres for an aggressive stance, lowered on coilovers. The list will continue to grow, but all in good time.

The Unique Factor

It definitely grabs a lot of attention going down the road with the livery and massive wing. The local police so far have been good about it, tossing up a wave once in a while. It's a blast to drive but teases the local car scene. I'm happy I went with this platform. The FA24 motor for this VB model has been the best upgrade for the WRX community. Many hate the plastic cladding, but I was one of the few that fell in love with it.

2022 Subaru WRX: The Build List

Power Mods and Tuning

Starting with the first year of owning the car, I decided to go with the basic power mods. I am running the Perrin Intake with their turbo inlet, Perrin's Front Mount intercooler, along with the Perrin Diverter Valve, Air/Oil Separator (AOS), and Oil Cooler. Graham at Boosted Performance Tuning has been incredible to work with. I asked him for a conservative tune on 93 octane, which he estimates to be around 340-350 wheel horsepower (WHP). Plenty fast for an entry-level track car. The only change to the exhaust is the Remark Axleback.

Suspension and Handling Upgrades

In the second year, I started upgrading the suspension with FactionFab FL Spec coilovers, Blox LCAs, Whiteline end links, and toe arms made of SPC and Megan components. The Perrin front strut tower brace, steering lockout, pitch stop, transmission mount, and rear differential lockout made the car feel much more responsive. I installed ARP 3-inch wheel studs with Mishimoto open lugs, and the car sits on Konig Hypergram 18x10.5+25 wheels wrapped in 265/35 Falken FK460s. The suspension was aligned by the local shop Spooling Up Performance, with camber set to -3.5 degrees in the front and 3.0 degrees in the rear.

Rear wheels on a 2022 Subaru WRX

Brakes and Fluids

For better braking performance, I installed AMS stainless steel brake lines, Hawk pads, and Motul 600 brake fluid. I currently run Motul 5W40 X-clean engine oil and Motul gear300 for the transmission and rear differential.

Drivetrain and Interior Upgrades

I upgraded the stock shifter to the complete Billetworkz short shifter kit with a shifter stop, bushing, and plate, plus a 6-inch extension to bring the shifter knob closer to the wheel. The Corbeau FX1 bucket seats feel incredible when going around turns, compared to the stock seats. Some liquid courage helped with cutting holes in a brand-new hood, where I installed the Verus hood louvres and Aerocatch hood pins. After running an STI wing for the first year, I upgraded to the CFD-tested 9 Lives Racing Big Wang wing.

Exterior and Aerodynamics

The AeroFlowDynamics front lip, eBay spats, and side skirts enhance the aggressive look, while the JDMuscle front grill showcases the lovely Perrin oil cooler and the VelossaTech Air Ram snorkel kit. An AutoPower roll bar is ready for the harnesses that need to be installed, and Rokblokz mud flaps help cut down on road grime. To top it off, I went with the Perrin Performance engine dress-up kit.

Side shot showing the Perrin Performance wrap on a 2022 Subaru WRX

The Build Process

The local company Ninja Graphics printed and installed the livery. I placed all the stickers and wrapped the front lip. Spooling Up Performance did the alignment, while everything else on the car was done by me in my barn.

Future Plans

Seat time, seat time, seat time! I would like to upgrade the rest of the exhaust when Perrin releases their J-pipe. A CSF radiator filled with distilled water and upgraded fans for cooling is also on the list, along with an AEM meth kit, as E85 is not available for me. A chassis-mounted splitter and functional rear diffuser are planned, and anti-lag would be fun if Cobb releases it. Dedicated track wheels and tyres, a big brake kit, and the most needed upgrade – the STI drivetrain and studding the heads for more power – are also in the works. Lots of plans, but life has a way of changing things.

Shout Outs

You can follow the progression of this car on Instagram @VB_FOSTER. A big shout-out goes to my wife for letting me create a childhood dream, Perrin Performance for all the support over the last two years in getting this car to where it is, Velossa Tech, Corbeau Seats, Ninja Graphics, Import Image Racing, JDMuscle, Motul, StanceAuto, and Pablo Colon for capturing this car.

Dream Car

A 1997 Honda NSX.

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