Ronne Medina - 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GDB-F)
As cliché as it is, I’ve always wanted to own a 4-cylinder turbo’d Japanese vehicle – that was a mouthful huh?
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Ronne Medina
2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GDB-F)
Instagram: @Battleborn_STi
TikTok: @BattlebornSTi
Facebook: Ronne Medina / Battleborn_STi
Photographer: @merrick_media
I am like most modern enthusiasts – just a regular guy with an expensive hobby. I am also a small business owner, husband, father, and veteran. While still trying to wrap my life around the previous sentence, I am also enrolled in school full time. So, late in my life, after service this beautiful country for 8 years, I ventured into an attempt to finish a college degree that has nothing to do with my resume but has many to do with my personal goal. I’ve always wanted to acquire a degree and with the distraction of military life, cars, and family, I put that goal to rest. So, here I am, wiser and lighter (fewer benjamins in my pocket), but happier with a full house. We reside in Las Vegas, where we now call home, but the future is bright, and it may lead us elsewhere. However, I am kind of in the perfect spot in my life right now in terms of growth, automotive, and personal spirit.
I try not to make multiple features sound so textbook, with copy and paste answers, but you know, it has always started with the Honda scene – and the scene out here in Vegas, at the time (era 2003-2007) was really big. Like, “no one cared you had a cool show car with an LS1 swap and collected trophies, bro, with your hard parked duraflex body kit” -- it really was like a fast and furious showdown every Thursday and Saturday nights. These nights were when car teams/clubs/groups, actually put the drama to rest, or maybe even stirred more drama. They raced at a 1,320-foot distance, from start to finish, you brought it there and left it all at the raceway, illegally of course. This was intense stuff, and I mean, seriously intense. Each Thursday or Saturday night would be 200+ cars gathered and watched people raced. This was something that definitely led me into this habitual content of the automotive building.
As cliché as it is, I’ve always wanted to own a 4-cylinder turbo’d Japanese vehicle – that was a mouthful huh? The choices were clear at the time, coming on my latest tenure in the Navy, I decided to treat myself with something I’ve always wanted, but the options were very open. I was shopping for months for an Evo IX, but the more and more I kept looking, the more I hated looking – the
Evo interior is just so bland like it needs some pumpkin spice update to it, and I didn’t really care for the irony of the 4G63, because I wouldn’t be staring at the engine while driving, I’d be stuck with the aftertaste of vomit staring at the interior. Then, one day, I had a friend text me asking if I was still interested in his STi, as it sat in the garage for years due to his craziness in back-to-back deployments. I didn’t hesitate, I knew it was well taken care of, well, just not driven enough. So that’s a quick glimpse of how it all started.
The mod sheet is not as extensive as I want it to be, but I think the fun actually owning an older Subaru versus your modern 2015+ WRX or STi, is that there is a heritage to follow with it. That’s where I went with my theme for my car.
You can’t find discontinued parts on a fairly new car, especially grassroots name brands such as ARC, ZERO SPORTS, or some of the old Tommy Kaira, and such products. I know zero sports is still in production for the newer models, but it’s the little collectable things that you just can’t replicate and say, “its rare.” – that term only works if it was actually genuine, found, and resurrected. Purely opinioned based of course, but also, I am personally not into the new Subaru’s. As cool as they are, and I’ve personally been a part of someSEMA builds for the newer chassis, it just doesn’t seem to be something you'd see in my driveway. Aside from the previous notion, looking more at the car build is really taking some of the OG to look mixed with modern-day vibes, and splattering carbon fibre into the canvas, and the final product you end up with is a little something like my car.
What made me buy this car, was just the right timing – From searching for a turbocharged car and my friend selling his barely used car, I think it fell in my hands at the right time. I don’t look back or regret anything either and I think what honestly makes it very unique, is the way I visioned the widebody to come to real life. I’ll probably hurt some feelings here, but riveted or screwed on fender flares, even how some widebody kits come, just aren’t appealing to me.
The way we did this widebody, and moulding the OEM 05-07 STI fender flare to it, creating the body to look very natural, but wider, is what really emphasizes the uniqueness. The painter who did the bodywork, really killed it, nonetheless. I am thankful for how the bodywork I visioned, actually came to real life. Is it finished or an ongoing project if any enthusiast ever says his project is finished, he/she is a damn liar? It may be currently postponed, whether it be due to budget, lack of interest, or any matter whatsoever, but to say its finished, id be lying to myself. I have plans for other things, but for now, it’s on a decent break – life is hitting priorities at the moment.
ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
- Odyssey PC680 Battery, with mounting bracket
- Engine: Subaru EJ257, 2.5T
- Horsepower: 376 all-wheel horsepower
- Torque: 365 all-wheel ft/lb
- Tuning – Church Automotive Testing
- Engine Management System: COBB Tuning
- Clutch: SPEC Stage 2+ equipped with SPEC Steel Flywheel
- Headers: OEM Port Matched
- Intake: Injen Performance Piping Paired with HKS Super Induction Filter
- Exhaust: Tomei Expreme Ti, JDM Version (Straight exit)
- Additional Engine Modifications:
- CRAWFORD Performance Air/Oil Separator, Closed-loop system
- KILLER B Motorsports Ultimate Oil Pickup
- OE Subaru 11mm Oil Pump Upgrade (2006 STI uses standard 10mm)
- AEROMOTIVE Fuel Pump
- DEATSCHWERKS 1000cc Fuel Injectors
- GRIMMSPEED Phenolic Intake Manifold Spacer, 3mm
- MISHIMOTO Silicone Inlet Induction Silicone
- EXTREME TURBO SYSTEMS Front Mount Intercooler
- TIAL SPORT Q50 – Blow off valve
- PERRIN Performance Downpipe
- PERRIN Engine Mounts
- GRIMMSPEED Up-pipe with GRIMMSPEED Wastegate Bracket
- TIAL SPORT 38mm External Wastegate, with Lower Dump Tube.
- COBB Electronic Boost Controller
- KOYO Radiator with JDM Rare Zero Sports Radiator Cap, and Zero Sports Upper Hose
- JDM ARC Titanium upper radiator cap
- JDM Kakumei Radiator Cooling Panel
- JDM ARC Titanium Alternator Cover
- JDM Prova Oil Cap
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
- Coilovers: Fortune Auto APLS
- Custom Springs Rates: Swift Springs F14k/R16k
- Air Piston Lift System equipped in front (Air Cups)
- SPC Front and Rear Camber Bolts
- ROTORA Japan Full Big Brake Kit
- OKUYAMA/CARBING Front Strut Tower with Master Cylinder Brace
- WHITELINE Performance Anti-lift Kit
- WHITELINE Performance Sway Bars & End Links
- KARTBOY Engineering – Shifter Bushings
- KARTBOY Engineering – Transmission Cross-member Bushings
- GROUP-N Transmission Mount
- BEATRUSH/LAILE Pitch Stop Mount
- BEATRUSH/LAILE Rear Cabin Foot Brace
- OKUYAMA/CARBING – 11 Point Roll Bar
- PRODRIVE– Differential cover plate
INTERIOR & ELECTRONICS
- DEFI Tri-Gauge Center Dash Pod Mount
- CR Advance 60mm, Boost
- CR Advance 60mm, Oil Pressure
- CR Advance 60mm, Exhaust Temperature
- AEM UEGO Wide Band Air/Fuel Ratio (AFR), 52mm Digital Meter
- PIONEER AVIC-F900BT
- VIPER 5901 Auto Security Systems
- WORKS BELL Steering Wheel Hub Adapter
- WORKS BELL/NIGHT RUNNER Collab Rapfix GTC Steering Wheel Tilt System
- PERSONAL Neo Grinta – 325mm Steering Wheel
- PRODRIVE JAPAN – Discontinued and rare 4-point harness
- RECARO Rafael Red Wildcat SR5, 1 of 500 made
- OE SUBARU JDM – Door Sills with Unhinged Labs STi Badge
- OE SUBARU JDM – Red HVAC w/ Subtle Solutions Black Overlay
- OE SUBARU JDM – Red Hazard Switch
- ILLUMAESTHETIC – Custom Mature Gauge Cluster
- Top Stitch Trim – “Gucci” Center Arm Rest
- Top Stitch Trim – “Gucci” Shift Boot
- Carbon Fiber WRC Door Cards
- Carbon Fiber Kevlar Rear Seat Delete
- Carbon Fiber Kevlar Rear Firewall
- Carbon Fiber Kevlar Rear Upper C Pillar Compartment
- Carbon Fiber A-Pillar covers
- Carbon Fiber Lower A-Pillar covers
- Carbon Fiber JDM C-Pillar covers
- Carbon Fiber AC Vents
- Carbon Fiber Clock/Gauge Pod
- Carbon Fiber Cluster Gauge
- Carbon Fiber Steering Wheel Trim
- Flocked Lower Dash
- Alcantara Headliner
- Trunk build, both myself and 14yr old son put it all together
- Soundstream Subwoofer 10” (x2) and Soundstream Amplifier setup
- LatheWerks Complete Interior Titanium Trim (Shift Knob, HVAC knobs, E-Brake, Boot Collar, etc.)
EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
- L’AUNSPORT WRC Wide Body with OEM 05-07 STi Fender Flares Molded
- L’AUNSPORT Carbon Fiber Exterior B Pillar
- L’AUNSPORT Carbon Fiber Exterior C Pillar
- MATURE JAPAN – Front Bumper
- MATURE JAPAN – Carbon Fiber Rear Diffuser
- CHARGE SPEED Type 2 Side Skirts, with titanium badge & carbon fibre extensions
- CHARGE SPEED Carbon Fiber Roof Vane
- MRacing Carbon Fiber Type 4 Side Mirrors (As seen on the Cusco Japan Time Attack Car)
- kaminari Reverse Scoop Carbon Fiber Hood
- VOLTEX – Type 2 GT Wing, 1700mm, 295mm stands
- VIS RACING Demon Carbon Fiber Trunk
- 2004/2005 WRX Tail Lamps, JDM re-wire
- OE SUBARU JDM Headlights - *TSX-R Headlight Projector Upgrade
- OE SUBARU JDM Side Markers
- OE SUBARU JDM SPEC C Roof Vent
- Carbon Fiber Windshield Cowl
Wheels
- RAYS VOLK RACING – CE28N 18x10.5 +18
- EVS Racing Titanium Lug Nuts
- TOYO Tires R888R 295/30/18
Shout Outs
I wish to give my sincere thanks to my Partners at TCM JAPAN, Lou B. & Allan A. for everything they've done to stick by my side during this build, and allowing me to grow better in the business world, and being such great mentors in my life. Secondly, I wish to thank my longtime friend and fellow business partner Jeffrey N. at Dis & Dat for his personal insights in the automotive world and also helping me become a better, well-rounded entrepreneur. Next, to my sponsors and some great friends in other businesses who have either allowed me to be part of their elite team, or have created a foundation of friendship that can be trusted for a prolonged tenure.
- Devin & Terry at Fortune Auto USA
- Eita at L’aunsport Japan
- Rajeet & Takashi at Mastermind North America
- Jake with HVY Composites in the UK
- Alan Kohler at Odyssey Battery
- Loren with Rotora Inc
- KJ Takahashi, owner of My Japan Direct
- Fred V. & Chris at VIS Racing
- Stan at Toyo Tires
- Blackvue Dash Cam Team
- CY Lee at Evasive Motorsports
Saving the best for last: To my wife, Tiffany, and my kids. The countless hours in the garage, turning wrenches when I could be inside and spending memories with you all, you choose to continue and support my hobby and allow me to follow what you feel makes me happy. The care that you all give and the love that I feel from you, all is more than enough to last me a lifetime and a half.
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