10 Year Ownership Review - 2004 Subaru WRX

Quick review of the last 10 years with my 2004 GD Subaru Impreza WRX.
I bought this car in July 2012 and shot this video in February 2023, a bit over 10 years later. It mainly served as a daily driver getting me to and from work for about for 5-6 years before becoming an autocross only car for about 3 more years. In total, a raced it from 2012-2019. Now it's more or less my winter car, but I also daily drive it here and there occasionally.
Here's a very quick mod list (likely forgetting a few things):
Cobb catback
Cobb catted downpipe
STI catless uppipe
Grimmspeed exhaust gaskets
Cobb AP v2, OTS tune
Cobb SF intake
Torqued solutions after-MAF hose
Perrin turbo inlet
Koyo radiator
Samco coolant hoses
STI pink springs
KYB Excel-G struts
Whiteline 24mm front swaybar
Rallitek 24mm rear swaybar
Rallitek rear swaybar mounts
Cusco Type OS rear strut bar
JDM STI Titanium front strut bar
Perrin front endlinks
Kartboy rear endlinks
Grimmspeed master cylinder brace
STI BBS wheels (5x100)
Continental DWS 06 Plus tires (225/45/17)
Tire Rack lug nuts
Paranoid Fabrications basic grounding kit
NAPA battery
Osram Nighbreaker headlight bulbs
Rally Armor basic mudflaps
Stoptech Street Performance brake pads (309)
Centric premium blank rotors
Lamco boost gauge
STI fuel pump
Motul 5w-40 Xcess engine oil
Motul 75w-90 gear oil
Subaru "i" badge
STI grill badge
Yellow fog lights
Lots of Fluid Film

[@suntzu5562]

I got the 04 wrx wagon off the lot in 2004, and I love it! 180k miles and still kickin

[@nycmaster]

Nice review. Still enjoying my 2002 since 2005. Really liked the Blobeye as well when they came out.

[@Unkepts]

Hey man love the subie! Saw you at the Grand Prix Riverfront meet! Looks so good in person!

[@AmirPomen]

u can buy whiteline caster C rubber strut mount for the front...
it will increase caster+camber for the front...immense amount of front end grip increase by this part..
then 2nd part u will need to buy forester SF5 specific front lower control arm bushing (rear direction big bush and big steel pin)... this when installed in impreza chassis, it will becomes anti-lift kit front suspension geometry correction.... this also increase front end steering feel in corner entry during braking and corner exit acceleration.... (whiteline also does have this aftermarket option with more caster increase option as well)
those 2 simple mod definately will add more fun in driving and autocrossing

[@JM-cs1nc]

Head gasket were only an issue on the n/a engines, not the turbo engines. The turbo engines used the better mls gaskets

[@harris4778]

Great review Chris! I recently picked up a 2005 non-turbo RS version which looks exactly the same here in New Zealand at 130k KMs (about 80K miles).
Do you have any tips for maintaining the paint? Your paint looks great for the age and miles.

[@cmiovino]

Subaru paint is super soft. I’d recommend using some type of a ceramic coating - just the DIY spray on waxes (nothing super expensive). Layer it up. I’m currently using the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating.

[@Joseto_L]

Hey man ! Is that an aux cable coming out from the radio? How did you do it? Thanks a lot.

[@cmiovino]

It’s an adaptor for a cassette deck to a 3.5mm audio cable… with another adaptor to an Apple lightning cable for an iPhone lol

[@Joseto_L]

Awesome ! I didn't know that existed. Thanks man@@cmiovino

[@angelgomez3802]

@@Joseto_Lfrfr just got an 04 wrx a few days ago can’t wait to begin the journey 😆💯

[@kreitz3]

Bought a 2004 in 2012… bought it used 😂

[@Megacatares]

these transmissions like pennzoil syncromesh better.

[@tonyh4233]

RUST CONVERTOR AND FISH OIL OVER SPRAY WILL STOP RUST AND SEAL IT 🙂