Series8217's 2001 Subaru Apocalypse Wagon

OVERVIEW

Vehicle: 2001 Subaru Outback Limited “Apocalypse Wagon”

Exterior: Desert Camo / Granite Black Pearl / Titanium

Interior: Black leather

Engine: 2.5L H4 “EJ251 - 165 hp @ 5600 RPM, 167 ft·lb @ 4000 rpm

Drivetrain: All wheel drive, 5-speed manual transmission, rear viscous limited-slip differential

Purchased: June 2010

BACKGROUND

I bought the “Apocalypse Wagon” as a second vehicle so I’d have something nice to drive while converting my Fiero into something more performance-oriented with less streetability.

The requirements for the new car were: cargo space, reliablity, and off-road capability. So far, the Outback has excelled in all of the required areas. It’s now my daily driver.

I drive my Outback off-road on backroads and rocky trails (see: http://youtu.be/uK3s3skUz6w), and compete in rallycross events. I also participate in the occasional track day or autocross when my Fiero isn’t ready. The Outback has been a blast no matter where I take it. Good thing I shopped around for almost half a year to find one with a 5-speed in the color I wanted :-).

Rallycross has been particularly rewarding. With the ability to fit all-terrain tires, this car has been a force to be reckoned with when the conditions turn wet and muddy. It’s not unusual for me to beat Modified AWD class times in the muck using this car. The lack of power shows when the course dries up enough for traction to not be a limit, but overall the Apocalypse Wagon’s pros outweighed the cons. I won the 2013 Porterfield RallyCross Championship in the Stock AWD class!

RALLYCROSS RESULTS

Won the 2013 Porterfield RallyX Championship, Stock AWD class!!

PHOTO GALLERY

Click for full size

New camo vinyl wrap: Click for full size

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From 2014 New Year's Day kicking off the new year with over 60 miles of dirt, gravel, and rocks:

(photo by Regine Trias at the SCCA Southern Pacific National Challenge RallyX, May 2013)

Road Mode: (Buttonwillow Raceway, April 2013)

More from Buttonwillow:

Mod List

Mechanical: * Primitive Racing front skidplate and rear diff protector * King KSRS-29 rear springs and custom 1/2" HDPE rear shock spacers used for heavy-load trips (I use stock for RallyCross so I stay in the stock class)

Exterior: * Window tint by Scott Kim at Advance Auto Engineering in Cerritos, CA * Desert camo vinyl wrap printed by Metro Restyling and installed by me * Yakima LoadWarrior basket with shovel mount, spare tire mount, CB radio antenna, and Hi-Lift jack * GoPro hardpoints on front bumper and roof basket

Lighting: * IPF 968 lights with 100 watt bulbs on a custom light bar fabricated by myself in cooperation with West Coast Fiero. * OE fog lights with added yellow film

Interior: * Red LED interior lighting (for maintaining night vision during nighttime activities like astronomy)

Audio & Comms: * Kenwood KDC-X994 /w bluetooth * Midland 1001LWX CB Radio * Brownell CB radio antenna mounted on roof basket * Boston Acoustics speakers

Dirt/Gravel Wheels/Tires: Grabber AT-2 tires on stock wheels

Tarmac Wheels/Tires: Matte-black Motegi MR118 wheels (17×8), 225-55-17 Michelin Primacy MXV4, TPMS-equipped (Dill TPMS)

MOTORSPORTS CRED

Championships

2013 Porterfield RallyCross Series Champion / 1st Place, Stock AWD Class 2013 California Rally Series RallyCross Championship – 2nd place – Stock AWD Class

Individual Events

1st place, 2013 Glen Helen RallyCross #4, Stock AWD Class 1st place, 2013 Glen Helen RallyCross #6, Stock AWD Class 3rd place, 2013 SCCA RallyCross SoPac National Challenge, Stock AWD Class 2nd place, 2013 Glen Helen RallyCross #2, Stock AWD Class 2nd place, 2012 Glen Helen RallyX Xmas Special, Stock AWD Class 3rd place, 2012 Glen Helen RallyCross #5, Stock AWD Class 2nd place, 2012 Glen Helen RallyX Enduro, Stock AWD Class

VIDEOS

• Glen Helen RallyX Xmas Special

• RallyCross Practice

• AutoCross Practice

nice!

Nice ride. The pics with the cammo wrap look really cool. Might have looked even better withe the litghts on meybe. But still very cool shots. How did you photoshop thoseocs to make them even better.

Nice - I had a 97 that I sold to get my WRX

I'm really glad to hear that an Outback is actually a semi-competent (read: not instantly lethal) chassis for road racing because I've wanted to build a sleeper yuppie-green late 90s Outback with some obscene engine swap.

I don't think cops can even see them anymore, they just appear as some sort of blurry hallucination.

How slow is the steering rack compared to an Impreza?

ckosacranoid wrote: Nice ride. The pics with the cammo wrap look really cool. Might have looked even better withe the litghts on meybe. But still very cool shots. How did you photoshop thoseocs to make them even better.

These were 30-second exposures at night so lights on wasn't an option for a primary photo. Too much bleed and glare. I did try a few where I mixed short-exposure shots with headlights on with the long-exposure dark shots but it just makes the headlights look foggier.

I made very few adjustments in Photoshop; I really just removed some stray blue light that was reflecting off of the front door, and tweaked contrast and color balance.

ssswitch wrote: I'm really glad to hear that an Outback is actually a semi-competent (read: not instantly lethal) chassis for road racing because I've wanted to build a sleeper yuppie-green late 90s Outback with some obscene engine swap. I don't think cops can even see them anymore, they just appear as some sort of blurry hallucination. How slow is the steering rack compared to an Impreza?

Outback and Legacy wagons do make great sleepers. They're pretty much invisible to everyone.

I'm not sure how slow the steering is compared to an Impreza, but as far as I know you can throw in an Impreza or STI rack. Many Subaru parts are interchangeable between all chassis.

No real progress on the car as of late due to my other projects (E46 M3, Fiero), but I got the car cleaned up a bit and did a quick photo shoot in my backyard.

The transmission input shaft bearing has been making a lot of noise lately so I’m probably going to park the car until I get the garage cleaned out enough to be able to pull the trans in there and fix it.

I think I kinda knew you were series from dirtyimpreza but never put 2 and 2 together until the outback rallycross thread. I didn't know you also tracked this car and I didn't know you also had an M3. I do remember reading the start of that thread back when it was new but never finished it and now that I did read through I need to know how the rest of it turned out! That M3 is awesome and that road trip sounds even more awesome.

Just saw your 4th in points for Glen Helen this season. Apparently an outback is pretty good for rallycross haha

ouchx100 wrote: I think I kinda knew you were series from dirtyimpreza but never put 2 and 2 together until the outback rallycross thread. I didn't know you also tracked this car and I didn't know you also had an M3. I do remember reading the start of that thread back when it was new but never finished it and now that I did read through I need to know how the rest of it turned out! That M3 is awesome and that road trip sounds even more awesome.

I make it a point to get on track with every car I own. It's surprising what even the Outback can do on a road course even with the stock suspension!

Just saw your 4th in points for Glen Helen this season. Apparently an outback is pretty good for rallycross haha

Unfortunately I spent more effort getting burnt up in the sun for 8 hours a day as the photographer at Glen Helen this season, and I also missed yesterday's event due to some transmission issues I haven't had time to deal with, so I'm not planning on getting on podium this year. Based on my finish last year the car is fully capable of winning the championship. Under the right conditions (wet/muddy or very rutted) this car can be absolutely devastating to the competition.