MrTris

You're over-thinking it. It helps to let off a bit when shifting, it shifts easier than just staying planted on the gas. It's not nearly as "sporty" as you think it is -- it's not an SMG on an F1 car. However, the boost and acceleration are markedly different in manual vs sport mode. 05-06s will upshift for you at like, 6500-ish in Manual mode; 08-09s will actually let you wrap it out until you kill it/blows up. Rev-matching?? It's a 5EAT, dude, what are you expecting, here? You can try to downshift whenever you want, but, if it's beyond the programmed limits of the trans, it'll just beep at you and not let you shift down until the revs have fallen far enough. Engine "breaking" is never OK. You thought the trans was expensive? Ha! Try an engine rebuild! $5k is the foundation, right there. (More for you, Mr. Canada!) As for engine BRAKING, well, drive in Sport mode -- it does that when decelerating, automatically. You really can't break the trans in these. There aren't a whole lot of threads or instances where someone's borked a perfectly good 5EAT without setting out to do so or doing something they should have known would result in catastrophe. Based on your questions, I have a feeling you'll find out exactly where its limits lie.

MMmmm, Winestone. The Winestone on gold was always a favorite. Looked tits.

You've got plenty of power in your 5th Gen LGT. In fact, with a stage 1 tune you can see about 300/300 -- are you tuned yet?

Nice job! Those look great!

I forgot about the LXi -- it did have leather!

Check out CL, call around to local upholstery shops, heck, even boat shops! There's plenty of people who can do custom interior panel work. On the ol' BBS, I believe there was at least one person who made custom fiberglass doorcards to make his own custom interior. . So that's always an option.

Pinterest? Learn how to do it yourself? A little fabric, spray adhesive, heat gun and some weed.

The grey velour on the SS is nice. . .

Haven't seen any doorcard swaps. Not for first gens, anyway.

3" will be fine, so will 2.5" -- Pick your poison, backpressure isn't really an issue, here. 3" DP, tapered to 2.5" shouldn't be a problem, either. The only thing that will hurt spool is if you, say, slapped that TD04 on there and then put on a 2" UP with no taper -- you'll spool like a lazy dog. Send a PM to JmP6889928, I think he's got a custom TD04 at the moment.

No shit? Mine was a frankenmotor -- 20g bottom, 22t heads/intake/ECU. Ran just fine, but was at 9.5:1 on stock turbo, no TMIC. I had audible det when I ran it hard. It needed to retard timing, for sure, but wasn't able to, for whatever reason. Strange, considering how smart Subaru's ECUs typically are. I did my swap in. . '06. No tune, no nothing. Just straight gangsta. I will say, with a LWFW, 4.11s and a rear viscous LSD, that car was fast. Scads of low-end, super quick acceleration. It used to rock, laterally, whenever I took off or punched the throttle. I always swear that it was me and that car that started the turbo Subaru scene in Puyallup before I left in '07. When I came back, everyone had one! If I hadn't lost the car, I'd still have it today -- It was the first one I ever built, and cried like I lost a child when it went away. ;(

My guess is he was probably just running some weed. Once the laws finally catch up to the times, like we're doing over here, whatever consequences he faces, or has faced, will likely be stricken as a result.

You lost your car in the commission of a felony. Chances of getting your car back before you head to Federal PMITA Prison are slim, like your asshole is now.

Yeah, but, then we'd be in NJ.

I only ask because mine was identical -- not many Legacies with an EJ20g in that blue color. I surrendered it to a JY in July of 2008. . .

USLiberty, your engine bay looks familiar.. What color was the car before it was painted white? Does your VIN end in 3657?

Mike's got a big point, there -- Any idea how many actual lurkers there are for this place? There are LOTS of folks (of all ages, believe it or not) who don't even register, let alone post or participate, who own LGTs and have mods or have even done entire motor swaps without posting about it. Our information is helpful to more than just whoever happens to be here talking about it -

A rebuilt VF40 is definitely still an option, as long as you get it from JmP6889928, who rebuilds them with better journal bearings, and, makes a custom unit, such as the one I'm running, with an 11-blade billet wheel, inconel shaft, and upgraded journal bearings. It will push up to 22psi if I want, though I'm currently sitting at about 15. I have impeccable low-end power and a very decent torque curve on stock fueling and an "OTS" Stage 2 map. Go ahead and send him a PM and ask what he's got available, it's worth getting the conversation started - He's full of TONS of helpful information.

We had to mod to make the 60/40s fit, but, I think they'll fit a sedan just fine. Biggest factor there is the high back headrests on them -- gets in the way of rear visibility.

WRX seats should be a direct bolt-in and are some of the best replacements in the first gens. I had rears in mine, and my brother's wagon had WRX split folds, though we did need to modify them a bit. To my knowledge, we were the first to put WRX rear seats in a wagon. No one else had, at that time.

I don't think so. I'm a briefs man, and I'm not even 30.

I see what you did there, mod man.

Just sometimes? All I do is stick my neck out for you guys. *sigh* I'm gonna go get some wax for my cross. Anyone need anything while I'm out?

Why is everybody hatin' on me, lately?

Sloppy grinders are my favorite.