What to get? (Read post before voting, please) - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

M3n2c3 · 2006-09-13, 06:27 PM

My wife is letting me pick up a few small items for my car for my b-day, and I figured that I'd keep with tradition (last year I got my STi shift knob) and spend it on mostly cosmetic bling. I have about $100-$150 to work with.

So here's what I'll definitely be picking up:

Small "Subaru" chome badge. This is what you see on the '06 Imprezas just to the right of the trunk keyhole. I want to debadge the large S U B A R U and add this.

Brake caliper paint. Yeah, I know. . . but I hate seeing my nasty plain calipers staring at me through my wheel spokes, and I can't upgrade my brakes in DSP - so I'm going to paint them gloss black. Unassuming, but much more attractive, I think.

Now here's where the question comes in. Those two purchases only take up about $50 of my funds, and I can't decide on my final item. My choices are:

1) Painted side mirror skins. I've decided that I don't like the way the plain black mirror skins look on my RS, and I'd like to have a color-matched set like the WRX or STi do.

2) STi black floormats. These are heavy black floormats embroidered with the cherry-red STi logo. I'd like to make the interior a bit nicer to sit in, and I think these would help. The driver's mat also has a heel pad, which would be a plus over the crappy stock RS mats (which are already falling apart). These would also add to an "STi" interior theme by matching my shifter and shift pattern badge.

3) Prodrive floormats. These are heavier than the OEM mats and are grey with the Prodrive logo. These would be an amusing match to my Prodrive springs, but they are $15 more than the STi mats and I'd prefer black to grey.

So. . . vote!

Kevin M · 2006-09-13, 06:33 PM

I vote mirror skins. I really like the Prodrive mats (I've been thinking of picking up a set for my coupe actually) but bare plastic anything on the exterior of a car looks crummy.

DARKSTI · 2006-09-13, 06:42 PM

+1 to mirror-skins

khail19 · 2006-09-13, 06:55 PM

If your current mats are getting worn out, then I say the Prodrive mats. If you have perfectly good mats now do the mirror skins.

ScottyS · 2006-09-14, 09:39 AM

+1 Mirror skins

Quote:

Small "Subaru" chome badge. This is what you see on the '06 Imprezas just to the right of the trunk keyhole. I want to debadge the large S U B A R U and add this.

Freakin awesome idea. I take it that's an easy process?

cody · 2006-09-14, 10:09 AM

Someday I'm painting my calipers black too.

Dean · 2006-09-14, 03:01 PM

Wher did you find the embroidered STI mats with heel pad, and aren't they Blue? Everyone with Official Subaru ones I thought had said the embroidery is no longer available... I want a set of embroidered blue ones, especially with a heel pad. My Grey WRX ones hurt my eyes.

That said, having STI mats in a car with a NOTURBO plate is kind of weird. Prodrive!

I vote for cleaning, and maybe polishing and synthetic "waxing" the calipers over painting, but that is just me. Either is going to get dirty again, and reduce thermal efficiency.

cody · 2006-09-14, 04:18 PM

I've been looking for some high temp thermal dispersant but as of yet, have only found a place that will coat them but you'd have to remove all seals and send them in.

M3n2c3 · 2006-09-14, 05:14 PM

Well, part of the vote may be moot at this point. . . I don't have to choose between mirror skins or floormats now as my wife gave me the ok to do both.

Now I just need to decide which mats.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottyS

+1 Mirror skins
Freakin awesome idea. I take it that's an easy process?

Well, the debadging itself is pretty simple - just need a heat gun and some goo-gone or something. The small SUBARU badge is an OEM item and can be picked up from pretty much any place that sells OEM Suby stuff (subarugenuineparts.com is my pick).

Here is the paint kit that I figured I'd get, if anyone else is interested (Cody).

Dean: Black STi floormats

Blue STi floormats, no logo, no heel pad. I don't think I've ever seen them in blue with an embroidered logo. . .

For reference, here are the Prodrives:

And just for fun, I really, really want to get one of these '07 Limited STi trunklid lip spoilers someday:

Maybe next b-day. . .

ScottyS · 2006-09-14, 06:30 PM

Oh OK, I was thinking this badge:

2KsilvER25rS · 2006-09-14, 06:32 PM

I personaly would go with the skins. I also wouldnt get a set os STI or Prodrive mats because I wouldnt want to get them dirty. Thats just me though.

M3n2c3 · 2006-09-14, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottyS

Oh OK, I was thinking this badge:

Ick, no way.

Well, I got everything ordered. . . black caliper paint, white mirror skins, tiny SUBARU badge, and Prodrive mats. Bling!

cody · 2006-09-14, 08:58 PM

That kit is inexpensive. Thanks for the link.

M3n2c3 · 2006-09-14, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody

That kit is inexpensive. Thanks for the link.

Yeah, I was surprised. It says it's good for 900 degrees, but we'll see how it holds up to Nevada weather.

ScottyS · 2006-09-14, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3n2c3

Ick, no way.

Haha, not up in the center, down in the right corner. It would be more cool without the blue, and just the silver stars.

sperry · 2006-09-15, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3n2c3

Yeah, I was surprised. It says it's good for 900 degrees, but we'll see how it holds up to Nevada weather.

900 degrees? What do you do with the additional 600 deg of heat?

View Poll Results: Which useless cosmetic upgrade?
Color-matched side mirror skins	8	61.54%
STi black floormats	2	15.38%
Prodrive grey floormats	3	23.08%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

2006-09-13, 06:27 PM	#1
M3n2c3 EJ205 Real Name: Jeremiah Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dayton, NV Posts: 1,888 Car: 2005 Impreza 2.5RS, 2000 Forester L Class: RNP sometimes (see motto) "Kids are ruining autocross."	What to get? (Read post before voting, please) My wife is letting me pick up a few small items for my car for my b-day, and I figured that I'd keep with tradition (last year I got my STi shift knob) and spend it on mostly cosmetic bling. I have about $100-$150 to work with. So here's what I'll definitely be picking up: Small "Subaru" chome badge. This is what you see on the '06 Imprezas just to the right of the trunk keyhole. I want to debadge the large S U B A R U and add this. Brake caliper paint. Yeah, I know. . . but I hate seeing my nasty plain calipers staring at me through my wheel spokes, and I can't upgrade my brakes in DSP - so I'm going to paint them gloss black. Unassuming, but much more attractive, I think. Now here's where the question comes in. Those two purchases only take up about $50 of my funds, and I can't decide on my final item. My choices are: 1) Painted side mirror skins. I've decided that I don't like the way the plain black mirror skins look on my RS, and I'd like to have a color-matched set like the WRX or STi do. 2) STi black floormats. These are heavy black floormats embroidered with the cherry-red STi logo. I'd like to make the interior a bit nicer to sit in, and I think these would help. The driver's mat also has a heel pad, which would be a plus over the crappy stock RS mats (which are already falling apart). These would also add to an "STi" interior theme by matching my shifter and shift pattern badge. 3) Prodrive floormats. These are heavier than the OEM mats and are grey with the Prodrive logo. These would be an amusing match to my Prodrive springs, but they are $15 more than the STi mats and I'd prefer black to grey. So. . . vote! __________________ Small red text that looks curious at first glance but is ultimately inconsequential Last edited by M3n2c3; 2006-09-13 at 06:31 PM.

2006-09-13, 06:33 PM	#2
Kevin M EJ22T Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Reno Posts: 9,445 Car: '93/'01 GF6, mostly red Class: 19 FP	I vote mirror skins. I really like the Prodrive mats (I've been thinking of picking up a set for my coupe actually) but bare plastic anything on the exterior of a car looks crummy. __________________ FWD is the new AWD

2006-09-13, 06:42 PM	#3
DARKSTI EJ22 Real Name: Ryan Coulter Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NW Reno Posts: 372 Car: '07 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited It's not that I'm lazy, It's that I don't care.	+1 to mirror-skins __________________ My other car is a Canon

2006-09-14, 10:09 AM	#6
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	Someday I'm painting my calipers black too. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2006-09-13, 06:55 PM	#4
khail19 EJ205 Real Name: Khail Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,769 Car: 2016 VW GTI Meets? We have meets?	If your current mats are getting worn out, then I say the Prodrive mats. If you have perfectly good mats now do the mirror skins.

2006-09-14, 03:01 PM	#7
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Wher did you find the embroidered STI mats with heel pad, and aren't they Blue? Everyone with Official Subaru ones I thought had said the embroidery is no longer available... I want a set of embroidered blue ones, especially with a heel pad. My Grey WRX ones hurt my eyes. That said, having STI mats in a car with a NOTURBO plate is kind of weird. Prodrive! I vote for cleaning, and maybe polishing and synthetic "waxing" the calipers over painting, but that is just me. Either is going to get dirty again, and reduce thermal efficiency. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2006-09-14, 04:18 PM	#8
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	I've been looking for some high temp thermal dispersant but as of yet, have only found a place that will coat them but you'd have to remove all seals and send them in. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

2006-09-14, 06:30 PM	#10
ScottyS EJ205 Real Name: It is real! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: RNO Posts: 2,367 Car: 1998 Impreza Wagon, 1991 Legacy Turbo Sedan, 2003 Nissan Xterra Class: tvFree Yes, I'll fix it for you. Again.	Oh OK, I was thinking this badge: __________________ "Trend Number One is that people aren't getting any smarter." Dogbert

2006-09-14, 06:32 PM	#11
2KsilvER25rS EJ18 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: reno,eNVy Posts: 33 Car: 2000 subaru impreza 2.5rs no regrets! take it as you get it!	I personaly would go with the skins. I also wouldnt get a set os STI or Prodrive mats because I wouldnt want to get them dirty. Thats just me though. __________________ live your life 1 brake pad at a time!

2006-09-14, 08:58 PM	#13
cody Candy Mountain Real Name: Cody Join Date: May 2005 Location: Californication Posts: 7,751 Car: 03 Pussy Wagon, now with more pink! Class: TESP OMG Internet!	That kit is inexpensive. Thanks for the link. __________________ Slow and low, that is the tempo.

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