Baby Driver - More than just a Subie Scene

It's a heart-thumping heist-thrilling hoonigan's dream on the silver screen.  And there's so much more to it than the red WRX that caught your eye in the trailers!

I was fortunate enough to see an early showing of Baby Driver this weekend.  Normally I write about Subarus on this blog, and certainly the footage leading up to this film's release had enthusiasts buzzing about the Hawkeye drifting it's way through Atlanta's streets.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit that those scenes made me say "I should check this out".  As the air date neared, I worried that Baby Driver would be nothing more than a bunch of cool car chases with a few Hollywood icons drizzled in and a plot that meanders from chase to chase.  I'm happy to report that this is certainly not the case.

From start to finish, Baby Driver, delivers in droves.  Building the character of "Baby" (Ansel Elgort) starts right from the top, but so does the musical choreography that follows the entire film.  The emotional connection of music to driving has been something I've loved since I started driving.  Seeing it take form in this movie was truly enjoyable to take in.  Wright's incorporation of pop songs like Bellbottoms, Harlem Shuffle, and Nowhere to Run, frame each scene so closely that it almost feels like musical theater choreography.  Each strike of the music coincides with a door closing, a gun shooting, a crash unfolding.  It's so fun to see and hear 30-something songs hand picked by Edgar Wright over the last two decades come together for a truly engaging experience.

If this isn't enough to convince you that this film is worth more than you gave it credit for, maybe the 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is.  The only things missing from Baby Driver are seatbelts on the theater's chairs.  So buckle up and hang on for the roller coaster that'll keep you engaged to the end credits.

Invidia R400 - 2016 Subaru WRX

It's been a little bit of a wait thanks to a recall with the initial batch of these, but the Invidia R400 "Gemini" Catback exhaust is finally out in the world.  Available for the BRZ, WRX, and WRX STI, it offers a deep, rich exhaust note and a high flow design that optimizes engine performance.  These were designed to fill the sound gap between the Q300 and N1 system. The R400 produces a unique, aggressive note while reducing harsh cabin noise.  We paired this R400 system with an Invidia J-pipe for the 2016 Subaru WRX it was installed on along with a tune provided by Boosted Performance Tuning.

I was surprised at how nice this exhaust sounded.  I own a WRX STI and am used to that "Subaru Rumble" that Unequal Length Headers provide.  The stock WRX has Equal Length headers so most of the exhaust systems I had heard up to this point had sounded fairly generic and had lost their character.  While certainly not as obvious, the Gemini R400 manages to bring a light warble to the sound, especially at lower RPMs.  The pops and bangs accompanying each lift and shift are fun, too.

Like most Invidia products, the fitment and finish is great.  The exhaust outlets are a little wider than I expected based on the pictures I had seen before.  They fill out nearly every inch of space provided by the stock WRX bumper and have that crisp engraving on the side.  Things bolt up where they should be and the whole install was a piece of cake.

Perhaps the most satisfying thing about the R400 is that you can enjoy a lively exhaust without obnoxious cabin noise or drone.  It's relatively calm under normal city driving but playful and enjoyable with a quick dab of throttle.  Even when under hard acceleration, with the windows up, you can easily talk to the person next to you as you row through the gears.  Downshifting to a stop some drone manages to make it's way through, but it's not noticeable enough to be a deal breaker.

There's a reason the Gemini R400 was tough to come by when they first came out.  Response was far higher than Invidia expected and the recall on the first batch backed up things even more.  My friend waited two months to get this exhaust system but, after testing and tuning his WRX, we both agree it was worth the wait.  This system works great on the WRX and WRX STI, but I feel like there's a shortage of exhaust systems that I like on the WRX while there's a good long list to choose from with the WRX STI.  For that reason, the Gemini stands out to me as an excellent choice for 2015+ WRX owners looking for a solid upgrade.

Boxers @ Baxter 2017

On July 15th and 16th, Nebraska will be buzzing with the iconic rumble of Subarus moreso than usual.  It's Baxter Subaru's 3rd Annual "Boxers @ Baxter" event!  This year's event is gonna be a blast!  Here's all the details you need to know about this weekend of Subaru!

Are Subaru Limited Editions Worth It?

Recently, the Subaru portfolio has been getting a lot of attention in the way of "Special Editions".  From the red-clad Special Edition Crosstrek to the eye-catching Series.Yellow BRZ, these stand-out Subies have limited production numbers and come as they are.  With the BRZ tS and WRX STI Type RA on the way to start off Subaru's latest run of 50th Anniversary Special Edition models, it's a good time to figure out if these Limited Editions are worth their bumped-up asking prices.

Focus RS vs WRX STI

Road Tests, drag races, and track attacks galore have been pitting the Focus RS up against the competition since it's release last year.  In the Subaru WRX STI camp, it's been a common point of discussion and debate, especially when it comes to the drivetrain of the new kid on the Ken Block.  As I've mentioned before, the market needed something like the Focus RS to breathe some life and competition back into the hot hatch / performance daily segment.  So what's the score look like now that it's been unleashed on the world?