Just saw a tag line at the top of the new SCC issue, "The new WRX- We tune it first," or something to this effect. Magazine was in a wrapper and I was too cheap to buy it. What have they done with their last project Impreza- snow tires? Come on. With all the shops working on tuning the new car, I have to wonder what relevancy SCC is going to have these days, compared to all the space they gave the WRX and Sti the first time around. Maybe the pain of the Sti air suspension project is still hurting them? Can anyone speak to the article content?

Frank

SCC was marginalized years ago around 2000 or so when internet tuner forums really started to hit the bigtime. I still like the magazine though because it has always had a significantly different "flavor" to the reviews that you dont see in the major car mags.

Yeah I like SCC's reviews better than Car and Driver, MotorTrend and the like.

The tuning is pretty mild in that issue. They get a proto Tein Flex suspension, 18" Prodrives, an APR front lip, AP 13" BBK, and a K&N intake. The intake gains 35 hp but there's no A/F chart. They are going to show the car at SEMA, so its a pretty weak part 1. I certainly hope they go back to 17's for the next part.

Overall, SCC has been hurt by the loss of Josh Jaquot and Dave Coleman. Chen hasn't been too bad, but I really miss Coleman's Silvia project. It's still one of the best mags out there, but very much a shadow of what it was 4-5 years ago.

SCC is different than most other import mags because theres actual tech articles that have real information. now i get modified, but i definitely dont get it for its accuracy of writing, or its "tech" articles :p. its way better than pretty much every other primedia magazine, and its starting to get better than it was, but it surely isnt what it used to be.

I believe their mods consisted of powder coating some beautiful gold prodrives a plain white, painting the car a matte black (hopefully not with spray paint like they did last time), and I think they fitted on a modified LGT CAI or something. Hardly groundbreaking or noteworthy, but hey, at least they tried.

SCC was marginalized years ago around 2000 or so when their magazines became 90% ad space, they gave Christian Rado a column to talk about how awesome he was every month, and Scott Oldham was filling his editorials with stories about street racing full-size Benz sedans.

Fixed. :unamused:

There are plenty of good magazines out there that are not marginalized by forums. Grassroots Motorsports, for instance, is aided and complemented by today's forums.

They lost me when they had a special issue on the STI. The article centered on them painting it flat black. I never bought another issue.

Overall, SCC has been hurt by the loss of Josh Jaquot and Dave Coleman. Chen hasn't been too bad, but I really miss Coleman's Silvia project. It's still one of the best mags out there, but very much a shadow of what it was 4-5 years ago.
When did that happen? That magazine (along with i-club, a purchase program at work, and the fact my head hit the roof of a Civic Si) got me into a Subaru in the first place.

After 8 years, I finally let my subscription lapse and won't miss it.

When did that happen? That magazine (along with i-club, a purchase program at work, and the fact my head hit the roof of a Civic Si) got me into a Subaru in the first place.

If Josh was their editor, he left about 2 years ago (has it been 3 already?), and they really nose-dived around that time.

The mods mentioned about are at least a bit more than I was expecting. One of things that's missing is any empirical data like the stuff produced in Grassroots Motorsports. If they tested the car before and after at the track or on a slalom with the Tein and APR parts, that would be pretty cool. I also hope they find some really underground parts to "discover".

Frank

I actually had to confront some of the guys at SOA about why they continue to give them cars to build when all they do is paint them flat black :rolleyes: (oh and add some cheesy "gas saver" little diffuser nubbin's on the back of the roof that were glued on and far from even lined up somewhat uniform). I will admit that at least the AP 6pot fronts and 4pot rears were nice (we actually had taken an '08 to Stillen/BrakePro's about a week before so it made their lives easier ;) ). You will all get to look forward to our next issue for more on all the '08 wrx's at the SEMA show and new products we found digging through the madness.

I agree. I lost my interest in them when they switched staff. Just boring mags now with too many ads and not enough substance.

After 8 years, I finally let my subscription lapse and won't miss it.

+2

winding road and Road and Track are my favorites.

I actually had to confront some of the guys at SOA about why they continue to give them cars to build when all they do is paint them flat black :rolleyes:

Haha I confronted them about the new '08, I asked "what happened!? did you let a tribeca rape a legacy and this is the outcome!?" I was quickly pushed off to a different "more knowledgeable rep" who in fact said (and I quote!) "well it has alot more low end which is what everyone wants, sure it's a little sloppy but it really moves" lol

Haha I confronted them about the new '08, I asked "what happened!? did you let a tribeca rape a legacy and this is the outcome!?" I was quickly pushed off to a different "more knowledgeable rep" who in fact said (and I quote!) "well it has alot more low end which is what everyone wants, sure it's a little sloppy but it really moves" lol

Depends where you caught them. By the day of the LA show when I arrived all the floor attendants were paid spokespeople who knew next to nothing about the car or Subaru. If you actually had a real, knowledgable subaru insider, you blew a chance to get them talking about how to make the car better (or better looking, or whatever).

Frank

If I want to read 10th grade drivel I'd read a 10th grade school newpaper, thanks. I've purchased maybe 2 issues of SCC in the last 5 years, and that last one must've been 4 years ago...

Id STILL rather buy it over any other import enthusiast magazine. It kills IT/Mod/SS in everyway with its write ups, and reviews.

Jay chen is a solid writer, who even does work for Road and Track. Theres another solid writer on there too. Another oriental guy.

They lost me when they had a special issue on the STI. The article centered on them painting it flat black. I never bought another issue.

+ eleventybillion

Wow, now I wish I had gotten into Subarus alot earlier, all i've ever known of SCC was it beinga decent mag to read, but it has gone downhill after Josh and Dave left.


~Josh~