Is it me or are the US STI headlights different?

icefire · 03-28-2003, 12:49 AM

Why do we get stuck with the amber crap?

While the Japanese enjoy clear yet functional amber lighting?

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STi INGER · 03-28-2003, 02:12 AM

First pic don't work

jaypride · 03-28-2003, 06:32 AM

DOT requires amber reflectors as well as directionals. Maybe Subaru was nice enough to make those easily removable though.

Golfa · 03-28-2003, 09:48 AM

i know im removing them :P

Balls · 03-28-2003, 10:17 AM

clear corners = rice
I don't have anything against rice. It's not my cup of tea, but swapping out the amber for clear is definitely rice.

TurboPhoon · 03-28-2003, 12:09 PM

So that means every foreign car manufactured for delivery outside the US is considered rice, including BMW and Audi. Sorry man but clear corners look 10 times better than amber ever will and they are by no means rice. I think someone should go over what rice is.

zacek · 03-28-2003, 06:32 PM

i second that! I am getting a little sick of poeple saying that if a do a tiny mod here is a rice. stupid. I just want a cleaner look.

Remember this mod is to make the light assembly look CLEANER, unlike putting a tin can muffler and pressume all of the sudden I gained 100 hp.

TOMMY B · 03-28-2003, 06:47 PM

I Think Clear Corners Looks "RICE" Too, I hope thay go away like the Pimp-Daddy 19" Sliver wheels.... That every one had to have

It just looks so low class...........

RALLY ON ///////////////////////////

skope · 03-28-2003, 07:58 PM

Uhh...

I don't see whats wrong with changing the headlights to the way they were designed to look. They have that orange crap in there just because of our laws. Calling a mod like that as "Rice" is stupid.

TOMMY B · 03-28-2003, 08:55 PM

Why are Orange Stupid ?

This therad say stright up that the Orange/Yellow look Stupid, Yes or No ???

Well, why are you mad if some of us think "Clear" looks Rice or stupid at the same time, to many of us ??

You can run your ride the way you like it, But Clear will always look rice to me.....

RALLY ON //////////////////

GaryS · 03-28-2003, 09:19 PM

Slightly OT here, back in a moment...

To clarify rice, the classic definition is: a mod done to increase the *appearance* of performance or power which actually decreases it or in no way enhances performance. Examples: melon shooters, enormous 'park bench' style wings, performance stickers (which are not backed up by actually having the parts), wheels with fake rotors in them (I just about died the first time I saw these bad boys

), etc...

Therefore, clear corners are not technically 'rice', but simply something that is associated with it (like altezzas), because they are often seen on cars that are in all other ways, riced-out.

Ok, back on-topic...

I prefer the cleaner look of non-US market lights also, compared to the overly orange lenses that we get. Like someone else mentioned, the orange totally interrupts the 'cleanness'. I agree, though, that it's purely a matter of personal preference.

Does anyone know the specific reason the amber lense is needed? If altezzas are legal, I wouldn't know why you couldn't do a similar thing (to a lesser degree) up front. Maybe it's the actual wording of the 'law'?...

In the end, it's not that big of a deal to me either way. I don't plan on spending much time looking at the front of the car anyway!

jaypride · 03-28-2003, 09:25 PM

DOT requires amber reflectors in the front and red in the rear, to go along with the colored lights.

GaryS · 03-28-2003, 10:04 PM

The US Lexus appears to pull off a reduced amber look quite nicely, IMHO.

You can see from these pics how it can be done in a way that doesn't scream: "HEY!! LOOK AT ME, I'M ORANGE!!!"

It would be nice if the STi lights were more like these, but I also like the fact that Subaru seem to be spending engineering $s where they count most - performance.

I think as time goes on, and Subarus in general become a little more 'main stream' (been seeing a whole lotta Foresters lately), they will get these little touches, but until then, just get 'em over here!

metoo · 03-29-2003, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TOMMY B
I Think Clear Corners Looks "RICE" Too, I hope thay go away like the Pimp-Daddy 19" Sliver wheels.... That every one had to have

It just looks so low class...........

RALLY ON ///////////////////////////

Let's take a look at some low class vehicles

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/pors...v..13.Porsche*

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/jagu...av..13.Jaguar*

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/infi.....13.Infiniti*

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/asto....Aston+Martin*

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/merc...Mercedes-Benz*

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/lexu...nav..13.Lexus*

Those clear headlamps really cheap'n the look...

uuuuuhhhhh yeah.....right.

TOMMY B · 03-29-2003, 10:59 PM

Thay Sure look no better then any other head lights on the road, and I'm sure most of the cars you listed "Do Not" have Clear rear lights like so many Riced out cars do.

As I said I'm looking foward to the day when thay just go away

RALLY ON //////////////////

byroll01 · 03-30-2003, 12:38 PM

To get back on the subject........

I looked really close at the '04 RS headlight at my local dealer this past week. The big reflector on the outside edge is just a snap in one. The city light is an orange bulb(easily changed to normal city light bulb OR BLUE IF YOU PREFER). The big triangular one at the top covers the turn directional and I couldn't say for sure if you could take it out. All this would need to be done with the healight opened up. I plan on doing mine the first week. The only other question is once it's apart do I paint the housing?
It looks good black on the current STI headlights, wouldn't it look good black or charcoal on the new one too?

byron

mpaone · 03-31-2003, 09:41 AM

This is kind of humorous, so I think I'll reply.

First of all, I think there is a little confusion as to the definition of "clear" lights.

I personally think that orange, when not required is unattractive and I do prefer the WHITE and red rear and WHITE front corner lenses of the JDM GC Imprezas.

I used to call these "clear", but since clear REALLY means clear I'm calling them white.

It's a valid point to say clear is ricearoni, but white is not.

All Subaru open class pro-rally cars have donned JDM style lights, so if you think they (lights) are rice, you think rally cars are also rice.

All of the WRC winning Imprezas (95, 96 and 97) however shared a mix of red/orange rear lights (ala USDM) and white front corners.

Confused yet?

Oh, and to respond to the original post, I like the JDM style better.

-Mike.

03-28-2003, 12:49 AM	#1
icefire Scooby Newbie Member#: 4072 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Dublin, CA Vehicle: 2005 STI Blue	Is it me or are the US STI headlights different? Why do we get stuck with the amber crap? While the Japanese enjoy clear yet functional amber lighting? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

03-28-2003, 10:04 PM	#13
GaryS Scooby Newbie Member#: 3541 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: St. Charles, Mo	*It can* be done...** The US Lexus appears to pull off a reduced amber look quite nicely, IMHO. You can see from these pics how it can be done in a way that doesn't scream: "HEY!! LOOK AT ME, I'M ORANGE!!!" It would be nice if the STi lights were more like these, but I also like the fact that Subaru seem to be spending engineering $s where they count most - performance. I think as time goes on, and Subarus in general become a little more 'main stream' (been seeing a whole lotta Foresters lately), they will get these little touches, but until then, just get 'em over here!

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03-28-2003, 02:12 AM	#2
STi INGER Scooby Newbie Member#: 33468 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Portland, OR Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi (soon) Black	First pic don't work

03-28-2003, 06:32 AM	#3
jaypride Scooby Specialist Member#: 33424 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: WMIC Vehicle: 2004 STI Blue/Gold	DOT requires amber reflectors as well as directionals. Maybe Subaru was nice enough to make those easily removable though.

03-28-2003, 09:48 AM	#4
Golfa Scooby Guru Member#: 21394 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Rye, NH Vehicle: Sold 2004 STi 08 WW Evo X	i know im removing them :P

03-28-2003, 10:17 AM	#5
Balls Scooby Newbie Member#: 29695 Join Date: Nov 2002	clear corners = rice I don't have anything against rice. It's not my cup of tea, but swapping out the amber for clear is definitely rice.

03-28-2003, 12:09 PM	#6
TurboPhoon Scooby Newbie Member#: 5946 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NY	So that means every foreign car manufactured for delivery outside the US is considered rice, including BMW and Audi. Sorry man but clear corners look 10 times better than amber ever will and they are by no means rice. I think someone should go over what rice is.

03-28-2003, 06:32 PM	#7
zacek Scooby Specialist Member#: 19467 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Chatsworth, CA. Vehicle: 02 WRX WR Blue	i second that! I am getting a little sick of poeple saying that if a do a tiny mod here is a rice. stupid. I just want a cleaner look. Remember this mod is to make the light assembly look CLEANER, unlike putting a tin can muffler and pressume all of the sudden I gained 100 hp.

03-28-2003, 06:47 PM	#8
TOMMY B Scooby Specialist Member#: 2636 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Taxes Paid:Brewster, New York Vehicle: 2003 Montero Limted/ Evo 8-soon to have ALS//	I Think Clear Corners Looks "RICE" Too, I hope thay go away like the Pimp-Daddy 19" Sliver wheels.... That every one had to have It just looks so low class........... RALLY ON ///////////////////////////

03-28-2003, 07:58 PM	#9
skope Scooby Newbie Member#: 25782 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: IL	Uhh... I don't see whats wrong with changing the headlights to the way they were designed to look. They have that orange crap in there just because of our laws. Calling a mod like that as "Rice" is stupid.

03-28-2003, 08:55 PM	#10
TOMMY B Scooby Specialist Member#: 2636 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Taxes Paid:Brewster, New York Vehicle: 2003 Montero Limted/ Evo 8-soon to have ALS//	Why are Orange Stupid ? This therad say stright up that the Orange/Yellow look Stupid, Yes or No ??? Well, why are you mad if some of us think "Clear" looks Rice or stupid at the same time, to many of us ?? You can run your ride the way you like it, But Clear will always look rice to me..... RALLY ON //////////////////

03-28-2003, 09:19 PM	#11
GaryS Scooby Newbie Member#: 3541 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: St. Charles, Mo	Slightly OT here, back in a moment... To clarify rice, the classic definition is: a mod done to increase the appearance of performance or power which actually decreases it or in no way enhances performance. Examples: melon shooters, enormous 'park bench' style wings, performance stickers (which are not backed up by actually having the parts), wheels with fake rotors in them (I just about died the first time I saw these bad boys ), etc... Therefore, clear corners are not technically 'rice', but simply something that is associated with it (like altezzas), because they are often seen on cars that are in all other ways, riced-out. Ok, back on-topic... I prefer the cleaner look of non-US market lights also, compared to the overly orange lenses that we get. Like someone else mentioned, the orange totally interrupts the 'cleanness'. I agree, though, that it's purely a matter of personal preference. Does anyone know the specific reason the amber lense is needed? If altezzas are legal, I wouldn't know why you couldn't do a similar thing (to a lesser degree) up front. Maybe it's the actual wording of the 'law'?... In the end, it's not that big of a deal to me either way. I don't plan on spending much time looking at the front of the car anyway!

03-28-2003, 09:25 PM	#12
jaypride Scooby Specialist Member#: 33424 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: WMIC Vehicle: 2004 STI Blue/Gold	DOT requires amber reflectors in the front and red in the rear, to go along with the colored lights.

03-29-2003, 10:59 PM	#15
TOMMY B Scooby Specialist Member#: 2636 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Taxes Paid:Brewster, New York Vehicle: 2003 Montero Limted/ Evo 8-soon to have ALS//	Thay Sure look no better then any other head lights on the road, and I'm sure most of the cars you listed "Do Not" have Clear rear lights like so many Riced out cars do. As I said I'm looking foward to the day when thay just go away RALLY ON //////////////////

03-30-2003, 12:38 PM	#16
byroll01 NASIOC Supporter Member#: 611 Join Date: Dec 1999 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Saratoga Springs NY Vehicle: '05 E55 AMG GetADomTune.com	To get back on the subject........ I looked really close at the '04 RS headlight at my local dealer this past week. The big reflector on the outside edge is just a snap in one. The city light is an orange bulb(easily changed to normal city light bulb OR BLUE IF YOU PREFER). The big triangular one at the top covers the turn directional and I couldn't say for sure if you could take it out. All this would need to be done with the healight opened up. I plan on doing mine the first week. The only other question is once it's apart do I paint the housing? It looks good black on the current STI headlights, wouldn't it look good black or charcoal on the new one too? byron

03-31-2003, 09:41 AM	#17
mpaone Scooby Guru Member#: 3 Join Date: Jun 1999 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Alfretter Geeoja Vehicle: 2012 Geeteeeye and 71' VW Gulf Beetle	This is kind of humorous, so I think I'll reply. First of all, I think there is a little confusion as to the definition of "clear" lights. I personally think that orange, when not required is unattractive and I do prefer the WHITE and red rear and WHITE front corner lenses of the JDM GC Imprezas. I used to call these "clear", but since clear REALLY means clear I'm calling them white. It's a valid point to say clear is ricearoni, but white is not. All Subaru open class pro-rally cars have donned JDM style lights, so if you think they (lights) are rice, you think rally cars are also rice. All of the WRC winning Imprezas (95, 96 and 97) however shared a mix of red/orange rear lights (ala USDM) and white front corners. Confused yet? Oh, and to respond to the original post, I like the JDM style better. -Mike.