My Subaru Baja

Details:
2004 Subaru Baja Turbo
Click here for specs:

    When the concept of the Subaru ST-X concept, loving called the OUTBRAT (seen blow), I thought that the Baja would be just a nifty new Subaru that would be cool.  I was planning and planning on getting the Outback Sedan 3.0 H6 VDC.  Then the first 03 Baja hit the Show room floor at Carter Subaru in Seattle, WA.  I just fell in love with it, even though I can't stand the yellow.  They had the Regatta Red on the floor.  I sat in it and the seats just fit me perfect and it had all the options that I really wanted standard.  My heart was then torn between the two.  So after time went on, I found that I was liking the Baja more and more.  The only complaint that everyone has said is that it is a little under powered for the weight of the vehicle.  But I found it responsive enough for me.  So time went on and then I heard that the Baja was getting a turbo and was going to just about be the same engine as the STI, just a few differences and tuned for more low end torque and a smaller turbo.  The other thing that it was getting that I really wanted was the 4 speed Automatic transmission with SPORTSHIFT.  But luckily, the Baja doesn't exhibit this behavior.  It is extremely responsive in Drive and it shifts immediately when I tell it to in SPORTSHIFT and downshifting is smoth.  I got to test one of these in a Legacy 2.5 GT sedan once and loved it, but it was not as responsive as most wanted and I noticed it a little.  The other thing that I really wanted was the VTD AWD system.  But everything else that they did to make the differences between the 03 normally aspirated to the 04 turbo were tremendous pluses, except for the lower MPG decrease and 91 octane gas.

    Now that I can finally afford a new car, I went and purchased a Baja from Subaru of Santa Cruz.  I got a great deal from Charlie Yo. I got it fully loaded minus the obvious things that I will never need because of the weather, the cargo nets, boost gauge, and trailer hitch.  The MSRP on my Baja would have been about $28,000 and I paid about $25,000.  I planned to get my Baja ordered from the factory and I placed my order in January, but SOA called and said that it would be at least a couple of months before it would be ready in the Mystic Blue, so I made the decision that I would take the Black that Santa Curz has on their lot.  I like the two colors just as much, so it was a toss up and had them accessorize it for me. 
    Here is a picture that I took shortly after I got it:

    And after I got it accessorized:

 I have made 1 modification so far for, a Do It Yourself grill guard and Intercooler guard.  Here are a the results of that:
 

some more pictures that we have taken of the baja

Some pictures of the ST-X Concept:

Monterey Bay Drive

Subaru Baja Specifications: