2002 Subaru WRX - G-Games

Final Score: 85.1 pts.9 Ninth Place

We've never pussyfooted around it. We dig the Subaru WRX big time. The car has all the right goods: a strong turbocharged engine with the potential to make lots of power for not much money. And a stiff, balanced chassis with loads of suspension travel, which is exactly why we were stoked when our sister publication, Import Tuner, brought one out for the G-Games.

That said, this WRX's performance proves that random suspension changes to any car can hurt as much as they can help. This car was fitted with a set of lowering springs from The Progress Group, an AEM cold air intake, Axis 17x7-inch VPD wheels and the test-standard BFGoodrich g-Force tires. It was, by far, the most stock car of the bunch. And it showed. Stiff lowering springs require increased damping. The lack of proper damping hurt the WRX's handling considerably.

Despite the mismatched shock and spring combination, the large g-Force tires still produced significant stick. On the skidpad the WRX managed .87g, a slight improvement over the stock .82g. Through the slalom, the lack of proper damping was evident as the car pounded the bumpstops in transitions, making it hard to control. Lowering the long-travel WRX to the point of bumpstop thumping is a modification that has always puzzled SCC staffers.

But if low is what you want, The Progress Group has got your ticket. Plus, the addition of proper aftermarket struts could make the handling bearable if not improved. That wasn't the case here.

On the road course, the WRX suffered similar consequences. Even with world-famous import racer Stephan Papakakis at the wheel, it was the second slowest car beating only the 60-hp 1971 Volkswagen Beetle of Eric Roberts. The lesson to be learned? Even the best tires in the world have a hard time making a car quick if the fundamentals aren't right. -Josh Jacquot