Chris Flaak

[FlaakCM]

Hey all!

My name is Chris Flaak and I am a JMU Alum. I attended JMU with Justin, Blair, Goodspeed, and the rest of that crew. I attended some of the Auto-X events, MM Meetings and did ride-alongs up 33.

Actually, come to think of it, the first time I met Blair, I was the passenger in his MKIII VR6 GTI going up 33.... I dont think I ever clutched a door handle so hard in my life! HAHA!

Some of the best and most memorable times I had at JMU were involved with MM, even though I didnt have a car car back then. I drove a 99 Ford Explorer, my first car (I still own it). After I graduated, I purchased a 04 Jaguar X-Type Sport (3.0L, 5spd, NAVI, AWD). I loved that car a lot but after my then girlfriend died in a car crash involving her similar 03 Jaguar X-Type 5spd, I stopped driving mine. I didnt feel as safe in it as I once did.

I sold the Jag in Aug of 2010 and just drove the Explorer. Since, I have been having issues with the Explorer (13 years old) and finally decided to purchase a new car. After having the AWD in the Jaguar, I knew I couldnt go back to RWD, and I needed to have a manual transmission. My commute to work is only 10 mins and it is against traffic. Being a lover of Audi and the Quattro system, I looked at the b7/b8 A4 platforms. However, coming from a "luxury" car, I couldnt justify the maintenance costs I would spend on the Audi over the life of the vehicle.

So with Audi out of the running, it brought me to my next love.... The Subaru Impreza WRX STi. I had always loved Subaru's but never owned one and always thought the interior was lacking. I decided to check them out again but knew I would have a hard time convincing the girlfriend to go for the $36K price tag. So I did some personal comparisons and decided that the WRX still fit all of my needs and cost $10k less (10k for mods :roll: ). That being said, I have a order in to Subaru for a 2012 Dark Grey Metallic WRX Sedan... It is expected to arrive on 3/10/2011 and I have to tell you this is the worst wait I have ever had to endure.

Once the car comes in, slowly the mods will follow. I really hope to make it back for some more MM events as the year continues. I most likely wont track the car at all, as it will be my DD, but I would love to do some drives and attend the auto crosses.

Anyway, that is about all.

[CaptainHenreh]

Welcome back!

Now can I get an official ruling on "3rd gen WRX's vs E36 M3's in MM" please?

[Goodspeed]

Whats up Chris, good to see you on here. Don't ask Rex about his 2012 WRX order story :lol:

[FlaakCM]

Haha.. Hopefully it wasn't too painful!

[JustinG]

Welcome Chris, been a while. Glad to see you here and still around.

[ScottyB]

welcome, keep the subarus coming!

[Jewels]

Haha.. Hopefully it wasn't too painful!

oh, it was very painful. But you didn't order a Plasma Blue Pearl wagon w/ nav. So you should be good. The guys who did order the PBP wagon w/ nav are still waiting for there's, 3 months later.

[FlaakCM]

Luckily, Dark Grey has always been my favorite color for cars. Also, I haven't heard very good things about the audio system in the new WRXs, so I decided to go with no nav. Maybe the nav units are better than the standard headunit :dunno:

[davej]

Being a lover of Audi and the Quattro system, I looked at the b7/b8 A4 platforms. However, coming from a "luxury" car, I couldnt justify the maintenance costs I would spend on the Audi over the life of the vehicle.

So with Audi out of the running, it brought me to my next love.... The Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

with a b5 s4 and a scooby xt in the garage, i can attest you're right on with the bloody maintenance costs for the audi, but it's such a love/hate. maybe they should start a support group for those of us in this abusive relationship....

i'm sure you're going to love the wrx, and hope your delivery process is less painful than others.

[FlaakCM]

I have to say, between the looks and the platform as a whole, the B5 and the B8 S4s are my favorite... not a big fan of the V8 S4s. I'm glad they went back to the V6.

[Cody]

Chris- make sure to post some pics up when the package is delivered! Awesome to hear you're excited to get involved with MM again. Check out our Google calendar for events and feel free to PM me with questions about any events going on.

[FlaakCM]

Whats up Chris, good to see you on here. Don't ask Rex about his 2012 WRX order story :lol:

Hey Goodspeed! Congrats on getting the Mazda! It looks real clean!

[FlaakCM]

Welcome Chris, been a while. Glad to see you here and still around.

Thanks. You too! Sad to see the Mon3y Pit gone.

[FlaakCM]

Chris- make sure to post some pics up when the package is delivered! Awesome to hear you're excited to get involved with MM again. Check out our Google calendar for events and feel free to PM me with questions about any events going on.

Thanks Cody!

I plan on taking a lot of pictures of the new arrival.

I still have a friend at Grad School at JMU that I would like to visit sometime before she finishes up. So I am hoping to possibly come down in the spring.

[FlaakCM]

Well the car came in last night, a week early. AND I COULDNT BE HAPPIER!!! I feel like a little kid! This car is amazing! I will do an update with photos soon (probably just link to a build thread)

Too bad I now have to sit inside at work all day today instead of driving. Oh well, have to pay for the payments somehow.

[Jake]

Project thread time!!

That reminds me, I need to take some pix and make one for my newest acquisition, too.

[FlaakCM]

Wow. I did really poorly at updating this thread. Let me post up what pictures i have thus far and I will make sure to update it as needed:

This is what was waiting for me





Here are some of the first photos i have of the car after i purchased it:









A few weeks later, started the modding:


Boost Gauge and Custom V1 concealed display in 52mm gauge pod






V1 audio dial. The speaker is run to the headrest of the drivers seat.

Winter Mode:


Was able to get 4 winter tires into the back of the car


Added the TS spoiler from the special edition version of the car from Japan


COBB short ram intake and flashed ECU (93 oct with COBB Intake)


Tow Hook added to the rear








Picked up my summer set of wheels (19x7 +32mm Enkei RPF1)

I cant wait til i can put on the summer wheels.

I love this car!

[FlaakCM]

Mods List:

Interior:
JPM Black Leather Shift Boot (red stitching)
JPM Black Leather E-Brake boot (red stitching)
JPM Black Leather Armrest (red stitching & .5" foam added)
COBB Shift Knob
SMY Dual 52mm Gauge Pod
Heated Seats
Leather Seats
Homelink Mirror (Auto-Dim & Compass)
V1 Hardwired in Rear Seat Headrest
Under Dash Red Illumination
35% Tint (all around)

Exterior:
Debadged
TS Rear Lip Spoiler
3M Carbon Fibre Overlay for Side Grilles
Front Lip Spoiler (still needs to be put on)
Nokya Yellow Fogs
Nokya Bright White Headlights
Tow Hook (For Winter Use)

Suspension:

Wheels:
17x8 Stock Wheels (Winter Setup)
235/45/17 Bridgestone Blizzak WS70
19x8 +35 ENKEI RFP1 (Summer Setup)
235/35/19 Michelin Pilot Supersports

Drivetrain:
Kartboy Short Throw Shifter
Kartboy Shifter Bushings

Power:
COBB AccessPort (93 OCT with COBB Intake)
COBB Ram Air Intake

[BLAIR]

Hey all!

My name is Chris Flaak and I am a JMU Alum. I attended JMU with Justin, Blair, Goodspeed, and the rest of that crew. I attended some of the Auto-X events, MM Meetings and did ride-alongs up 33.

Actually, come to think of it, the first time I met Blair, I was the passenger in his MKIII VR6 GTI going up 33.... I dont think I ever clutched a door handle so hard in my life! HAHA!

Some of the best and most memorable times I had at JMU were involved with MM, even though I didnt have a car car back then. I drove a 99 Ford Explorer, my first car (I still own it). After I graduated, I purchased a 04 Jaguar X-Type Sport (3.0L, 5spd, NAVI, AWD). I loved that car a lot but after my then girlfriend died in a car crash involving her similar 03 Jaguar X-Type 5spd, I stopped driving mine. I didnt feel as safe in it as I once did.

I sold the Jag in Aug of 2010 and just drove the Explorer. Since, I have been having issues with the Explorer (13 years old) and finally decided to purchase a new car. After having the AWD in the Jaguar, I knew I couldnt go back to RWD, and I needed to have a manual transmission. My commute to work is only 10 mins and it is against traffic. Being a lover of Audi and the Quattro system, I looked at the b7/b8 A4 platforms. However, coming from a "luxury" car, I couldnt justify the maintenance costs I would spend on the Audi over the life of the vehicle.

So with Audi out of the running, it brought me to my next love.... The Subaru Impreza WRX STi. I had always loved Subaru's but never owned one and always thought the interior was lacking. I decided to check them out again but knew I would have a hard time convincing the girlfriend to go for the $36K price tag. So I did some personal comparisons and decided that the WRX still fit all of my needs and cost $10k less (10k for mods :roll: ). That being said, I have a order in to Subaru for a 2012 Dark Grey Metallic WRX Sedan... It is expected to arrive on 3/10/2011 and I have to tell you this is the worst wait I have ever had to endure.

Once the car comes in, slowly the mods will follow. I really hope to make it back for some more MM events as the year continues. I most likely wont track the car at all, as it will be my DD, but I would love to do some drives and attend the auto crosses.

Anyway, that is about all.

The good ol runs up 33 in the GTI. Those were always fun!