Luis Ramirez - 2013 Subaru WRX Hatchback
“Don’t let others tell you how to build your car. Always have a vision and do it your own way.”
Some builds are about numbers.
Some builds are about flex.
This one?
This one’s about heart.
Raised in Texas and now 36, this Austin-area entrepreneur spends his days running a fast-growing concrete company he founded in 2017. But when the work boots come off, and the garage lights flip on, it’s a different kind of grind — one fueled by late nights, tools on the floor, carbon dust in the air, and his brother right there beside him.
Because this Subaru?
It wasn’t assembled.
It was earned.
The Spark That Started It All
Like so many of us, it started with a movie.
The Fast and the Furious wasn’t just entertainment — it was a shift in perspective.
After that first watch, cars weren’t just transportation anymore.
They were:
- personality
- creativity
- identity
He began noticing everything—especially the Civics his neighbors owned. Then came local shows and events, and eventually, stepping into the world of Hot Import Nights, where polished JDM builds and wild show cars pushed his curiosity into obsession.
That’s when the rabbit hole really began.
From Hondas… to Subaru Love at First Drive
Growing up, Hondas were everywhere. Civics, Preludes — that was the language he spoke.
But everything changed the day he stood in front of a blue 2007 Subaru WRX STI.
A friend owned it but couldn’t drive a manual.
So, guess who became the driver?
They went everywhere like that — him behind the wheel, his friend riding shotgun like a “passenger princess.”
And somewhere between boost pulls and backroads…
It clicked.
That was the car.
That was the platform.
That was the one.
The Long Road to the Right Hatch
The problem? Finding the right Subaru wasn’t easy.
He wanted:
- older generation
- aggressive styling
- widebody look
- that iconic STI energy
Instead, the market was full of newer hatches he wasn’t sold on.
So he did what builders do.
He started with what he could get — a red narrow-body hatch — and made it his own.
And funny enough?
The platform he once thought was “ugly” slowly became the one he fell hardest for.
But one idea kept nagging at him:
“I really wanted a widebody hatch.”
So he built one.
Brotherhood > Budget
This isn’t a shop-built car.
This is a home-built car.
Most of the fabrication, installation, wiring, lighting, and custom pieces were done in the garage with his brother — @shos_ride — the same person he credits as the knowledge backbone behind everything they do.
Together, they’ve built a rhythm:
His vision.
His brother’s execution.
Both were covered in grease by the end of the night.
And when you build a car that way?
You don’t just know what parts are on it.
You know every single bolt.
The Feeling Never Gets Old
He still gets chills looking at it.
Still stops and stares after parking.
Still can’t believe they built something this wild themselves.
And the best part?
When people ask questions.
Because he didn’t just buy parts.
He lived every install.
Every cut.
Every rewire.
Every mistake was fixed at 2AM.
That’s the kind of pride money can’t buy.
Subaru Reality Check
He keeps it real about the platform, too.
Subarus are:
- fun
- raw
- addictive
…but they’re not cheap.
The platform has a reputation for draining wallets, and he’s the first to admit it.
Still?
If you love it, build it.
He doesn’t buy into resale culture or “keep it stock for value.”
He’s old school.
Back when people swapped motors into anything just to see if it worked.
That’s the spirit he still builds with.
What Makes His Hatch Different?
He says it’s not unique.
But let’s be honest — it absolutely is.
While many Subies run similar mods, his stands apart with:
- fully custom RGB lighting systems
- a one-off glass-and-carbon trunk setup
- rare wheel specs
- DIY fabrication everywhere
And maybe most importantly…
There’s no going back to stock.
It crossed that line a long time ago.
Build Breakdown
Exterior
- Tinybot wrap
- Battle Aero widebody
- Seibon carbon hood
- Carbon lip kit
- Street Aero diffuser
- Carbon VIS racing wing
- Flush wind visors
- Brembo 6-pot brakes (Rivera Blue)
- Custom RGBW taillights (built by @shos_ride)
- Demon Circuit RGBW headlights
Suspension
- Air Lift Performance system
Interior
- Bride Stradia II carbon seats
- Carbon fiber trim throughout
- CAE racing shifter
- Work Bells quick release
- Nardi carbon steering wheel
- Custom carbon interior pieces
Trunk Setup
- Carbon-style fabric board
- 3/8” hardlines
- Custom plexiglass sub enclosure
- Powder-coated tanks
- RGB LowGlow lighting
- JD Customs “Gaijin Society” plate
Engine
- Mostly stock
- Perrin dress-up components
- Cobb intake
- Grimmspeed top-mount intercooler
- Strut bar
- Low-profile battery
Wheels
- Work Meister S1 3-piece – 19x11 – 6” polished lips
- SSR Formula Aero Spokes – custom converted 3-piece
The Crew Behind It
This build is a family effort:
- Brother: @shos_ride
- Wrap: @Vq_grant
- Team support: @Gaijin.Society
Other communities he proudly reps:
- @parked.up
- @subaru_nation_georgia
- @widebodysubies
For him, the car scene isn’t just cars.
It’s friendships, road trips, late nights, and stress relief.
It’s therapy.
What’s Next?
He’s not done.
Plans include:
- full paint
- molded fenders
- possible engine swap
Because of a build like this?
It’s never “finished.”
It just evolves.
Dream Cars?
Hard to choose now.
But the list looks like a JDM hall of fame:
- R32
- R34
- FD RX-7
- S14
- Evos
- even a small VW truck
Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked forever.
Final Word
This Subaru isn’t about flexing.
It’s about expression.
It’s proof that you don’t need a shop, a massive budget, or approval from strangers.
Just a vision.
A garage.
And someone you trust beside you.
Because at the end of the day?
The only opinion that matters is yours.
Build it your way.
IG: @guicho_chaser