Unlikely Friends

Wednesday 21 August, 2013 | By Ken

Not your typical friendship, the rivalry between the STi and the EVO  go back to the days of World Rally Championship when the Subaru’s and EVO’s dominated the sport, going head to head in competition. On the street, the fight spilled over as the manufacturers were pumping out rally-bred street counterparts, and the rest is history. Even as the days of WRC battle between these two are now a distant memory, the fight lives on, whether it be for style or speed.

Fortunately, friendship can transcend stereotypes and hype. In this case, Joe Cheung, with his 2004 Subaru WRX STi, and Nawshin Basher with his 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, share a friendship that is reflected in the cars they love.

Joe, who previously had a Lexus LS400 as a member of Liberty VIP, decided to sell his Lexus and  purchase his STi in December 2011. The funny guy he is, he decided to get “HI EVO” vanity plates just for the hell of it. A few months after in August of 2012, Nawshin found his present EVO in completely bone stock form. As a former EVO owner, the bug bit him once again. This time around, Joe had jokingly suggested to Nawhin what his plate should be for his EVO. Yep, you guessed it….”HI STI”.

Their own friendly rivalry was born, and the mod race started as they went back and forth with mods.  What started out as an innocent joke turned into something that now brings attention, stares and good laughs to everyone that sees them rolling together. It has also inspired them to take their rides to another level and they are constantly trying to “one-up” the other with modifications. From the Volk TE37’s to the flared out, wide-body modifications. Both cars appear to be similar, yet “opposite” which is a beautiful thing because in the end, the history of the WRX STi and the EVO will always be one of love and hate. For Joe and Nawshin, this story is all about friendship.

Photography by SNTRL Fam: V I N Photography

2004 Subaru STi

Engine: Cobb Accessport | Invidia catless downpipe | Invidia G200 exhaust | SPT intake | TurboXS FMIC | Mishimoto Radiator and thermostat

Interior: Nardi Deep Corn steering wheel | Defi Boost gauge | Titanium shift knob | Pioneer AVH-4400BH headunit | Pioneer 6.5″ front | Pioneer 4″ rear | Pioneer GM-5300T amp | Sound Ordinance B-8PT

Exterior: Karlton Fender Flares | S203 front lip | Chargespeed bottomline side skirts | Voltex style diffuser | JDM STi headlights | JDM Large fog lights | Hella Supertone horns

Suspension and brakes: BC Racing coilovers with Swift 10kg/8kg upgrade | Cusco rear strutbar | Cusco lower bar | Kartboy endlinks | Stoptech stainless steel lines | R1concept slotted rotors | Hawk HPS pads

Wheels: 18×10.5 Volk Racing TE37RT | Hankook Ventus V12 275/35/18

2004 Mitsubishi Evolution

Engine: Hks Intake | Hks 272/272 Cams | Greddy Ti-C | Greddy Radiator air diverter | Arc spark plug cover | Hallman Boost controller | Turboxs 3.5inch intercooler | Arp headstuds | ETS upper intercooler pipe | Injen Lower intercooler pipe | Walbro 255 fuel pump | Cusco Catch can

Interior: Sparco Evo seats | Takata harness | Defi controller | Defi bf series boost, exhaust temp, oil temp and oil pressure gauge | Aem wideband | Jdm double din kit | Pioneer AVH-4400BH headunit | Personal suede steering wheel | Nrg quick release | Aspec titanium shift knob | Redlinegoods leather w/ red stitching shift boot and arm rest | Hks turbo timer

Exterior: Voltex diffuser | Voltex GT V-mount wing | Voltex style widebody quarter panel | Rexpeed carbon sideskirt extension | Jdm headlight | Jdm Tail light | Jdm amber side marker | Jdm rear bumper | Perrin stubby antenna | Broadway 270mm mirror (so I can watch joe’s sti on my rear view mirror while I pass him at track lol ) | Mitsubishi window visor | Project kics R40 lug nuts | Ralliart Carbon fiber mirror

Suspension & Brakes: BC racing coilover | Hawks HPS front and rear pads | Stoptech Brake line | Cusco Front power brace | Cusco Front strut bar | Cusco Trunk strut bar | Cusco Trunk Stiffener bar | Whiteline sways | Whiteline Bump steer kit

Wheel and Tires:  Volk TE-37 18×9.5 +22 | BFgoodrich Kdw tires (255/35-18)

About the author

Co-founder, Managing Director, Photographer, and editor for SNTRL. To many in the Tri-State, Kenny aka "MAD JDM" needs no introduction. Always out there, always ready, always down.


Speak your mind.