The first time Dean Mixon saw a Subaru WRX in person, it was rolling past his high school in California, finished in World Rally Blue with a set of gold BBS wheels. That moment stuck. It wasn’t just another modified Integra or Civic - this was something different. The distinctive sound of the boxer engine added to the appeal, a signature song that stood out from everything else he had heard. The love for Subarus took root quickly, fueled by Initial D arcade sessions and the ongoing Evo vs. STi rivalry that played out in local meet spots and fast-food parking lots.
The road to ownership wasn’t an easy one. Mixon didn’t grow up with the means to jump straight into his dream car. Instead, he put in the work. After joining the military, he managed to secure his first WRX. That 2005 model wasn’t just a stepping stone - it was a foundation. Over time, it evolved, culminating in a full interior and exterior swap so seamless that a COBB Tuning staff member mistook it for a factory STi. That moment confirmed what Mixon already knew: this was more than just a hobby now.
Eventually, the WRX was sold, making way for something he’d been after for years - the 2004 WRX STi. It started modestly, just an exhaust and a tune, but that was never going to last. Over the past decade, the car has gone through four distinct build phases, each iteration refining both function and aesthetics with a calculated, purposeful approach.
The influences behind the build extend beyond the Subaru community. Elements of RX-7 engineering, specifically V-mount cooling setups, played a role in shaping the car’s layout. The drift scene’s emphasis on clean engine bays and tubbed front ends left an impression as well, while the tucked and simplified engine bays common in Honda builds inspired a similar approach to his Subaru’s presentation. What ties it all together is that none of these choices are about standing out for the sake of it - everything serves a purpose.
That philosophy extends to the chassis and suspension, with fine-tuning happening down to the smallest details. Years of experience have taught Mixon that while high-horsepower numbers are easy to chase, real-world performance comes from balance. It’s about how the car responds - how it transitions, grips, and puts power down in real conditions.
Of course, not everyone gets it. The car draws attention, both positive and negative. Not everyone is willing to accept an approach that deviates from their own idea of what an STi build should look like. But that’s the nature of individuality in car culture. In the end, Mixon’s STi is built to perform exactly how he wants it to, and that’s all that really matters.
ESSENTIALS:
Location: Crestview, FL
Horsepower: 513 whp
Torque: 464 lb-ft
Club: Endless Projects
Social: IG: @monstermixon
ENGINE:
COBB Tuning (AP3, flex fuel kit, fuel pressure sensor, electronic boost controller, 4-bar map sensor)
Tuned by Calvin of Dotson Tuning
Garrett GTX3582R 82. A/R super core ported turbo
Perrin (tuner rotated piping kit, coolant overflow, oil cap)
Agency Power unequal length headers
Grimmspeed up-pipe / custom EWG dump tube
Tial 38mm External wastegate
IAG (AOS, Stage 2 Short block, timing belt guide, cam sprocket hardware, AVC'S, turbo oil feed lines)
Shaved TGV deletes
Killer Bee (oil pick up, oil baffle tray)
Custom ported and polished heads
GSC S1 CAMS
Bee Hive valve train
Custom turbo intake
Fore fuel pressure regulator
T1 Racing top feed fuel rails
Injector Dynamics (1700cc injectors, fuel filter kit)
Walbro Hellcat 525 fuel pump
Custom fuel bulk head hard wire kit
Killer B turbo expansion tank
Visconti Tuning speed density kit
Rev 9 V-mount intercooler
Process West V-mount radiator
Tial BOV
CO₂/NOS intercooler
Rotated manifold
UK Rally Spec clear timing covers
Chase bays power steering reservoir
Custom engine bay tubs
Wire harness tuck
EXHAUST:
Es Racing cat-back exhaust
Ape exhaust custom electronic dump from downpipe
DRIVETRAIN:
Southbend stage 2 clutch
Steel braided clutch line
Synchro upgrade
WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION:
P&L motorsports power steering rotated kit line
Whiteline sway bar end links, steering tie rod ends, and knuckle bushings
EXTERIOR:
Custom Nardo Gray paint
Battle Aero custom wide body kit
Downstar widebody hardware
Rear spats
Chargespeed side skirts
APR (front splitter, rods, GT300 wing)
Voltex trunk cover
Custom wing downforce/drag cables
Forcewerks rear diffuser
ES Performance rear window visor
Custom V-mount hood duct
Custom EWG hood dump
Seibon Carbon (bumper, lip)
INTERIOR:
ES racing roll cage
ATI center clock pod
Prosport Halo series gauges (oil temp, oil pressure, coolant)
Zex NOS level gauge
NRG quick-release hub
Keys Racing steering wheel
JDM red hazard switch
AEM gauges (boost, AFR, volt)
COBB sphere shift knob
6ocRALLYSPORT rear seat delete
Custom C02/Zex/air suspension mounts
Battery relocation kit
Blitz turbo timer
Sparco (racing harnesses, seat rails/sliders, R333 seats)
Prosport dead pedal
AUDIO / MOBILE ELECTRONICS:
Power Acoustic double-DIN
JL Audio (subwoofer, door speakers, amplifier)
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