Ben's Car Blog
Posts / reviews
Legacy XT Long Term Review

May 19, 2024

Legacy XT Long Term Review

Buying a mid-size sedan in this age of SUVs and trucks might seem like an odd choice. After all, as of late 2022 almost 75% of new vehicle sales were SUVs, crossovers, and trucks, with no sign of...

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Goodbye to the WRX

March 19, 2022

Goodbye to the WRX

After four and a half years and nearly 45,000 miles together, I said goodbye to the WRX this past week. I didn’t originally plan to switch cars this year, but there were a number of reasons that led...

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WRX Brake Upgrade

June 29, 2021

WRX Brake Upgrade

A few weeks back, the WRX ticked over the 40,000 mile mark. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, most of the car has held up spectacularly well over the last four years! Unfortunately, the brakes...

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Why I Bought a Fujifilm X-Pro2

April 10, 2021

Why I Bought a Fujifilm X-Pro2

A few months back, I wrote about my experience owning the Sony a7ii. In that post, I mentioned how I had found myself growing bored with photography - that the camera itself often felt sterile and...

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Why I Sold My Sony a7ii

January 31, 2021

Why I Sold My Sony a7ii

When I started creating content for this blog back in 2016, I was a total photography noob. I had some appreciation for what made a picture “good”, but the best camera I had was the one on my Google...

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Outback - Long Term Review

November 24, 2020

Outback - Long Term Review

A little over 12 months ago, my wife and I waved goodbye to her abhorrently unreliable Ford Focus. In its place, we welcomed a gently-loved 2017 Subaru Outback to our garage! !The Outback and WRX...

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COBB Accessport Review

May 2, 2020

COBB Accessport Review

One of the most popular mods for the WRX/STI is the COBB Accessport. I had some familiarity with COBB after owning my Fiesta ST, but never got around to running a tune before I sold it. Before I even...

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XPEL Ultimate - Long Term Review

September 4, 2019

XPEL Ultimate - Long Term Review

It's easy to overlook the benefits of a paint protection film on your vehicle, especially if you've never had one installed. In my case, I had experienced massive regret and frustration after daily...

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WRX 25k Review

February 4, 2019

WRX 25k Review

A year and a half after taking delivery of my WRX, it's already rolled over the 25,000 mile mark! With a cross-state move and frequent trips back and forth between Minnesota and Wisconsin the past...

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2018 Holiday Gift Guide

December 4, 2018

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

With temperatures and snow falling fast, it's to time to start thinking about gifts for the petrolhead in your life! Whether you're one yourself or looking for ideas, I've put together a list of a...

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ProClip Phone Mount Review

November 20, 2018

ProClip Phone Mount Review

As useful as our smartphones are, they can be a real distraction when behind the wheel. For this reason, the best place for your phone when you're driving is usually in your pocket and/or out of...

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Adam's Wheel Cleaner Review

August 30, 2018

Adam's Wheel Cleaner Review

Anyone who's spent any amount of time on Instagram is probably familiar with Adam's Polishes. They have a huge social media presence and are widely praised throughout the Subaru community for their...

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Bayson R V-Limited Lip Review

July 29, 2018

Bayson R V-Limited Lip Review

After procrastinating picking one up for months, I finally caved and picked up a front lip for the WRX. After seeing how big of a difference the OEM 2018 lip makes to the front end of the WRX it was...

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WRX 10k Review

April 14, 2018

WRX 10k Review

Early last month my 2018 WRX rolled over the 10,000 mile mark. I've been daily driving the car since early September, which has given me plenty of opportunities to familiarize myself with all of its...

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JDM Dual Console Armrest Extension Review

January 12, 2018

JDM Dual Console Armrest Extension Review

After four months of ownership, I finally caved and picked up the $150 JDM dual console armrest extension. I had considered adding the USDM extension to my factory order, but really wasn't impressed...

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Cleaning up the Rear of the WRX

December 15, 2017

Cleaning up the Rear of the WRX

With its quad exhausts and aggressive diffuser, the WRX is definitely a looker from the factory. However, there are a few areas where I feel Subaru seriously cheaped out. Swing Low Sweet Exhaust...

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Holiday Gift Ideas - 2017

November 26, 2017

Holiday Gift Ideas - 2017

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, it's time to start thinking about gifts for the gearhead in your life! To help you out, I've put together a list of my favorite car-related products from...

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XPEL Ultimate Review

October 4, 2017

XPEL Ultimate Review

In the months leading up to the delivery of my WRX, I spent a fair amount of time researching what kinds of mods/upgrades most owners recommend. One of the most frequently mentioned was paint...

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Perrin Shift Stop Review

September 20, 2017

Perrin Shift Stop Review

Having driven my 2018 WRX for a few weeks now, I've become accustomed to most of it's quirks and differences from the Fiesta ST. However, as I mentioned in my prior post, one of the most challenging...

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Fiesta ST - Long Term Review

October 20, 2016

Fiesta ST - Long Term Review

As the odometer on my 2014 Fiesta ST recently ticked over 36,000 miles, it seems fitting to take some time and reflect on the last few years of ownership. While I can't say the last ~32,000 miles of...

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Should I Buy a Dashcam?

October 20, 2016

Should I Buy a Dashcam?

What is a dashcam? A "dash cam" is a video camera designed for use in a vehicle, whose primary function is to record anything that might happen while you're driving. Dash cams tend to differentiate...

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