SP Rides: A Super Woman and her Stunning Subaru
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Courtney Cadavona
Age: 26
Occupation: HMSA customer advocate
Hobbies: Videogames, paintball, cars
Year/Make/Model: 2004 Subaru STi
Color: Custom “Psylock purple” paint
Engine: Cobb engine management, custom straight exit exhaust, Invidia downpipe, Invidia up-pipe, Go Fast Bits BOV, Walbro 255 lph fuel pump
Interior: Flossy weighted shift knob, Color matched interior dash, Kenwood double din, JL w10 subwoofer, Defi gauges, Cobb short shifter
Exterior: Seibon Carbon Fiber Hood, Roof and Trunk, JDM HID headlamps, JDM Chargespeed 10-pc. Super GT wide-body kit (molded), tinted taillights
Suspension: BC Coilovers
Wheels/Tires: Custom Avant Garde F120 3-pc. forged wheels, KUMHO Solus TA31 225/40R 18s
Courtney Cadavona doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty. In fact, she’s completely at home being covered in grime or getting shot at with paintballs. More importantly, she has no problem fitting in with the growing trend of ladies who play with the boys in the import car scene, and comfortably holding their own.
One look at her custom Subaru STi is all the proof to know that she takes her playtime serious as well. This 2004 model is her dream car and she considers herself lucky to have been able to snag it — even though it was a little worn around the edges when she first hot her hands on it. For Cadavona, it’s about expressing her identity while being unique. As a result, the car is virtually unrecognizable in comparison to its former sheet metal life.
The first thing you’ll notice is the epic wide-body Chargespeed Super GT kit. This is an original, 10-piece special obtained straight from Japan. It extends the exterior dimensions by several inches with some serious kit. The front bumper is intricately designed and features integrated center carbon fiber flaps. The car also features 20mm-wide blister fenders as well as rear door panels, which add aggressiveness to the lines. The rear blister fenders are 25mm and in conjunction with the rear bumper set a thick stance for those who follow. The entire kit is graced with carbon fiber components including a Seibon vented hood, roof and trunk combination.
The ride is layered in a custom purple “Psylocke” color shift paint, and the overall effect this setup has on the stock lines of the STi is stunning. Updated with JDM HID headlights as well as tinted rear tails, the kit is paired with 18×10 Avant Garde F120 3-pc. forged wheels in brilliant white. For daily use, this car rides high as to not damage the super-expensive body kit; however, in show mode the car is lowered on BC coilovers. The plan is to switch to an air suspension setup in the near future.
Performance wise, this ride features a Cobb engine management system matched with various go-fast bits, including an Invidia downpipe and up-pipe, a Walbro 255 lph fuel pump, and a custom straight exit exhaust. The interior is relatively stock, but features a color-matched interior dash, a Kenwood double-din receiver, as well as Defi gauges. Sounds are provided by a JL w10 subwoofer while a Flossy-weighted shift knob provides smoother shifts.
The automotive enthusiast scene is primarily testosterone driven. In fact, lot of women, especially those who are trying to get into the car scene, can be overlooked for their male counterparts. Cadavona has done a fantastic job proving the status quo wrong.
“A lot of people assume that my car is my fiancé’s, which isn’t the case,” she said. “I want other girls to know that they can compete. If you can envision something you want, then go for it. As long as you love it, that’s all that matters.”
