The journey begins. We point our Subaru STi west from Charlotte, full of optimism for the open road. That optimism is quickly tested by a surprise bolt in a brand new tire, a piece of the car ejecting itself in a Texas thunderstorm, and the brutal reality of 112°F desert heat. This is the story of the first leg, where the romance of the road trip gets a swift kick from the real world.

The adventure continues up the iconic West Coast. This chapter has it all: a chance celebrity encounter at the San Diego Zoo, carving the legendary Malibu canyons, and a pilgrimage to Laguna Seca that resulted in a once-in-a-lifetime McLaren F1 sighting. We drive through giant trees, get humbled by the Bonneville Salt Flats, and end on the dramatic "Road to Zion."

The grand finale. We soak in one last blast of breathtaking scenery, tackling the majestic canyons of Zion, the stunning formations of Arches National Park, and the high-altitude hairpins of Pikes Peak. This is the story of the long, final push east—the homecoming journey and the reflections from a long, hard, and unforgettable 8,200 miles.

Beyond the travel story, this is the post for the true car nerds. We directly address the comments asking, "Why wouldn't a new car make it?" by breaking down exactly how our 2021 STi survived a torture test it was never truly designed for.