I recently picked up a 2005 Subaru Baja — one of the most versatile vehicles Subaru ever made. The Baja was produced from 2003 to 2006 and was essentially a cross between a Legacy/Outback and a small pickup. Overall, being a Subaru owner, it was a car that i've always wanted to work on.
Even though it never sold in big numbers, the Baja has built a pretty large following thanks to its unique design, AWD system, and Subaru reliability. My particular model is the turbo/stickshift version, which makes it even more fun to drive and mod.
My Build Goals
I’m converting this Baja into a wardriving and overlanding rig — basically combining my passion for cybersecurity with off-road adventure. That means:
- Setting up servers and networking gear in the bed for wardriving and experimentation. We might be talking about offgrid battery backups as well for redundancy and on-the-road testing.
- Mounting antennas and radios for wireless exploration. This could possibly include a Starlink connection for roaming wireless connection that doesn't depend on cell providers.
- Equipping it with overlanding gear like roof racks, recovery boards, and storage solutions for long trips. Even though it already has some modifications from the old owner, I was thinking about adding more "useful" features/compartments (Such as packout).
Why the Baja?
The Baja strikes the perfect balance: it’s rugged enough for trails and camping, but compact and practical enough for daily driving. Plus, there’s something cool about taking a forgotten piece of Subaru history and giving it new life as a one-of-a-kind tech/adventure build.
This project will evolve as I go — but first I've been having to replace the control arms and CV axles as the rust up here can really degrade older parts.
You can check out my progress on my instagram: Kieran_Wittstruck