(lots of photos below)
New member here; I've lurked for a while, and now I've joined, I'd like to introduce myself. I live in Alpharetta, GA (former life-long Chicagoan as of two-years ago).
My first Forester (why is it nicknamed 'Fozzie'? I searched and couldn't find a reason.) was a '02 Forester S AT purchased the week before 9/11/01. A week later, having a new car didn't seem quite as important.
But time moves on. Here she is the following April, 2002 (since replaced the Trek with a Litespeed).
I've never modded her, but I've driven her to numerous destinations (Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan-LP and UP) in search of the perfect road bicycle ride.
In fall '03 I quit my job (long story, never regretted it) and went on a two-month road-trip through the South-West and west-coast USA.
She was fully packed.
I slept inside her.
And beside her (three feet to the left, out-of-frame).
We've traveled many lonely roads together (taken through windshield while driving).
We've parked in some amazing places.
Throughout it all she ran and ran and ran and ran. In Death Valley she saved my life when at night, while traveling 90 mph suddenly I came to a 50mph right-hand corner. She held-on-barely. Yep, she held-on. (Most deaths in DV these days are driving accidents under similar circumstances.)
Last Friday I replaced her with a Gold Topaz '08 Forester 2.5 X AT Premium Package.
May my new Forester serve me as well as my old Forester.
-m