Welcome to the build thread for my 1999 Subaru Forester L 5MT!
Current look as of April, 2019:
Before Photobucket went down, I had many more photos in this thread. Sorry about that. :/ but new updates are always coming!
Let me start off with the basics:
1999 Forester L
5-Speed
56,000 miles (when purchased)
One Owner
Pristine Interior
Stack of Maintenance Papers
NO RUST!
Current Mods as of June 2019:
2" Anderson Design Fabrication lift kit w/ 2" trailing arm spacers
Yellow Fogs
Blox 490 black chrome shift knob
215/75/15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2's
Smittybilt D-Rings
15x7" Method MR502 Rally Wheels
3mm hub centric wheel spacers
Rare accessory fender trim painted to match bumpers
Curt Safari Roof Basket w/ Extension
Yakima Roof Top Tire Mount w/ full-size spare
Rally Armor UR Flaps
Upgraded Pioneer Head Unit
Hella 500FF Fog Lights w/ black covers (tinted yellow) - Wired to factory switch
Hella vintage rally style light covers
JDM Grille
Magnaflow Muffler
Kartboy Stiff Exhaust Hangers
LED exterior bulbs (headlights, license plate, and reverse)
Future Mods:
Custom Pre-Runner Bumpers
Projector Retrofitted Headlights
Shifter Bushings
I've been a WRX owner for about 5 years now. I owned a world rally blue sedan for 4 of those years, and owned a platinum silver metallic wagon for 2 years. As I continued to modify my WRX's over the years, the need for a comfortable daily driver had grown and grown. After I graduated from college, I began hunting for a clean, older Subaru that could be used easily for commuting and road trips, and boy did I find one!
This car literally fell into my lap, as it was traded into the dealership that I had been working at on and off throughout college. This was a 1 owner car, owned and meticulously maintained by an older woman who had originally purchased it in Seattle.
The car needed a little TLC, as both front fenders were banged up pretty badly, and the interior was dirty, but those were things I was easily able to fix!
Aside from the aesthetic flaws, this was exactly what I wanted: Manual transmission, low mileage, full maintenance history, and it was a Forester!
Here is a pic of the damage on the driver side front fender the day I bought it:
Passenger side:
I quickly started tearing into the body repairs. I took the fenders off, and beat the dents out crudely with a rubber mallet. Body filler was a necessity at this point:
A few days later it was time for paint!
And back out into the sunlight for the first time after the repair. The paint is a little orange-peeled, but it doesn't really bother me. Also had to add some mad tyte jdm quick releases, as the bumper tabs on both sides were broken.
Also, just in case you didn't believe me:
Current look as of April, 2019:
Before Photobucket went down, I had many more photos in this thread. Sorry about that. :/ but new updates are always coming!
Let me start off with the basics:
1999 Forester L
5-Speed
56,000 miles (when purchased)
One Owner
Pristine Interior
Stack of Maintenance Papers
NO RUST!
Current Mods as of June 2019:
2" Anderson Design Fabrication lift kit w/ 2" trailing arm spacers
Yellow Fogs
Blox 490 black chrome shift knob
215/75/15 BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO2's
Smittybilt D-Rings
15x7" Method MR502 Rally Wheels
3mm hub centric wheel spacers
Rare accessory fender trim painted to match bumpers
Curt Safari Roof Basket w/ Extension
Yakima Roof Top Tire Mount w/ full-size spare
Rally Armor UR Flaps
Upgraded Pioneer Head Unit
Hella 500FF Fog Lights w/ black covers (tinted yellow) - Wired to factory switch
Hella vintage rally style light covers
JDM Grille
Magnaflow Muffler
Kartboy Stiff Exhaust Hangers
LED exterior bulbs (headlights, license plate, and reverse)
Future Mods:
Custom Pre-Runner Bumpers
Projector Retrofitted Headlights
Shifter Bushings
I've been a WRX owner for about 5 years now. I owned a world rally blue sedan for 4 of those years, and owned a platinum silver metallic wagon for 2 years. As I continued to modify my WRX's over the years, the need for a comfortable daily driver had grown and grown. After I graduated from college, I began hunting for a clean, older Subaru that could be used easily for commuting and road trips, and boy did I find one!
This car literally fell into my lap, as it was traded into the dealership that I had been working at on and off throughout college. This was a 1 owner car, owned and meticulously maintained by an older woman who had originally purchased it in Seattle.
The car needed a little TLC, as both front fenders were banged up pretty badly, and the interior was dirty, but those were things I was easily able to fix!
Aside from the aesthetic flaws, this was exactly what I wanted: Manual transmission, low mileage, full maintenance history, and it was a Forester!
Here is a pic of the damage on the driver side front fender the day I bought it:
Passenger side:
I quickly started tearing into the body repairs. I took the fenders off, and beat the dents out crudely with a rubber mallet. Body filler was a necessity at this point:
A few days later it was time for paint!
And back out into the sunlight for the first time after the repair. The paint is a little orange-peeled, but it doesn't really bother me. Also had to add some mad tyte jdm quick releases, as the bumper tabs on both sides were broken.
Also, just in case you didn't believe me: