Hello,
I figured I'd make a journal for my CPO 2011 SH PZEV. I recently picked it up to replace a 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2WD 4.0 V6, which was a great thing, but not so great for living out West (having moved somewhat recently from FL). It was very prone to oversteer even just in wet conditions or gravel/dirt (even with overly wide Grabber AT2s fitted), it was great fun, but not the sort of thing you drive to work in the snow, and LWB + 2WD isn't exactly brilliant offroad.
The SH is very confidence inspiring and has a sort of plucky underdog feel, as opposed to my Sport Trac, which usually felt like an overly optimistic land yacht. Admittedly though, I really wish Subaru would've added a ~0.70 5th gear to the 4EAT; I think 2800-3000rpm at highway cruising is just too high in the 21st century. I'm happy with the NA engine though.
Photobucket Link
I bought some WeatherTech liners for it recently (very nice, I just bought the fronts though since 90+% of the time it's just me). I'm probably going to pick up an aFe Filter soon (I had a K&N on my Sport Trac; the intake noise was great, but after more research I worried about dust/dirt going into the engine), and I'm considering some RokBlokz short mudflaps, but sort of waffling about ground clearance worries.
I'm not entirely sure what direction I want to take with the SH at the moment. I always thought, if I got a Subaru, I would get a manual, but I decided this particular SH was quite a good deal and I do enjoy being able to relax in the car. It'll probably just end up being a modest do-it-all machine (probably some Cooper AT3 215-70R16s when the Kuhmo's from the dealer wear out, but most likely no lift), and if I really had money to blow I'd look into getting some Rallisport UELs and 2 glasspacks to replace the resonator & muffler (so very free-flowing, but quiet below 3500ish-rpm, and liven up when I get my foot down).
All of that is probably months or years off though, for now I'm enjoying the AWD, comforting suspension (my Sport Trac was extremely firm) and the nearly 1000lb weight loss compared to my Sport Trac.
Also, over the 500 or so miles I've owned it, I haven't noticed any oil loss. Although, there is often a hot smell after coming back to the garage (more time driving, stronger smell), but just yesterday I removed the rubber seal at the top back of the engine bay, so hopefully that'll encourage more air circulation (cowl should be a low pressure area at speed, so it should suck engine air out).
I figured I'd make a journal for my CPO 2011 SH PZEV. I recently picked it up to replace a 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2WD 4.0 V6, which was a great thing, but not so great for living out West (having moved somewhat recently from FL). It was very prone to oversteer even just in wet conditions or gravel/dirt (even with overly wide Grabber AT2s fitted), it was great fun, but not the sort of thing you drive to work in the snow, and LWB + 2WD isn't exactly brilliant offroad.
The SH is very confidence inspiring and has a sort of plucky underdog feel, as opposed to my Sport Trac, which usually felt like an overly optimistic land yacht. Admittedly though, I really wish Subaru would've added a ~0.70 5th gear to the 4EAT; I think 2800-3000rpm at highway cruising is just too high in the 21st century. I'm happy with the NA engine though.
Photobucket Link
I bought some WeatherTech liners for it recently (very nice, I just bought the fronts though since 90+% of the time it's just me). I'm probably going to pick up an aFe Filter soon (I had a K&N on my Sport Trac; the intake noise was great, but after more research I worried about dust/dirt going into the engine), and I'm considering some RokBlokz short mudflaps, but sort of waffling about ground clearance worries.
I'm not entirely sure what direction I want to take with the SH at the moment. I always thought, if I got a Subaru, I would get a manual, but I decided this particular SH was quite a good deal and I do enjoy being able to relax in the car. It'll probably just end up being a modest do-it-all machine (probably some Cooper AT3 215-70R16s when the Kuhmo's from the dealer wear out, but most likely no lift), and if I really had money to blow I'd look into getting some Rallisport UELs and 2 glasspacks to replace the resonator & muffler (so very free-flowing, but quiet below 3500ish-rpm, and liven up when I get my foot down).
All of that is probably months or years off though, for now I'm enjoying the AWD, comforting suspension (my Sport Trac was extremely firm) and the nearly 1000lb weight loss compared to my Sport Trac.
Also, over the 500 or so miles I've owned it, I haven't noticed any oil loss. Although, there is often a hot smell after coming back to the garage (more time driving, stronger smell), but just yesterday I removed the rubber seal at the top back of the engine bay, so hopefully that'll encourage more air circulation (cowl should be a low pressure area at speed, so it should suck engine air out).