I made a decision to trade the Forester on a 2014 Silverado Crew Cab 4wd 5.3L. It may have been a little rash but I think its right for this particular time in my life. I didn't replace it with another Subaru as I don't like what they've done since 2008 with the Foresters (or the other models for that matter).
Long story but I've been buying parts to upgrade for about 5 years now. I somehow reached 165k without installing any of them and it was time to replace the clutch. I had a week & planned on installing the clutch & a bunch of front end stuff. Pulled the engine & started only to find my Maddad ELH wouldn't fit with my current oil pan & cooler. I somehow missed this requirement & the Maddad web site didn't say anything under the ELH listing. Really wish this info was more clearly stated but not a big deal. Forester sat for a month while I obtained all the parts I needed for ELH.
Started again, had a week & 1/2 this time. Began having issues with the front knuckles, pinch bolts snapped, no worries I actually had two sets I'd purchased to refurbish for when I put on Brembos. Well, as it turns out the two with low miles (44K) I purchased off Ebay (looked almost new) one had bad wheel bearing & the other had a busted pinch bolt. I had also bought a set off a forum member as they came with the rear kuckles. One of those also had a frozen pinch bolt. So basically I could only use 1 of the 6 knuckles I had if I wanted to install my aluminum lower control arms. This sent me over the edge, I looked at the struts which were also going to need to be replaced. With the rust & this experience I decided I need something more reliable as I only have room for 1 car (don't have a garage to work in either). My wife had been pushing me to buy something newer as well. So I put it back together with the new clutch/flywheel and traded it. The irony is this is how I ended up in the Forester in the first place. I had a '95 caprice & started moding after a couple years of owning it. As a result the Caprice became less reliable as a daily driver & so I upgraded to the Forester...
I plan on moving 1/2 way across the country the second 1/2 of this year where I hope to settle permanently. Hopefully will get a place with garage & more room allowing for a 2nd car.
I have more $$'s worth the parts than I want to admit & I think I'll be selling off what I can only because I don't want to move them. However, I do plan on buying another manual '04-'08 Forester XT as a 2nd car for modding once I get settled as I loved the one I had. Hopefully I can find one in New Mexico or Arizona to minimize rust...
Anyway, keep an eye out in the for sale section, I have everything from RPF1's with Pilot Sports to Sti rack to full Maddad exhaust to Brembos & much, much, much, more (most of it new) coming up for sale.
For thos intersted here is a pic of my new ride...
Long story but I've been buying parts to upgrade for about 5 years now. I somehow reached 165k without installing any of them and it was time to replace the clutch. I had a week & planned on installing the clutch & a bunch of front end stuff. Pulled the engine & started only to find my Maddad ELH wouldn't fit with my current oil pan & cooler. I somehow missed this requirement & the Maddad web site didn't say anything under the ELH listing. Really wish this info was more clearly stated but not a big deal. Forester sat for a month while I obtained all the parts I needed for ELH.
Started again, had a week & 1/2 this time. Began having issues with the front knuckles, pinch bolts snapped, no worries I actually had two sets I'd purchased to refurbish for when I put on Brembos. Well, as it turns out the two with low miles (44K) I purchased off Ebay (looked almost new) one had bad wheel bearing & the other had a busted pinch bolt. I had also bought a set off a forum member as they came with the rear kuckles. One of those also had a frozen pinch bolt. So basically I could only use 1 of the 6 knuckles I had if I wanted to install my aluminum lower control arms. This sent me over the edge, I looked at the struts which were also going to need to be replaced. With the rust & this experience I decided I need something more reliable as I only have room for 1 car (don't have a garage to work in either). My wife had been pushing me to buy something newer as well. So I put it back together with the new clutch/flywheel and traded it. The irony is this is how I ended up in the Forester in the first place. I had a '95 caprice & started moding after a couple years of owning it. As a result the Caprice became less reliable as a daily driver & so I upgraded to the Forester...
I plan on moving 1/2 way across the country the second 1/2 of this year where I hope to settle permanently. Hopefully will get a place with garage & more room allowing for a 2nd car.
I have more $$'s worth the parts than I want to admit & I think I'll be selling off what I can only because I don't want to move them. However, I do plan on buying another manual '04-'08 Forester XT as a 2nd car for modding once I get settled as I loved the one I had. Hopefully I can find one in New Mexico or Arizona to minimize rust...
Anyway, keep an eye out in the for sale section, I have everything from RPF1's with Pilot Sports to Sti rack to full Maddad exhaust to Brembos & much, much, much, more (most of it new) coming up for sale.
For thos intersted here is a pic of my new ride...
