[smileyshaun]

short backstory .
bought a 2018 forester last Aug and was really happy with the car , being my first new car purchase it took alot for me to get to the point of being ok with a big loan and years of payment . Took a lot of fun trips in it.

Disappointment set in fairly quick , transmission rattle in 4th and occasional grinding going into 3rd , inconsistant throttle input and extreme lack of power from time to time . After months of getting the runaround from Subaru of America I decided just to trade it in loose a small amount of money and get out of the deal altogether.

So that's where this little white bugger comes in . Gresham subaru went above and beyond to make the trade in easier to live with giving me a great trade in amount and a good price on the 03. 125k miles single owner , well maintained 5 speed .

 

[smileyshaun]

So the good part of the trade in is I kept my wheels and tires. Black rhino boxer wheels and Cooper at3 4s in 235/75r15. now everywhere ive read said i will need a bottom strut lift and probably 4" of total lift to get them to fit. Well after a little massaging .... ok a lot of massaging of the inner fender and pinch weld , a little plastic trimming and remolding they seem to fit . They clear the strut with room to spare , still have a bit more massaging to do and it will need a lift b4 i venture offroad but so far it only has minor rubbing in a few spots . Best thing about the tire and wheel combo is it weighs 45 lbs so even being quite a larger tire there still 2 lb lighter than the stock steel wheel setup. Car feels much more relaxed at freeway speeds now.

 

[sleepstate]

I'll take the 03 as an upgrade over the 18 any day

 

[smileyshaun]

About the only thing I miss of the 2018 is the clutch was a lot easier to push in I may just need new slave and master cylinders but I'll deal with that some other day. Oh and the other upgrade was the $18,000 a debt I got rid of .

 

[2.5x_sleeper]

@smileyshaun your Members' Journal thread prefix is now '03-'05. Looks like you need to update your avatar. :wink:

Bobby...

['07 FSXT MODding Journal] ['03 X MODding Journal]

 

[smileyshaun]

thank you for moving it

 

[smileyshaun]

What's the rest of the trimming metal pounding and all that goodness done everything works great now with no rubbing at all even at full Flex

 

[Womprat57]

Looks great! I think you are in the better car now.>

 

[smileyshaun]

took the subie out for a mother's day drive finding some amazing views, some delicious wines followed by some more views and finishing up with some pizza