Forester XT

[Chiketkd]

So I've set my sights on adding an '04 Forester XT to my Subaru collection. Considering either Java Black or Platinum Silver Metallic. The black simply looks sinister while silver is just a stunning color on any performance car!

Java Black






Platinum Silver Metallic







And just for Landshark - Foresters aren't just for lesbos...





-Chike

[Chiketkd]

...with a tint job:







-Chike

[mbtoloczko]

Go for the black. Its got more style, esp after you put some aftermarket struts and springs on it. :-))

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by mbtoloczko

Go for the black. Its got more style, esp after you put some aftermarket struts and springs on it. :-))

You know, I was thinking that today myself. Even a regular '03+ Forester looks mean in black!

-Chike

P.S. Hopefully I'll be an XT owner in the next year and I definitely won't be selling my SVX to get one. With the upgrades I want to do to it, I'll definitely need a second car as the XT will have a lot of down time!

[n00b on demand]

Go silver....black shows more dirt and is much harder to keep clean especially in the winter. You can hardly tell if a silver car is dirty. I'd go silver.

[shelfy]

if you pick the "shiny" one, maybe this will be it.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by soobiesvx93

Go silver....black shows more dirt and is much harder to keep clean especially in the winter. You can hardly tell if a silver car is dirty. I'd go silver.

Honestly, silver XT's are quite common. Black isn't too bad if you use a good wax and give it a nice touch-up every few days.

Honestly, I'm pretty set on an '04 XT. They sell for under 20K currently, have the most mods available and are the only XT that can easily be converted to an STI - via ECU, STI fuel injectors & pump, turbo and top mount intercooler swap. Add a free flowing Cobb up-pipe & down-pipe, along with a turbo-back exhuast and the Cobb AP Stage II and you're making well over 300whp!

Then swap in STI springs and F&R sway bars w/ polyurethane bushings, along with a stronger trans mount and stiffer bushings and the feel in corners will greatly improve. Finally buy some $560 17"x8" Rota Torques with sticky 245/45 rubber and transplant the f&r rotors, brackets and calipers (w/ stainless steel braided brake lines) from an '04 STI and your XT will be ready for race track duty!

Basically, for roughly 5-6K, I could turn my '04 XT into a serious track car as I hope to one day compete in the SUV class in the Car & Driver Cannonball One Lap of America. This is my 3-4 yr goal!

-Chike

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by shelfy

if you pick the "shiny" one, maybe this will be it.

Honestly, as I'll be getting a pre-owned '04 model, the color I get will come down to the proximity of the car to my location & price. I'd be happy with either platinum silver or java black.

-Chike

[Landshark]

Originally Posted by Chiketkd

Honestly, I'm pretty set on an '04 XT. They sell for under 20K currently, have the most mods available and are the only XT that can easily be converted to an STI - via ECU, STI fuel injectors & pump, turbo and top mount intercooler swap. Add a free flowing Cobb up-pipe & down-pipe, along with a turbo-back exhuast and the Cobb AP Stage II and you're making well over 300whp!

Then swap in STI springs and F&R sway bars w/ polyurethane bushings, along with a stronger trans mount and stiffer bushings and the feel in corners will greatly improve. Finally buy some $560 17"x8" Rota Torques with sticky 245/45 rubber and transplant the f&r rotors, brackets and calipers (w/ stainless steel braided brake lines) from an '04 STI and your XT will be ready for race track duty!

Basically, for roughly 5-6K, I could turn my '04 XT into a serious track car as I hope to one day compete in the SUV class in the Car & Driver Cannonball One Lap of America. This is my 3-4 yr goal!

-Chike

5-6k for all that? do have any idea how much the STi rotors cost, let alone the calipers? Cobb stage 2 is $1625 - $1775 (no cat or cat), another $1000 for wheels and tires. turbo, intercooler, injectors, ECU, fuel pump, etc, etc, etc.

you might as well just get an STi with HIDs, DCCD, 6-speed, intercooler sprayer, Defi gauges, and *FACTORY WARRANTY*.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Landshark

5-6k for all that? do have any idea how much the STi rotors cost, let alone the calipers? Cobb stage 2 is $1625 - $1775 (no cat or cat), another $1000 for wheels and tires. turbo, intercooler, injectors, ECU, fuel pump, etc, etc, etc.

you might as well just get an STi with HIDs, DCCD, 6-speed, intercooler sprayer, Defi gauges, and *FACTORY WARRANTY*.

Used STI TMIC's and VF39 turbos go for $250-$300 on NASIOC. I'll be getting most of these parts used from low mileage wrecked STIs on www.car-part.com/. Most wreckers if you're willing to spend 1K plus with them will be willing to cut you great deal on the extras that are easy to pull off the car - e.g. fuel injectors, ECU.

Rota Torques are $560 shipped from subydude.com and nice sticky 245/45/17 rubber can be had for $300.

For 5-6K, it can be done.

-Chike

[Landshark]

Originally Posted by Chiketkd

Used STI TMIC's and VF39 turbos go for $250-$300 on NASIOC. I'll be getting most of these parts used from low mileage wrecked STIs on www.car-part.com/. Most wreckers if you're willing to spend 1K plus with them will be willing to cut you great deal on the extras that are easy to pull off the car - e.g. fuel injectors, ECU.

Rota Torques are $560 shipped from subydude.com and nice sticky 245/45/17 rubber can be had for $300.

For 5-6K, it can be done.

-Chike

no STi calipers on car-part.com.

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Landshark

you might as well just get an STi with HIDs, DCCD, 6-speed, intercooler sprayer, Defi gauges, and *FACTORY WARRANTY*.

The mid-price sedan segment in the One Lap Competition is riddled with STIs, EVO's, VW R32s, Pontiac GTOs, etc. I'm no Mario Andretti, and I feel I can be pretty competitive in the SUV class with the Forester.

Heck, the only SUV faster than the XT (0-60 in 5.3, 1/4 in 13.8 @ 97mph per Car & Driver) is the 100K Porsche Cayenne Turbo!!! That's bang-for-your-buck right there...

-Chike

[Chiketkd]

Originally Posted by Landshark

no STi calipers on car-part.com.

You have to call them and find junk yards that have a complete wrecked STI on their lot.

Either way, if the STI calipers didn't work out, several members on the subaruforester.com forum, have had great racing success with the four pot calipers from the Outback XT.

-Chike

[Landshark]

Originally Posted by Chiketkd

You have to call them and find junk yards that have a complete wrecked STI on their lot.

Either way, if the STI calipers didn't work out, several members on the subaruforester.com forum, have had great racing success with the four pot calipers from the Outback XT.

-Chike

i might like some STi brakes for teh LGT. hmmmmmm.....maybe i'll sell you mine.

[thundering02]

Black 'nuf siad