Project: AWD TURBO Family Hauler (04 Forester 2.5XT)

[Maengelito]

Grabbed the STi catback for $50, just need to snag the longer rubber hangers from Advance ($5 each, need 2) and find some time to throw it on. Forester exhaust has a larger resonator on the midpipe and more baffling in the muffler.

and the Fozzy exhaust is 2.25" while the STi exhaust is 2.5"

[.RJ]

Lots of posts since yesterday. Where are the gold wheels? I'm foaming at the mouth here.

[JustinG]

Lots of posts since yesterday. Where are the gold wheels? I'm foaming at the mouth here.

[Apoc]

This has to be the fastest progression of a project thread. EvaR.

[JustinG]

Cause everything is stupid cheap. Plastidip $25, exhaust $50, lamin-x $20.

[Beej]

Looks great! I always liked XT's.

How loud are they, like with respect to general interior noise? My old STi was annoying and I'm not sure I would want that again. Are Fozzy's better?

[JustinG]

A lil wind noise from the big ass mirrors when on the highway. Otherwise very quiet.

[Mike]

mmm ass mirrors.

[Steve85]

Damn dude...awesome. And gold wheels because Subaru.

[JustinG]

So trying to decide which springs to start off with.....

The Cobb Springs I currently have really look great, but is it going to become a huge pain in the ass to drive everyday? The speed bumps at my office make Mt Everest jealous. Or the STi springs. For now I will be running the stock wheels and tires til I move up to 18s. The 18s with 40series tires are .44in shorter in diameter than the stock wheels, so lowering the car by almost another 1/2in, and giving me 1/2 more wheel gap. (Right? or am I wrong)

But anyways, thoughts? Slam it, or STi springs. Im trying to avoid 2 alignments, maybe ill just do the 1 year or w/e package.

Cobb....



STi....

[JPolen01]

Slam it. Are you set on 40series sidewall? Das mighty thin. Do you have to go sideways over the speedbumps at work? If not, you aren't that low.

[ScottyB]

Debbie Downer here: as with all imprezas, slamming jacks up the suspension geometry and camber gain. no big deal for a DD if you're just blowing people off at lights and hooning around, but its something to remember.

[JustinG]

In order to run a 245 I need 40.

I have been thinking of doing 235/45 for a little better ride.

[SlimKlim]

My BMW is most definitely not slammed by John's standards, and with ~4" of ground clearance I still had to tiptoe over every single speedbump which gets really, really, really old after a couple years. Its all fun and games until you end up in front of that bump that's just a little too tall to angle yourself over without disaster, and you have a huge line of cars behind you so you can't turn around, and end up dragging your chassis over a speedbump as a single manly tear rolls down your cheek.

Also, when you're that low you're probably going to end up rubbing over bumps and/or all the time when you're headed back from Costco with your loot, unless you want to run a really stretched tire.

Ever since getting the DD I have been loving the ability to dive out of steep driveways/intersections and hit speed bumps faster than 1/2mph.

So I still say STi springs, but you feel like going low just because low, go for it. Worst thing that can happen is you hate it and you take it apart to throw different springs in right? :dunno:

[JPolen01]

Worst thing that can happen is you hate it and you take it apart to throw different springs in right? :dunno:

This. If you have both sets already why not trial and error. Paying for 2 alignments would suck, but wouldn't be the end of the world. The pictures of the fozzie on cobb springs looks low, but it doesn't look like it's so slammed you have to creep everywhere. Mine was low and I could get around pretty well. My friend Devin has a stupid low static b4 (too low for me not to be on air but that's a different story) and he daily drives his through DC all the time. You just have to pay attention a little more than casual driving.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Sweet matching rims bra. :wink:

I hated how low my GSX was an trying to avoid speed bumps/sharp entries. I vote STI springs and enjoy the car instead of trying to look "mainstream stance".

[SlimKlim]

he daily drives his through DC all the time. You just have to pay attention a little more than casual driving.

Your definition of "a little" must be different from mine. I dropped someone off at the train station a while ago and it almost tore my E36 apart. I dont even want to know what the undercarriage of that B5 must look like. hock:

[Dave]

STI springs without question. Still looks awesome, and you don't have make stupid concessions on how to drive your DD and mapping out your approach to parking lots..

[Jake]

I've driven the Miata through DC once. Never again. It's not even that low. But when you have to make some quick turns and don't really have time to slow down to crawling speed and just have to hit those bumps, you'll change your perspective on hella-flush.

I vote STi springs, easy. They'll give you a subtle drop and look good when combined with whatever wheels you get.

[V1GiLaNtE]

I would say STI springs while you're still learning the car... You have a family.. enjoy them. Take the kid to the park.. run errands with the dog..Drive to the Amelia shooting range and have to good ol' south Chesterfield boys redneckshootinggunstime. Don't let your car being too low make it a hassle of going anywhere when you have a turboz grocery getter. If some point in the future the stanced wagon still appeals to you then make the switch. Otherwise you'd be taking a perfectly functional car and limiting it's capabilities.

My vote? Go the OEM+ look with those STI springs and get some kudos points slideways on the Ameila WMA dirt roads when nobody is looking.. :thumbup: