5 Things I HATE about my Subaru Forester

My Subaru Forester has been great a for car for exploring offroad and camping in the Oregon backcountry, but I'm the first to admit it's far from perfect. Now finally, 6 months after participating in the "5 Things I Love About my Subaru Forester" challenge, I'm getting real about the details I don't love so much
A look back at the 5 things I LOVE about my Forester:
• 5 Things I Love About ...
Thanks to Jordan at ALNSM Overland for sending the challenge my way. Check out the ALNSM Overland, now pursuing a full-time adventure across Europe:
/ sxstactical
and the 5 Things he hates about his Forester:
• TOP 5 THINGS I HATE ab...
Mitre A (new name "Ignition Offroad") explains 5 things HE hates:
• 5 things I HATE about ...
Top 5 things bruceyyyyy hates about his Subaru:
• Top 5 Things I HATE Ab...
JonDZAdventuring's 5 things he loves about his Forester XT:
• 5 Things I love about ...
Special thanks to Shawn @silver_rd1 for helping me film some segments of this video. Shawn makes awesome videos exploring Oregon in his CRV:
/ @silver_rd1545
Answers to frequently asked questions:
My bumper bar is made by Rally Innovations
www.rallyinnovations.com/coll...
Upper lights: Hella Black Magic:
amzn.to/2JIRpPa
Lower lights: Cheap Amazon specials:
amzn.to/2YeItKu
Wheels are Black Rhino Boxer 15x7 +15
amzn.to/2SjzNxa
Tires are BFGoodrich T/A KO2 in 215/75R15
My in-depth video about the tires (and all-terrains in general)
• What's it like running...
Walkthrough of my Forester Off-road Wilderness Camping build:
• Offroad Subaru Foreste...
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made after clicking one of the "amzn" product links above. This costs you nothing, but the small commissions earned on referrals help make it possible for me to continue creating content for this channel. Thank you for your support!)

[@jonlowing7907]

Re the contours on the mudguards; creases are often pressed into body panels to add rigidity, which is probably what these are for.

[@IanMahaffey]

I had an 09 Forester that I absolutely loved - great fuel economy, spacious, overall great adventure vehicle. But #5 is exactly what happened to me. I got an oil change in December and drove it all over Colorado that winter, and before my next oil change was due I threw a rod bearing because I'd burned through all my oil. It was my fault for not staying on top of checking my oil, but if I had know about this issue maybe I would have been more on top of it.

[@softroadingthewest]

Ooohhh no I'm sorry to hear that. 8^(

[@muffchomp635]

My 85 4runner doesn't even burn that much oil. That's trash

[@averageaudienjoyer]

My 09 burns about a quart every 200 miles but ive stayed on top of topping it off and it has yet to fail me. Whether its highway or mud it doesnt skip a beat! 185k and running strong

[@zzoinks]

​@@averageaudienjoyerI wonder if there's a way to fix that without disassembling the engine, I've seen a video online where they used a harsh engine additive which is not good to do often, but it cleaned out the stuck piston rings and reduced oil burning.

[@johnsora2425]

On my 09 I upgraded to standard height king springs from primitive racing in Tigard. Despite being standard height I got nearly an inch of lift and the saggy butt is reduced by at least 80% when loaded down on road trips. I think this is a good balance to improve clearance while maintaining road manners.

[@softroadingthewest]

That's great to hear. Did you perceive any negative impact from running the stiffer springs?

[@mikiplavin1424]

@@softroadingthewest A great video! Well done! I also run a set of lifting (they give 1 inch lift) springs by King, but I have an older SG Forester (2005) - for what it worth the Forester's ride quality remained the same but it can absorb the bumps much better.

[@johnsora2425]

Overall, the ride is improved. I replaced struts and springs at 90k. Nothing leaking, but tired of super sag and floating ride when loaded. Now handles better than OEM.

[@johnsora2425]

Last week I added a hitch and folding cargo rack. Loaded that, the back, plus a 16ft3 yakima box to go with a family of 4 camping. I still had plenty of room to stand on the tire to load the yak box. Before I could barely get the toe of my shoe between the fender and tire.

[@ChrisZBr0wn]

I went with the RalliTek Overload Springs on my Trek. Works awesome and I'm really happy with it.

[@softroadingthewest]

I've heard a lot of good reports on the RalliTek...hope to make this upgrade one day soon!

[@SchmidtymeTimbers]

Looking to make the same upgrade myself, RalliTEK overload in rear and sport in front. Any downsides you've experienced?

[@ChrisZBr0wn]

ATSchmidt3 no downsides that I’ve noticed. Only upsides. No more squat. Better cornering! Great combo with KYB struts.

[@paysmoretowin]

I found myself a 2010 Forester X yesterday with the 5 spd manual. I am considering using Tien Flex Z coil overs for my suspension. I had another Tien setup on my 2002 WRX and loved it. Then I'll be able to custom set the ride height to wherever I want it. Loving your videos to pick and choose what I might want to do with it. I have the BFG KO's on my pickup now but might get a 6 ply General Grabber or something based off of your video citing the excessive weight they add. Thanks for the content!

[@travisbrown8099]

I will NEVER not see those fender contours on my forester again! Didn't notice them until you pointed them out. Thanks a lot! Love the videos though. Keep 'em coming!

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, sorry about that! 8^D Thanks for watching!

[@AnnieLibby]

I too never noticed them and now that's all I see (sigh)

[@softroadingthewest]

Annie Libby I’m sorry, I truly didn’t intend to ruin anyone’s car for them. 😄 I do still love my Forester even with its quirky fenders. 😏

[@mheathcote6138]

I am suprized no company has made fender flares for them that go up to the body line. Unless I have not seen them before?

[@softroadingthewest]

Subaru offers some kind of a very slim stick-on black plastic fender trim that affixes just to the flat surface along the opening, but I've never seen anything else for an SH Forester.

[@MattCookOregon]

Every time I watch your vids I am like wait was I just on that forest road last weekend? I also think, wow, what production quality this is. Glad you put in some positivity at the end cause I was starting to get worried. I think most of this applies to my crosstrek. I have started to get the itch for a big Tacoma. As soon as I have a kid it will be a must to haul everything.

[@softroadingthewest]

I won't be surprised in the least if we eventually cross paths out there! I will admit, I've looked at and thought about the Tacoma. I miss having a pickup, and I'd love to have something with low range. Still a bit out of my reach alas. Thanks for watching, Matt!

[@jeremychapple]

I love the ‘stupid fenders’! They’re actually the first thing I noticed after bringing home my SH for the first time. Great video love ur work

[@softroadingthewest]

Ha! That's awesome! I'm honestly thrilled to hear someone happy about the fenders. I think I've made a few people mad by pointing this out and I've been feeling kinda bad about it. 8^D Thanks for watching!

[@jamieclarke5838]

I have king springs with foz struts in my impreza wagon. Rides great no more saggy butt and with 20ish% stiffer I can carry gear without a worry

[@Ghryst]

this is the solution.. im guessing he didnt take into account the self-levelling suspension, which would automatically lower itself after fitting a lift kit, if the factory suspension is not removed

[@justinoftexas]

Sweet vid. Rallitek overload springs work well. I have a full size spare on my hitch with a RTT up top and before I installed the springs I had a saggy bum also. After installing the rear sits higher than the front just the way it did before 👍🏻

[@softroadingthewest]

Wow, that's impressive, I think I need to make this upgrade soon!

[@VKSgtSLaughter]

Great video! I had the oil consumption problem on long trips to Vermont so I got the short block engine replacement at 50K miles. My Foz has been running great since then, but I also installed an oil catch can as a precaution and found out there's a tiny bit of oil captured in-between oil changes. The oil catch can gives me peace of mind, lets me track oil consumption, helps improve gas mileage, and prevents any oil fouling of the throttle body and catalytic converter.

[@softroadingthewest]

Good to know. Part of me has balked at pursuing the warranty replacement just because it all runs SO well otherwise that I hesitate to have it torn apart. I'd also have to plan the consumption test to align with a summer freeway trip, because I just don't burn through it that badly thre rest of the time. Did you see any MPG change? That was one thing I read about the rebuilds and another reason I've hesitated, some people reported oil consumption improved but gas consumption got worse...

[@VKSgtSLaughter]

@@softroadingthewest I bought the "Ruien Universal 400ml Oil Catch Can" on Amazon for $26 and mounted it to the passenger side strut tower to the left of the engine. With only 2 bolts and 2 hoses, it took about 20 minutes to install. Also added a stainless steel scouring pad in the bottom to help condensed more oil vapor faster. Works like a champ, but invest in real fuel line hose as the supplied hose is weak, and be sure to use the included Teflon tape to seal all the threads, including the dipstick.

[@SageLakshmi]

I would have never guessed Sgt. Slaughter drove a fuzzy! 😂

[@kdowz934]

King springs are the stiffest option. I am installing Rallitek springs in my 04 Forester because they are stiffer than stock but softer than King.

[@isakjetbean]

100% can back up King Springs to replace your factory springs, I've seen a few lifted Subies in Australia running them. The 1st gen CR-V suffers the exact same with the sagging rear, replacing just the springs effectively gave me about 1.5" of lift (they claim about 1.2") and when fully loaded still has great travel. They also have a much better spring rating for bumps and dips but without being too stiff (OME are a bit stiff for my liking) I combined it with my lift spacers because it helps me with getting full extension out of my suspension without rubbing on my fenders

[@softroadingthewest]

Cool. I still haven't quite wrapped my head around whether it makes more sense to go with King or Rallitek springs but I'm guessing either option is going to be a significant improvement over my OEM springs. Thank you!

[@jerryasaulo81]

Thank you for the video mate cheers. Looking forward to loads of fun off road..👍

[@dalejohnson9342]

My 78 Suburban has a few drawbacks. 1: small engine for the weight of the vehicle 2: poor sound deadening 3: small angle on the rear of the vehicle (stock ) 4: no limited slip or locking differential ( some people had bought this as an option. The person who owned this one did not.) 5: original tires were undersized ( original tires on my Suburban were 16x5 rims with highway tires) ( I now have 16x8 rims with 265-16r 70 and it performs much better) Five things I like about my 78 Suburban. 1: large amount of cargo capacity 2: Gears that allow me to get through the major trails 3: parts are easy to get for it and cost little (on the average ) 4: Easy to repair in the field 5: sits higher than most jeeps (stock) and other 4x4s so I have better vision of the trail

[@confettihunterminus1]

That rock garden was gnarly man!

[@VKSgtSLaughter]

I also used the fuse box door for my auxiliary fog light switches.

[@softroadingthewest]

I got the idea from a picture I saw on subaruforester.org...not sure I would have thought of that otherwise. Ultimately made it very easy though. In fact I just bought an additional used fuse box door off eBay for a few bucks so I could keep the original intact and not feel bad about drilling holes in it. Although the way I beat this thing up, not sure what I was worried about, LOL.

[@chillrasta12]

Try running 5w30 oil instead of the 0w. Its a little bit thicker and less likely to work its way past the rings to be burned. The manual even says you can run 5w30 in place of the 0w.

[@dowroa]

Thanks for including the last bit. I was about to reply with solutions! Fenders --> Cut them out for extended wheels Saggy Bum --> Rear height raising coilovers. I have done this with the previous macpherson based Foresters (rally suspension and skid plates), but not with the latest. I am more than happy to look into it. Did you ever consider an older Forester or get to use an older Forester? I am assuming it would exacerbate some of your complaints (small) as it is worse. However the venerable 4EAT and older EJ255 in the XTs were pretty sweet (I will go look at the challengers videos for their opinions as he had a pre-2004).

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks for the solutions! I'll probably refrain from cutting my fenders, though...hmm...who knows. 8^) When I bought my Forester I was in fact originally looking at older Foresters, but there were some aspects of driving them I did not like, and as I can only afford a single vehicle, I also wanted a car outfitted with more updated safety features and airbag coverage all the way around, since it's what hauls my kids around. I mean, my griping aside (I had to come up with *something* for the sake of the video, heh) I really am very happy with my SH Forester. It is hands down my favorite car I've ever owned. Could it be better? For sure. Does it more or less do what I need it to do? Yeah - especially for the price, I really can't complain. 8^D Thanks for watching!

[@silver_rd1545]

You can’t unsee those fenders! 🙈 Funny video dude! I’ve been waiting on this one to watch how you used those prairie peak clips we shot. As for your sunglasses, get one of those visor sunglass clips, I’ve got them in the crv and they work great. Stiffer springs would be a good option for the saggy bum. Matt and I can help you do a stereo install if you ever want an upgrade. We just finished getting his system dialed in. Keep up the quality work dude! 👍🏼

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, yeah, took me a while to finally get this all pulled together. I had so much fun reviewing the footage we shot. Ooh, I may take you guys up on the offer to help me switch out the stereo. That's a little more than I feel I'd want to tackle as a DIY project but with a few buddies who know what they're doing...that starts feeling a lot more feasible. And yeah I think springs are gonna happen. Just making this video and then reading the comments has me convinced I need to do something. Visor sunglasses clip...never occurred to me to even look for something like that but that's EXACTLY what I need. Thanks Shawn!

[@alexanderweaver4838]

LOL! Cool video, Don, and certainly makes us think about the capabilities of our own vehicles, whether we use them for overlanding or just every day driving. I own a '16 Jeep Compass which I use for "light" overland camping adventures. (1) It's a Jeep product but it's NOT a JEEP. I know its capabilities and even with a 4WD system it's definitely not a rock climber and if the stream is more than a foot deep or muddy I won't chance getting stuck or flooded. (2) It's interior is probably more space-challenged than your Subaru. I have improvised and designed storage methods. I can sleep in it but need to move the passenger seat forward fully even with my 5'7" height; or leave the back hatch open. (3) I returned my Gazelle T3 and bought a OneTigris Bungalow that fit in the back; otherwise I had to lean the passenger seat forward eliminating use of the pax seat. The T3 was even too long to fit in my rooftop cargo basket; Maxxtracks secured beneath it. (4) My cockpit looks overly stuffed with GPS and an inverter unit on the dashboard, all of the cords are enclosed in a 1/2" wire loom from the components down to one 12V socket that has an obnoxious looking multiple plug unit with USB ports to accommodate two cell phones for charging, a charging station for two 2-way Motorola radios. Every nook and cranny has either a safety tool for breaking glass, a belt cutter, soft CD/DVD storage, notepad, pen, tire pressure gauge, leatherman, folding knife. The glove box is the usual document storage. Each headrest has a headlamp wrapped around it. (5) It's not a JEEP! Under both seats are survival kits, work gloves, umbrellas, SOL sleeping bags, mylar blanket shelters. Our two bug out bags hang on a clothes rod behind the front seats. They are both 72 hour packs. Extra survival clothes and boots are behind each front seat on the floor along with emergency food and water, case of 24 500ml bottles. What spurred me to do all of this was the story about the guy who drove off of I-5 in Oregon with his family and he ended up being found in a creek face down. His wife and child survived as they remained in the van. As a former BuddyCare/Survival instructor in the military I vowed this will never happen to me or my family.

[@nagval7592]

Е6 SSGT?

[@ignitionoffroad5028]

Sorry for the name change confusion... Awesome video and totally agree with your points. Will never look at an SH forester the same now! Haha I’m also running HD springs in the rear and they do help but I want to experiment with some sort of airbag setup to really fix the problem

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, no worries, I dig the new name. Good to know the springs were helpful, I think I'll start there. Thank you!

[@VKSgtSLaughter]

BRAKES... are a PITA because they quickly surface rust, then drag and ruin the gas mileage. This always happens after the vehicle is parked overnight, but more frequently during the winters if you live in the North-East salt belt. Add to that the overly precise sliders and pins that you have to clean and re-grease at least four times a year to reduce brake drag. Also, because the Subaru brake calipers and brackets are machined so precisely, cheaper, rough tolerance aftermarket parts won't fit without causing additional brake drag.

[@matthewduffy2304]

I Bought a 2011 forester x about a year ago with 115,000 miles on it. The Engine went out around 120,000 miles. I bought a brand new FB25 short block and remanufactured heads. I put it all back together and now have 145,000 miles on it and its running great. I put a 2" Primitive racing lift kit on it which came with some King springs along with a few other tasteful mods. I absolutely love it and agree with every thing you have said as For the saggy bum look at some king springs. I load my trunk with a bunch of heavy tools and haven't seen it sag at all.

[@softroadingthewest]

I literally *just* ordered springs this week...finally! Going in soon!

[@shrimpflea]

2013 Forester 5 speed manual. Definitely a love/hate relationship. First thing I did was replace that awful front grille with the sport mesh grille option. Surprisingly sold the old one rather quick. The other things I hate are the lack of power (the XT has more HP but didn't come with a manual option). I also never liked the light grey fabric seats so got black seat covers. I also upgraded the rims and tires. Those fender contours always bugged me too. They look out of place. That being said I think the 2009-13 body style is better looking than the newer models, which to me look too chunky.

[@johnydecali]

I have a 2010, there is an aux cord, may not a usb input but you can plug your phone and listen to podcast or pandora/spotify or audiobooks

[@softroadingthewest]

Yes, and we use that, but technically in Oregon you can't touch your phone at all for any reason while driving. The aux audio input mostly gets used when the kids are along and manage the music from one of their devices. I generally keep my phone free of music files so I can use it to grab video clips which fill it up fast, and streaming services don't do me any good when I'm out where there's no service. Really the stereo just needs to be replaced with something better, but it's too far down the priority list at this point. Thanks for watching!

[@tennysonjames2969]

I have a 2005 saab 92x(subaru impreza wagon) and i use a $12 am/fm blutooth transmitter that plugs into the cigarette outlet, paired with spotify premium which allows me to download music for offline listening out on the trail. Super simple as I am able to pre- set different playlists and have them ready to download when going off grid

[@daveybernard1056]

3:49 I got to exactly that situation, offroading a 1980 Honda Accord as a teenager. With even more water, we beached ourselves on the central rib, spent the night stuck, and were pulled off the next morning by a salty old rancher in a HUGE pickup. I've been wary of innocent mud puddles, ever since :D EDIT: 7:03 Stupid Fender Things. Partly, they are there for artistic reasons, and partly for engineering reasons. The geometry of the curved fender um, "crease" in the sheet metal imparts a lot of useful strength and stiffness to the thin sheetmetal.

[@craigspencer2927]

Nicely done, very entertaining

[@donaldjames8662]

I own the 2007 model that happened to be made in Japan hummm. One thing about Japan pride in work exists I am very pleased just got new rear wheel bearings pressed in quite as a mouse now and the EJ25 turned out to be the best motor I have ever owned. Hats off to Japan for quality builds America was once that way.

[@tjsgarage1484]

You can buy a suspension airbag kit that is addad to your suspension, they are usually used for towing but they will add lift and stiffness for a good price

[@stevechuy1969]

You can tell there is a lot of effort putting these vid together! Good job very informative!

[@VKSgtSLaughter]

On your radio, check to see if you have an axillary headphone style jack in the center console that you can plug your phone or MP3 player into. Then press the CD/Aux button to change inputs. Also look to see if one of the inputs is BT-A for Bluetooth audio input.

[@softroadingthewest]

Oh yes we do have the aux audio input in the center console. But it requires managing music ON the phone, which in Oregon is technically illegal to even touch when you're behind the wheel. We mostly use the aux audio input when one of the kids is along and can manage the music on their device while I drive, and I stick to CDs when I'm alone. Not to say that fumbling with CDs is any less distracting, but that's just what the law is. A stereo with USB input allowing control of the phone's music from the car stereo (as I've seen on basically every other reasonably recent car) would be nice to have. But far too many priorities further ahead in line to spend money on. 8^D Definitely no Bluetooth capability in my unit. I have the most base of base models and have zero factory options. I don't even have an MPG readout...even my 2007 Outback had the MPG readout. 8^/ Oh well, I probably don't want to know how bad it is anyway, LOL.

[@burton926]

Those fender indents are a design feature to make it look like you have fender flares without actually making the car wider. Its purely aesthetic. The indent produces a shadow that contrasts with the metal flaring back out, intended to make it look more "aggressive". What's odd is that the 3rd gen Foresters still flare pretty significantly below the indent (great angle at 7:08), while most cars (incl the 4th gen forester) just have the indent with minimal flare (see 4th gen rear fender at 12:39). @Jon Lowing , doubtful it would be structural since this is a feature that crosses from plastic bumper, to rear quarter panel, to door.

[@jeremysmall9101]

thats 1/2 right. Subi's have a 5 star safety rating and it's a small part of that. when you cold roll steel you work harden the steel. By rolling those edges the panel is stiffened and the tensile strength of the panel in improved.

[@commenterperson4481]

7:00 I saw a subaru outback in Japan, and it had a thicker plastic fender, which fits all of that space. Perhaps it was a custom part, but it made sense. I think the plastic fenders in the US are made to be thinner.

[@jonlowing7907]

I own an '09 Forester premium 5 speed manual which comes with low range ex factory. It's a fairly marginal reduction but it's better than nothing. After-market extra low ratio installations are available here in Australia. Given the choice, I wouldn't own a Subaru with a cvt, ever. My vehicle also has self leveling rear suspension included as standard on this variant which seems to work well. I don't know how a lift kit installation would affect it, though. This is my fifth Subaru in thirty years and I would say that there are as many things I dislike about it as I like.

[@aurtisanminer2827]

I’ve replaced many many MLS subaru head gaskets on the 2.5. I never saw the gasket blow out, they just leaked between the gasket and head/block. My best guess is head bolt fatigue over time. I’d like to see someone try a head stud kit on an NA subaru. I’ve only seen them on turbo subie engines.

[@alozano793]

Oil consumption freaked me out on my '15 forester premium i. I blew up one engine (not a subaru) like that and didn't wanna do it again. Traded it in for a Forester sport 19 and its been so nice honestly. Had it in snow and sand and mud. No problems yet. Outside of once on a way too icey hill... but I've since upgraded my tires a bit and hope that fixes that one time issue.

[@user-cl3gz9ey1w]

2011 Sound isolation Temperature isolation Power Seat narrow & no cooling Center diff lock

[@ganjazz]

ٰ2011 forester xtouring -road noise -ac -oil consumption -power

[@spectre4130]

I had King lift springs on my 04 forester and they really helped with the saggy bum.

[@softroadingthewest]

Definitely going to be doing springs soon!

[@soundsolutions]

MY04 has too. Handles great :-)

[@nore8141]

I have a 2014 Forester and for the urbanites it’s great. Good gas mileage summer and winter. But I wouldn’t put it on a trail. Great video and commentary.

[@Conservingtheworld]

I have same year 2.0 XT and it does great on trails if you still have it take it out sometime you won’t regret it

[@pcm7315]

Have a 2015 Forester XT that has none of the problems listed. Can't talk to oil consumption since I don't take long road trips. It is slow from reverse to drive. Wish it had individual tire pressure monitoring. But mostly, I wish it had power retractable mirrors so that when I give it a hug it could hug me back.

[@pontusfroling1906]

Hi there! Just found you'r chanel and i love it!! I'm from Sweden and building an overlander/camping car, it's a volvo xc90 form 2003 :D And here is 5 things i hate about it!! 5. It's a heavy car! 2700 kilos :S 4. Not enought power! 210 horespower for that weight... 3. No lowrange gears. 2. Expensive parts if something breaks! 1. It's a volvo... And no one builds on them...So there are no lift kits and stuff for them :/ So there you have them all!! Can't wait for you'r next adventure :D

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, great list, plenty to hate! Making it into an overlander sounds like a fun challenge! Thanks for watching and for the kind words! Good luck with the Volvo build!

[@ringspanner]

I'm running a 2008 S3 manual, didn't have saggy bum, it had left front dive due to a shocker stuffed. Fitted MCA Essentials and the handling is awesome, fully adjustable struts. Would need spacers for a lift though. Upgraded the head unit and found some alloy Impreza rims on Gumtree so I can swap between AT and road tyres. Just wish Subaru would make a full size SUV with the 3.0 or 3.6 engine. As for CVT, Subaru can stick that right up their clacker.

[@confettihunterminus1]

Also Rallitek springs are amazing and so are king springs. I had ralliteks on my Baja before I switched to coil overs

[@softroadingthewest]

Looks like I've got some research to do. Springs seems to be in my future. Why did you switch to coil overs?

[@confettihunterminus1]

softroadingthewest I got scammed haha. There’s used to be a company called flat out suspension and at first I was talking to the original owner about getting a set. He was a cool guy and supported a few local rally groups. Then unbeknownst to me someone else bought his company. They put together a homemade set of coils and sold it to me as rally coils but when I received them they were homemade street style coil overs. I had a local off road company rework them for me though and I made it work. If you’re interested in completely overhauling your suspension either do it yourself with KyB struts and a solid set of springs or have a legitimate trusted company do it.

[@craignaylor4243]

​@@confettihunterminus1 Similar issues w/ my Baja from Flatout.... except months went buy, and they never built them, with possession of my factory shocks... as they needed my factory spring perches. Ground Control on the other built AMAZING coil-overs. Did not use the factory perches (so I removed the tire height/spring perch issue), added the two inch lift in the shock body (removed the need for spacers on top of the springs)... and doing so also increased articulation by a few inches due to the taller shock bodies used. The coilovers... themselves CAN... take me back down to stock height... or provide up to another 4" of lift if I chose to... but I understand I'd run into axle issues at that point, so I have not done so. Can't recommend Ground Control enough!!! From orde,r to my front door, about 3 weeks. (Pre Covid-19)

[@SchmidtymeTimbers]

Looking at this myself, RalliTEK overload in rear, sport in front. Any reason you know of to go KYB struts as replacements instead of keeping stock?

[@BMMEC2009]

I don't have a Forester, but I put sumo springs on the back of my 2008 outback. No more saggy bum!

[@drunkpacman]

I like the way the weird fender things look when I clean mine up!

[@Imagineitwrite123]

My 2016 forester 6 speed manual transmission is almost paid off, yup time to lift it. Lol

[@rds990]

My 2019 Limited Outback has been paid off for a year....and I still won't lift it. I just feel the risks outweigh the rewards. I do "get it" however and I do really like seeing others do customization. It's fun to watch. It just concerns ME from an engineering standpoint however, so I stay with the stock height and just add smaller AT tires and wheels.

[@felixlopez1754]

for the people that don't know, the land cruiser 80 and 100 series are fairly cheap and extremely capable off road. Many times out performing jeeps. (and if taken care of are tanks and could fairly easily hit 400k without any major problems)

[@softroadingthewest]

Well, I suppose that depends on how you define "cheap" heh. If you're speaking in comparison to buying a Jeep, then yes, absolutely, I think that's a really legitimate option. If I had the money to consider Jeeps, I would definitely look at Land Cruisers. I mostly refer to Jeeps in my videos because that seems to be the standard against which anything offroad gets compared (at least in the U.S.) and not a week goes by that I don't get at least one comment on one of my videos telling me I should be driving a Jeep. 8^D A Land Cruiser is really out of my budget though. I just took a look at any Land Cruiser 80 and 100 I could find within a 100-mile radius, and on average they're about double what I paid for my Forester. Plus they are mostly about 15 years older than my Forester and 200,000+ miles (I bought my Forester with 36,000 miles). Granted, it's clearly a far more capable rig that any Subaru and certainly more durable as well, but in addition to all the extra expense just to buy a much older vehicle, the gas consumption also becomes an issue, and even just outfitting them with those large tires is a periodic expense that must be nearly double what it costs me to put tires on the Forester. Also for me particularly, even with my little Forester, I can barely squeeze down some of the trails in Oregon...places I'd never be able to get to in a big LC. I'd *love* to have one though...maybe one day!

[@smilingeyes72]

@@softroadingthewest interestingly, Lexus GX series rigs are usually more reasonably priced than Land Cruisers, and just as off road capable.

[@leesillitoe6095]

Hey, there is an input jack that you can plug your phone into so you can play music on your radio. It is located in your center consul(next to the power plug it says AUX) then put the radio on AUX and you can play any music you have on your phone! I hate carrying CDs, because of the room issue!

[@softroadingthewest]

Yeah, and we do have a cable hooked up to it. We only use it when one of the kids is with me to operate the phone. In Oregon it's illegal to so much as touch your phone when you're behind the wheel, for any reason. Even at a stop light. So lawfully managing music requires pulling off the road. * shrug * Honestly I was hunting for stuff to hate in order to fulfill the video challenge. :-) I quite love my Forester even with its shortcomings. Really I think an updated head unit is probably in order. My OEM CD player has started failing anyway, LOL.

[@bradvansteinburg2962]

Yes , I have a 2015 Outback. Has outlets for tying into the sound system , ride well when travelling, 40 mpg here in Alberta. Had a 4 door Wrangler out one day, nice in over bumper winter roads, made for off roading, go down the highway over 40 to 50 mph and the wind noise is major. It is how it was made, buy what you need it for is the best choice. Like mine and no oil issues. Enjoy the coming winter. Be healthy.

[@bruceyyyyy]

I can't un see those fender creases now. Thanks for that. Love the format of the yin/yang top 5. The KZbin algorithm seemingly loves easily digested content.

[@softroadingthewest]

I guess someone has to make the fluff pieces while you and Jon obsess over testing and documenting every possible permutation of every possible variable. 8^D Though I must say, you both are far more skilled than me at the clickbaity titles...if I could just master that, I'd be UNSTOPPABLE! Mwahahahaha Oh and I don't know what you're griping about with the unseeing of the fenders, you're blessed with lovely smooth normal natural fenders. I am stewing in envy at the graceful flowing metallic poetry that is the contours of your fenders.

[@bruceyyyyy]

@@softroadingthewest I'm really impressed with your videography (?) Skills! I film everything with my phone or a borrowed camera. Up until this year I was editing with Windows Movie Maker. Yes, that means that my Top 5 hate video was made with WMM.

[@softroadingthewest]

@@bruceyyyyy Heh, honestly that's even more impressive, because even those older vids of yours look better than what many people create with dedicated camera gear and "pro" editing software. Plus, legit content and wry humor...I truly enjoy your channel.

[@subaruforesterperu6089]

nice video..!! thanks for the inputs!, cheers from the peruvian subaru forester club!

[@iamjunebug]

I have the same foz, but i love the black accents, wheels etc on yours! I hate all the plasticy silver stock trim, what year is yours?

[@iamjunebug]

your car is exactly what Ive been dreaming to do to mine down to the bullbar lol 👏👏💗💗

[@softroadingthewest]

It's a 2012. It's the very base model which came with black door handles instead of chrome. The rest of it is stuff I've done (painted the grill, added aftermarket wheels, emblem overlays, dark rear window tint, etc). Thanks for watching!

[@cnobillbradley9673]

I love my 2015 Fozzy XT. Absolutely no problems with it!

[@leadfarmer5035]

Thank you !! your video is very informative. The oil consumption issue., I have a 2012 Subaru Forrester and I always have to add oil to it !! So i thought it had a small leak some where.

[@rileyschultz88]

I went with the Kings heavy duty springs in the rear after bottoming out really hard coming off a barge - first big trip with 3 people on board. Gave me about 1inch of lift back and now can take the heavy loads without feeling like the front wheels are about to lift off the road.

[@softroadingthewest]

Good to hear. I am really ready to do this very soon. I was thinking I would bump up to a 2" lift and upgrade the rear springs at the same time but I don't think I'll be able to swing that in the near future, but can probably at least do the rear springs, I think that will make a significant difference already. How did you settle on King vs RalliTek springs?

[@rileyschultz88]

@@softroadingthewest being in Australia I was able to get the Kings on sale for around $120 for the pair so there wasn't really a need for comparisons. The only issue was it lifted the rear so much I then had to do the fronts to match and also do the training arm spacers to re-center the rear wheels.

[@RVingwithG]

Lastly #1 I did put New springs on my 2001 Forester and it was $2,000 later... Yeah, 4+ hours to do it. Just knowing I have NEW springs feels good bouncing in the trails.

[@messedupA_A_ron]

Learned something new, I have a 09 forester, and i did not know that generation received both a FA and EJ. I go through the same amount of consumption issues as well

[@khadijagwen]

I had a 16' and loved it. It did not use oil, and I did a lot of road trips. I felt that maintenance cost far too much! A 30,000 mile service was $500. Now I have no car and will just get a ZipCar to travel.

[@WoolyBuggerPicker]

They're called Swage lines, and I love the Foresters ones! Dictionary definition: 'A narrow profiled line in outer body panels, e.g. above the upper edge of the wheel cutouts, that helps to enhance the flowing lines of the bodywork'.

[@softroadingthewest]

Ha! Interesting! I was unfamiliar with that term. Now I can sound like I actually know what I'm talking about when I say, "I hate the stupid Swage lines on my Forester!" LOL :-) Thanks for watching!

[@IndyDog-ns8ws]

The Forester is a nice size SUV. But, the CVT is a no-go for me. I drive a 2019 Colorado Z71 Crew with 5 ft. bed. I mostly use it to pull my T@G Boondock camper and it's great on 2 track roads. I do have cap on truck to take my kayak to many fishing spot in the UP of Michigan. Just found your channel so keep up the great work.

[@exploreroverland9321]

The fender ridges are there so you can push them out to make your fenders fit wider tires ;)

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha! Might give that a try! :-)

[@bruceyyyyy]

My FB25 Outback was quite the oil burner. I wasn't pleasant after being told by a dealer that 1 quart per 1000 miles is normal. Between 0% interest being offered, Eyesight, and the 3.6 it was enough to convince me to buy an identical car. (Sorry for double posts, just had a lot of thoughts on this video)

[@softroadingthewest]

Oh man, what I wouldn't give for a 3.6 in my Forester. I'D BE UNSTOPPABLE!!! But yeah, 1 quart per 1000 *is* excessive. If it ever gets to the point that's happening to me all the time and not just one trip every two years, I'll be pursuing that warranty short block. I still have 40,000 miles and 3 years to see how it plays out. May have been a blessing in disguise for you...I bet you're happier with your 3.6 Outback than you would have been with a non-oil-burning 2.5 Outback..?

[@bruceyyyyy]

@@softroadingthewest Way happier with the 3.6. Only thing I miss on that car is the top mount oil filter. If you want to 3.6 swap I'll gladly help. Just did an H6 Baja build this year. (:

[@softroadingthewest]

@@bruceyyyyy Whoa...I didn't even know that was possible. Certainly beyond my mod budget at the moment, but...wow...that's definitely something to dream about. I do love that top mount oil filter, but I think I could handle that sacrifice. 8^D

[@NotSoFlatAdventures]

Can I add the rear lateral link ground clearance in the SH is terrible? Awesome vid as always!

[@softroadingthewest]

Thank you! And you raise an excellent point...you definitely have to visualize the obstacles on the underside of the car when driving over obstacles on the trail! Thanks for watching!

[@panama-canada]

Very good review.

[@YosemiteScubaDiver]

2018 forester. Despise the latch system on the back. If you have a lot of stuff in back it doesn't want to lock shut.

[@yunus_aros]

Hey! Thanks for the video! I just got my first Subaru Forester SJ5 MY2016 with a manual transmission - so far so good. According to EU rules all new cars from 2014 and onwards must have TPMS. Of course the TPMS is 1) all failing, or 2) have not been correctly paired to the vehicle or 3) are all of the wrong type for this vehicle. TPMS is good when it’s working, but gives you somewhat of a headache when they are not working. That is my only issue so far. Best regards from Sweden 🇸🇪

[@chencho7083]

I loooove my 2012 Forester, except 2 things, toasted hard plastic interiors and no temp. gauge...

[@AchilleasMantzios]

I just bought an OBD HUD and watch temp constantly on the windshield as I drive, problem solved. Saved me in a couple of occasions.

[@thousandsuns]

Yep same as my Crosstrek! Makes me want to get a 4runner 🤔

[@thehayman7352]

Got a 4Runner trail and a forester sport. Both are amazing vehicles and have their duties. offroading and truck stuff vs commuting and and ski trips. How is the crosstrek going? On track to get one next year

[@RCGJR_]

Umbrace Titan i’ve been thinking between the two, 4runner or the forester sport, is the 4runner’s bi-weekly much more?

[@alozano793]

@@thehayman7352 Forester Sport 19 has been a nice car to own so far. Outside of random buttons getting stuck on the tail gate and a cracked windshield (my doing more than anything) its been great. Dual X mode has been worth it and come in handy more than once for deep snow/sand/mud 5 to 7 inches.

[@chad.breece]

@@alozano793 FYI there's a class action lawsuit for the windshields cracking. My friend has a crosstrek and had the same thing. Looked into it and sure enough there's a lawsuit for it.

[@alozano793]

@@chad.breece I had just heard about that and a recall that affected the ascent for 19 regarding a fuel pump. May also come to include the foresters as well. To my knowledge they used a different fuel pump for 2020 models and newer.

[@NorthernRailsTrainsInTheNorth]

My current daily driver is a 2010 Forrester ( EJ25 ) with 235 thousand km. And honestly. It's been good to me. Itl be retired soon, bit honestly no major complaints. Other then how expensive parts are, the odd times it did need repairs lol.

[@softroadingthewest]

Truly, I love my Forester and it's my third Subaru. I had my first Subaru (a '92 Legacy wagon) up to 290,000 km before I finally sold it and bought a newer Outback. Repairs have been extremely rare on all my Subarus (and none at all so far on the Forester). I made the "hate" video to complete the challenge from my KZbin colleagues but it's a great little car that still surprises and impresses me with where it will go. :-) Thanks for watching!

[@chencho7083]

I have a 2012 Forester that I bought brand new, no problems at all except the starter and was changed under warranty. Not sure what engine it has but it burns less than a quarter of oil every 6 months (about 6k miles, all types of driving) so I am blessed with that. I just wished a better, not hard cheap toasted plastic interiors and of course a temp. needle gauge...

[@softroadingthewest]

Glad to hear you're not experiencing excessive oil consumption. I guess I'm satisfied enough with the interior for what I paid (used) for mine...agree more gauges would be entirely welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@JorgeDiaz-bu5sk]

Subaru had a recall around the block eating to much oil and honestly after getting the block replaced on my 2013, I’ve seen hardly any oil burning at all after 5k miles. Maybe 1/4 quart missing at best.

[@outsideinoregon]

You are hilarious!! Keep sharing.

[@softroadingthewest]

Ha! Thank you! I'm glad somebody thinks so! Thanks for watching!

[@malcolmmarzo2461]

On 2011 Forester I have oil problems too. It was weird to learn that I have to check and add oil frequently. About a quarter quart per month. Rocker cover leaks onto exhaust pipe, making for smelly smoke. I find that keeping the level mid way on dipstick helps. My normal practice of keeping it on the full mark causes more dripping. I've been putting off the rocker gasket and sealant repair because it looks like a real pain. The shop manual instructions shows why it is a complicated, prone-to-fail, design. Other owners report that dealer repairs only work for a short time. Otherwise this car has been reliable. I also have a 2004 Forester that, in several ways, is a better car. It got me hooked on Subaru. I don't think I will buy another Subaru, what with the CVC, the super-expensive new air conditioning system, the slide down in the auto ratings, etc.

[@LarryRichelli]

Just curious, what you would get next if not a subaru? I like 4runners but I have a Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 diesel for pulling the trailer that I live in and I can't justify having two cars that get 12 to 16 mpg. That's why I am looking at a pre 2014 (CVT) forester xt..

[@theherbpuffer]

​@@LarryRichellijust get a damn CRV at this point. Trusty ol SUVs, but I can't stand the look of them so I bought a Forester lol

[@caffeinegroove]

I’m a bit late to the page, but damn fine content, mate. I just joined the Subaru world, and you have given me so many ideas. Cheers dude!

[@softroadingthewest]

Congrats, enjoy your Subie!

[@omardinunzio5552]

Primative racing has the King springs that'll help with your saggy bum, also have the option to mount on a pair of shocks for you too. 👌🏻

[@davidbentley3762]

Are you sure there's not an auxiliary input in the back of your arm rest, in the center console? I have the same 2012 Forester and play music through my phone through the auxiliary input.

[@softroadingthewest]

Oh there is. The two problems with it are that a) in Oregon it's against the law to so much as touch your phone while driving, and b) I have no music stored on my phone anyway - I leave its memory as empty as possible because it often gets used as an additional video camera when out on the trail. We do use the aux input when one of the kids are along, because they always have music on their devices - and little interest in my CDs. 8^D Thanks for watching!

[@hclchgm]

Hey, it is a little bit late, but have you considered a set of auxiliary air shocks to bolster your rear clearance height?

[@softroadingthewest]

No, actually that had not crossed my mind. I'm hoping in the coming months to investigate all the possible options for improving the suspension. I will make sure to look into this as well, thanks!

[@odys3803]

You could/should swap the radio for 1DIN with USB and BT , you can get rid of the CDs and get an extra one small tray, get some cargo accessories for seats. You could get plastic fender flares to protect the paint and get rid of the shape you don´t like. About the rear, like you said, lift it or/and get smaller bumper (cut the original)

[@softroadingthewest]

Yes! I've thought about a new single-DIN stereo - plus that CD player has started malfunctioning occasionally - but it just remains a lower priority than other mods. I'd love to do that though. The rear is lifted, but I will be upgrading the rear springs soon so that it actually stays lifted, haha. And I recently did cut part of the rear bumper! Good thinking! :-)

[@DarkNightmareUA]

Forester 2017 (FB25): overheating engine oil and then overheating CVT !!! Damn Subaru didn't place oil cooler at factory (at least for engine). Oil going over 120*C at 160 km\h during summer instantly. That's with 195 km\h limit in specs. Have I bought soviet VAZ Niva for over 30k$ to drive at 120 km\h tops (never mind different countries speed limits)? Overheated oil (120+*C) degrates very fast and then is eaten up by engine, chocking up oil scraper rings, which may lead to major problems in future. Factory cooling system is suitable only for cold weather, you need dedicated oil cooler in hot conditions. Other than that, this car is awesome :)

[@rcdyer]

So what are the newer Subaru's?? I'm looking to get a 14 or 15

[@mikecalderon7992]

2018 Crosstrek here, for me I have small gripes: lack of adequate trails in my area, low torque, lack of strong tie down for the spare tire & kit (sounds like a china shop in a bouncy house)

[@softroadingthewest]

China shop in a bouncy house, LOL, I may have to steal that at some point. 8^D Thanks for watching!

[@oceanheadted]

The thing on about 2015 forester that drives crazy is the electric boot, which works about half the time and errors on a regular basis

[@drgreenthumb808]

My ‘18 FXT does the same thing!

[@mikeyazel8725]

So how are the out there when you are out roaming around? I hav a manual forester, driven them for years as a fireman they crash very well and will go about anywhere here in the midwest during the rotten winter weather.

[@softroadingthewest]

It's a great little car. I've loved mine. I made this video in response to a challenge and the things I "hate" are silly, because it's a great car. It has gone virtually everywhere I wanted it to go and is fantastic in the snow. The sagging rear is the only legitimate complaint here, and I eventually fixed that with a pair of very reasonably-priced King springs.

[@frankpocean]

Ive probably commented on this video before, or another of yours. But im still looking for a 3rd gen foz. Found one close to where i live! 5spd manual at 58k miles. Decent maintenance routines, typical but looks very promising! I noticed your trim didnt come stock with fogs? Similar to the one im considering

[@softroadingthewest]

Correct, I had a very base model with no frills. :-)

[@jmsuitter5]

good points

[@littlechildgames]

My '11 used Impreza (EJ204) had huge excessive oil consumption when I bought it. I did drastically decrease it just to change oil viscosity (5W50 to 5W30, less viscosity instead of high viscosity) and it's manufacturer. I think Asian oils feet better for Subaru. Try genuine Subaru oil or Idemitsu oil (the same oil in fact). I believe even Eneos oil will work (most affordable from list).

[@DavidDLee]

I believe you have an AUX input to your sound system. Buy a little Bluetooth thingy and connect your phone to your sound system through it. It is ~ $18 on Amazon. I have one installed in my sons car. It works on a charge for many hours, so you could charge it at home only, if needed. Unless you are an audiophile, the sound quality is pretty good.

[@jasonwtheis5921]

Old post, but I'm wondering if you had your oil consumption issue on the FB25 engine addressed with the TSB/settlement? My 2013 had the same issue with excessive consumption, and Subaru replaced the short block at their own expense in September of 2018 (car had about 70,000 miles on it at the time). Oil use is now as expected (e.g., minimal if any, and certainly no significant drop on the dipstick over a mere thousand miles). In June of that year, a 5,000-mile trip to Oregon and back used more than six (6!) quarts.

[@softroadingthewest]

I have not pursued the extended warranty settlement...yet. I generally don't have a major issue with consumption so I've held off. I would have to time a dealer consumption test to coincide with a summer road trip to California, when the consumption would definitely exceed the warranty threshold. I've heard some mixed reports on the replacement blocks. How is yours doing? Did you see a drop in gas mileage?

[@jasonwtheis5921]

@@softroadingthewest I noticed no performance changes other than it effectively eliminating the consumption issue. That was around 20,000 miles ago, and all is well. I know there are limitations on the settlement, but I do not recall if it is miles, time, or both. Before our trip to OR (I live in AK), I knew it used more oil than normal (normal being our previous 2010 Forester that could go 10K without requiring make-up oil), but it did not seem to be a crazy amount. However, I finished off the gallon of oil I took with me on the trip before we even started home, so at that point I KNEW we had a problem! Afterward, it used a large amount all the time (ours was about a quart every 800-1000 miles; the threshold for repair under the warranty is 1 qt per 1200). I noticed that it used the most when pulling steep hills at speed (e.g., higher RPM). With our manual transmission, I pulled "Cabbage Hill" on I84 outside of Pendleton, Oregon, at speed several times over the course of a few days, which required several downshifts to 4th and 3rd gear in various places. During that period, I needed to add a quart of oil after using just one tank of fuel. The trick for you, if you do wait to time the official testing period with a trip to CA, is that you must go back to the testing dealer within the 1,200 mile test period, and you also must not add any makeup oil. In other words, make sure that round-trip falls within those parameters!

[@jasonwtheis5921]

@@softroadingthewest Just another note... all that oil is slipping into the cylinders from the crankcase, which is being burned and/or passed into the exhaust system. Inevitably, this will foul the oxygen sensors and the catalytic converter more quickly, so you will likely extend the life of those expensive components by sorting this sooner. If I was paying for it out of pocket, I might delay, but this is a confessed manufacturing defect. Good luck, whatever you choose!

[@softroadingthewest]

That's a great point. I probably would be wise to pursue it. If I remember right, the warranty extension is 10 years/100,000 miles. So with my 2012 at 65,000 miles, I've got a bit of time but not much. An additional complication is that I simply don't trust the dealership in my town, I've not had a single good experience with them and know a number of people who have had bad experiences. There is a well regarded dealer about 100 miles away I would opt to work with, but that certainly makes things trickier. Still...later on I may regret not getting it taken care of even if I'm not seeing terrible consumption now. Thanks for the insight, much appreciated!

[@franciscogarfias371]

Not sure what suspension set up you have but raised height king springs on the rear helped my 09 Forester and I was able to get rid of the rear sway bar all together for better off road maneuverability. Stiff enough to be ok the road. I’ve even kept it without the front but you can definitely feel the need for one on the highway.

[@softroadingthewest]

Still entirely stock suspension (aside from 1" strut-top spacer lifts). I think I'll be upgrading springs as soon as I am able. I haven't experimented with the sway bars yet but am curious to see what kind of difference that makes on certain trails. Thanks for watching!

[@franciscogarfias371]

I have two crap quality videos. Check them out.

[@echoidentified842]

Hi! Absolutely love the content. Thank you. I am a Portland resident, in the market for a new or certified pre-owned Outback that is moded for everything Oregon has to offer. Looking to make this a smart purchase on a budget, i.e., the most bang for the buck. Started the process, and I am coming to find that just getting the dealer to do the lift is a challenge, i.e., liability and warranty issues. Interested in documenting this purchase for your viewers? Let know. See you out on the trails!

[@softroadingthewest]

Apologies, I somehow I missed this comment whenever it came in. How's your purchase process going? Portland is a bit of a stretch for me to be documenting anything but I'm nonetheless curious to hear how you are making out with this effort. I fully owned my Forester (and it was fully out of warranty) when I did my lift so I didn't have to deal with the warranty concern; the independent mechanic shop I've worked with for years to service my Subarus however refused to install the lift, I had to turn to the local Subie tuner who was happy to do the install for me. Looks like it's been a few weeks since your comment, any progress on this?

[@zacjohnson8404]

which models and onwards have the improved head gaskets? I think, of the older generations, the 2ltr engine fj20 is safe.

[@softroadingthewest]

I'm not familiar with all the Subaru models and engines. I know the FB25 has the improved multi-layer steel gaskets and that they started putting the FB25 in the Forester in 2011. I believe it can be found in some Outbacks as well. My understanding is that the turbo engines have had the MLS gaskets for much longer but I couldn't give you any specifics on that.

[@zacjohnson8404]

@@softroadingthewest thanks mate

[@aaronsams350]

I have the exact same year/submodel/color Forester (except mine is a manual). I never noticed the dumb fenders before I watched this video. Now I can’t unsee them!!! Argh!!!

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, sorry about that! 8^D

[@legendare71]

you did great job !

[@njanderson4342]

Damn you! How am I supposed to unsee those fenders ridges. Don't worry about the low back end. Those coils are gonna snap soon!

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, sorry about that, that little detail has touched far more nerves than I ever expected. 8^D

[@vinceluu8423]

For the saggy bum I have the Adf 3/8” saggy bum spacer as well as rallitek heavy duty tow springs. No more saggy bum 👍🏼. I have an 09.

[@malekneal]

It’s and AUX input inside the center console towards the back also a car charger

[@ThalassTKynn]

As far as the low ratio goes, the manual gearboxes in Australia have low range. I think its the one in the SF has a 1:1.45 low range, which is decent. (I could be wrong) My old 00 Outback had a forrester gearbox after the original one chewed myself up randomly (probably because of neglect on my part). The fact that you can do that without much fuss is one of the things I love about Subarus in general. If I can save the money I'm tempted to try and import one of those gearboxes from Australia to replace the 6MT my 2010 Outback has with its impracticality tall sixth gear. The other thing I don't like about my Outback is the electronic handbrake. How am I supposed to safely reverse down a slope I failed to climb because I lack a low range gearbox? Not sure what to do about that one yet. Everything is pretty good haha

[@softroadingthewest]

I have casually considered the Australian gearbox swap but kinda feel like if I'm going to go to that much trouble and expense, I might as well just get a different rig with dual range 4WD already in place. I am curious though...very curious to see the difference in my actual Forester. :-) I find the whole electronic parking brake trend troubling. It's like auto manufacturers forgot that this can be used for more than just parking. Plus I would be constantly worried about some electronics glitch causing the brake to stay on when I need to go. Fortunately it's still a manual handbrake in the 2012 Forester. I could see that being one of the deciding factors in whatever vehicle I get next.

[@nilschristianhalvorsen5386]

at first i thougt this was just gonna be a shitpost, but i actually learned some things about the Foresters that I didnt think I wanted to know!:)

[@pressphotog8854]

The weird fender things that stick out over your wheel wells that you say are there for no reason are there for aerodynamic reasons. They actually work at highway speeds to improve gas mileage.