RE: PH made me do it: PH Blog
Monday 26th October 2015
To put it in simplistic, gender stereotyped terms I guess what just happened is the male equivalent of the wife going into town for a coffee and coming back with three new pairs of shoes and a bag. But after my recent relocation north didn't quite stand me the 996 Carrera I hoped it might the shopping list became one car to do it all. 'All' being carting two young kids, muddy bikes, buggies and boots and a request for four-wheel drive given that Yorkshire is, apparently, north of the Arctic Circle. Possible climate-based confusion there between the one in Nova Scotia and the one near Leeds we moved to but, in fairness, there are some ruddy steep hills round these parts, many of them paved in greasy cobbles. And the Daily Express says we're in for a new ice age as of November.
What else for the Subaru fanboy with kids?Clearly I wasn't about to buy a crossover, though Yetis were considered an acceptable, if expensive, compromise. From the same stable an Octavia vRS would have done the job, or at a push a Scout or rare 4x4 version if FWD really wasn't acceptable. Yes, there's now a 4x4 vRS but it only fuels from the black pump.
Explaining the mpg might take a whileDebts of gratitude I owe for this situation include PH contributor and former Japanese Performance editor Chris Rees, who dug out an old road test he did on the car back in period. His conclusion - "Hill farmers take note: if your little piggy needs to go to market, this wolf in sheep's cloth has the huff and the puff to blow you away." - raised a smile. PHer manwithnoname owes some share of the blame too, his forum post about his acquisition of a similar car resulting in a request for info and email by return headed "Apologies, this one goes on a good bit, so I'd pour a glass of something!" No need - the insight was valuable and detailed, his willingness to take the time to share it an example of PH at its best.
PH made me do it: PH Blog
Dan goes shopping for a practical four-wheel drive family car for winter, gets a bit carried away
What else for the Subaru fanboy with kids?
So to the PH classifieds and a couple of recurring saved searches, one for pre-2008 Subaru Foresters. More recent ones became 'proper SUVs' but I've always liked the biscuit tin boxiness of the SG generation cars and reckoned a Harrogate-spec UK XT with one careful Barbour-wearing lady owner would be a smart buy. Bit of ground clearance, enough power to amuse when required and a deliberately functional, anti-fashion appearance.
PH being PH, every time I refreshed my search hoping for such a car all I got was imported STIs. And there's only so many times a man can be exposed to such temptation before heeding what our web development team term a 'call to action'. Kidding myself I was just going along out of curiosity I found a black one locally with import specialist RASP Cars and headed out to kick some tyres. Long story short, after several weeks of boring everyone senseless with pictures on my iPhone (apologies all) I paid a return visit the other day with a checklist and looming sense of inevitability. And, sure enough, it concluded with a handshake and a drive home wondering how I was going to explain myself.
Explaining the mpg might take a while
I've got a few weeks to wait until the car turns 10 years old and so needs little more than an MoT, mph speedo and re-map for UK fuel before I can take delivery. In the meantime I'm spending my time immersing myself in all things Forester, which means eBay searches for everything from branded rubber boot liners to an aftermarket backbox to unleash a little more boxer burble. I'm also amused the list of attributes that attracted me extends from ISOFIX mounts to a red crackle finish inlet manifold and bonnet scoop. This rather encapsulates the appeal of the car to me. Here's hoping it lives up to the considerable excitement!
Dan
Discussion
Excellent choice!
After struggling to find a suitable manual Legacy GT Spec B, I decided to consider a Forester, and stumbled onto an XT PPP, for significantly less than the going rate of a Legacy; and I love it, much more entertaining to drive than I could have imagined. But now I'm conflicted to keep its standard, offroad practical ride height, or throw a set of coilovers and ARB's at it. So much tuning potential as pretty much anything that fits an Impreza, fits a Forester; it's going to take a lot of self restraint...
After struggling to find a suitable manual Legacy GT Spec B, I decided to consider a Forester, and stumbled onto an XT PPP, for significantly less than the going rate of a Legacy; and I love it, much more entertaining to drive than I could have imagined. But now I'm conflicted to keep its standard, offroad practical ride height, or throw a set of coilovers and ARB's at it. So much tuning potential as pretty much anything that fits an Impreza, fits a Forester; it's going to take a lot of self restraint...
Edited by Cable on Monday 26th October 13:40
Emeye said:
So, the million dollar (Pounds? Yen?) question - and apologies for being so upfront, but how much was it?
You realise Mrs Trent will be reading this, right? You'd be amazed what you can get for Shed money these days, dear... 
Seriously though we shook on £9.5K meeting half way on some of the bits and bobs that needed sorting out, my side of the bargain including infotainment to replace the Japanese head unit/nav to something of my tastes and needs. And in English and not hunting for an address in downtown Yokohama. My contact manwithnoname seems to be a bit of an expert on this so I expect further email traffic on the subject in the not too distant! And probably some degree of additional expenditure. But, hey, it doesn't 'show' on the purchase price so that makes it OK, right?
Dan
court said:
I've been looking at pre-2006 barbour/farm based XTs too. I'd be interested to know how you've been getting on with insurance quotes.
I've had plenty of quotations in the low £300 region, that's for mid 30's and 10 yrs no claims, on an XT, not an STi. Edited by Cable on Monday 26th October 13:20
Well done, Sir! About time you were back in something Japanese with AWD and a 4 pot burble.
Liked your comment about remapping for 'UK fuel'....left out the 'release of a few more horses' part too, didn't ya?!
Tried convincing Mrs Shark that one of these would best suit her needs with a little shark on the way....unfortunately my argument is weakened by the Impreza Wagon sitting on the drive. She doesn't share my appreciation of the square look either, alas! Looks like we are heading for F-Pace dom......
Liked your comment about remapping for 'UK fuel'....left out the 'release of a few more horses' part too, didn't ya?!
Tried convincing Mrs Shark that one of these would best suit her needs with a little shark on the way....unfortunately my argument is weakened by the Impreza Wagon sitting on the drive. She doesn't share my appreciation of the square look either, alas! Looks like we are heading for F-Pace dom......
Congratulations and welcome to the club! 
Give yourself a few weeks to get used to the ride and performance before you reach for the mods. The Forester's ride height and slightly odd cornering attitude takes a little bit of getting used to but you'll love it once you do.
When you do get to the mods, consider the option of showing it to Litchfield, who will happily do you 330bhp/330LbFt (Mine is a Litchfield car). Alternatively do the individual bits. You've identified cat back. would suggest that at the same time you consider doing the "snorkel-ectomy" or "snorkus delete". (Google it there are some great how-to's - it's an hour's work on the driveway with minimal hassle). Then get it remapped.
Conventional wisdom is to leave the suspension set up well alone if it's healthy with the exception perhaps of uprated anti-roll bars. Oh, and they're very geometry dependent so consider doing a four wheel alignment.
Give yourself a few weeks to get used to the ride and performance before you reach for the mods. The Forester's ride height and slightly odd cornering attitude takes a little bit of getting used to but you'll love it once you do.
When you do get to the mods, consider the option of showing it to Litchfield, who will happily do you 330bhp/330LbFt (Mine is a Litchfield car). Alternatively do the individual bits. You've identified cat back. would suggest that at the same time you consider doing the "snorkel-ectomy" or "snorkus delete". (Google it there are some great how-to's - it's an hour's work on the driveway with minimal hassle). Then get it remapped.
Conventional wisdom is to leave the suspension set up well alone if it's healthy with the exception perhaps of uprated anti-roll bars. Oh, and they're very geometry dependent so consider doing a four wheel alignment.
Bearing in mind the first car I actually had to insure myself was an imported MY95 WRX Impreza Wagon in an SE12 postcode with zero no-claims I've probably got a slightly skewed sense of perspective when it comes to insurance costs! What larks I had shopping for quotes on that - I recall one agent audibly sucking his teeth on the phone and saying "Oh .... this is going to be rather expensive!" He wasn't wrong.
With the above in mind anything less than a grand sounded a novelty but my initial quote from Flux (full disclosure, we get a deal off the back of our partnership) was c. £560 for myself and Mrs Trent, street parking, (we have off-street but it's a faff so I was being realistic/honest) seems not outrageous.
I'm not sure how that'd compare with a UK XT but hopefully gives you an idea.
Cheers,
Dan
With the above in mind anything less than a grand sounded a novelty but my initial quote from Flux (full disclosure, we get a deal off the back of our partnership) was c. £560 for myself and Mrs Trent, street parking, (we have off-street but it's a faff so I was being realistic/honest) seems not outrageous.
I'm not sure how that'd compare with a UK XT but hopefully gives you an idea.
Cheers,
Dan
Ryvita said:
Congratulations and welcome to the club!
Thanks for the intel and beware - your inbox may get the odd note on occasion! Will settle in with the car before considering any, ah, future moves and also get used to the way it goes and where it might be ... improved. Poking about underneath when going over it I was impressed with all the cool STI bits in the suspension, which all look very WRC spec so unlikely to muck about there beyond making sure it's all as it should be. Yes, it's a bit 'special' getting excited about aluminium suspension struts but I'm hoping I'm in safe company... Good tip on the geo though. Going to be a long few weeks awaiting arrival on the fleet!
Dan
Bloody good choice sir. While my Forester Turbo is nowhere near as nice as the sti, it still does everything asked of it. Sailed through it's last MOT even though it's 14 years old. Mine gets used as load mule, it always amuses me how sure footed it is while towing my quad bike, much to the disgust of other caravan club members ambling down the A30....
As for snow, I've never been stuck yet, and I've never had it towed out of a race meet field that's succumbed to the weather and turned itself into a tar pit. Many 'other' agricultural 4x4's seemed to struggle to drag themselves out with nothing more than a twix wrapper in the boot.
I'd only buy another newer one to replace it, but it's only done 89k and 1k between the last 4 mot's. More than happy to have the swiss army knife of cars parked outside my house. Just in case....
As for snow, I've never been stuck yet, and I've never had it towed out of a race meet field that's succumbed to the weather and turned itself into a tar pit. Many 'other' agricultural 4x4's seemed to struggle to drag themselves out with nothing more than a twix wrapper in the boot.
I'd only buy another newer one to replace it, but it's only done 89k and 1k between the last 4 mot's. More than happy to have the swiss army knife of cars parked outside my house. Just in case....
Dan Trent said:
Emeye said:
So, the million dollar (Pounds? Yen?) question - and apologies for being so upfront, but how much was it?
You realise Mrs Trent will be reading this, right? You'd be amazed what you can get for Shed money these days, dear... Seriously though we shook on £9.5K meeting half way on some of the bits and bobs that needed sorting out, my side of the bargain including infotainment to replace the Japanese head unit/nav to something of my tastes and needs. And in English and not hunting for an address in downtown Yokohama. My contact manwithnoname seems to be a bit of an expert on this so I expect further email traffic on the subject in the not too distant! And probably some degree of additional expenditure. But, hey, it doesn't 'show' on the purchase price so that makes it OK, right?
Dan
If you have not settled on a Head unit, how about one of the Pioneer Apple carplay/android auto stereos? I guess there is a standard double DIN waiting in anticipation of a decent upgrade? I have the Appradio 3 - it's the older Apple carplay only one, but the Apple carplay integration works pretty well, despite Siri being a bit frustrating.
Very sensible choice Dan 
,
I wish I had never sold my Litchfield one
and I can assure you that they are a lot better than the XT (even the PPP) as they are 6 speed and completely different handling.
I also suggest you head to Litchfield to ask them to work their magic on it, including the alignment etc as was mentioned in a post above somewhere they are sensitive and need to be set up correctly.
I too can say that I never got stuck in mine, in mud, snow etc. with the Toyo T1-R(S) which suit this car well. When equipped with snow tyres, I proceeded to tow a Land Rover Defender off a heap of snow/ice that the daft driver thought he could conquer but ended up grounded and had to suffer the humiliation of being towed off buy what he had previously dismissed as 'not a proper 4x4'
In case you don't already know, if if it was an optional extra but the back seats are slightly recline-able, which is good for the kids when they are asleep (++ bonus points), there should be a little lever just under the front of the seat, to enable you to do this.
Finally,a few warnings, I suggest you don't attempt to run it on anything but V-Power, as my one got distinct 'hiccups & farts' when anything else was used,including Tesco 99 octain, which I had to use in an emergency and also BP ultimate.
Keep an eye on the wheel bearings and the shocks and be warned they are highly addictive! I still fondly refer to it as a 'proper car' as they have no driver aids (bar ABS), interesting balance and fairly lightweight.
I drink to your choice
and look forward to seeing the updates (please contact me if you want to know anything, although I can't promise anything, I'll do my best to help).
,I wish I had never sold my Litchfield one
and I can assure you that they are a lot better than the XT (even the PPP) as they are 6 speed and completely different handling.I also suggest you head to Litchfield to ask them to work their magic on it, including the alignment etc as was mentioned in a post above somewhere they are sensitive and need to be set up correctly.
I too can say that I never got stuck in mine, in mud, snow etc. with the Toyo T1-R(S) which suit this car well. When equipped with snow tyres, I proceeded to tow a Land Rover Defender off a heap of snow/ice that the daft driver thought he could conquer but ended up grounded and had to suffer the humiliation of being towed off buy what he had previously dismissed as 'not a proper 4x4'
In case you don't already know, if if it was an optional extra but the back seats are slightly recline-able, which is good for the kids when they are asleep (++ bonus points), there should be a little lever just under the front of the seat, to enable you to do this.
Finally,a few warnings, I suggest you don't attempt to run it on anything but V-Power, as my one got distinct 'hiccups & farts' when anything else was used,including Tesco 99 octain, which I had to use in an emergency and also BP ultimate.
Keep an eye on the wheel bearings and the shocks and be warned they are highly addictive! I still fondly refer to it as a 'proper car' as they have no driver aids (bar ABS), interesting balance and fairly lightweight.
I drink to your choice
and look forward to seeing the updates (please contact me if you want to know anything, although I can't promise anything, I'll do my best to help). Just FYI, this is the snorkus I mentioned above. First mod that every subaru should have done really. It's the resonator of the air intake and is extracted from the wing much like a recalcitrant wisdom tooth. All it does is make things quieter and be heavy... so why the hell would we want one?
Best car I ever had. Mine was a 2004 model, brand new from David Hendry of Malmesbury. Not an imported Jap spec. It followed a Legacy GTB, so had a lot to match. It did in style. Ran it for 6 years all over the country including carrying mining equipment to Ireland.
Sold it through PH, 6 enquiries in two days, first to see bought it, got 8.5K, excellent.
Followed it with an RS6Avant, yes, really, 5L V10 Lambo engine. Too heavy, too thirsty, and too vulnerable. Swapped for a newer S4Avant, much nicer. But I miss my STi Forester.
You will not regret it, Chris A.
Sold it through PH, 6 enquiries in two days, first to see bought it, got 8.5K, excellent.
Followed it with an RS6Avant, yes, really, 5L V10 Lambo engine. Too heavy, too thirsty, and too vulnerable. Swapped for a newer S4Avant, much nicer. But I miss my STi Forester.
You will not regret it, Chris A.
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