How does a standard 2005 Forester XT handle?
Discussion
Hol said:
The new owner is on PH somewhere.
Hi Hol, hope all's well for you and family 
OP, as per some of the posts above, the Forester gives a very compliant/comfortable ride in standard form. Many go over the top over firming up every last joint which turns the XT/XTeN's into a harsh crashy bag of noisy bolts with extreme NVH; don't do this.
Since buying the FXT from Hol I've made the following upgrades
KYB dampers and top mounts [the as bought were becoming tired]
Prodrive 22mm rear ARB
Whiteline Heavy Duty ARB rear mounts [these are a must]
Whiteline Heavy Duty Droplinks front and rear [these are a must as Subaru originals are made of paper mache]
SuperPro STi Alloy Front Control Arms
SuperPro Poly bushes all round/every joint [do not go for HD race/track hard/high shore rating bushes, only std road shore poly bushes]
The above set up genuinely transforms a Forester's ride, it's firm, compliant and makes for a super drive that correctly plants its power to the road. I've upgraded to four pot fronts and WRX rears and, with good reason, still run 17" wheels...Team Dynamics Pro-Race 1.2 with GoodYear Efficient Grips in the summer, and the Hol installed 17" DanDares now with GoodYear UltraGrip winters when the weather turns.
Hope the above helps you
I fitted the Pedders kit (all in one), the 'Lowered' kit, not the 'Sports Ryder'.
Transformed.
It's still comfortable and on the softer side, feels like a Scooby again - loads of control. It's obvious that the old shocks were worn. Really nice drop too - around 40mm all round.
As many have mentioned, it's the brakes that let it down now. :-0
Cheers.
Transformed.
It's still comfortable and on the softer side, feels like a Scooby again - loads of control. It's obvious that the old shocks were worn. Really nice drop too - around 40mm all round.
As many have mentioned, it's the brakes that let it down now. :-0
Cheers.
I've recently fitted Cusco front (23mm) and rear (19mm) antiroll bars on my 04 FXT, made a huge difference to the handling. Corners a lot flatter and has reduced the lean dramatically.
The rest of the suspension setup is stock at the moment.
Edit - I forgot that I did the front drop links as well and put Cusco heavy duty ones on (model 667 318 A) and the rear drop links are new OE ones as Cusco don't make them.
The rest of the suspension setup is stock at the moment.
Edit - I forgot that I did the front drop links as well and put Cusco heavy duty ones on (model 667 318 A) and the rear drop links are new OE ones as Cusco don't make them.
Edited by anarki on Thursday 16th July 11:17
v8250 said:
Hol said:
The new owner is on PH somewhere.
Hi Hol, hope all's well for you and family OP, as per some of the posts above, the Forester gives a very compliant/comfortable ride in standard form. Many go over the top over firming up every last joint which turns the XT/XTeN's into a harsh crashy bag of noisy bolts with extreme NVH; don't do this.
Since buying the FXT from Hol I've made the following upgrades
KYB dampers and top mounts [the as bought were becoming tired]
Prodrive 22mm rear ARB
Whiteline Heavy Duty ARB rear mounts [these are a must]
Whiteline Heavy Duty Droplinks front and rear [these are a must as Subaru originals are made of paper mache]
SuperPro STi Alloy Front Control Arms
SuperPro Poly bushes all round/every joint [do not go for HD race/track hard/high shore rating bushes, only std road shore poly bushes]
The above set up genuinely transforms a Forester's ride, it's firm, compliant and makes for a super drive that correctly plants its power to the road. I've upgraded to four pot fronts and WRX rears and, with good reason, still run 17" wheels...Team Dynamics Pro-Race 1.2 with GoodYear Efficient Grips in the summer, and the Hol installed 17" DanDares now with GoodYear UltraGrip winters when the weather turns.
Hope the above helps you
I am glad to see its still going strong, we often talk about it fondly and my older Forester was only sold this summer by the person who bought that off me. So 9years ownership, by him.
I know what you mean about the wheels, but at the time it was Lady Hol's daily driver and her choice.
I have a set of Pro Race 1.2's as track wheels on my Evo hatch.
OP here, a couple of years on.
I fitted the Whiteline F/R ARB kit last year - made a real difference in cornering, as ppl have said. Well, well worth it.
Predictably, a rear ARB mount has sheared off. I am going to get the bushes F and R replaced as well as fixing the mount - it has started to rattle and clunk over rough roads and, at 100k miles, I felt it is probably time. I was umming and ahing about spending the cash on bushes but... it is not at all easy to give up on a Foz!
Will report back.
I fitted the Whiteline F/R ARB kit last year - made a real difference in cornering, as ppl have said. Well, well worth it.
Predictably, a rear ARB mount has sheared off. I am going to get the bushes F and R replaced as well as fixing the mount - it has started to rattle and clunk over rough roads and, at 100k miles, I felt it is probably time. I was umming and ahing about spending the cash on bushes but... it is not at all easy to give up on a Foz!
Will report back.
I wasn't on this forum (returned under new name as lost login details) when the thread was current so only just seen the update.
We have a 2008 2.5 XT so one of the last of that shape, on the summer tyres, 215/55 x 17 it handles really well, very little in the way of body roll, maybe a shade too hard a ride for my old bones but compared to a friends Golf GTD on 35 aspect tyres it's limo standard.
Run another set of winter tyres/wheels during the season and the handling isn't anywhere near as sharp but the ride noticeably softer, winter tyres in 215/60 x 16 size.
Overall the 17" seem an ideal size for the car.
Suspension still in good condition as its only covered 46k from new, have changed 2 x drop links recently but other than that the suspension is original,
We have a 2008 2.5 XT so one of the last of that shape, on the summer tyres, 215/55 x 17 it handles really well, very little in the way of body roll, maybe a shade too hard a ride for my old bones but compared to a friends Golf GTD on 35 aspect tyres it's limo standard.
Run another set of winter tyres/wheels during the season and the handling isn't anywhere near as sharp but the ride noticeably softer, winter tyres in 215/60 x 16 size.
Overall the 17" seem an ideal size for the car.
Suspension still in good condition as its only covered 46k from new, have changed 2 x drop links recently but other than that the suspension is original,
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