I'm pretty sure you know what kind of Forester I am talking about. I'd say they are the coolest looking thing around. Does anyone know if parts are availalbe in the US to pimp the Forester out? Does anyone have one?!?!? I would love to build one stricky as a looks/stereo/cruiser car. Is the suspension available to get the US Forester on the ground (really low)? Will +53 offset Impreza Rims fit? Are there any body kits available? I've searched and found nothing.

I've got a 2.5RS, but if the situation in Forester land is correct I might move on. If anyone can steer me in the right direction I would be very thankful.

Scott French

Check out iSR Auto Care. They have quite a bit of dress up stuff and suspension mods:

http://www.autocaresubaru.com/default.html

Ken

http://www.autocaresubaru.com/forester00sm.jpg

Maybe I'm missing something, but I didn't see much for the Forester on http://www.autocaresubaru.com.

I found http://home.att.net/~teaguesauto/forestersti.htm on Yahoo, but it doesn't have pictures on anything...

You are exactly the kind of person my website was developed for... Check it out (click the house icon or just go to www.foresterperformance.fanspace.com to see what info I have compiled.)

My '99 L is pretty low, but not dumped. Check out my site, it says it all. I had it lowered over 5" from stock, but with no suspension travel. Now it is at about 3.5" lower than stock. I wanted the thing to actually handle better in the corners. My Forester outhandles my wife's '00 RS Sedan, which is stock except for Tein Soft Springs (1.5" lower)!

I heard of an Impreza RS in South FL with airbags. Haven't seen it yet, but if they have Bags that fit the RS they fit the Forester. The suspensions are interchangeable, except for the weight difference (300 lbs. = 10%). Don't go lower than stock RS springs if you want to maintain a comfortable ride. RS lowering springs will put you on the bumpstops. Not good for your new Impreza struts. (The stock Forester Struts won't work lowered.)

After re-reading your original post, here are a few answers...

1. I don't think the 53mm offset rims will fit. I think, after lowering, they will rub. I have +40mm 17X7 rims on mine. With the lowering, the only rubbing I get is in higher speed turns but only with a couple of passengers in the rear. Even towing a boat its fine. I think it is my tires. I should have 225/50s and I have 235/45s instead. Just a little shorter, but wider.

2. Body kits are available. In Japan. Very expensive. $2000 and up to get them stateside, not including paint or install. I think Corazon and ZERO/Sports make the coolest ones. Those are more like $3k. Check out my site, both the Foreign Performance section and the Gallery for more info and pics. I have pics of every Japanese body kit available (that I know of...).

As for the stereo, since the Forester is essentially a big hatchback RS, the bass just hits! All I have in mine is a Pioneer head unit (and changer) to Alpine 6.5"s in the front doors, Rockford Fosgate 5" Punch speakers in the rear doors, an 85w amplified 10" Bazooka, and a Subaru factory Sub (for when the Bazooka comes out). And the thing hits pretty good. Its not loud enough to piss off the neighbors, but it shakes all 3 mirrors and dims the interior light everytime it "drops!" With 2-12s and a 600w amp instead of the Bazooka.... ;)

Thanks for you help, ForesterPerformance. Thanks to you I have collected much data in the past day. I really dig the Corazon body kits too, especially the kit on the white Forester listed on your site.

Do you know how the stock 2.5RS suspension looks/works on the Forester? I have the whole setup just sitting in my garage... shocks/spring/sway bar. I read a post by Imprezer's Girl saying she tried it and the car looked too low. I doubt you can get the car too low for me.

I also went on a online quest for rims what would fit. I found this page on a site I found through you.

http://www.takakaira.com/rimsandtyres/rimsspecs/subarurims.html.

It lists the Impreza as +50 offset, which I know is really +53. It lists the Forester as +45. So if I apply some really squishy math I could just add 3 to 45 and get +48 as the correct offset for the Forester. How perfect that worked out! I'm pretty sure Gold OZ Superturismos (the wheels I wanted to put on my imaginary Forester) are +48 offset. Am I wrong?

The rims you mention should work. You may have to go with a lower profile tire to keep it from rubbing when lowered, which will throw off your speedo / odo, and hurt your highway gas milage a little. Somehow I don't think you will mind, though. :D The good news is, it helps your "off-the-line" launch, since you have theoretically lowered (numerically raised) the final drive ratio.

The pictures you saw on my site of "My Forester" are just that, but I didn't use and would not recommend the RS struts. I don't think they are valved stiff enough to compensate for the weight difference and therefore would give way too soft a ride. Use the Springs but go with the STi Ver.5 struts or the KYB AGXs like I have. The Ver.5s will work great, though, and are pretty cheap. (Troncali Subaru in GA sells them online for $290 a set + shipping. Look for "Sugar" here on the i-Club.) They will be valved stiff enough to compensate and give you a great ride.

I think the standard RS sway bar is the same as the standard Forester Sway bar (13mm) so don't use it. If you have an RS 18mm or higher, go for it, they will fit (I think.) The RS front strut bar works too, but not the rear. I think the rear is either for the Impreza Wagon or the Legacy (maybe they are the same?). You can get the strut bars from Cobb Tuning or ISR.

These Foresters, with a little massaging here and there, can keep up with an RS both off the line and in the corners. Fellow i-Clubber Matt in FL has an '01 Coupe with a Stromung exhaust and de-snorked. Following him in my Forester last week, I was able to stay with him both off-the-line and through the corners, and his is a manual! (Mine's an auto!)

Good luck building your RS with head-room! :lol: I know I love mine!

Well by no means would I be trying to build a performance car. I've already got a pretty good handler and I am finding there's not a lot of places I can use it without feeling like a reckless jerk. Track days are few and far between for me.

I wonder if the 2.5RS suspension would be too soft for a "non-performance - pure smooth ride" setup. If push comes to shove I could always put the WRX-RA suspension and 20mm FHI swaybar I have on the 2.5RS onto the Forester. I hope that doesn't happen because I really like the way the 2.5RS is setup.

I've been trying to convince myself to trade up... but everyone I talk to says I'd be an idiot to trade my perfectly running, bought new 2.5RS for a used Forester. They actually thinkg I'd be an idiot to get rid of a 2.5RS at all. They actually just think I'm an idiot.

ForesterPerformance,

Did you try the stock RS struts on the Forester? I have my stock set sitting in my garage so I am debating going out and putting the struts and springs on the Forester. I am not looking for super handling, just a good ride and lowered stance. My wife would perfer I kept a decent ride, and I thought the stock RS struts would be a softer ride than the alternatives.

Also I had heard the stock RS muffler wouldn't fit on the Forester. Is that incorrect? Did you have to modify your muffler at all to get it to fit?

Thanks,

Aaron

Aaron,

To the best of my knowledge the stock Impreza muffler - or any Impreza muffler for that matter - will not fit the Forester without some adaptation. Whether that involves moving the attachment points, heat shield, or some pipe bending I'm not sure, it may vary with the muffler. If it was (were?) that easy to swap I'd have grabbed one of those STi Impreza mufflers long ago.

Wish I could be more helpful but I'm still a newbie to the world of Subaru mods.

Good luck!
Ed

Sorry, guys, but you are WRONG-O! :rolleyes: Trust me. I wasn't sure it would work, either, but a local bud (Matt in FL to you people) had the stock muffler laying around and was gonna get rid of it so I asked him for it to give it a try.

The stock Impreza muffler is bolted to my Forester right now, with NO (read:ZERO!) modifications. The flange goes in the same spot, the hangers are in EXACTLY the same places! I checked it with the original Forester Muffler (that had been cut off of the stock pipe) and even the muffler itself was exactly the same, only the RS's seems to be in Stainless. However, be warned... the tip is about 3 inches shorter than the Forester muffler tip, and therefore the exhaust is comming out slightly under the vehicle, not exactly behind it. Very Sleeper-Stock looking, though, and now I have my bottom-end back!

I did this as an emergency measure because the aftermarket muffler I had did not work with the DrawTite Trailer Hitch I just got. The hitch was in the way, and therefore the dual 3" tip muffler angled too far below it for comfot or taste. :lol:

The ONLY little problem I have with this arrangement is that the megaphone style tip of the '01 RS muffler flares out evenly in a cone shape, and actually touches the hitch. This causes a slight buzzing in the cabin at about 2000-2300 rpm. For the price, I can live with it. I tried everything to slightly bend the muffler to stop this, but to no avail. I even jacked the entire rear end of the Forester off the ground by the tip (YES! BY THE TIP!) to try and crush the tip a little (and make it oval) but it didn't! Just a little dimple dent on the bottom of the tip is all that happened! That is one STRONG A$$ Muffler!!!

Sorry, Aaron, just re-read your post...

no I didn't try the stock RS struts. I didn't have any laying around. Like I said before, though, I think it will be too soft. Pam at ISR recommends the Ver.5 struts (or the AGXs) and I agree. I have a feeling she has tried the RS ones with no luck. If you have them lying around, give them a try. The worst thing that can happen is (a) your Forester will ride Super-Soft and (b) your struts won't last very long. But, then again, they may work great. Pam also said that the 5Zigen springs wouldn't work to lower the Forester, and there a re several guys on this forum using them and swearing by them.

All I can say is: don't be afraid to try it, but be ready to change it back to stock or to someting else if it doesn't work. Good luck, and let me know how / if it works. That way I can post your comments about it on my Website. Thanks.

I thought that the RS muffler wouldn't extend all the way to the rear of the Forester. Thanks for confirming it. I didn't see any pics of it on your site though? Did it change the exhaust note at all?

I will probably try throwing the RS struts and springs on the Forester. It will make for at least a fun project for the afternoon. ;) My wife just wants to be able to take speed bumps and driveway entrances at moderate speeds still, so we will see if the RS suspension meets those goals...

Thanks,

Aaron

FYI: With my AGX Struts on 2/4 (f/r) settings, my car rides and feels just like a stock RS. With it on 3/6 (f/r) it is nice and stiff, great handling. I would guess a 1/2 (f/r) setting would be like using the stock RS struts, but I've never tried it. The 2/4 is soft enough for me.

As for speed bumps... I get a slight amount of scraping from the semi-hard plastic mud flaps every time I hit a large speed bump. Taking the bump diagnally seems to help, though. The scraping is minor, though, and you can only see it on the bottoms, and you have to look for it.

Again, good luck. As for the STi Exhaust, there is a Forester pic I have from Japan that has the STi muffler installed. I think it is on my site, but I'm not 100% sure.

Good luck, all.

Well this is one time I don't mind being wrong! (When it comes to Subes, that happens a lot as I'm on my first.) That's cool to know, FP, but i'd be concerned that the exhaust dumping out 3" back of where it was intended to might lead to some unwanted corrosion on the underbody.

Looking at ferretboy's Rallispec exhaust is now swaying me back in that direction, even though the one I heard live (on an RS) was too loud for me. Rallispec isn't far away from me (< 1 hour drive) and they seemed agreeable to working with me on putting together a system to my liking. I posted on scoobynet looking for an STi or Prodrive WRSport exhaust but got only one reply which directed me to Scoobysport's backbox (muffler to us Americans) at 275 pounds (roughly $413) before shipping.

Anyway this is great news. Is the SPT/STi muffler for the RS any longer than the stock RS muffler? Maybe I'll wander over to the Drivetrain forum and see if any Impreza drivers can answer.

See ya,
Ed

You could always do what I am planning in the near future, that is have a muffler shop either extend the tip or replace it with one of those fashionable aftermarket bling-bling jobbies. I will probably opt for the cheapest route, because, I agree Lark, having exhaust dumping under the car is not entirely desireable.

FWIW: The tip on the RS mufflerright now dumps its exhaust onto my trailer hitch assembly, so the underbody corrosion thing is more than likely not gonna happen...

See ya,

John

Yeah, but...do you want it on your hitch, either?

I like the tip extension idea, but I don't want to bling. 3 1/2" is as wide as I want to go. That STi tip would be nice & subtle, and the UK WRSport oval tip is nice too - looks like the "tailpipe cover" we get without being a cover. (Can you tell I was impressed by that WRSport Forester?) I have to admit I like the single oval style - had that on my old '86 Jetta back in the day.

Ed

Originally posted by lark6
Is the SPT/STi muffler for the RS any longer than the stock RS muffler?

I doubt any aftermarket muffler for the RS would stick out 3" further than the stock exhaust. It would make the tip look like a step stool or something. ;)

Trust me I had some lame shop weld me up an exhaust for my RS-T and the tip was maybe 1" longer than stock and it looked SOO stupid. I hated it. So a real exhaust went on.

Aaron

Step stool - LOL :D

Well then I guess we're back where we started - looking at something purpose built for the Forester.

Ed

Purpose built for the Forester? On the page of STi Forester parts I posted above (http://home.att.net/~teaguesauto/forestersti.htm) they listed a "Sport Mufler". There's no pictures, but I'm assuming it's the STi muffler you see on the funky JDM STi Foresters... Maybe not.

Wooooo! Not to mention the price, $940.00, sounds about right for STi....

Over $900 for a muffler?!? Wow. I would have a hard time paying that for a turbo back exhaust, much less a muffler. ;)

STi is good quality, but you are paying a hefty tag for the name IMHO. Not to insult anyone with STi stuff, it is just not my choice for most items. ALthough I would LOVE to have the STi forester body kit. We should try to get a group buy going on those...drool.

BTW I am hoping to put my RS suspension on the Forester later this week, I will give a full report of it when I am done. I suspect it will be a little soft, but it should only waste a few hours of my time. ;)

Aaron
http://www.scoobymods.com

Originally posted by AaronB
Over $900 for a muffler?!? Wow. I would have a hard time paying that for a turbo back exhaust, much less a muffler. ;)

STi is good quality, but you are paying a hefty tag for the name IMHO. Not to insult anyone with STi stuff, it is just not my choice for most items.

Couldn't agree more, Aaron; that price comes as quite a shock. Rallispec will do a full catback for less than that. Like I said, maybe it's time to go see 'em again.

Ed

Ed gold ole buddy!!
good to hear from ya! I just spoke to Genevieve at Rallispec today, their mighty busy building 3 rally cars. So...not a lot of product building just yet, but hey that gives you time to save your pennies and get an exhaust like mine! :p btw has anyone heard from mr. subaru?? I so want to replace my banged up hood with a JDM turbo hood. it would look so nice with my turbo grill that I got for $50.00 from GO GO GO a while back..no, no plans to go turbo on this bad boy..just like the look. I'm saving pennies for a 2.5 or used wrx someday. I figure by the time I pay this monster off, something will be new enough to warrant someone selling their wrx..thus turbo for me!!
~ferretboy signing out.:D