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Old 04-29-2010, 12:12 AM   #1
BuggEyeWrx
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Member#: 139000
Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Annapolis/Towson Maryland
Vehicle:
2003 Forester XS
Silver

Default Finally got my Subaru!

YES!
Got a 2003 Subaru Forester XS (pictures below)

Bought it from my parents, and they bought a 2010 Forester.
Also Thank to Ed at Annapolis Subaru. I had recommended them to Ed, mainly due to people from this forum. They were really happy with the entire sale!

So i've been doing reading and such. But anything i should REALLY know.
I've noticed a lot of the same stuff works from/for Impreza and Foresters?
Obv considering Intake/exhaust and probably suspension first. Tips- things to look at, things to stay away from.

Any Help/links/ etc would be great.
Thanks!


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Old 04-29-2010, 12:31 AM   #2
Magic Marker
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Member#: 181568
Join Date: Jun 2008
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Northern New Jersey
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2011 3.6R Legacy LTD
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Congrats on the Foz.
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Old 04-29-2010, 12:36 AM   #3
kumanchu
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there is a lot of stuff you should read at subaruforester.org but you probably already knew that.
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Old 04-29-2010, 04:25 AM   #4
THE-95-STi
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Old 04-29-2010, 05:52 AM   #5
Borjaq
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Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: S.Korea
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Congrats. Looking at a Forester for my wife in the near future.

Last edited by Borjaq; 04-29-2010 at 05:53 AM. Reason: Spelling
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Old 04-29-2010, 06:16 AM   #6
Abnormal
Lil Curious
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Join Date: May 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: zip22182
Vehicle:
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Rocket Box! :D

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Ignore Ms. Schnell. Pay attention to VinnyD, SirWilliam, and a handful of us other Forester folk
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Old 04-29-2010, 06:53 AM   #7
WorldRallyRedneck
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abnormal View Post



Ignore Ms. Schnell. Pay attention to VinnyD, SirWilliam, and a handful of us other Forester folk
True all those guys have nasty, forester beasts and could help you out, but Ms.Schnell is 100 times better looking than all of them.
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Old 04-29-2010, 10:17 AM   #8
vinnyd
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WorldRallyRedneck View Post
True all those guys have nasty, forester beasts and could help you out, but Ms.Schnell is 100 times better looking than all of them.
i wouldnt say she is 100x better looking than me, maybe like 95.5x

my recommendation would be to skip intake and exhaust as all you are really making is noise. if your goal is to make it more fun focus on suspension/ handling.
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Old 04-29-2010, 12:55 PM   #9
crisco555
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Skyline Drive, Virginia
Vehicle:
2005 saabaru x 2
"wash me"

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awesome ! i like that body style alot. lots of potential.

is it 5mt? or 4EAT? if so, you could also do a shift kit in that tranny.
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Old 04-29-2010, 01:23 PM   #10
MissVenezuela85
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2010 WRX Hatch..
White

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Can't really give you tips but what I can say is...

CONGRATS on the SUBIE!
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Old 04-29-2010, 02:07 PM   #11
kumanchu
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WorldRallyRedneck View Post
True all those guys have nasty, forester beasts and could help you out, but Ms.Schnell is 100 times better looking than all of them.
wat! i didn't know she was your sister!
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Old 04-29-2010, 02:22 PM   #12
BuggEyeWrx
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Location: Annapolis/Towson Maryland
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Silver

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It's a 5MT < Any Brand Suggestions for Shift Kit?

As for the intake and exhaust > Yeah i know it's just noise. I want that noise so bad.

Going to look into rally armor as wellllll!

also want to change the grill.

I can't decide on the suspension. I want it to handle well and be more fun. But i will also be using it for it's purpose..to load it up and go to bike races and car camping.

As for work.. I know there is IAG and Andrewtech.. either better for forester?

Lots of stuff I need to know. But i know bicycles.. now need to learn Foresterrr!

any good websites for parts and such?
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Old 04-29-2010, 02:35 PM   #13
marcmtb35
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Location: Patapsco State Park
Vehicle:
2012 JK COD MW3
Silver

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Kartboy on the shifter. Also, spend the few extra $$ on the front and rear shifter bushings. That is possibly the best bang for the buck, mods wise. Also, an 04 STI rear sway bar bolts up and is a great susp. upgrade on the cheap.
As far as springs go, either Swifts or STI Pink Springs (Forester STI). They improve the handling and ride dramatically, but only lower the car an inch. So if you're like me and actually use your Forester, you can still do so. I load mine up regularly with gear and cruise through fields at mountain bike races, and need the clearance. While Coilover's and other setups look killer, they kill the utility aspect of the Foz.
Another cool/cheap mod is to score some front seats out of an Impreza 2.5 or WRX TR. Much better support/bolstering.
-Marc
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Old 04-29-2010, 05:12 PM   #14
BuggEyeWrx
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Annapolis/Towson Maryland
Vehicle:
2003 Forester XS
Silver

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Word- Thank man!

I want my fog lights yellow. How?
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Old 04-29-2010, 05:17 PM   #15
crisco555
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Location: Skyline Drive, Virginia
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"wash me"

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you can buy new ones or just get the yellow film tint... some people who have done the film seem to like it - i've never done it.
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Old 04-30-2010, 11:47 AM   #16
BuggEyeWrx
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Join Date: Jan 2007
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Location: Annapolis/Towson Maryland
Vehicle:
2003 Forester XS
Silver

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Any idea where i can get yellow vinyl for the fog lights?
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Old 04-30-2010, 12:38 PM   #17
SirWilliam
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Location: The Wild Serengeti Suburbs
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2008 SG6 Model D
BlueRallyWorld

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Congrats! I say go with suspension, brakes, and wheels. Power mods will cost you a pretty penny but not net you much gains except for in noise.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BuggEyeWrx View Post
Any idea where i can get yellow vinyl for the fog lights?
I went with Rockblocker that were precut for you '04 fogs...same as yours...but I don't know if they are still in business or not.

You can hit up IAG or one of the many tuning shops in MD to have them put it on for you. Or you can go for a precut set that you can put on yourself...very easy, though.

I found one place but never dealt with them before: WEBSITE LINKY
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Old 04-30-2010, 01:39 PM   #18
BuggEyeWrx
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Member#: 139000
Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Annapolis/Towson Maryland
Vehicle:
2003 Forester XS
Silver

Default

Thanks!

Yeah I emailed IAG for some information.
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Old 05-01-2010, 12:08 AM   #19
BuggEyeWrx
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Member#: 139000
Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Annapolis/Towson Maryland
Vehicle:
2003 Forester XS
Silver

Default

Holy crap. Hardest radio install in the world. I've installed at least half a dozen stereos. This was by far the hardest. Couldn't get the heat-a/c cluster to get out! So i had to maneuver around it.
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Old 05-01-2010, 12:39 AM   #20
OrbitalEllipses
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Location: MoCo
Vehicle:
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Over 400hp

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LOL!

Congratulations on your Subie.

The lol is for the radio. I recently soldered some stuff into the radio harness. I'm assuming you have manual HVAC...it was a PITA to maneuver around. It's not removable (you could remove it if you undid the metal wires, I think).


Welcome to the club.
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Old 05-01-2010, 01:28 AM   #21
BuggEyeWrx
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Member#: 139000
Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Annapolis/Towson Maryland
Vehicle:
2003 Forester XS
Silver

Default

Haha i was going to solder it, i ended up using twist caps, i lost sunlight at that point. And yes, its a Manual Hvac. I was so scared i was going to break something. I removed one cable on the passenger side and it didn't help. So i just muscled it out.

Pretty excited to start to play with mods!

And Thanks!
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Old 05-01-2010, 12:24 PM   #22
Abnormal
Lil Curious
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Rocket Box! :D

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Manual HVAC sucks on these cars (stupid cables, MOVE)

For my yellow fogs, I skipped film and just got Nokya bulbs off ebay. Plenty yellow, and looks stock when the car's off so nobody peeks around too much.
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