My New Ride

[Challenger71]

Welcome to the Fozzie world buster. I'm a recent member as well, bought a 99, 5MT Forester, in alpine white with only 75k on the clock from my co-worker! Very good condition. Nearing timing belt replace time. I fell in love with this car the moment he let me borrow it for a short while. I took it from him.

Have you visited forester.org forum yet? There is one guy on there with 01 Forester with 400k on the original engine and clutch/trans with just routine maintenance. He replaced the original HG at around 260k.


Originally Posted By: buster
^ Yeah it works well.

I took it off-road today and on the beach in Brigantine. It handled the sand easily. I was impressed. I've been on this beach before with a Jeep and F-150 with the Off-road package. I lowered the air pressure down to 20psi and it cut through it with ease.

 

[addyguy]

Good find, buster - sounds like you will lots of fun with it!

I don't think anyone has asked....what oil will you be running in it?

 

[buster]

I put M1 5w30 HM in the engine. Subaru Extra S will go in the MT and Synpower 75w90 in the rear diff.

 

[buster]

I changed almost every fluid in the entire car this past week. Today I just changed the MTF with Subar Extra S. So whatever happens in the next two years is out of my control.

Rear Diff got Synpower. M1 HM 5w30 in the engine. ML PS fluid.

I also hit the engine with Sonus Motorkote. I sprayed the underneath as well.

I want to get the coolant changed asap.

 

[SLCraig]

Engine bay looks spotless. I can't imagine you couldn't get the time you want out of this car, it looks so mint.
Again, would love to have that... Good job.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I'd love to find something like that! Manual trans, wagon ... what's not to like?



Originally Posted By: buster
This car will be seeing a good amount of beach use.

Subarus do very well in sand/snow. Having full time AWD is great and I like the gas mileage of the Subarus vs Jeeps.


There's no comparison between an AWD vehicle and a Jeep in snowy / slushy conditions (everything else like tires equal). AWD is a bit more complex, but certainl MUCH better in the snow.

 

[Phishin]

Nice ride Buster. It's loaded with Utility, Function, and Fun!!

 

[bluesubie]

Originally Posted By: buster
^ Yeah it works well.

I took it off-road today and on the beach in Brigantine. It handled the sand easily. I was impressed. I've been on this beach before with a Jeep and F-150 with the Off-road package. I lowered the air pressure down to 20psi and it cut through it with ease.


Nice [censored]-mobile!

If you're ever up at IBSP, wave if you see a silver XT. I believe I was only in the sand once with the stock size tires and have been on 225/55/17's for a long time now. I really like the slight increase in ground clearance and wider contact patch in the sand. Lots of guys at Subaruforester.org go with wider tires on 16's as well.

You can easily go beyond 7,500 miles with Mobil1 5W-30 HM IMO. My daughter's 2000 2.5RS and my wife's previous '99 Outback get Max Life or Pennzoil conventional 5W-30 every 5-6k. I had to replace my clutch at around 120k. Probably from burning it up in the sand too much.

I'm really puzzled by the air box. Maybe that's the n/a version of wrapping the headers.

Congrats!

-Dennis

 

[ClutchDisc]

Nice, always liked the look of that year Forester, glad you got a manual!