Gecko's GoFast Wagon (2015 Forester 2.0XT)

[geckoboy86]

Well, After the more personal events for me of 2020 (between my mom and her old outback passing on me). I bought a new to me Forester 2.0XT Touring on what would have been my mothers birthday. This was a car we always joked about with getting me into trouble.

So this is my first taste of wagon life and turbos. I was always hesitant on the CVT but its not as bad as I was thinking. Power is super smooth but it knows how to get up and go. The BRZ is still in my fleet and its a fun car but this has so much more usefulness to it. And on top of that, its not just a little faster.





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Current mod list:
Engine
Green Air Filter
Fumoto Quickvalve
SubieSpeed Muffler delete with burnt tips
STi Mid-pipe (not installed)


Wheels and Suspension
RSR Lowering Springs.
2011 Subaru STi Enkei wheels
ISC 15mm wheel spacers.
Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 plus in 245/50ZR18

Lighting
LED Conversion
—Exterior: Turn signals, Brake lights, License Plate, Reverse
—Interior: Map, Dome, Courtesy Door, Cargo,
OLM Rear Hatch LED light with added cutoff switch
Subispeed Hyperblink Flasher


Interior
Subaru 2015 WRX Steering Wheel (not installed)
Subaru 2016 WRX Limited front seats
Front Windows and Moonroof Tinted to Match


Exterior
Chrome Delete (in Progress, Grille and Fog Surrounds Done)
—Toyota Phantom Grey Pearl


Planned other mods in no particular order
Whiteline Braces
Sti rear sway bar
Slotted Rotors

Lower Priority
Pioneer DMH-WC6600NEX
WRX MFD 2018+
Perrin Steering Dampener Lockdown
LED FOGS
Scooped hood

[geckoboy86]

So, while my planned mods list is growing, There were a few things I could do relatively cheaply. LED Conversions and start my war against the chrome.

One neat thing I found while shopping around was a rear hatch light. I added that with an almost full LED kit for the car. Only lights that aren't LED are the Low and High beam as well as the fogs. The main low light are HIDs so that will stay around for a bit. Sadly I can't just throw newer LED based headlights in the car. Bummer.

The Rear Hatch LED light.



Next I started my war against chrome.
These newer Subarus are a pain to tear apart. The main grille which is 2 (technically 3) peices was a giant pain to remove. Not only did the lower part 6 pop clips and 4 pressure based clips but also 4 small screws connecting it to the back of the bumper. The upper half was even more hateful.The section with the emblem and wings had 6 nuts hold it on as well as 3 clips with one being in the center of the emblem and just refusing to let go. The upper trim was held on by 2 nuts, one on each end, as well as 2 bolts under the emblem but it also had 10 clips. I ended up breaking all but 2 of them and then removed the remaining clips.





So that was the grille. Now the fog surronds, They have to be easy, right? Wrong, 10 clips around the chrome pieces edge holding it in place. 5 facing out and 5 facing in. You had to pop each one and move it just so that it wouldn't click back in. Move it to far and you probably snapped another one back into place. Once you had all of them poppedm you had to pull up strait and evenly.

Was it worth it, Yes but boy, there was som frustration.

[geckoboy86]

Updates

Having the BRZ has opened my eyes when it comes to seats. Not every car needs to have sporty seats like it but anything that is fast should. The FXT is faster then the BRZ so it got some new seats. 2016 WRX Limited seats. Bolted straight in.



My OLM Rear Gate Light is awesome but it has a flaw in that you cannot turn it off. So I added a switch.

[mike-tracy]

That's cool that the seat bolted right up - I grabbed FRS seats and had to use an aftermarket bracket

[geckoboy86]

Getting in with the holidays.

[geckoboy86]

The Xmas post in April. LOL

Forgot to post these pictures. They are from Xmas day. I got to drive on a beach for the first time in OBX.

[geckoboy86]

Ok. True April Update.

Got some tint installed. Both the front doors and moonroof. Got them to match the OEM. Also got the RSR springs on at the same time.



Loving the reduced wheel gap. Still looks like an SUV.



And the bigger update.
STi Enkei Wheels (18x8.5) with ISC 15mm spacers. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus in 245/50ZR18. Speedometer at 60 will be off by 0.2. Not too bad.

[thenines']

Nice rims!

[geckoboy86]

Just a May update.

Freshly washed and looking good.






BRZ got some love too




Got this 2020 STi Midpipe for the low low price of free. To those who think its a WRX pipe, WRX have a smaller resonator. The STi with its EJ and UEL headers needed to be muffled down. It’s piping is larger post resonator then the factory pipe. Helps with a deeper tone under load.


With my SubieSpeed muffler delete and its blue tips, I decided to run with blue being an accent color. I joined the pinstripe crew. The grey pieces are being sanded and prepped to be repainted in the same Toyota Phantom Grey.




Then there is this.

I had these decals made about 6 or so years ago when a cat of mine (my first cat) was taken away from me because of cancer at the young age of 7. These never made it onto a car or anything and were put away in a unused decal box until now. Cancer took my mom from me last year and this car would be special to her. Not only did we joke about a go fast forester XT but I did get this on her birthday. In her honor, Fu<& Cancer

[geckoboy86]

Been a bit since I updated.
Tinted some stuff.


Working on the grille.


Teasing the completed grille thanks to the BRZs lights


The reveal.