2005 Subaru Forester - The Merlot Missile: Bought Not Built

Well behold, my 2005 Subaru Forester XT (5MT). While I’m not new to Subies, this is my first “bought not built” build. I’m not usually one to buy someone else’s modded car, but this one had a lot of good parts, receipts, and drives well. The above pic is when we got it about a year ago.

I had to replace a few things. The HVAC panel was bad, and it took two LQK panels to get it to work right. The tumble valve generator sensor (a sensor that controls butterflies in the intake manifold, i.e. a throttle position sensor) went out, and I replaced that after a CEL. I also had to replace a cam position sensor. Both cost $50, and took too long to install, but so be it. Other than that, it was a lot of cleaning. I also disabled the sticky hill-hold clutch.

The car’s been resprayed, albeit by Macco. It’s not the best, but not the worst. It’s rust-free, and that’s important. I also installed a larger hood scoop and have a paint-matched rear spoiler to put on too. I don’t look forward to drilling into the body to do that; I might pay someone with more fortitude than me to do it.

The car came with the following:

  • Cobb up pipe
  • Cobb intake
  • Cobb down pipe (maybe?)
  • Stromung turbo-back exhaust
  • Ksport coilovers
  • Braided brake lines
  • Whiteline front and rear sway bars
  • Shifter with custom WRX bushings (apparently)
  • Cobb stage 2 tune
  • Rebuilt turbo
  • Rebuilt viscous coupler
  • Aluminum radiator with silicone hoses
  • Pioneer double-din stereo

Here’s what the Wine Wagon aka the Poorester looks like today.

I installed some used 17x7.5 Enkei RPF1s and 235/50/17 BFGoodrich g-Force Comp2 A/S Plus tires. We’ve done one TSD rally in it, and it sticks like glue and goes like stink. Speaking of stink, it still has an exhaust leak from 92-piece exhaust manifold up front. I attempted to fix it, but I think I made it worse. I might bring it to the exhaust shop here and tell them to fix it. The Cobb up pipe doesn’t have a flex joint, which likely doesn’t help.

I haven’t thrown a CEL in a while, so that’s reassuring. It got warm once, but it was low on coolant. Since topping it off, I haven’t had any issues with it. I still need to do a couple of things on it, but so far, the “Merlot Missile” has been loads of fun. It only has 192,600 miles on it. That’s sarcasm.

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Surprised Wait What GIF

Dude. I’ve always loved those wheels. And it sounds like a fun project. The right tool for every job, then?

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Really it’s my go-fast car. We have the Pajero for “off roading,” the Delica for camping, the Crosstrek for going anywhere at any time, and the Forester XT for funzies.

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If there isn’t a badge for this level of automotive achievement, there should be, imo. :+1:

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Well, almost as soon as I posted this, I’m actually selling it. I’m asking $12,000 with the Enkeis/BFGs.

Why am I selling? This car is far too easy to find parts for. Not obscure enough. :stuck_out_tongue:

In all honesty, it’s a ton of fun, fast, handles well. But it just doesn’t speak to my love of oddball vehicles.

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How is it that everything you said makes absolutely no sense, and at the same time I totally hear you and have done exactly the same thing… more than once.

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It’s a weird affliction, eh? Like—in theory—this ticks all the boxes. Fast. Handles great. 5MT. AWD. Yeah, it’s got high miles, but meh. This is as close to a “sleeper” as I’ve ever had. Kind of bland looks, but goes like stink. You bring it to a Cars and Coffee and no one even looks at it. Perhaps, that’s the issue? I don’t know.

I remember having my lowered Yaris on orange wheels parked next to a Lambo at an event at Portland International Raceway. I had people come up to me and says—that’s a great Yaris. LOL

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It makes sense. For sure. Who wants to be driving an invisible car that nobody notices?

:smirk:

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:face_with_hand_over_mouth: