Nope, and nope. The Forester is the first casualty of the purge.
SG Fozzies look decent. Clean, boring…not really pretty or even remotely exciting without either going Mad Max (dirt) or doing a crap-ton of expensive bodywork (street). It makes for a good sleeper with the right goodies under the hood, it’s just so visually forgettable. This isn’t something I need or want out of a street car. (Not when I have a much easier and exciting Volvo 240 project waiting.)
As for softroad/offroad and photo shoot support, the plan for Something Blue changed recently—Dani no longer wants a car—and the Legacy Outback’s wider stance and longer wheelbase does a significantly better job in that role. It’s just so much more comfortable, handles great and drifts predictably, and has over a foot more space out…back for gear.
So, that’s it. It’ll get parted out, the unused goodies dropped back in the boxes and sent back to eBay, but I’m going to hang on to the motor as I have a couple other unrelated ideas for it…(Volvaru?)
If anyone’s curious or looking to do their own SG H6 swap (rare, but reasonable and well supported), here’s the loose plan I had for getting it swapped and pairing it with a “sporty” auto free of shift lag:
- Stripped 04+ SG Chassis (mostly stock interior, windows, lights, etc.)
- Legacy LL Bean EZ30D H6 engine
- 4EAT auto transmission with 4.44 final drive and VTD-style (45F/55R split) rear drive output (found in a few turbo Foresters, auto WRXs, and the auto Baja turbo)
- 4EAT fast-shift valve body
- R160 WRX rear diff with 4.44s and limited slip (R180 would be a more solid choice)
- WRX knuckles/hubs/brakes (5x100 stock bolt pattern)
- EZ30D ECM (2001-04 Legacy LL Bean)
- 4EAT TCM with SportShift programming (available from many years/models including Saab 9-2, but only two specific part numbers from a Baja plug right in)
- Baja SportShift shifter (physically fits a SG with no visible modifications, allows full 1st-4th access)
- Legacy GT paddle shifters, perhaps the whole steering wheel
- Instrument cluster from a 2005-06 Baja turbo with automatic (this is the only one with the combination of full selected-gear display, tachometer, and a size/shape that can be modified to work with some SG dashes)
- Merge wiring harnesses from a 2005-06 Baja and 2004 Legacy H6…supposedly plug and play
- Attach the Forester body wiring (plugs right in)
- H6 headers, custom exhaust because H6 Foz
- 2004 STI steering rack (static ratio 2.7 lock to lock, and fits without modification)
- HotBits +50mm coilover lift (dirt), or stock 2004 WRX take-offs for a 2" drop (street)
