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LazylightningNeed advice from people who are more mechanically inclined than myself. I have a '12 impreza wagon and I'm wondering if it's worth it for me to give a lift (something around 2-3 inches) and marginally bigger tires to help it be a little more capable. I really don't want to deal with trading the car in or selling and getting something else but would something like this make the car suck in any aspect? Are there better alternatives to lifting I could look at?
I do not intend to do any of this myself, I'd pay someone else to do any work
Wouldn't be worth it imo. For the price you'd spend you could put it towards a much more capable jeep cherokee or 4runner or something. Like you'd spend a good amount of guap and still have the clearance of a stock pickup truck.
There may be fanboys who say otherwise but if you're not doing it yourself your money is better spent elsewhere imo
What is a car with good stock clearance that's a little cheaper, ie not a 4runner or tacoma
BiffbarfWouldn't be worth it imo. For the price you'd spend you could put it towards a much more capable jeep cherokee or 4runner or something. Like you'd spend a good amount of guap and still have the clearance of a stock pickup truck.
There may be fanboys who say otherwise but if you're not doing it yourself your money is better spent elsewhere imo
LazylightningNeed advice from people who are more mechanically inclined than myself. I have a '12 impreza wagon and I'm wondering if it's worth it for me to give a lift (something around 2-3 inches) and marginally bigger tires to help it be a little more capable. I really don't want to deal with trading the car in or selling and getting something else but would something like this make the car suck in any aspect? Are there better alternatives to lifting I could look at?
I do not intend to do any of this myself, I'd pay someone else to do any work
Look into some adjustable coil over set up's. Make sure you talk to the company about you want lift, and not lower.
Once you do that, you need to align the car again. Good luck.
There’s a good possibility it could be worth it and it could be done affordably. I am not as well versed with newer subarus but I know the older imprezas you could just pop forester struts into them and get a 2 inch lift.
As for wheels and tires it may hurt your fuel economy a little bit but it may also help. Subarus tend to be geared pretty high (especially if you have a 5mt) but the larger wheels help gear the car down considerably so you are at lower rpm while driving this burning less fuel. I say do it man. It can be done cheap and it will save you all the time and complexity of getting a new car.
also be careful with road noise. A/T tires can be noisy
LazylightningNeed advice from people who are more mechanically inclined than myself. I have a '12 impreza wagon and I'm wondering if it's worth it for me to give a lift (something around 2-3 inches) and marginally bigger tires to help it be a little more capable. I really don't want to deal with trading the car in or selling and getting something else but would something like this make the car suck in any aspect? Are there better alternatives to lifting I could look at?
I do not intend to do any of this myself, I'd pay someone else to do any work
Are forester struts something I could buy new? I also do have the 5 speed, when you say gearing do you mean the rpms the car would drive at? It already struggles up mountain roads haha
skierman_jackThere’s a good possibility it could be worth it and it could be done affordably. I am not as well versed with newer subarus but I know the older imprezas you could just pop forester struts into them and get a 2 inch lift.
As for wheels and tires it may hurt your fuel economy a little bit but it may also help. Subarus tend to be geared pretty high (especially if you have a 5mt) but the larger wheels help gear the car down considerably so you are at lower rpm while driving this burning less fuel. I say do it man. It can be done cheap and it will save you all the time and complexity of getting a new car.
also be careful with road noise. A/T tires can be noisy
LazylightningAre forester struts something I could buy new? I also do have the 5 speed, when you say gearing do you mean the rpms the car would drive at? It already struggles up mountain roads haha
New struts are pretty easy to find. Just hit up your local autozone and say you own a forester so you don't confuse the parts monkey. Big tires will make a difference. I put some larger ats on my forester (02 automatic) and it feels a little more sluggish than before and harder to stop but I had no noticeable change in mpg.
Your best bet is looking on NASIOC and finding the best lift solution for your car. It looks like forester and crosstrek struts are an option. Yes bigger wheels will make youre car a little bit slower. And just downshift when going up hills. It’s better to be 50% throttle at 4k rpm than 100% throttle at 2.8k rpm
LazylightningAre forester struts something I could buy new? I also do have the 5 speed, when you say gearing do you mean the rpms the car would drive at? It already struggles up mountain roads haha
Much thanks, I think I'm gonna look at the xv struts. It seems like the forester ones work better for older models of imprezas
edit: Only other question, would pretty much all mechanics do this swap for me? Should I hit up my local subaru dealership or will they turn me away?
skierman_jackYour best bet is looking on NASIOC and finding the best lift solution for your car. It looks like forester and crosstrek struts are an option. Yes bigger wheels will make youre car a little bit slower. And just downshift when going up hills. It’s better to be 50% throttle at 4k rpm than 100% throttle at 2.8k rpm
**This post was edited on Aug 3rd 2021 at 9:45:46am
Dealership won’t handle that work. Most capable mechanics can handle a strut change
LazylightningMuch thanks, I think I'm gonna look at the xv struts. It seems like the forester ones work better for older models of imprezas
edit: Only other question, would pretty much all mechanics do this swap for me? Should I hit up my local subaru dealership or will they turn me away?
**This post was edited on Aug 3rd 2021 at 9:45:46am
Hey, I was just wondering if you guys up in the states got the legacy GTB or the b4. They were the sport version of the legacy from 99-03 with a 2-litre boxer with twin turbos that came stock with 280 horse power. I was looking at getting one as my first car because there dirt cheap down here in NZ but after my first test drive in one my parents wouldn't let me get it because they thought they had just a bit too much power. I think they're one of the coolest subies made but I don't think they were sold in the US.
We did not. The highest trim legacy was the “GT” however it was a naturally aspirated 2.5 liter forester motor. We got a turbo charged model in 2004/5 I think. We didn’t get a turbo 2.0 tho we got a turbo 2.5
ginj.nigHey, I was just wondering if you guys up in the states got the legacy GTB or the b4. They were the sport version of the legacy from 99-03 with a 2-litre boxer with twin turbos that came stock with 280 horse power. I was looking at getting one as my first car because there dirt cheap down here in NZ but after my first test drive in one my parents wouldn't let me get it because they thought they had just a bit too much power. I think they're one of the coolest subies made but I don't think they were sold in the US.
skierman_jackWe did not. The highest trim legacy was the “GT” however it was a naturally aspirated 2.5 liter forester motor. We got a turbo charged model in 2004/5 I think. We didn’t get a turbo 2.0 tho we got a turbo 2.5
such a shame, in my humble 17 yo opinion greatest wagon ever made
skierman_jackWe did not. The highest trim legacy was the “GT” however it was a naturally aspirated 2.5 liter forester motor. We got a turbo charged model in 2004/5 I think. We didn’t get a turbo 2.0 tho we got a turbo 2.5
There’s a really sexy legacy gt for sale down the road from me. They want wayyy to much for it though otherwise I’d consider it
skierman_jackWe did not. The highest trim legacy was the “GT” however it was a naturally aspirated 2.5 liter forester motor. We got a turbo charged model in 2004/5 I think. We didn’t get a turbo 2.0 tho we got a turbo 2.5
Truth. The turbo's rolled out 2004 for Forester and other 2.5's as well.
The WRX and WRX STI's IDK. They must have been turboed sooner. I think around 2000.
2004-2021 sti EJ257 (2.5, VF39 & VF48 turbo depending on year, bigger intercooler and high compression ratio in 2008)
DominatorJacquesTruth. The turbo's rolled out 2004 for Forester and other 2.5's as well.
The WRX and WRX STI's IDK. They must have been turboed sooner. I think around 2000.
2004-2021 sti EJ257 (2.5, VF39 & VF48 turbo depending on year, bigger intercooler and high compression ratio in 2008)
I got my Forester in 2003. The next year, they came out with the turbo model.
I just missed it, but N/A is more reliable, and I only need so much juice! ;-)
ski_salmon69EV sti makes no sense. There would be much more of a market for say an ev forester
Seems like car companies are using their higher performance models to sell EVs. Like the mustang mach e. As much as I hate to say it an sti is the perfect platform for an ev. AWD, super high torque and fast acceleration. But they should keep the gas motor and rebrand the electric one.
Had a 2016 sti, pretty terrible financial decision at the time but it was super fun for the 2 years I had it, yet I’m happy I sold it. But I do miss driving like an asshole in the snow
Really disappointed in Subarus decision to cancel the real sti. Not opposed to electric but you don’t get the manual transmission which is my favorite part of all sport Subarus. Might be placing an order on a 2022 wrx
PimpChimpinReally disappointed in Subarus decision to cancel the real sti. Not opposed to electric but you don’t get the manual transmission which is my favorite part of all sport Subarus. Might be placing an order on a 2022 wrx
Toyota has actually been working on a manual transmission for evs, toyota owns part of subaru so don't let your hopes down yet. Still won't be the same though
ski_salmon69Toyota has actually been working on a manual transmission for evs, toyota owns part of subaru so don't let your hopes down yet. Still won't be the same though
