My New Forester I Kind a Feel Like a Stole It

FlyRoder

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Joined
Sep 24, 2010
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9
Location
Elk Grove, California
I found a killer deal on a Marine Blue 09 Forester 2.5x with only 19k on it with an auto trans. A friend of mine owns a repo yard and when he found out I am looking for a Forester he let me by one for only what the bank wanted. :woohoo: So I was able to get a lot newer one with lots fewer miles on it then I would have ever thought dreamed possible.

Sorry no pics, because its raining here, plus I've been crazy busy.

It didn't come with the roof rails so I'm thinking about buying some off Ebay, I'm also wanting to get wheels, some mild all terrain type tires, maybe lift it, probably a set of Wet Okole seat covers since I'll be using it for fly fishing so I won't have to change out of my wet waders to move from spot to spot and a new stereo and an alarm system.

What steel wheels and tires should I consider for mild off roading and where can I find them online for the best price? I can only find those steel wheels with the holes all around the center I was hoping to find some steels with flat spokes that would are 16x6.5 5x100 with the correct off set in black.

Does anyone make a CARB approved performance air intake for a 09?
 
Why limit yourself to steelies? Plenty of alloys around. I put some 98/99 WRX rims on to replace the steelies on my Forrie.
 
Rally said:
Why limit yourself to steelies? Plenty of alloys around. I put some 98/99 WRX rims on to replace the steelies on my Forrie.
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I was thinking that alloys would not be as good for off road, then again I'll only be doing moderate off roading, no mudding, or rock crawling. So what do you all think.
 
Alloys are stronger than steelies, and lighter, look better. I've been airborne at 60km/h for maybe 30-50 metres, landed and no worries. Just remember how much air you have in your tyres, because it is the tyres and the air in them that protects the rim from damage. High profile tyres work well offroad for that reason
 
Sounds like you got a great deal there mate. :)

If you're only doing mild offroading, I'd go for a set of alloys. :iconwink:

I've done some hard offroading in my time (I think those who know me would agree) & my alloys have never let me down yet. :raz:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Steel rims

Rally said:
Alloys are stronger than steelies, and lighter, look better. I've been airborne at 60km/h for maybe 30-50 metres, landed and no worries. Just remember how much air you have in your tyres, because it is the tyres and the air in them that protects the rim from damage. High profile tyres work well offroad for that reason
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Apols for the hijack, so, are you saying that I shouldn't be looking for Forrie steel rims to take BFG ATs / MTs for my Outback?
 
Have re-read FlyRoder's initial post, and I think this is on-topic, given that I'd also describe my driving as 'mild off roading' - i.e. low speed, not rallying - and might as well have one thread about this as two. (Apols if I have that wrong mate.)

d_generate said:
Why would you bother, rare to see a new 4wd with steelies these days except for my mates old mans new 70k Troopie.
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As a long time cyclist, I 'get' that minimising rotational mass is important, especially when struggling up hill in bottom gear! :lol: The importance of this is increased if running larger diameter tyres - even for the slight increases in diameter that are legal here.

While I'm not into grabbing 'air' :poke:, so wouldn't be worried about alloy rims collapsing, I have always assumed steel wheels to be inherently stronger than alloy, and the Forie 'propellors' don't look as ordinary as the standard Outbck 'spare'. :)

Also, while it hopefully never comes to being a 'useful' consideration, I keep remembering all those cars in the Victorian fires left sitting on their bellies after the 'mags' had turned molten and flowed down the road.

I guess its just an 'oldskool':rotfl: thing on my part, seeing steel as safer. Clearly, there are others of similar vintage to me with more modern views! ;)
 
Thanks for all the replies and welcomes.

I looked over at tirerack.com and found a Moda MD9 wheel I really like and the price is real good. However, I just found while on that site that I will need to buy new TPMS sensors or rebuild the oem ones. Tire rack sells a kit to make to make the OEM sensors work with these wheel for $3 each wheel so that isn't bad, but then they said they sensors will have to be initialized at the dealer how much will the dealer charge me for that?
 
Steel rims do have their advantages- they are cheaper and if you do mildly bend one it is possible to do some repairs a bit more easily than alloys. If you want really strong wheels get some 15" rally rims and then put some nice high profile rubber on them. Rally rims are very strong- stronger than normal alloys and much stronger than steelies.
 
Good Job

Fly Rodder, I was elated to hear about your great fortune. Awesome dude! Hey, I too hate to change out of my waders. I was thinking about elasticizing the perimeter of a precut shower curtain. The idea is to have the elastic
just barely go around the edge of the seat so it will hold fast. It could be removed in a jiffy and washed in a washing machine or just hosed down. I used just the shower curtain without elastic when steelheading New York's Lake Erie Tribs for two months last year. The Elantra's seats remained sqeaky clean. Now the pedals- Not perfect!:rotfl:
I was concerned about obstructing the deployment of the air bags. No problems at all! It aint pretty but who cares!! It works. However, I am interested down the line in seat covers if they work ok. Tight Lines challis
 
FlyRoder said:
Thanks for all the replies and welcomes.

I looked over at tirerack.com and found a Moda MD9 wheel I really like and the price is real good. However, I just found while on that site that I will need to buy new TPMS sensors or rebuild the oem ones. Tire rack sells a kit to make to make the OEM sensors work with these wheel for $3 each wheel so that isn't bad, but then they said they sensors will have to be initialized at the dealer how much will the dealer charge me for that?
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Check the weight, some cheap alloys weigh more than steelies.
 
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