Blue Fox Journal 2.0
Yes, unless you frequent SubaruForester.org often, then you heard correctly. Blue Fox 2.0, the (new to me) 2005 Subaru Forester XT 5-Speed to replace my 2004 XT.
I know I haven't posted here in quite some time, and major apologies for that. It's been a rather hectic time over the past few months. First, the bankruptcy, moving out of state........and of course........the crash.
So I guess I should start with the crash, being that's the reason why there is the Foz 2.0 in the first place. Without typing out the whole thing and making this post a million words long, below is the link to the SF.org thread I started for it.....
https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f98/no-more-foz-105107/
And the images below paraphrase what happened decently enough:
So after the crash, I ended up buying a 2005 Forester XT 5-Speed that I found up in Vail, Colorado. I'll just say, in January, finding a decent Fozzy for sale is rather difficult. :biggrin:
Modifications for the 2005 XT have started rather briskly as I already knew the exact direction I wanted to go (which was the same direction as my previous XT)......RallyCross. I wanted an off-road rally car as a daily driver, so that's what she'll become. The previous model was close......I plan on getting this one closer (and competing in it).
A little about the car....I found an ad in Craigslist for it. I talked with the owner and decided he was a stand up guy and flew from southern New Mexico to Denver, Colorado, then drove 2 hours to Vail, Colorado to check it out. I was in love with it within the first few miles. Talked with the owner who said he wanted it to go to a good owner who would look after it. I told him she would be famous. Two hours later, I was driving back from Vail in my newly purchased 2005 XT. Before starting the long drive back to New Mexico, I stopped off in Boulder to pickup a set of steel wheels and tires (215/70 R16 BFGoodrich All-Terrains) from another forum member.
I've had the car for a few weeks now and couldn't be happier. LOVING the 5-speed over the 4EAT, though I haven't put the car through any serious "crawling" as I did in my old XT, but I've taken it off road a few times, and it's impressed me a lot so far. (the more 50/50 power split is fun compared with the FWD biased 4EAT).
Below is a picture taken of the car about a week after I brought her home with the new BFGoodrich tires and black powder coated steel wheels, along with a freshly painted grille.
01.18.12 - Grille Black-Out
First modification was to paint the horrible chrome on the grille. I've never liked chrome trim on anything, and the grille was no exception. I picked up a couple cans of Duplicolor "Trim Paint" in satin black. I've used this paint before on many occasions on my previous 04 and the paint holds up very well and is easy to work with.
First, needed to sand the grille. I used a sanding pad just to scuff up the surface. I kept the grille on the car for sanding as it is much easier this way. Just make sure to tape around the grille so you don't scuff your paint.
Next, I shot a couple thin coats of black filler primer, then a few thin coats of the trim paint. While I was at it, I decided to paint the center caps for the steel wheels black as well. I believe the car looks so much more aggressive and sporty wearing the black grille.
02.09.12 - Roof Rail Black-Out
Decided that since I never got around to painting the silver roof rails on my 04 black, I would do it right away on the 05. I ordered a replacement roof basket, so I wanted to get the roof rails painted before the basket arrived. I used the same Duplicolor Trim Paint I used on the grille for the rails. Taped everything off, used a sanding pad to scuff up all the paint, and then laid down newspaper for overspray. Sprayed a few coats of black primer, then a few coats of trim paint. I think it turned out perfect, and couldn't ask for anything better.
I was originally going to cover the rails in satin black vinyl, but for some reason, I just don't have the patience to deal with vinyl anymore, but for some reason painting doesn't get to me. So painting it was.
I let the paint cure for 2 days in the sun before attempting to mount the cross bars so the basket could be attached.
Yes, unless you frequent SubaruForester.org often, then you heard correctly. Blue Fox 2.0, the (new to me) 2005 Subaru Forester XT 5-Speed to replace my 2004 XT.
I know I haven't posted here in quite some time, and major apologies for that. It's been a rather hectic time over the past few months. First, the bankruptcy, moving out of state........and of course........the crash.
So I guess I should start with the crash, being that's the reason why there is the Foz 2.0 in the first place. Without typing out the whole thing and making this post a million words long, below is the link to the SF.org thread I started for it.....
https://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f98/no-more-foz-105107/
And the images below paraphrase what happened decently enough:
So after the crash, I ended up buying a 2005 Forester XT 5-Speed that I found up in Vail, Colorado. I'll just say, in January, finding a decent Fozzy for sale is rather difficult. :biggrin:
Modifications for the 2005 XT have started rather briskly as I already knew the exact direction I wanted to go (which was the same direction as my previous XT)......RallyCross. I wanted an off-road rally car as a daily driver, so that's what she'll become. The previous model was close......I plan on getting this one closer (and competing in it).
A little about the car....I found an ad in Craigslist for it. I talked with the owner and decided he was a stand up guy and flew from southern New Mexico to Denver, Colorado, then drove 2 hours to Vail, Colorado to check it out. I was in love with it within the first few miles. Talked with the owner who said he wanted it to go to a good owner who would look after it. I told him she would be famous. Two hours later, I was driving back from Vail in my newly purchased 2005 XT. Before starting the long drive back to New Mexico, I stopped off in Boulder to pickup a set of steel wheels and tires (215/70 R16 BFGoodrich All-Terrains) from another forum member.
I've had the car for a few weeks now and couldn't be happier. LOVING the 5-speed over the 4EAT, though I haven't put the car through any serious "crawling" as I did in my old XT, but I've taken it off road a few times, and it's impressed me a lot so far. (the more 50/50 power split is fun compared with the FWD biased 4EAT).
Below is a picture taken of the car about a week after I brought her home with the new BFGoodrich tires and black powder coated steel wheels, along with a freshly painted grille.
01.18.12 - Grille Black-Out
First modification was to paint the horrible chrome on the grille. I've never liked chrome trim on anything, and the grille was no exception. I picked up a couple cans of Duplicolor "Trim Paint" in satin black. I've used this paint before on many occasions on my previous 04 and the paint holds up very well and is easy to work with.
First, needed to sand the grille. I used a sanding pad just to scuff up the surface. I kept the grille on the car for sanding as it is much easier this way. Just make sure to tape around the grille so you don't scuff your paint.
Next, I shot a couple thin coats of black filler primer, then a few thin coats of the trim paint. While I was at it, I decided to paint the center caps for the steel wheels black as well. I believe the car looks so much more aggressive and sporty wearing the black grille.
02.09.12 - Roof Rail Black-Out
Decided that since I never got around to painting the silver roof rails on my 04 black, I would do it right away on the 05. I ordered a replacement roof basket, so I wanted to get the roof rails painted before the basket arrived. I used the same Duplicolor Trim Paint I used on the grille for the rails. Taped everything off, used a sanding pad to scuff up all the paint, and then laid down newspaper for overspray. Sprayed a few coats of black primer, then a few coats of trim paint. I think it turned out perfect, and couldn't ask for anything better.
I was originally going to cover the rails in satin black vinyl, but for some reason, I just don't have the patience to deal with vinyl anymore, but for some reason painting doesn't get to me. So painting it was.
I let the paint cure for 2 days in the sun before attempting to mount the cross bars so the basket could be attached.
Last edited:
