Wash's 05 Foz, Sunny.

Hi Guys,
I've been lurking here for a while but finally thought i'd post about my foz as I'm looking for some advice.

This is Sunny:

2005 XS model I bought him with 120k in december last year. He's now up to about 144k.

I live in Canberra and my main driving is to go surfing on the South Coast. I like to explore and get off the main roads which is what brings me to this forum. I'm from Melbourne and am often down there too.

I'm also a freelance filmmaker and I'm often heading offroad and driving long distances for my work.

I'd love to give Sunny an upgrade for offroading. I have about $2000 to spend and was hoping some of the smart humans on this site could give me some advice.

Also, I have zero skills with cars besides being able to change a tyre. I have a family friend who is a mechanic who I need to clear everything with as he will kill me if I don't. Also, he'll be doing it. He'll take some convincing with things like lifts so I need to be well informed.

So, I was wondering whether I could get some advice on what I should do.

- I'd like to lift it a bit. I figure if I'm lifting it at all, I might as well do a decent height. I'm thinking 1" blocks + raised springs. I'm really keen on the raised springs idea as you can see in the photos above that Sunny really starts to sink with any weight in him.

-Sump Gaurd. I like the look of the one here:https://offroadsubarus.com/showthread.php?t=3586 and have contacted the maker. Figure that's a no-brainer.

-Tyres. I was initially tempted to go up a size but a few people have told me that it will cost me fuel economy in a big way. I do a lot of kms so I'm keen to avoid that. So I figured I'd stay at the stock size and get some all-terrain tyres. I see lots of people on here like the Geolanders?

Is there anything else I should consider doing at this stage?

I'm hoping to do all of this in the next month so I'll be sure to post back here and update the thread as there may be some total kooks like me who will benefit from it.

Thanks in advance!
Ed

-also will this be legal in VIC (where car is registered)? Stuffed if i can work out what mods are legal and what mods aren't.

 

[Rally]

Just buy a sump guard, and if you have the self leveling suspension, get rid of it and put standard Forester springs and struts in. Seems for what you want, the standard car will be fine. I definitely do NOT recommend Geloanders of any type. I have had had more success with road tyres than A/T's off road. Crazy isn't it. Raised suspension only makes the car worse on road. If you want to do some more serious stuff, these cars are brilliant with LSD's. Otherwise, remember the KISS principle- Keep It Standard, Stupid. Best to wait and see how the car fullfills your exxpectations, then spend the moeny, if necessary, in those areas.

 

[mr turbo]

I'm also a freelance filmmaker and I'm often heading offroad and driving long distances for my work.

This thread might be of interest mate, since your into film making Offroad Subaru Video

-Tyres. I was initially tempted to go up a size but a few people have told me that it will cost me fuel economy in a big way. I do a lot of kms so I'm keen to avoid that. So I figured I'd stay at the stock size and get some all-terrain tyres. I see lots of people on here like the Geolanders?

I definitely do NOT recommend Geloanders of any type. I have had had more success with road tyres than A/T's off road. Crazy isn't it.

I'm due for tyres very soon myself & will be going for the same (Yoko Geo A/T's) again
I know you'll probably dis-agree Rally (& hate me too for saying it) but I've been very happy with my Yoko Geolander A/T's.
But that's just me & each to their own

Anyway, Wash Irving to ORS.
Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Kevin]

G'day & Welcome WI

Some club members have great success with Bridgestone Dueler A/T 697s: https://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/treads/d697.aspx they seem to have a pretty good reputation. I have BFG AT on both cars (and swap to MTs on the Triton depending on the trip). The BFG AT is more aggressive and therefore probably more noisy than the 697s. I would also think that for your long distance driving the 697s would be better on fuel than BFG or Yokos.

The XS didn't come with self-leveling struts so at 144K you're probably due for something new. KYBs and 1" blocks would be good. Perhaps some Heavy Duty Kings or some progressive springs in the back

 

[Rally]

Want to buy mine?

This thread might be of interest mate, since your into film making Offroad Subaru Video




I'm due for tyres very soon myself & will be going for the same (Yoko Geo A/T's) again
I know you'll probably dis-agree Rally (& hate me too for saying it) but I've been very happy with my Yoko Geolander A/T's.
But that's just me & each to their own

Anyway, Wash Irving to ORS.
Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[mr turbo]

Want to buy mine?

PM sent.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[NachaLuva]

G'day Wash Irving

Sunny's lookin' good :biggrin:

Another tyre option is the Coopers AT3, nice tread pattern & seem to be a tough construction. Personally, I love the Geolander AT-s :biggrin:

Lifting the car raises the centre of gravity which makes the car roll more, but the raised springs are heavy duty & stiffer so reduce body roll. I found much better handling when I did mine. There is a compromise with the ride but I dont find it harsh, just firm. & it will handle much higher load weights. Another thing to consider is it reduces wheel travel but this is really only an issue if you do more serious offroad stuff.

Legally, a 2" lift is totally fine.

 

[Rally]

Not sure if Foresters are bought for their handling, but I certainly don't mind pushing mine very hard at times. Once a week there is a brilliant section of road I travel, which really allows me to extend the car to the limit of it's handling on a road that is not that smooth, and has slow to medium corners. The car is definitely better on standard suspension, due to both a lower COG and superior RC's. Due to the bumps, the standard suspension is more compliant, allowing the wheels to stay on the road which offers more grip. (And a much nicer ride). I reckon I could punt my Forrie in road trim through that section of road quicker than a similarly powered raised Forrie. On other (smooth) roads with high speed corners I have been able to leave even turbo Foresters way behind (there were about 20 turbos in the group). I do have raised suspension, but I only install that for specific trips where I have a heavy load, or where I am taking it places where you need every bit of clearance. The standard car is pretty impressive as it is

 

[mr turbo]

Lifting the car raises the centre of gravity which makes the car roll more, but the raised springs are heavy duty & stiffer so reduce body roll. I found much better handling when I did mine.

I too have found that my Forry has less body roll (especially when cornering) since adding my King Springs (raised & +30mm)
Yes, it is a firmer ride but I don't find it to be overly harsh, but thats just my personal opinion.
Am I glad I had it done & if I had my time over, would I do the same again, yes.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[Wash Irving]

Thanks guys!
Good to have several recommendations for tyres, I'll do some more reading and ask around.

I think at the very minimum I need to get some raised springs. I load the car up a lot when I go camping or with heaps of heavy film equipment and then when you encounter even a slightly bumpy road things can get a bit dodgy. The extra height would be a relief and I'm not phased by the difference in handling as it sounds pretty minor.

But also, I'd like to set the car up for future missions across the country (I want to do some surf trips around the Nullabor and also up into QLD and the NT). With film gear I always buy what I know i'll need not just now but in the future. So it might be wise to take a similar approach here and get the 1" blocks with the raised springs and get it all done at once.

 

[mr turbo]

So it might be wise to take a similar approach here and get the 1" blocks with the raised springs and get it all done at once.

Thats the same set up I have & am very happy with the results :biggrin:

Just remember, if you have the self leveling rears (which I think the XS has) you'll have to change these struts (to non self leveling) as they are not compatible with the lifted springs.

Regards
Mr Turbo

 

[carljwnc]

Howdy and Wash Irving!!!

 

[Kevin]

Just remember, if you have the self leveling rears (which I think the XS has)

XS didn't have them; XS Luxury/Premium has them

 

[Wash Irving]

XS didn't have them; XS Luxury/Premium has them

Thanks mate, good to know!

 

[Biesel]

If you are looking at 1" blocks + springs maybe just go 2inch blocks as they will have camber/caster correction built in which will save you some money over 1inch blocks + springs which will require ecentric bolts etc to regain alignment. I've also read such bolts tend to be weaker then standard?

If you need more load carrying just get heavy duty springs in the rear at standard high?

Didn't see if you have slushbox or manual?

 

[havachat]

Welcome Wash Irving.

XS didn't have them; XS Luxury/Premium has them

Kevin this is incorrect. All the XS models have the self levelling.

Wash Irving if you remove your rear wheel you will see a little cylinder on the self levelling strut. The strut brand will be Tokico.

I have just replaced on my 2002 my rear self levelling struts and springs and my front struts and springs with KYB struts and raised King springs.

The car sits higher and I am very happy with the ride and handling. This is particularly important as I drive on hilly roads everyday.

I also run the Yokohama ATS 215/60/16 and would not consider anything else unless the Cooper AT3 could come in standard size. I live in the country and these are good both good on/off road and in the snow.

 

[Biesel]

I also find Yoko AT/s great as a on/off road tyre. Only had 1 punchure in 50thou kms still heaps of trend after 50thou as well.

 

[Kevin]

Welcome Wash Irving.


Kevin this is incorrect. All the XS models have the self levelling.

Ahh, I must be thinking of the "X"; sorry about that. So, yes the rear struts will need to be replaced with non-self-leveling and most likely explains why the tail is sagging under load.