I did a mean thing today. :)

[fenrisx]

Or maybe an AWD Chevy Astro

Fixed.

[Obi..]

Well, first thing is I sold my Runner.

































Then I did something even worse, I got this.

[kafene]

I take it you're married... any kids? 8)

[YotaFun]

can't see a hood scoop, guessing its naturally aspirated?

[troyboy162]

Nice! You sold a small SUV and took a loan out on another small SUV!

[Obi..]

can't see a hood scoop, guessing its naturally aspirated?

Yeah, no need for turbo here. Nice addition but I didn't buy this for it to be a fast toy.

Nice! You sold a small SUV and took a loan out on another small SUV!

LOL, pretty much. With the accident in the Buick resulting in damage to my spinal column slash discs and the permanent nerve damage I simply cannot shift a stick anymore. We went through a lot of thought here. I did not want to do this. I actually wanted to just go 3.4+Auto Swap but in the end spending a little bit more on something new, with a warranty, etc made more sense. The local dealership and Subaru stepped up big time also. I'm set on things with the new car for a while and can get parts at a great rate.

Going from 16/17mpg to 26/31 with less than 80 miles on the odometer doesn't hurt either.

[Obi..]

Biggest Benefit=It's so nice to get done driving and be able to get out without my back hurting. ~It also has heated seats and lumbar.

[Good Times]

ain't nothin wrong w/ a subi forester. they've got some great vehicles in their line up.

how's the road handling on that puppy?

[Obi..]

Lance, it's great for the most part. Ask me in two moths though since I still am in the break-in process so I haven't really "played" with it yet. The best part is my back doesn't ache after driving in traffic for 2-3 hours going to and from work (after also doing 5-6 in the company car). Do the math, that's about 55 hours a week I drive now. It's quiet and smooth, both the wife and I brought this up at the same moment. I loved my Runner, I loved building it up, but it was time for a change. Not having to drive a stiffer suspension and throaty exhaust rig is a nice change and I can still see a bit above all the cars around me. Overall I like all but the fact it looks like an old pontoon boat from the side while looking at the front fender. I want the under-spoiler and fog lights ASAP.

[Obi..]

FWIW The Hoonage factor did go into the shopping though. I based it on a bunch of simple math applied to some of the vehicles I've built/owned in my life, the Pursuit Packaged Buick Estate Wagon being the fastest/most powerful.

1980 USGP Edition Toyota Celica: 96/2330 = .041 "fun factor".
1985 Buick Somerset Regal on Koni's: 125hp/2586lbs = .048 "fun factor".
1991 Chevrolet S-10 Longbed Gov't Service Packaged: 180hp/~4500lbs = .04 "fun factor".
1995 4Runner A340 to R150 Swap+Mods: ~150-170hp/4500lbs w/ armor/etc = .035 "fun factor".
1995 Buick Estate Wagon Pursuit Packaged: 260hp(base) bumped out to 293hp/4500lbs = .065 "fun factor".

2013 Forester 2.5X Premium w/ the new FB25 block: 170hp/3300lbs = .051 "fun factor".

So conceivably, out of the box, it's more powerful then my truck and coupe were, still more power than the 4Runner with less weight to carry, and just under the Pursuit Packaged Wagon it's replacing.

Whether or not that means I'll actually use that power is pointless, I got this as a family car and gas sipper compared to the rest of the stuff I've owned.

I'll still try it out once it's broken in.