@@rener6395 Hey man, just bought a 2011 FXT, want to squeeze out a little bit more horsepower on a tight budget; what do you recommend? Turbo swap and tune?
Boss Forester!! The boxy stance has always appealed to me, so all the slammed Foresters look really good, and the ones that are STI's guts on the inside are so sick. They say "me, my dog, my groceries, my kayak on top, and you in my rear view mirror".
this is probably my favorite car that u have done on here, nothing better than a rocket small suv. I saw a blue forrester sti when i was in japan and always hated the fact we never got it in the states
Hmoob Yaj Not true, I would have bought a Forester STi if it had been available here. As it was, I bought a Legacy GT after owning two WRXes, and then after that I got a 2011 STi. I would have loved to have been able to buy a Forester STi.
Vernon Price what u guys mean not true and wrong. I wouldn't even buy the Sti in the US if they offered the 22b, Sti spec c, Sti s202, and Sti RAR or all the other imports not in the States
Are they though? I mean if I see an xt badge i know it's quick out of the box. Do i think sports car? No, but I certainly don't think sleeper, Pontiac Bonneville, sure, but fxt, no. Especially the easily identifiable hood scooped model prior to 2014. Sleeper indicates to me not easily identified as fast or sporty.
@@waykool698 a stock, 4th gen 4runner is half the horsepower of this built one (in the vid) still faster, and it's NA. On top of no Subaru regardless of model, comes close to the reliability of Toyota. So....¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@moneyseeker8886 not our 2011 Forester. It's a non turbo model. (Gets about same fuel economy my own 4runner does. It's not exactly fast, but not exactly slow either.) However, my mom's 2018 (she bought new) touring XT has it. And I can pull and pass hers up hill. So....¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Fuel economy is only slightly better, but doesn't really make that all a difference when hers needs premium and I'm on regular, all for like a 2-3 mpg more on average. And my 4runners on ATs on top of it. (stock sized)
TheSmokingTire you're the coolest car reviewer I've ever seen! awesome videos i'm enjoying these one takes a lot. i hope you do a 6spd manual r8 v8 or v10 one day.
Just FYI, the steering rack from the 15 fits in the GR STi and WRX. So, if that is all you need to fit your XT, then yes, it will fit. There is a swap thread on iwsti.
@Squid Ward Subaru's AWD takes 20-25% (depending on who you ask) of the HP away before it gets to the wheels, so the car was likely about 590 to the crank at the this was posted originally
+Michael Cohen Watch it pal.......I like guns, live in VT, and own a Forester........just kidding. But I do like guns, live in VT, and own a Forester! Subaru's are literally every third car here. Best mother F'n mud/snow/ice/rain/mountain/dirt road car EVER!
+Dallas Breault I hear yah I live in Illinois and own a gun .. I am tired of hearing that this car is a liberal car ... Co worker who says he went to liberal Vermont and said all he seen was foresters no pun intended just hate myself to be labeled !
I like how the way you two look at modifying cars! I agree, bolt ons are worth doing yourself, but having the security of someone knowing better than yourself is so much better.
Pickle312 Because you are not used to it . All this years you consume media in 30 , 24(mostly in movies)fps.I love it personally . Especially stuff like this with a lot of motion.
Pickle312 ur not used to it thats why same goes for PC gaming i love 60 fps videos now begin it was also abit weird but now its the same feeling when i went from a ps4 to a PC with 30 fps vs 100 fps :p
Because frames in a camera are caught in motion with natural blur in movements and capture of natural light as the shutter opens and closes while frames in games are rendered one at a time instantly not smoothly captured. You need to have games at a higher frame rate to feel normal than you do film.
I studied video broadcasting and from my courses the general consensus is that, at least in cinema, 30fps is better and more natural to look at. Because of the lack of motion blur with 60fps video in part. I still prefer 30fps, but gaming 60fps. Getting used to it has nothing to do with it looking "better"
best car i ever owned..2010 Subaru Forester XT and I will never sell it. I went more with the off-road route but thats the beauty of the Foresters, you can go either way.
What I hated most about this generation XT, was that they only came in automatic. I wished they would have came in manual, but I'm sure Subaru didn't want competition for the WRX sales. Nice car though, built it to his tastes and hope he enjoys it.
+Rene R So you were able to get the rack in there? That's great. Make a big difference? What I like the most about your car is the sleeper factor. They're fantastic utes, but a 500hp one.... oh yes.
+bluestudio67 The STI rack made a huge difference. Instead of feeling like a Forester with an improved suspension, it feels like you're driving an STI with an improved suspension, and the sense of being in a Forester (road handling-wise) is gone all together. Thanks for the kind words! I'm taking it to the drag strip at the end of the month with the new turbo setup dialed in, to see what kinds of times it'll do now. I'll be posting the video on my TH-cam channel.
Agreed! I love love love my FXT, thought I would regret not getting an STI but being able to have fun and move almost anything when required has been a huge bonus, plus you always get those occasional shocked drives that pull and go "Wow I was looking around for a WRX or STI, that is that" and I tell them about the XT and how versatile it is.
TheSmokingTire You can swap a 2015 STi rack into a 08-14 because they're both hydraulic steering. The 2015 WRX has electric steering. I have the 2015 STi rack in my 08 STi which bumps the ratio from 16:1 to 13:1. I also have a smaller D-shaped steering wheel which makes the steering just a hair shorter as well.
I am driving a Subaru Forester as a rental and when i was getting into my suby today some guy catches me getting into it and with super excitement told me to watch the video of a 600hp Subaru Forester on youtube it was fucking weird as shit but I said.....Ok.... I'm actually impressed. Haha thanks random dude in the parking lot
I'd love to see this on mt 74 in Palm Desert, California. Our roads are very technical, and a great place to test a car. Not much room to test the power of a car though.
Honestly, I think these One Take videos are some of the best videos to come out on youtube. They are on par with your friend Mr. Harris! Keep it up Matt
I like when people build cars who don't do it themselves. 90% of people who do it themselves who do not work on cars for a living, end up making them worse. It doesn't mean you do not know cars, some people just don't have the experience. If you work on cars for a living and built yours, awesome. However, people who pay to build them who have the knowledge get respect too. Just some people don't have access to good lifts and air tools.
Rene is a chill dude, just had him replace some stuff on my wrx last week lol. I saw this video from way back like 2 years ago. did not recognize him in person when I went to his shop
+John Vanderveen How about do an in-between? VW R32? Damn nice cars. It would be awesome if they offered an R32 in a sedan or wagon as well as a hatchback. Maybe they do?
Just read your comment and I know it's an old one. I had a 2014 GLI and traded it in for a 2014 Forester recently haha. Hope your vehicle choice worked out for you in the end dude.
IMO a car is not very sleepery when you black it out completely, lower it, and put an aftermarket exhaust on it because when I see (and hear) that car i'm going to say to myself "this thing has been tricked out, I bet its fast". Now of course you can never predict just how fast, some might not even be fast, but you just lose the element of surprise when you do these visual mods to your sleeper. Now, if I took my granny's Deville, dropped in an LS motor, and didn't alter the stock look or exhaust, NOW I have a true sleeper. see what I mean?
Antwon Jenkins It was just lowered last week, for this event specifically. It'll be back to normal ride height very soon. The exhaust is quiet unless it's opened up. The headlights and wheels can give it away if you know what you're looking at, but I think the term "sleeper", at least in part, assumes that the average person doesn't really know that to look for. It's been mistaken for an Uber taxi more than once (people actually got in it once), and most people think it's a soccer mom car. :)
Rene R The Uber part is funny as I have had the same thing happen to me before. Guy hopped in when I was sitting at a light and I was like, can I help you dude? (this was before I was slammed and I still had the stock rims)
Antwon Jenkins You have a point, but then it can also be a false positive of sorts. There's an XT around me, slightly lowered, nice wheels, and an exhaust. No idea what's under the hood, if anything. Now if you know cars you know an XT qualifies as quick, I mean 224 horse and AWD isn't a bad combo by any means. Small cosmetic changes like that could just be cosmetic and it's still just a relatively quick Forester, or maybe they aren't. Given that so many people ONLY make cosmetic changes, in a way I think the car's appearances almost assures it's just a relatively quick Forester, not a five hundred horsepower rocket...
Not a fan of the lowered suspension and low-profile tires on a Forester, but it is well done. Running Hawk Performance HPS brake pads isn't good if he tackles canyon roads and mountain roads with spirit, otherwise an okay light-use brake pad.
+yellow boy Thanks! The easiest place to see the details of the build (inlcuding pictures and links to the places I bought the parts and their costs and timeline) is in the WheelWell link in the Smoking Tire review. The basics are a fully built motor (closed deck, cams, head-work etc), Blouch 2.5XTr Dominator turbo (Polka Pickle), coil-overs, sway and strut bars, 6-speed transmission swap (one of 3 or 4 USDM SH Foresters with the swap that I'm aware of), radium fuel surge tank with one 460lph pump in the gas tank and two 460lph pumps in the surge tank), ID 1300 injectors and other supporting mods. I've got an EFR7670 and ID1700's waiting to go in, as soon as Treadstone re-manufactures the turbine housing. Should get me in the mid-500WHP output range
+Rene R How much would you say a build like this would run an average person? I'm definitely interested in creating such a gentle giant for when I start my new family :)
If you know what to get (all new parts) and do it all at the same time to reach 480hp, you'd be looking at $10 - $15,000, depending on how much you do yourself vs having a tuner do, and it's done with good parts and built with skill. That doesn't include all of the parts I've put on this though, just the stuff to get to that power level. I've had cosmetic stuff does as well, and bought items that aren't needed at this point, but were installed keeping the direction that the car will go in the future. Here is a good, basic breakdown for Subaru builds:
If there's some magical formula on how to properly build an EJ engine, chances are our top tuners have found it! Follow along as they offer a simple how-to guide to help point you in the right direction whether you're planning on building a 300 whp, 400 whp, 500 whp, or 500+ whp engine. Per Quirt Crawford Of Crawford Performance 300 whp: To obtain this horsepower level, the EJ motor only requires an upgraded intercooler, larger sized fuel injectors, and a retune of the ECU-no internal engine modifications are required. We highly recommend the use of an air/oil separator (AOS) on any turbocharged EJ motor to eliminate oil from coating both the intake tract and the inside of the intercooler, which causes a reduction in cooling efficiency that can cause detonation. 400 whp: There are no internal engine modifications needed at this power level. The car would need a larger turbo, intercooler, fuel injectors, fuel pump, AOS, and retune of the ECU. 500 whp: At his point, we suggest replacing the OE rods with a set of stronger, aftermarket forged rods, along with forged pistons, head studs, and the external components listed under 400 whp. 500+ whp: The same engine components are needed in the 500-whp package but you will probably need a larger turbo, and of course, proper tuning. Per Albert And Robert Bonamici Of Auto Master AMR 300 whp: The EJ20/EJ25 engines can handle 300 whp maximum with stock internals with no further modifications other than a proper fuel management tune. 400 whp: We suggest a set of forged AMR pistons and billet rods to safely boost up the engine. 500 whp: The same components previously mentioned in the 400-whp package but also include our AMR 9/16-inch "Big Boy" head studs, AMR plate hone, and O-ring the block to increase sealing of the heads to the cylinder block. 500+ whp: Previously mentioned items with the addition of a line-hone to ensure proper bearing clearances, AMR billet crankshaft, and ductile iron sleeves for additional cylinder strength. Per Paul Yim And Paul Leung Of Yimi Sport 300 whp: No modifications are required to the stock block, assuming all the bolt-on parts and ECU tuning are working in harmony. 400 whp: For an EJ205, you should be doing a basic build on the block that would include forged pistons, rods, good bearings, and head studs. Obviously, quality machine work and tight tolerances/quality control are crucial. For an EJ255 and EJ257, all the block needs is a set of forged pistons. 400 whp (particularly on 91 octane pump gas) is when cylinder pressures are high enough that a random knock event can take out the stock pistons. The rest of the internals are more than up to the task. 500 whp: We suggest adding forged rods, aftermarket rod and main bearings, and ARP head studs to the EJ25 along with making sure that the oiling system and cooling system are in 100 percent operating order. 500+ whp: For over 550 whp, we recommend sleeving the block, as the stock sleeves can become a failure point. For really high-horsepower applications, pinning the mains and oversized head studs and/or an O-ringed cylinder head may become necessary.
In the background of one of your one takes there was a yellow Ferrari, I think it may have been a 360 judging by the back, will that eventually be posted or was the car not there for a one take?
Andrew A if I remember correctly it was a 355 GTS, and no, that was not part of our shoot. It was just there hanging out. I do have a manual gearbox 430 Coupe coming up though.
TheSmokingTire They have open gate shifters, right? Was it very 'clacky' I guess is the right word? Idk how to explain other than the word 'satisfying'.
TheSmokingTire I'm really happy to hear that! It was one of the things that made the Audi R8 awesome in my opinion was the open gate gearbox, it gives an amazing noise and feel.
TheSmokingTire Swapping out racks isnt that easy to do. You have said many times on your podcast that bolt-on is rarely bolt-on. I would suggest steering angle mods, like extended tie rods or modified knuckles. Much cheaper and easier.
Sweet ride Rene! It's a shame that Subaru dropped the MT in the US-spec 3rd gen Fozzy (I think I'm remembering the details right). I'll take a tuned Forester over yet-another WRX/STI any day of the week. And now that Subaru's abandoned the hatchback for boring sedans, even more reason to buy the Forester. Love it!
Rene R no worries, it was just bad timing with the both of you talking one after another really fast. I was just interested in what you chose, maybe in the future I'll be able to throw on a nice pair myself.
+terrence ehlert I'd take a look at (no spaces) subaru forester . org . There should be lots of good suggestions there. The 2014 2.5i Premium is a N/A (normially aspirated or non-turbo) motor, so there isn't much that will make more power without getting really expensive. The 2014 Sorester XT comes with the "new" FA20F motor, which is a different breed than the previous EJ25X motor, and the aftermarket world isn't as plentiful with motor modifications.
So much money into this Forester but man its cool! So very cool! Haha he said 4k was his budget 😂 He's probably over 20k into the build now if he has other people doing his work on top of the car being around a 20k car so all in all he's probably 40k into it and has one bad ass sleeper! Props to him man I'm jelly!
This is a super cool car. I do have to say; 116 trap..."maybe" 120? An HHR SS (equally goofy and sleeperish) with bolt ons, stock turbo and E85 would be neck and neck if not ahead and way under his $4000 mod budget he blew through long ago. The crappy return in speed for dollars spent on Subarus permeates through their entire lineup. Simply put, it is amazing how slow they are considering the power made. a 480whp Evo or DSM (only 200 lbs lighter or so) is a 130mph trap car.
The blacked out ones aren't available anymore, I believe. He (I) got them from xtralightz website. I believe you can get chrome ones from carID or ebay. They came as halogen projector, and I converted them to HID
Hi Rene, I'm interested in the transmission swap. Is it an STI trans? Did you have to make any modifications for fit? Does the gear indicator display show the additional gears added? Did the ECU act funky with the swap? Anything that you can relay would be great help. I'm also interested doing a 5 speed sports shift swap from a "10" Outback, but information has been limited on both.
Hi Desmond. It has a 2011 STI transmission. When it was swapped, the Forester motor stayed in, which was only the 2nd time it had been done at that point in time. It was also the first fully functioning swap (that wasn't a total drivetrain swap). I put in a 2010 WRX instrument cluster in lieu of the 2010 Forester cluster. Turns out that swapping the cluster wasn't necessary, but you will loose the gear indicator functionality. Another thing that I swapped that wasn't needed was the full body harness and ECU from the WRX. Turns out there are two pins that need to be switched, and a ground wire added for the clutch. Did need the pedal box from the STI, and I used 2 of the 4 axles (took the front Forester axles and moved them to the back, and installed the 2 rear axles from the STI and put them in the front. On SubaruForester dot org there is a build thread under the user name EugeneUtopia. There are a few others that had the swap done much better than mine as well. One is from user SuperRCace and amlgrvr, both of which I'm probably spelling wrong
He looks super nervous to let him drive his car
+Cameron Hud Nope, that's just me being socially awkward. Matt's a great guy; Very personable and an excellent driver.
Rene R Salut! Es-tu Québécois?
I like how most of Matt viewers are expert Physiatrists.
He was all over the road
@@rener6395 Hey man, just bought a 2011 FXT, want to squeeze out a little bit more horsepower on a tight budget; what do you recommend? Turbo swap and tune?
please just have like a 30 seconds of showing the car before you drive it smh
Boss Forester!! The boxy stance has always appealed to me, so all the slammed Foresters look really good, and the ones that are STI's guts on the inside are so sick. They say "me, my dog, my groceries, my kayak on top, and you in my rear view mirror".
Thought this was a new episode of MCM when i saw the thumbnail :(
lol so did I.
Ethan Gee Same here .
Haha same
+Ethan Gee XD that's what made me watch it.
Gramps would be proud
Lol No ones going To get that reference hahah
sean murphy Just get me that tofu burger...
Russ Nicholls Actually its Super Gramps now
sean murphy lots of people watch MCM, Motortrend, Drive, Smoking Tire. I certainly do :)
Toby White i do too lol i was just kidding around lol jeez tough crowd
this is probably my favorite car that u have done on here, nothing better than a rocket small suv. I saw a blue forrester sti when i was in japan and always hated the fact we never got it in the states
There a many cars not in the States cuz american are haters only like their muscle
Hmoob Yaj Wrong
Hmoob Yaj Not true, I would have bought a Forester STi if it had been available here. As it was, I bought a Legacy GT after owning two WRXes, and then after that I got a 2011 STi. I would have loved to have been able to buy a Forester STi.
Vernon Price what u guys mean not true and wrong. I wouldn't even buy the Sti in the US if they offered the 22b, Sti spec c, Sti s202, and Sti RAR or all the other imports not in the States
Hmoob Yaj "american are haters only like their muscle"
That is wrong, and not true. What don't you understand about that?
best sleeper on the planet
Are they though? I mean if I see an xt badge i know it's quick out of the box. Do i think sports car? No, but I certainly don't think sleeper, Pontiac Bonneville, sure, but fxt, no. Especially the easily identifiable hood scooped model prior to 2014. Sleeper indicates to me not easily identified as fast or sporty.
GamerNxUSN that’s because you know. Most don’t. Hence, sleeper.
@@waykool698 a stock, 4th gen 4runner is half the horsepower of this built one (in the vid) still faster, and it's NA. On top of no Subaru regardless of model, comes close to the reliability of Toyota. So....¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@MyCrippledWings half as strong but the forester has a turbo which means the 4runner wouldn’t be able to catch up
@@moneyseeker8886 not our 2011 Forester. It's a non turbo model. (Gets about same fuel economy my own 4runner does. It's not exactly fast, but not exactly slow either.) However, my mom's 2018 (she bought new) touring XT has it. And I can pull and pass hers up hill. So....¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Fuel economy is only slightly better, but doesn't really make that all a difference when hers needs premium and I'm on regular, all for like a 2-3 mpg more on average. And my 4runners on ATs on top of it. (stock sized)
There is always a fly that has to suicide on the lens!
Ethan Gee Technically the fly was just minding his own business, until a giant slab of metal and glass came blazing by and murdered him.
+zxbc dude, have you seen a flies reaction skills?!
zxbc Im guessing youre a make love not war left thinking type huh?
surf403 if he is then so what. Ever listened to John Lennon’s IMAGINE!?
Matt, do you still smoke weed
Revolt yes, it's good for you.
TheSmokingTire Matt Hello if you ever come to Spain , tell me , will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship ;)
PS thanks for doing a magnific work
TheSmokingTire you're the coolest car reviewer I've ever seen! awesome videos i'm enjoying these one takes a lot. i hope you do a 6spd manual r8 v8 or v10 one day.
TheSmokingTire playaaaaa!
TheSmokingTire LOL yes!
I love tuned Foresters. It's one of the best all around useful yet still fun cars IMO.
You know how you can spot Subaru owners at a car meet?
They always wear Subaru branded cloths.
Super clean MR2. 500HP Forester. Canada's got some pretty nice cars Matt! Pretty excited to see what's next!
***** Rene's forester is from washington
Mike Jones "Rene came all the way down from Canada with his 480 WHP Subaru Forester" Matt's description.
It was a mistake. I came down from almost-Canadia. Mike's right. Seattle.
Rene R Ahh I see. Dammit Matt lol
Rene R lolol "almost-Canadia"...
Just FYI, the steering rack from the 15 fits in the GR STi and WRX. So, if that is all you need to fit your XT, then yes, it will fit. There is a swap thread on iwsti.
Dude! I just bought a 2013 XT. Thanks for this piece of info!
"480 at the wheels " yet the title says 500hp+ clickbait confirmed
@Squid Ward Subaru's AWD takes 20-25% (depending on who you ask) of the HP away before it gets to the wheels, so the car was likely about 590 to the crank at the this was posted originally
For drive by shootings in Vermont this is the ultimate. Great build!
Best comment ever!
haha. All kidding aside its a great build. What I love about this hobby is that people can take a car and make it exactly what they want it to be.
+Michael Cohen Watch it pal.......I like guns, live in VT, and own a Forester........just kidding. But I do like guns, live in VT, and own a Forester!
Subaru's are literally every third car here. Best mother F'n mud/snow/ice/rain/mountain/dirt road car EVER!
+Dallas Breault I hear yah I live in Illinois and own a gun .. I am tired of hearing that this car is a liberal car ... Co worker who says he went to liberal Vermont and said all he seen was foresters no pun intended just hate myself to be labeled !
+Dk DK Fellow Forester (has the man-pedel) and gun owner signing in.
This is a very badass build.
This owner is a cool, normal dude. Nice ride, much respect.
I like how the way you two look at modifying cars! I agree, bolt ons are worth doing yourself, but having the security of someone knowing better than yourself is so much better.
4:07 bug hit the camera LOL
reminds me of my old 05 forester xt. i had 30r turbo, coilovers, 6spd manual and the whole nine.:)
Why lower a Forester? Kind of defeats the purpose of the vehicle. If you want a sports car, buy a sports car.
The coliovers allow it to be lowered why driving aggressively and raised back to stock height when being a daily grocery hauler.
Saw this car up close and personal in Georgetown the other day. Have to say, looks even better in person! Very well put together!
We need brand new 1988-1991 Honda Civics back at the dealerships.
I completely agree I think they should start with the 1st gen (1972-79) and go up from there, they would sell so many
I always keep an eye open for manual XT's for sale, kind of a rare find and it sucks that the turbos tend to die
Just picked a 2011 model with no mods as my next Dad project build, Inspiring video thank you
Did you get to do anything to it???
@@RoGuExPaNcAkE i swapped a vf52 onto mine, cobb cai, turbo xs ebcs ,cobb catted dp, 270 whp, perfect balance for daily
60 fps still looks weird to me for videos, but video games don't. I dont know why
Pickle312 Because you are not used to it . All this years you consume media in 30 , 24(mostly in movies)fps.I love it personally . Especially stuff like this with a lot of motion.
Pickle312 ur not used to it thats why same goes for PC gaming i love 60 fps videos now begin it was also abit weird but now its the same feeling when i went from a ps4 to a PC with 30 fps vs 100 fps :p
Because frames in a camera are caught in motion with natural blur in movements and capture of natural light as the shutter opens and closes while frames in games are rendered one at a time instantly not smoothly captured. You need to have games at a higher frame rate to feel normal than you do film.
I studied video broadcasting and from my courses the general consensus is that, at least in cinema, 30fps is better and more natural to look at. Because of the lack of motion blur with 60fps video in part. I still prefer 30fps, but gaming 60fps.
Getting used to it has nothing to do with it looking "better"
Pickle312 So you are saying smooth motion is not "better"?
best car i ever owned..2010 Subaru Forester XT and I will never sell it. I went more with the off-road route but thats the beauty of the Foresters, you can go either way.
Do you still have your Fozzy?
Thats the beauty of Subaru... I'm 16 so I can get a job my dream Subies are a Bugeye WRX STI, Bugeye wagon, and this the Subaru Forester
What I hated most about this generation XT, was that they only came in automatic. I wished they would have came in manual, but I'm sure Subaru didn't want competition for the WRX sales. Nice car though, built it to his tastes and hope he enjoys it.
You are right but luckily this gen has a sports mode and optional paddle shifters that makes up for the lack of manual Trans
@@anonony9081 umm no.
I gotta love a tuner that my 6'4" azz can actually fit. Awesome job my man
Looks like Moog's Forester! Very nice!
That is beyond wonderful. I would really like to do something similar to a 05 or 06 outback xt. Great car!
This is my kind of car. Really a great combo of things. Cool.
+bluestudio67 Thanks! It's got a larger turbo, correct suspension height and the '15 STI steering rack now. So much yay!
+Rene R So you were able to get the rack in there? That's great. Make a big difference? What I like the most about your car is the sleeper factor. They're fantastic utes, but a 500hp one.... oh yes.
+bluestudio67 The STI rack made a huge difference. Instead of feeling like a Forester with an improved suspension, it feels like you're driving an STI with an improved suspension, and the sense of being in a Forester (road handling-wise) is gone all together. Thanks for the kind words! I'm taking it to the drag strip at the end of the month with the new turbo setup dialed in, to see what kinds of times it'll do now. I'll be posting the video on my TH-cam channel.
I will be watching!
Agreed! I love love love my FXT, thought I would regret not getting an STI but being able to have fun and move almost anything when required has been a huge bonus, plus you always get those occasional shocked drives that pull and go "Wow I was looking around for a WRX or STI, that is that" and I tell them about the XT and how versatile it is.
TheSmokingTire You can swap a 2015 STi rack into a 08-14 because they're both hydraulic steering. The 2015 WRX has electric steering. I have the 2015 STi rack in my 08 STi which bumps the ratio from 16:1 to 13:1. I also have a smaller D-shaped steering wheel which makes the steering just a hair shorter as well.
Really nice sleeper, looks very aethically pleasing as well
I would never let anyone drive my vehicle. NOPE!
fuck, gonna have to buy a forester now.😮 that thing is a beauty
Kinda reminds me of that Forrester Moog from Mighty Car Mods had.
Watched this before, but I had to check it out again! Such an amazing build! Around 500hp is top-end for what you want in a street car imo. 😂
I wonder what kinda fuel consumption we're talking about with modified cars like this one.
These one takes are awesome! So many differnet cars. Keep up the good work guys.
I am driving a Subaru Forester as a rental and when i was getting into my suby today some guy catches me getting into it and with super excitement told me to watch the video of a 600hp Subaru Forester on youtube it was fucking weird as shit but I said.....Ok.... I'm actually impressed. Haha thanks random dude in the parking lot
Gorlax Brehh youre welcome
that's a bad ass forester. sleeper status always seems to be more fun because you don't expect it
I'd love to see this on mt 74 in Palm Desert, California. Our roads are very technical, and a great place to test a car. Not much room to test the power of a car though.
I love the Subaru Rally Team shirt just as much as the car!
love the all blacks jumper
Is this the road you guys filmed the 135i with E92 V8 video on? Awesome car btw, 480 wheel in a Forester is mental.
***** no, that was up near san francisco
@ 1:18 "I feel so...so high..." Matt are you smoking that shit? you know you done fucked up right? lol J/K
great video
Honestly, I think these One Take videos are some of the best videos to come out on youtube. They are on par with your friend Mr. Harris! Keep it up Matt
I like when people build cars who don't do it themselves. 90% of people who do it themselves who do not work on cars for a living, end up making them worse. It doesn't mean you do not know cars, some people just don't have the experience. If you work on cars for a living and built yours, awesome. However, people who pay to build them who have the knowledge get respect too. Just some people don't have access to good lifts and air tools.
Real cool guy with a real cool build. Awesome!
Rene is a chill dude, just had him replace some stuff on my wrx last week lol. I saw this video from way back like 2 years ago. did not recognize him in person when I went to his shop
I love this car so much. Perfect aesthetically. Kind of kicking myself for buying a 2012 Jetta GLI over one of these....
+John Vanderveen How about do an in-between? VW R32? Damn nice cars. It would be awesome if they offered an R32 in a sedan or wagon as well as a hatchback. Maybe they do?
I believe they offer a Golf R Sportwagen in Europe, that would be pretty rad as well!
Just read your comment and I know it's an old one. I had a 2014 GLI and traded it in for a 2014 Forester recently haha. Hope your vehicle choice worked out for you in the end dude.
Wait, 3400lbs? How is that huge thing only 100lbs heavier than my wrx limited?
It is true. Google 2010 Forester weight and you'll see that 3460lbs is the high side of what they weigh.
the chive on sticker gives it 10 more horsepower
Dude let him drive his own car
IMO a car is not very sleepery when you black it out completely, lower it, and put an aftermarket exhaust on it because when I see (and hear) that car i'm going to say to myself "this thing has been tricked out, I bet its fast". Now of course you can never predict just how fast, some might not even be fast, but you just lose the element of surprise when you do these visual mods to your sleeper. Now, if I took my granny's Deville, dropped in an LS motor, and didn't alter the stock look or exhaust, NOW I have a true sleeper. see what I mean?
Antwon Jenkins It was just lowered last week, for this event specifically. It'll be back to normal ride height very soon. The exhaust is quiet unless it's opened up. The headlights and wheels can give it away if you know what you're looking at, but I think the term "sleeper", at least in part, assumes that the average person doesn't really know that to look for. It's been mistaken for an Uber taxi more than once (people actually got in it once), and most people think it's a soccer mom car. :)
Rene R The Uber part is funny as I have had the same thing happen to me before. Guy hopped in when I was sitting at a light and I was like, can I help you dude? (this was before I was slammed and I still had the stock rims)
Antwon Jenkins You have a point, but then it can also be a false positive of sorts. There's an XT around me, slightly lowered, nice wheels, and an exhaust. No idea what's under the hood, if anything. Now if you know cars you know an XT qualifies as quick, I mean 224 horse and AWD isn't a bad combo by any means.
Small cosmetic changes like that could just be cosmetic and it's still just a relatively quick Forester, or maybe they aren't. Given that so many people ONLY make cosmetic changes, in a way I think the car's appearances almost assures it's just a relatively quick Forester, not a five hundred horsepower rocket...
Agreed...not a sleeper. If I saw that car on the street, I would immediately think it was modified.
This cars got it all. Power, Practicality, All wheel drive. A wagon this clean is very rare.
Great video, Matt! You're really getting to work well with the owners/drivers in these one takes. Keep it up!
Sweet Forester! Nice build!
The '15 steering rack will work
Not a fan of the lowered suspension and low-profile tires on a Forester, but it is well done. Running Hawk Performance HPS brake pads isn't good if he tackles canyon roads and mountain roads with spirit, otherwise an okay light-use brake pad.
Great car nice sleeper!! What are the car mods?? Engine and turbo and ecu? Thanks! Enjoy it man!!
+yellow boy Thanks! The easiest place to see the details of the build (inlcuding pictures and links to the places I bought the parts and their costs and timeline) is in the WheelWell link in the Smoking Tire review. The basics are a fully built motor (closed deck, cams, head-work etc), Blouch 2.5XTr Dominator turbo (Polka Pickle), coil-overs, sway and strut bars, 6-speed transmission swap (one of 3 or 4 USDM SH Foresters with the swap that I'm aware of), radium fuel surge tank with one 460lph pump in the gas tank and two 460lph pumps in the surge tank), ID 1300 injectors and other supporting mods. I've got an EFR7670 and ID1700's waiting to go in, as soon as Treadstone re-manufactures the turbine housing. Should get me in the mid-500WHP output range
Great built man!!!! I have something similar to mine. But not so much. Thaks again and keep up.
+Rene R How much would you say a build like this would run an average person? I'm definitely interested in creating such a gentle giant for when I start my new family :)
If you know what to get (all new parts) and do it all at the same time to reach 480hp, you'd be looking at $10 - $15,000, depending on how much you do yourself vs having a tuner do, and it's done with good parts and built with skill. That doesn't include all of the parts I've put on this though, just the stuff to get to that power level. I've had cosmetic stuff does as well, and bought items that aren't needed at this point, but were installed keeping the direction that the car will go in the future. Here is a good, basic breakdown for Subaru builds:
If there's some magical formula on how to properly build an EJ engine, chances are our top tuners have found it! Follow along as they offer a simple how-to guide to help point you in the right direction whether you're planning on building a 300 whp, 400 whp, 500 whp, or
500+ whp engine.
Per Quirt Crawford Of Crawford Performance
300 whp: To obtain this horsepower level, the EJ motor only requires an
upgraded intercooler, larger sized fuel injectors, and a retune of the ECU-no
internal engine modifications are required. We highly recommend the use of an
air/oil separator (AOS) on any turbocharged EJ motor to eliminate oil from
coating both the intake tract and the inside of the intercooler, which causes a
reduction in cooling efficiency that can cause detonation.
400 whp: There are no internal engine modifications needed at this
power level. The car would need a larger turbo, intercooler, fuel injectors,
fuel pump, AOS, and retune of the ECU.
500 whp: At his point, we suggest replacing the OE rods with a set
of stronger, aftermarket forged rods, along with forged pistons, head studs,
and the external components listed under 400 whp.
500+ whp: The same engine components are needed in the 500-whp
package but you will probably need a larger turbo, and of course, proper
tuning.
Per Albert And Robert Bonamici Of Auto Master AMR
300 whp: The EJ20/EJ25 engines can handle 300 whp maximum with stock
internals with no further modifications other than a proper fuel management
tune.
400 whp: We suggest a set of forged AMR pistons and billet rods to safely boost up the engine.
500 whp: The same components previously mentioned in the 400-whp
package but also include our AMR 9/16-inch "Big Boy" head studs, AMR
plate hone, and O-ring the block to increase sealing of the heads to the
cylinder block.
500+ whp: Previously mentioned items with the addition of a line-hone
to ensure proper bearing clearances, AMR billet crankshaft, and ductile iron
sleeves for additional cylinder strength.
Per Paul Yim And Paul Leung Of Yimi Sport
300 whp: No modifications are required to the stock block, assuming all
the bolt-on parts and ECU tuning are working in harmony.
400 whp: For an EJ205, you should be doing a basic build on the
block that would include forged pistons, rods, good bearings, and head studs.
Obviously, quality machine work and tight tolerances/quality control are
crucial. For an EJ255 and EJ257, all the block needs is a set of forged
pistons. 400 whp (particularly on 91 octane pump gas) is when cylinder
pressures are high enough that a random knock event can take out the stock
pistons. The rest of the internals are more than up to the task.
500 whp: We suggest adding forged rods, aftermarket rod and main
bearings, and ARP head studs to the EJ25 along with making sure that the oiling
system and cooling system are in 100 percent operating order.
500+ whp: For over 550 whp, we recommend sleeving the block, as the
stock sleeves can become a failure point. For really high-horsepower
applications, pinning the mains and oversized head studs and/or an O-ringed
cylinder head may become necessary.
I kind of skipped through this video and you could tell Matt's opinion just from the few seconds that I heard..."wow"...."wow"..."unbelievable"...
In the background of one of your one takes there was a yellow Ferrari, I think it may have been a 360 judging by the back, will that eventually be posted or was the car not there for a one take?
Andrew A if I remember correctly it was a 355 GTS, and no, that was not part of our shoot. It was just there hanging out. I do have a manual gearbox 430 Coupe coming up though.
TheSmokingTire They have open gate shifters, right? Was it very 'clacky' I guess is the right word? Idk how to explain other than the word 'satisfying'.
Dan yes, the click, click is awesome when shifting.
TheSmokingTire
I'm really happy to hear that! It was one of the things that made the Audi R8 awesome in my opinion was the open gate gearbox, it gives an amazing noise and feel.
TheSmokingTire With a well off LMU student in the passenger seat?
TheSmokingTire Swapping out racks isnt that easy to do. You have said many times on your podcast that bolt-on is rarely bolt-on. I would suggest steering angle mods, like extended tie rods or modified knuckles. Much cheaper and easier.
ONLY 500+ HP...???
Dat allblacks shirt doe...nice whip
This car is currently for sale!
How much are you asking for it?
All of the specs and price are here: www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f93/2010-forester-xt-limited-652762/
Rene R nooooo don't you do it 😓
It's been sold twice! I sold it 1-2 months ago and that guy sold it as well. It's living on the East Coast now!
Rene R
Rene--where does she currently reside? Interested and in the NYC area
Sweet ride Rene! It's a shame that Subaru dropped the MT in the US-spec 3rd gen Fozzy (I think I'm remembering the details right). I'll take a tuned Forester over yet-another WRX/STI any day of the week. And now that Subaru's abandoned the hatchback for boring sedans, even more reason to buy the Forester. Love it!
Wow! I love the car. Great work!
Rene the owner seems like a really cool dude who knows what he is doing. Massive respect!
So fucking cool!
Nice ride man.
What kind of tires?
Durararide!! Michelin Pilot Super Sports
thanks it was a bit hard to hear in the video for me.
Durararide!! Sorry, I have a low voice and I mumble
Rene R nice car
Rene R no worries, it was just bad timing with the both of you talking one after another really fast. I was just interested in what you chose, maybe in the future I'll be able to throw on a nice pair myself.
foresters are amazing.
I am starting "Mods" on my 2014 Subaru Forester 2.5i Premium.......Where to start?
Any suggestions appreciated.......?
+terrence ehlert
Keep everything stock, wind boost up to 50psi.
You're welcome. :)
+terrence ehlert I'd take a look at (no spaces) subaru forester . org . There should be lots of good suggestions there. The 2014 2.5i Premium is a N/A (normially aspirated or non-turbo) motor, so there isn't much that will make more power without getting really expensive. The 2014 Sorester XT comes with the "new" FA20F motor, which is a different breed than the previous EJ25X motor, and the aftermarket world isn't as plentiful with motor modifications.
Matt the 2015 STi rack does go into the 2014 STi so it might be able to go into the Forester as well.
Alvin Rohani That would be a nice upgrade, wonder what that would cost.
blake866 around 600-650 depends where you buy it
Louis Hamilton Nice thats not bad for that precise quick steering.
Blakes Garage Yeah but at my point in my build I rather spend that on brakes or a Clutch.
If anyone is interested this is info on how it goes:
www.iwsti.com/forums/showthread.php?t=268436
So much money into this Forester but man its cool! So very cool! Haha he said 4k was his budget 😂 He's probably over 20k into the build now if he has other people doing his work on top of the car being around a 20k car so all in all he's probably 40k into it and has one bad ass sleeper! Props to him man I'm jelly!
This Forester is for sale right now.
Clean looking, mad power. Very nice car!
Man I want to take this thing back home in Europe. It would be funny passing all the M4's doing 280 with a forester.
A little quiet for my taste, but still awesome
Why wasn't there a link to his channel? I'll try and find it myself I guess...
smh... idc about the guy driving i just wanted to see the build and the car... not the road 👎
This is a super cool car. I do have to say; 116 trap..."maybe" 120? An HHR SS (equally goofy and sleeperish) with bolt ons, stock turbo and E85 would be neck and neck if not ahead and way under his $4000 mod budget he blew through long ago. The crappy return in speed for dollars spent on Subarus permeates through their entire lineup. Simply put, it is amazing how slow they are considering the power made. a 480whp Evo or DSM (only 200 lbs lighter or so) is a 130mph trap car.
it weighs 3400+ tho and cuts thru the air like a brick probably
American version of Moogs forester
I live in Colorado, Subaru Capital of the world. I want one of those as they are only beasts on the street but they're monsters in the snow.
Hey Matt, have you checked out the Mighty Car Mods Forrester from a few years back? Great vids on their build :-)
This is what the one takes are all about. Lols at the 8ft hop to the left! That woke you up Ferrah! Hehe good work buddy :)))
between this and moogs forester from MCM. You guys got me wishing I'd bought a forester over a Jeep.
woo this forester is too clean!
3400 lbs? What kind of weight reduction has this man done. My 4 door sentra weighs right around 3 k.
+Shareef O'neal - The official weight of the 2010 Subaru Forester is 3,250 - 3,460lbs, depending on how it is equipped from the factory :)
Rene R man thats not bad at all
Phew, gotta put some of that budget into someone doing some paint correction on that... tons of swirls. Otherwise, awesome =)
So cool, I didn't think much would excite me after that incredible V6 MR2, but this forester is so incredibly cool.
I love the look of this car, remind me of Moog's
KCCO
I enjoyed the ride..I could feel the effortless power without the whistles and bangs of usual Scoobys!
Digging the All Blacks jersey! And the car of course :)
When is the E36 video coming?
what headlights are those!??! I NEED them
The blacked out ones aren't available anymore, I believe. He (I) got them from xtralightz website. I believe you can get chrome ones from carID or ebay. They came as halogen projector, and I converted them to HID
makes me miss my 00 Forester. love my 16 STi, but still miss it tho
Hi Rene, I'm interested in the transmission swap. Is it an STI trans? Did you have to make any modifications for fit? Does the gear indicator display show the additional gears added? Did the ECU act funky with the swap? Anything that you can relay would be great help. I'm also interested doing a 5 speed sports shift swap from a "10" Outback, but information has been limited on both.
Hi Desmond. It has a 2011 STI transmission. When it was swapped, the Forester motor stayed in, which was only the 2nd time it had been done at that point in time. It was also the first fully functioning swap (that wasn't a total drivetrain swap). I put in a 2010 WRX instrument cluster in lieu of the 2010 Forester cluster. Turns out that swapping the cluster wasn't necessary, but you will loose the gear indicator functionality. Another thing that I swapped that wasn't needed was the full body harness and ECU from the WRX. Turns out there are two pins that need to be switched, and a ground wire added for the clutch. Did need the pedal box from the STI, and I used 2 of the 4 axles (took the front Forester axles and moved them to the back, and installed the 2 rear axles from the STI and put them in the front. On SubaruForester dot org there is a build thread under the user name EugeneUtopia. There are a few others that had the swap done much better than mine as well. One is from user SuperRCace and amlgrvr, both of which I'm probably spelling wrong