Author Topic: 1998 Forester S - The BattleWagon (Read 5235 times)

jutes · « **on:** August 14, 2011, 08:12:25 pm »

I picked up this little beauty from a fellow WSC'er for DD and winter duties. I was tired of swapping suspension parts on the Pickle and after the fender flare mod, it was deemed unfit for winter use. It has tones of room in the back for crap like my hockey bag and whatever else I want to throw in there, something the Pickle lacks. I'm aware of the notorious HG issues with this gen of motor so I'm hoping she'll hold together until the snow melts (perhaps a wrx swap). They were recently done so I have no concerns as of yet. Driving this green goblin is a pleasure, I love the long gear ratios, soft suspension and fuel economy on regular gas. One thing that surprised me was how supportive the seats were and made me realize just how uckfaying horrible the stock STi seats are. I had thought about swapping them into the BW but that would be a downgrade more than anything. uckfay you Subaru on that front. Right now it's stock but I already have a couple mods in mind.

Perfect Dark · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2011, 09:12:07 pm »

more wide.

Oh and congrats!

blame · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2011, 10:06:37 pm »

ha ha FENDER FLARES!!!

lift and some knobby tires

-sean

THE EDJ · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2011, 10:07:11 pm »

Welcome to the toaster family.

Looking forward to see what you have in store for the BattleWagon.

seat safety switch · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2011, 10:38:14 pm »

Looking forward to this one.

Nice toaster!

jutes · « **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2011, 10:58:13 pm »

Quote from: THE EDJ on August 14, 2011, 10:07:11 pm

Welcome to the toaster family.

Looking forward to see what you have in store for the BattleWagon.

I have some very nasty thoughts for this thing.

Until then I will keep the mods subtle and start reading.

pistachoo · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2011, 11:08:06 pm »

Geez, your pic looks like a Subaru ad cut out of a magazine. The only thing missing is the sumo wrestler.

AWDFTW · « **Reply #7 on:** August 15, 2011, 09:29:37 am »

Jutes, isn't the '98 about the only Forester (until post 2001 or so) that didn't have the HG problems?

AFAIK, the 98's still have the paper or rubber type HG, and it was with the phase 2 that they switched to the metal ones that cause problems?

edit: Seems like I may have had that info a little off ...

http://allwheeldriveauto.com/subaru-head-gasket-problems-explained/

snackers · « **Reply #8 on:** August 15, 2011, 09:58:11 am »

This one did have the problem.
And it was replaced (I use the term "replaced" very loosely considering Allmakes did the work) about 50k ago.
So it should be good to go for a long time.

...or at least until the swap happens.
The swap.
on the "beater".
that he DDs.

Have fun man!

GrantC · « **Reply #9 on:** August 15, 2011, 10:26:21 am »

Quote from: jutes on August 14, 2011, 08:12:25 pm

Quote from: pistachoo on August 14, 2011, 11:08:06 pm

Geez, your pic looks like a Subaru ad cut out of a magazine. The only thing missing is the sumo wrestler.

Nice camera slinging!

Now that pista's brought it up there are only three *tiny* nitpicks I'd make:

1) I'd use a circular polarizing filter to kill reflection on windshield/windows & make paint deeper.
2) The composition is a bit too centered, "rule of thirds" yo!
3) The white balance is warmer than I'd do, clouds/headlights are yellow.

Other than that, 100% GrantC stamp of approval!

LilDrunkenSmurf · « **Reply #10 on:** August 15, 2011, 10:30:59 am »

Awesome, looks good.

ultimatt · « **Reply #11 on:** August 15, 2011, 10:48:47 am »

I don't like how Subaru's "Forest Green" colour doesn't match the actual forest. Marketing people amirite?

Looks good dude, I love the browness of the interior.

jutes · « **Reply #12 on:** August 15, 2011, 10:53:21 am »

Quote from: GrantC on August 15, 2011, 10:26:21 am

Nice camera slinging!

Now that pista's brought it up there are only three *tiny* nitpicks I'd make:

1) I'd use a circular polarizing filter to kill reflection on windshield/windows & make paint deeper.
2) The composition is a bit too centered, "rule of thirds" yo!
3) The white balance is warmer than I'd do, clouds/headlights are yellow.

Other than that, 100% GrantC stamp of approval!

lol wut. I used my 3 year old PowerShot.

pistachoo · « **Reply #13 on:** August 15, 2011, 11:03:41 am »

Quote from: GrantC on August 15, 2011, 10:26:21 am

Now that pista's brought it up there are only three *tiny* nitpicks I'd make:

Hey, don't be dragging me into this! I have my own OCD to deal with.

GrantC · « **Reply #14 on:** August 15, 2011, 01:32:29 pm »

Quote from: jutes on August 15, 2011, 10:53:21 am

lol wut. I used my 3 year old PowerShot.

Hold a circular polarizing filter in front.
Rules of composition still apply.
I know you can still set the white balance on that PowerShot.

No excuses.

snackers · « **Reply #15 on:** August 15, 2011, 01:41:46 pm »

Quote from: GrantC on August 15, 2011, 01:32:29 pm

Hold a circular polarizing filter in front.
blah blah something blah blah
No excuses.

Wrong.
I don't even know what that is, and "don't care" is a perfectly valid excuse for my non-Car And Driver approved shots.
j00tz picture is acceptable.

The point is... that brown interior is rad.

pistachoo · « **Reply #16 on:** August 15, 2011, 01:47:14 pm »

Composition looked fine to me because I didn't notice the horizontal scroll bar.

I think the picture is hawesome.

canehdianJ · « **Reply #17 on:** August 16, 2011, 09:15:40 am »

nice toaster jootz

shave · « **Reply #18 on:** August 16, 2011, 08:57:06 pm »

EXCELLENT

jutes · « **Reply #19 on:** August 19, 2011, 03:40:20 pm »

The BW has been having a temper tantrum. I go out to start it, nothing happens, its like the battery is dead. Test battery - 12V. Unplug battery terminals for 30sec-1min. Put everything back on and she starts like nothing happened. This should be interesting.

blame · « **Reply #20 on:** August 19, 2011, 04:32:19 pm »

no interior lights/beeping etc either?

-sean

jutes · « **Reply #21 on:** August 19, 2011, 04:44:54 pm »

Quote from: blame on August 19, 2011, 04:32:19 pm

no interior lights/beeping etc either?

-sean

Yes on interior lights and the "door open" on the dash lights up. Nothing else when I try to crank.

LilDrunkenSmurf · « **Reply #22 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:04:34 pm »

Loose connection on the starter motor?

snackers · « **Reply #23 on:** August 22, 2011, 02:08:58 pm »

Quote from: jutes on August 19, 2011, 04:44:54 pm

Yes on interior lights and the "door open" on the dash lights up. Nothing else when I try to crank.

FYI, the "door open" lights up when you put the key in and turn to on (whether you start it or not) and will not turn off until some sort of relay is tripped.

If the fozzy is running, and you take the key out, the "door open" turns on instantly, whether there are doors open or not.
This light stays on for about 3 minutes, and you can hear a buzz in the engine bay while it is on.
After ~3mins, the buzz stops, and the "door open" turns off.

During this time, you can open the door, close the door, lock the door, unlock the door, and do all of that 83 times. The "door open" will stay lit until that relay clicks. (whatever relay that may be)
I assumed this was related somehow to the alarm (or what's left of the alarm) and never looked into it because it never caused a problem.

Ahhh, used cars. Awesome eh?

blame · « **Reply #24 on:** August 23, 2011, 02:29:04 pm »

From snacker'ses description, it definitely sounds like some bunged up wiring in an aftermarket alarm that has a starter kill. I'm assuming that disconnecting the battery for a few minutes shuts off the starter kill function and that's why it allows you to crank. I'd rip that crap out

-sean

Author Topic: 1998 Forester S - The BattleWagon (Read 5235 times)

AWDFTW