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Comments
-mike
-juice
Bob
http://www.isrperformance.com/offroad/PA220932.JPG
Fido - The stock wheels will look like training wheels with that lift. :-)
-Dennis
On the stock setup, the tires look tiny (which they aren't), and that's due to the massive cladding. With the large-tired lifted version, the tire/cladding visual ratio is much, much better.
The real question is: How does it work? Did these changes make the car suffer on-road, at the expense of making it better off-road?
Bob
After looking at them side-by-side, no, it looks awesome. Do it, Subaru!
Now you got me thinking about those springs again!
-juice
Bob
Is it a DIY project (average mechanical ability, have access to a lift) or have to be done professionally?
Mike
I imagine with a buddy and jack stands it could be done, but I wouldn't call it easy. I'd get a pro 'cause you'd probably need an alignment, too, I'm sure that would be way off.
-juice
The only thing that would concern me about lifting any vehicle, is that you're raising the center of gravity. That's why I asked a few posts back, if the lift adversely affected the on-road performance. Even with the bigger, lower profile tires, I would assume that doesn't handle as well as the stock Baja going around corners.
Also, when you put larger diameter tires on a vehicle, like the one shown here, you will affect the gearing, which could be good or bad. My guess is, the car doesn't accelerate as quickly as before, and may be geared too "tall," in that it may be turning too few revs at cruising speeds in order to maintain speed on any sort of incline.
Bob
You guys make a lot of sense. After reading your comments, I decided it's probably not worth pursuing.
Met a Subaru technician @ the i-Club forum from my dealer, Town Motors, Englewood, NJ. Name is Garrett (aka Booster). Really knowledgeable and helpful. When I get the car I plan to attend one of their free service clincs and ask him what he thinks.
Mike
PS. Mike, thanks to your tri-state forum, I found him and a lot of other useful info. Tip o' the hat to you.
http://www.iSRPerformance.com/picturegallery1.html
Bob
Bob
http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~colfam/photos.htm
Apparently the lift kit comes from an Australian company. These photos are of Oz-spec Subies, which means they also have the dual-range trannys. I love the "Roo bar/bumper" shown. Also, check out the Subie-powered dune buggy, that last photo on this link.
Bob
Here's the reasons why we ruled out the Baja.
1) Inadequate power-would be fine if we never pulled anything behind it but it just felt a little slow to pass on the Interstate. With our popup camper I doubt it would get better. Needs the H6 or a turbo/supercharged 2.5 as an option for what we would like to do.
2) The switchback was pretty pathetic. I guess you could haul a few 2x4's or a set of skis but it was just as disappointing as I thought it would be after all that the STX promised.
3) Lack of a locking hard cover in the back. I never really thought about it but my wife brought up the fact that there would be no way to protect any valuables that you may want to put in the bed. The salesman kept saying that there is a tonneau cover available but that is is only a zipper style-no lock. He said that you wouldn't want to put in anything valuable back there as there was no way to protect it. He may as well told my wife that this car was a genuine clunker, she lost interest at that point. I asked why Subaru didn't offer this as it seemed a very necessary option and he told us that the aftermarket folks will probably have one out soon. I countered that I would want to be able to use that bed now, not someday soon.
4) Seems pretty high priced against other compact pickups. I realize this is a niche vehicle, but not everyone needs leather moonroof and aluminum wheels. I'd trade all that crap in a second for a H-6 and some vinyl hose it down interior.
Bob
-mike
I like my Baja the way it is, but if they do come out with it next year in a more powerful configuration I will be trading in my 2003 for it. Sure, I'll take a hit, but it really does need more power, plus I'll have an inferiority complex if I don't ;-)
Have a link to the "body" lift?
I'll check it out and see what kind of body lift they are talking about. The body lifts I'm familiar with give you longer bolts for the body mounts and "pucks" that go in there as spacers lifting the body off the frame. Since the Forester's frame is welded to the body, I can't see how this works.
-mike
Bob
A lift kit basically just lifts the base of the springs. You do get more unsprung weight, though. They move up and down with the wheels on every bump. They are riskier, IMO. They use the same springs, so ride quality is the same. You have a higher center of gravity, so handling is not.
paisan is correct in that it's not realy a body lift kit, it lifts the base of the springs. The result of that does lift the body and the entire drivetrain, though, so the effect is the same.
Taller springs are different. Unsprung weight does not change. The spring itself is bigger and usually stiffer. With Lovell springs, some say there is actually less body roll. The ride will be stiffer, though. Handling may seem better until you reach the limits, which it should reach sooner.
Between the two, I'd probably do springs first. They are cheaper, and don't change the unsprung weight. You should even be able to keep the stock struts.
Since the suspension is fully indy, either/both will raise the entire car, the body and the differentials. Subies have a very clean, flat underside, with not much to "catch" on anything off road, so this setup has a lot of potential.
Warning: both give you a 4" lift, but I've heard of tranny issues with shifting the manual.
-juice
-mike
-juice
Paisan, I should be contacting you soon about the ECB. I think I'm going to go with the 47mm in black. I've looked into mounting my CB antenna on the nudge bar and believe it very doable. All I'd really need is a bracket with two holes. One hole would go over the bolt hole where one light goes (probably the passenger Hella), then I mount the light, and the other hole I mount the antenna to. I could run the wire in through the grille and along the inside of the engine bay and then into the passenger compartment. It sounds doable by me.
Does anyone have any idea how to roof mount lights on a Baja? I'd love to have a set of roof mounted ones, too.
-Dennis
Overall, I liked it. I think that if they can give it more power, and a lockable bed cover I might look into it in another year or two. BTW, the silver is awsome, but the black is nice as well!
Mark
Bluesubie- I PM'd her with a few questions and she has yet to respond to me, so I'm kind of turned off to her and her products. The one thing I cannot stand is being ignored, especially by a vendor. In the past these 'ignorances' have been a bad portent and such I have little tolerance for it. She read the PM the 25th, I would have at least liked to be acknowledged by her, if not responded to. Oh well.
Bob
Mark: I can't imagine carrying skis with the Switchback open, because the interior would get freezing cold. Surf boards, yeah.
-juice
Bob
BTW, I apologize for being annoyed with Pam, as my inbox was full when she tried to respond to my PM. I only realized this a bit earlier when I noticed the 'inbox full' notification sent to my e-mail that I hadn't checked in a few days
-mike
-Dennis
Subaru pre-wires all the stereo components, even if you don't get them. So there is a chance, however small, that the wiring is already in place.
It's worth a quick look, IMO.
-juice
Bob
http://www.subaru.co.jp/event/e-2002/motor2002/
Ed
-juice
Mmmm, 4000s! We'll see. After the ECB w/lights and antenna, the roof-mounted lights are my next choice for mods.
Project Baja lol! It sounds like a plan to me!
-juice
It will be a nice little project but it's doable if planned correctly.
-mike
-juice
-juice
BTW, up here in NW Ct. every other car is a Subaru, but haven't seen even one Baja on the street (not in Manhattan or Jersey either).
Mike