1. How did you come to the decision of buying this car?
I wanted something Japanese, quick and tunable with a large hatch and good safety ratings for the kids. Started out searching for a first-gen Forester XT (that means turbo) with a 5-speed manual. Searched for most of my wife's pregnancy with first child, couldn't find any that weren't beat to death with high miles and poorly chosen/executed mods.
A few weeks before son (now 5 1/2) was born, finally came across 1-owner 2006 Outback XT 5-speed on CL. Limited spec, with electrically-adjusted leather heated sports seats (very Recaro-esque), massive dual-pane moonroof, great stereo, climate control--all the Lexus-like trimmings. It's better looking than a Forester (best looking Subaru ever after SVX IMO--they really lost the plot after this gen) and way more comfortable too. Like a grown-up stealth STI.
A few weeks before son (now 5 1/2) was born, finally came across 1-owner 2006 Outback XT 5-speed on CL. Limited spec, with electrically-adjusted leather heated sports seats (very Recaro-esque), massive dual-pane moonroof, great stereo, climate control--all the Lexus-like trimmings. It's better looking than a Forester (best looking Subaru ever after SVX IMO--they really lost the plot after this gen) and way more comfortable too. Like a grown-up stealth STI.
2. What has your ownership experience been like?
Very, very good. Its only previous owner was an LA area lady lawyer (and a chair member of the 1984 LA Olympics) who special ordered it--very rare spec. She maintained to a tee, and the car came with a 3-inch stack (for only ~70k miles) of dealer maintenance receipts in the glovebox. It smelled and looked brand-new when we took it home.
The car has been surprisingly reliable and has never let us down, but I've continued to maintain it to a high standard, using all OEM or quality aftermarket (read: tuner) parts. Done most of the work myself. Now approaching 140k miles and the car still runs strong and feels fit. It's fairly heavily modified, with various STI turbo plumbing parts, upgraded TMIC, protune, various reliability upgrades (cooling, oil lines etc.). Mostly STI Group N chassis parts (motor mounts, trans mount, diff mount), Legacy GT control arms and bump stops, Tein coilovers, Whiteline poly bushings, upgraded rear roll bar and mounts, camber correct kit, bump steer kit, roll center correction kit, STI calipers, rotors and master cylinder/booster.
It is the perfect Swiss Army car. It hauls dogs, cement mix, lumber, greasy junkyard project car parts, kids, groceries, ass. It was a 5.0 second to 60 car stock with 250 hp and 250 lb. ft., am now producing about 330/400 with much more to come once the engine finally goes pop (ringlands--only a matter of time on any EJ25, even stock), at which point I'll fit a built-for-boost block with all my current stuff plus a bigger turbo and probably an E85 setup for ~500/500.
It hangs with and occasionally bullies my buddies' M-cars and Porsches in the canyons and no one ever looks at it twice, much of might be to do with the fact that the exhaust remains bone-stock after the uppipe/downpipe. There is a louder whoosh from the recirculating (stock) blow-off valve due to the divorced downpipe, but that's it.
The car has been surprisingly reliable and has never let us down, but I've continued to maintain it to a high standard, using all OEM or quality aftermarket (read: tuner) parts. Done most of the work myself. Now approaching 140k miles and the car still runs strong and feels fit. It's fairly heavily modified, with various STI turbo plumbing parts, upgraded TMIC, protune, various reliability upgrades (cooling, oil lines etc.). Mostly STI Group N chassis parts (motor mounts, trans mount, diff mount), Legacy GT control arms and bump stops, Tein coilovers, Whiteline poly bushings, upgraded rear roll bar and mounts, camber correct kit, bump steer kit, roll center correction kit, STI calipers, rotors and master cylinder/booster.
It is the perfect Swiss Army car. It hauls dogs, cement mix, lumber, greasy junkyard project car parts, kids, groceries, ass. It was a 5.0 second to 60 car stock with 250 hp and 250 lb. ft., am now producing about 330/400 with much more to come once the engine finally goes pop (ringlands--only a matter of time on any EJ25, even stock), at which point I'll fit a built-for-boost block with all my current stuff plus a bigger turbo and probably an E85 setup for ~500/500.
It hangs with and occasionally bullies my buddies' M-cars and Porsches in the canyons and no one ever looks at it twice, much of might be to do with the fact that the exhaust remains bone-stock after the uppipe/downpipe. There is a louder whoosh from the recirculating (stock) blow-off valve due to the divorced downpipe, but that's it.
3. What is your fondest memory with this car?
Bringing my first son home from the hospital in it after a few weeks of ownership. His premie frame buckled into the massive Recaro babyseat was a simultaneously hilarious and harrowing sight. Lots of other great memories, mostly family roadtrips, a few onramp drag race conquests, the most recent being a Dinan (according to the trunklid) E39 M5.
Its nowhere near as nice cosmetically as it was, but mechanically it's fit as a fiddle, and though certainly a little louder and harsher riding than stock, the holistic approach we've taken in tuning means it drives like an OEM STI product--no jank tuner issues. I don't vape either.
Its nowhere near as nice cosmetically as it was, but mechanically it's fit as a fiddle, and though certainly a little louder and harsher riding than stock, the holistic approach we've taken in tuning means it drives like an OEM STI product--no jank tuner issues. I don't vape either.
4. Why do you love cars?
As a very young kid, it was the noise, speed and wide variety of vehicle types and their associated looks that drew me in. Sustaining and growing the passion through adulthood it's been their engineering, history, and always striving to be a better driver and mechanic.
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If you would like to participate, just answer the above four questions and submit one to three photos of your daily driver to milhousevanh at geemail. Thanks and have fun!
I freaking love this thing. Great story, Alan!
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