Could performance upgrades be in the works for the XV?

As I was going through the YouTube channels, I came across a company in Australia that is producing performance parts for the XV. MRT Performance has produced kits for the XV and the Impreza base models that gain substantial power and torque without utilizing aftermarket engine internals. Australia is leading the performance market for new FB series engine. Not only are their turbos that are made by MRT, there are numerous other companies manufacturing parts such as Raptor, who happens to manufacture a supercharger kit. If you would like more information on MRT or Raptor  please visit our "Links" page.

Exhaust modification

    As my car is still fairly new I am planning to modify my exhaust with a kit from Rallisport racing. If you don't know about these guys, they are out of Washington state and custom fabricate parts for N/A Subarus, primarily Imprezas. Right now they make an axle back otherwise known as a  rear section exhaust and Tubular headers that are really nice. The prices are reasonable too, $263 for the rear section exhaust and starting at around $725 for the headers. These parts are all made out of stainless steel for reliability and durability.


     Could you buy something off of eBay for less? It is indeed possible. However, remember you get what you pay for. eBay is a good place for somethings, if you buy name brand  parts and accessories. If you are looking for some performance modifications such as forced induction items like a turbo, you are better off paying a little more money and getting something that will last you a while.

With the aftermarket slowly catching up with the new FB series 2.0i engine, manufactures like Borla are starting to make their own production  parts. I am beginning to realize that there are ways to maximize even more engine power out of the 2.0i. Could there be a turbo kit in the works? I would not put it past a company like Perrin Performance or Cobb to not to try. Honestly, if you want to corner the performance market, forced induction kits for a Naturally aspirated car is one more feather in your cap to have.

If you are interested in checking out Rallisport Racing for yourself, go to http://rallisportracing.com.

Vermont Bound...

    Once again I will be taking a trip to Vermont to visit my girlfriend's family for Easter. Apparently there is still snow on the ground. I am very optimistic for this trip. I could not have a better car than my Subaru to get the job done. My girlfriend's family lives in the small town of Eden. The road to get their home is pretty steep and I have no trouble with my Subaru. This vehicle enables me more ability than my past cars. From loading my car up full of fishing gear or packing it with a couple of suitcases for a weekend out of town, this car will get it done, no questions asked. Like I've said in past posts, this car is safe, reliable and rugged. My Subaru is now sitting pretty at 11,000 miles and has only been to the dealer for minor things I have done (see Pothole Problems). As you continue to find this vehicle's abilities are, you will find a couple week points but this crossover isn't a rock crawler or a purpose built trail rig either. It does it's job well and still has a well mannered ride on the road.  It's no wonder why so many people in Vermont drive a Subaru. 

McGuire's Qwik Detailer

 I just finished up the last of my McGuire's Qwik Detailer. This was my first go at a spray-on quick application detail spray for my car. I have used them on my Harley when I had it.  Let me start by saying, it works well. I use it mostly for the door jams and where car washes miss. Sometimes I'll use it when I am just showing my Subaru off at a local meet to bring the shine back. Application is simple, Spray the detailer on to the paint, and using a soft cloth ( I recommend microfiber or terry cloth) wipe the spray and dirt off the car. I a bottle up for around $5.00-6.00 at my local auto parts store and it lasted me quite a few months. Please not this is not the "lazy person's car wash in a bottle." using it that way can screw up your car's paint. you can also use it on your boat or RV. I would give this product a 5 star rating, I love it and for the price, I challenge you to find a better product. 

Pothole Problems

So with all the snow that has been melting lately, potholes in the roads are being filled by water. As I was heading north on Nobscot road in Framingham, I hit one of those buggers and managed to blowout a tire and bend a rim. "Thank goodness I have the gold plus I thought to myself." I called Metrowest Subaru and told them what I had done and scheduled an appointment for the best appointment availible. The gold plus paid 250 of my repairs and it was about 600 out of my pocket. Then as I was driving away from the dealership I realized it was not tracking correctly so knowing I had a coo upon from Direct Tire in Natick, I gave them a ring and made an appointment for that. Long stories short, the car is back to the way I got it.

Been a busy couple of days

    So with all the snow that New England is getting hit with as of late, I have been doing some more snow testing. On Thursday, February 13, 2014, I was plowed in so I was being lazy and decided to let my Subaru do the work. Well, the results were okay until my dash lights came on. I called the local dealer the next morning as any responsible owner would to schedule an appointment to have it looked at on Monday.  I took my usual trek up in to New Hampshire for my days off and what do you know? The lights on the dash went off! This car is awesome in every way. It has more than once saved my ass. 

Question of the week: "Are Subaru owners different from other owners?"

       Yes, at least I think so and salespeople at the local dealerships do as well. Most people who walk into a Subaru dealership are the kind of people who know what they are looking for. I knew when I went vehicle hunting, I needed something that could get me through the winters and still have adequate room to put all of my camping and fishing equipment in the spring. I turned to Subaru just for the fact that all they know is all wheel drive and getting respectable fuel economy. I also needed a vehicle that didn't look like a soccer mom would be taking her kids and her neighbor's kids to practice and still have enough room to put my German Shepard dog mix inside. Also, I'm only 25 so I wanted something that fit the bill.


    As far as the matter of ownership, Subaru owners are usually animal owners or outdoor enthusiasts, I just happen to be both.  Our Subies are our way of making it easier to get home from where ever the road or trail takes us. Just hop on over to a Subaru dealership and you'll see a different kind of owner. Am I saying if you own a Honda or a Mazda you can't join us? No. It's always better late than never especially if you live in a place where you have snow. 

2015 Outback

    Like the Subaru Legacy, the Subaru outback could be getting a total overhaul for the 2015 model year. Not much is known yet. Rumors state that the Outback may look somewhat like the Legacy and may have some of the same engine options and Subaru's new EyeSight lane keeping assistance system.  The redesigned outback is to believed to be unveiled at the New York Auto show this April but is not yet confirmed.  There have however been some spy shots of the Outback in a black Camo cover:

Could Subaru's Levorg concept becoming to our shores? Possibly. If it is coming it will definately use the outback name on it here. 

Here are some Videos of the Levorg:

Some advice on how to set up a meet:

So this week I decided to take a word of advice from another member and try to create interest in this week's meet. A lot of you know that I love using twitter to gain interest in posts and things. I also tend to use all the resources I have available. Here's some advice on setting up a meet:

• Make sure you give enough notice and detail on where and when it is going to take place
• Get the okay of the venue that you are interested in and make sure there is adequate parking available as more people than you intended may show up
• Keep in contact with those involved, and don't get discouraged if you don't hear from people on forums, sometimes they'll just look and show up.
• Make a list of possible people and one of definite people who are showing up.
• Some of the best places to post car meets are on forums for the same make of car you have.

Meets can be fun, when they work out. It usually depends on the season, especially if you live where it gets cold. But if you like setting up meets for winter sports like skiing or snowboarding, then there is obviously no better time than winter. I plan to set up some beach meets in the summer as it would be fun just to chill and reminisce of the sixties a little bit when people used to pack their surfboards in their woody wagons and catch some waves. Have fun!

-Gerry

2015 Subaru Legacy Sedan

    Subaru recently unveiled its all new legacy for the 2015 model year at the Chicago Auto Show. With rumors speculating of a possible station wagon version that has been seen in camouflage in Europe, it has not yet been confirmed that it will see production as it is under tight wraps. However, the sedan version will see production and boast a 175- hp 2.5L Boxer 4 (with up to 36 MPG highway) and have a 3.6L 6 cylinder boxer engine (with up to 28 MPG highway) available as an option. If you were looking for a manual transmission, it has been cut from the legacy lineup altogether as Subaru will only have their Lineartronic CVT available to their customers. As all previous models, the 2015 legacy will feature Subaru's Symmetrical All-wheel drive system.  The new legacy seems to have a more luxury car appearance to it than previous years. It also available with a lot of extra safety features such as rear radar with Blind Spot Detection, Lane Change Assist, and Subaru's Eyesight Driver's assist system. The interior has been upgraded to match the more upscale exterior of the vehicle. With 104.6 cubic feet, the new legacy's larger volume interior is now leads the mid-sized sedan class as well. There hasn't been a set date as of yet on when we will see this in the dealerships or a set price. As far as the Wagon goes? Well your guess is just as good as anyone else's and that's if Subaru decides to give the okay for U.S. production.




for a look at the brochure take a gander over here http://dbrochure.subaru.com/brochures/subaru.legacy.prelaunch.2015/

How is driving a Subaru a lifestyle?

   I was on NASIOC and someone asked me how driving a Subaru is a lifestyle and why did you give it a "cheesy name" I said in away you have to look at motorcyclists. A lot of older riders will wave to one another vary much like some Subaru owners do. Secondly, there are arranged meets just for Subarus all around the world. We also use our cars unlike say someone with a Honda or another kind of car. Most Subaru owners are outdoor enthusiasts or have a dog that they take on long hikes in the woods and need a car to get them where they need to go. But to say it's a lifestyle? To me, it's not really a stretch. Saying there is a culture wrapped around Subarus? that's not that hard to believe either.  Some people race their daily driven WRX or Sti on a local track, others just drive one for the pure excitement. Now as far the name goes, It fits to what this blog is about, a normal everyday working class american who is car crazy over his Subaru.  In away, it's made me more adventurous. I want to go more places outside instead of vegetate on a gaming console and dream about whipping down the dusty backroads of a small town, now I can go out and kick up some dust of my own. I eventually would love to take a trip across the country as I would have never thought about doing this with some of my former cars. Bottom line is that no matter what, lifestyle means "the habits, attitudes, tastes, moral standards, economic level, etc., that together constitute the mode of living of an individual or group." My Subaru has done a lot of that and then some. It's a lot easier to write a post on a blog on here than trying to explain this in a thread. Thanks for stopping by!

-GS




Definition from http://dictionary.reference.com

Subaru Lineartronic® Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Explanation:

Here is a visual on how a CVT works:

Exterior Modification plans:

  As you have been reading, I have been modifying my XV a little bit. So far on the exterior all I have are the Mud flaps (see Rally Armor mudflaps overview) but, I plan to go even further, maybe if I can find a set of XV headlamps that are HID from the factory, I may retro fit those as they should be a direct bolt on to the stock wiring. I would also be adding a rear painted spoiler and sport mesh grill to complete the aggressive look.  Now the painted pieces such as the grill and the spoiler are from Subaru and are specifically made for the XV so there is not any issue of fitment as they are direct bolt on units. Now as far as the undercarriage goes, I will be adding some Primitive Racing skid plates both for the rear differential housing and the front as well.   This of course, will all be done over time. Stay tuned for more...

Question of the week: "Where Can I find aftermarket parts for my Crosstrek?"

Answer: It's not that hard to customize a Crosstrek for your needs and/or taste. Websites such as eBay have a wide variety of parts from all over the world for the "XV" which is the same vehicle as the Crosstrek in other countries. If you are looking for a roof rack or a set of carbon fiber mirror covers (which would look great on a dark gray CUV) your best bet is not to search on eBay for a "2013 Subaru Crosstrek" but instead search for a "2013 Subaru XV) you will yield better results. Now as far as other parts such as a short shifter or shift knob like the Perrin piece I bought, you can just use parts from a 2012+ Subaru Impreza 2.0i as they are cousins in the Subaru vehicle line up. Granted, there are companies that specifically make parts for this car, they are just not available in the U.S. market just as of yet, unless you want to pay a higher premium on parts. With that being said, there are some parts, that are not performance related you can get for a reasonable price. For example, a set of skid plates from primitive will run around $130.00-$200.00. 

- Gerry Svetly

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Forester vs Crosstrek

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*diesel engine not available in the US.

Explanation of a Boxer engine:

Perrin Performace Shift Knob

I recently installed my Perrin performsnce shift knob and I  could not be any happier with my selection. It feels better in my hand over the stock piece. This shift knob has a rubberized texture to it and is anodized aluminum for durability and longevity. I opted for the larger diameter to make it easier to grab the gears and for a more stock like look. The shift knob came with a 6mm hex key, instructions, 2 shift knob decals (one that says "Perrin" and one with the pattern and Perrin on the side), and 2 Perrin decals for your vehicle. I was going to do a video on installation, however, the installation is pretty self explanatory. All you have to do is screw the old shift knob off and pull the collar of the shift boot off and reverse the process.

2014 Subaru Forester Review:

    As you all know I own a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek. But what I did't tell you is about a day after I bought my car, my parents went down to Braintree, and bought their 2014 Forester from Quirk Works Subaru as well. Now my parents are in their upper 50's and enjoyed the features such as heated seats, review camera for the price they paid.  Their Forester is a Dark Gray Metallic with the Premium trim package. For those who are new to the way Subaru sets their packages up on the Forester, it goes like this: 2.5i, Premium, Limited,  Touring then the 2.0 XT Premium and XT Touring. The difference between the Base and premium is that the base has no roof racks, HD radio or reverse camera.  Price between the two is about $2,000 just for the trim package and on both the CVT is additional 1000 for the base and an additional $1,500 for the premium. Now as you step up to the Limited and above, the only transmission you can get is the CVT. These packages are adequate for someone who take trips to the farm or the beach and do not really have any intentions of going up and down steep grades as neither have Subaru's (Electronic Decent Control) as you would on the 2.5i Limited, 2.5i Touring, 2.0XT Premium, 2.0XT Touring packages. Now with that being said there is a Subaru for anyone in your family. I love my Crosstrek but it wasn't the right fit for my parents as they wanted something a little bit bigger than what I have, but not something as big as a Navigator or an Escalade. They knew that they wanted heated seats and a few extras, without paying a premium price. That is what I think Subaru does best, delivering a well packaged vehicle for a reasonable price point. Prices on Subaru's lineup starts at 17,895 with the Impreza and can range up to 34,095 with their flagship SUV, the Tribeca. This is the same process that my parents used when settling on their forester. of course you could buy a Mazda,  pay more, and get stuck in the snow, or a Honda and pay the price of a Tribeca (or a Cadillac SRX) after you add the AWD.

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Last Night's Meet...

   So last night's Owner's Meet did not go as I hoped due to nobody showing up. I have decided to reschedule the Subaru meet for Thursday, February 13 at 7pm. The location is still to be determined as I am still working that part out. I want a large group so I will schedule so far in advance that people can do what they have to to make it.  I hope that everyone follows me on Twitter that reads this as I will be posting the information for upcoming meets on there. I would like to make this a monthly or biweekly event. I already have a meet scheduled for owners who like skiing and snowboarding for Tuesday, March 4 from 11am-4pm at Ski Ward in Shrewsbury. But that is still way far down the road. Stay tuned as I will post pictures of other owners' vehicles as time goes on. I like winter, as I snowboard, but I like all the other seasons for other reasons such as car shows, meets and hitting the sun filled beaches in Hampton. That's all for now! I will be taking the weekend off so I will post on Monday. Thanks for following!

My Experience dealing with Quirk Works Subaru in Braintree, MA

Everyone is probably wondering where I went when I decided to buy, right? I landed at Quirk Works Subaru after scouring hours upon hours online looking for a XV Crosstrek Premium. Then one Sunday morning my dad brings home the Boston Globe, for whom he works for, and what do you know? There was an ad for just that, a 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Premium 2.0i 5-speed in silver. Obviously, I did not get that one as it was already sold by the time i got there as it was a special offer for $18,699. My sales consultant, Lideon, had 2 others on the lot, one was in "Tangerine Orange Pearl" and was a CVT, or the one I opted for, the Venetian Red Pearl. So I figured I drove all the way down here so I'm not leaving here with out one for a steal. By this time I have poor Lideon running around like a mad man, seeing if there are more Crosstreks coming in with the options I want and what have you. Eventually I said "you know what?" Lideon was looking at me like "what?" I told him "the red is starting to grow on me."  He's said "okay" So we sat down and started doing the deal. After that Lideon, my dad and I sat down and started negotiating prices. Like all deals, there was some going back and fourth on price. Lideon worked with us the whole way through the deal. I would recommend anyone that is looking to buy a Subaru to deal with him and Quirk Works Subaru. One Last thing, their parts department has some of the lowest prices around. Their eBay store prices are the same as in-store.