Considering trading my 2004 Subaru Forester XT (turbo). It has so much power, but all the mods are coming off and getting sold. I LOVE it more than any other car I've ever had (and I've had 20+ cars.) The thing is, premium gas is almost $4/gal, and my wife lost her job. I get 16-18mpg in the Forester the way I drive. With the equity we have in the Subaru, we are only borrowing around $5k on the Scion, which will really ease the payment as well.
1/2 the gas (or better) and 1/4 of the payment will help ease our troubles right now. This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make...
but I think I'm getting into a good car! I really hope I'm right.

I'll be bringing my Pioneer Avic D3 and Pioneer Premier component speakers w/alpine amp over to the Scion, so that should make it feel a little more like home.

The only mods I have in mind are a rear sway bar and springs. What's the best value on springs out there? I don't want something TOO stiff, but something to reduce body roll is going to be mandatory after having a Forester than handles like it's on rails.

 

the trd drops down 1" from what i've heard, and has good control. There is another one out there, but im not sure of the name. The xa is said to have stiff springs from the get-go, so after you test drive it, you will be the judge of that.

i hope you enjoy the xa equally, if not more than the forester. I know i've loved it from the day i've got it -- and that is just after one car.

btw... someone on here just got 40 gallons to the mile on his tank!

 

Definitly get the rear swaybar as it makes a huge improvement, but get it online as the dealer prices are rediculously high. The gas mileage on ur forester isn't that bad, my old GrandAM GT was getting that with a stock v6 and makeing alot less power. Usually it's not worth tradin a car in just for gas mileage but in ur case it sounds like a good move. The xA is a solid car and with afew suspension mods is a blast to drive. Just be prepared for the dramatic decrease in power, especially if u get an automatic as the acceleration is much worse than the 5spd. Best of luck.

 

thanks guys! Going down from well over 300whp to 105 is going to be very hard, but at least I'm getting the manual!

 

by th way, what's the cheapest place to buy TRD parts for the xA?

 

U won't regret the manual, alot of fun to drive and the more aggressive gearing makes up for the lack of power.

http://www.trdsparks.com/ They have alot of stuff for cheap.

http://scionpartspeople.com/ They don't have as much stuff as sparks but what they do have is much cheaper.

 

I see a price of $149 for the TRD Springs. Is this for all 4? that's CHEAP!!

 

yep all 4

 

Out of curiosity, what power mods are people having success with? I don't want to do any that are going to decrease my mileage, but I might want it to have a little more "oomph."

 

Went and test drove it today and purchased it. Bring it home Monday, when I deliver my trade.

 

congrats on the new car.

 

Congrats. U made a good choice in gettin an xA. As far as power mods that won't affect fuel economy an intake and exhaust will actually improve ur mileage provided u drive conservitivly, lol. Check out the xb section as they have a huge thread goin on with adding a highflow dropin airfilter and removing the stock intake snorkel. Cheap mod with good gains.

Don't 4get to check out www.xateam.com

 

I went from a WRX to a xA. You will have more fun in the xA than you will with your XT. Just upgrade the suspension first and put some wheels/tires on and you will be set.

 

That's nothing. I had a 350 RWHP cobra mustang convertible that I got rid of for my XA because premium gas here is 4.05/gallon and my insurance sucked ___. It was a VERY hard decision for me to make but I figure in the long run I can always get another cobra or hi-powered sports car. The next one I will get though will have forged internals/supercharger already on it so I don't have to spend the money myself.

I feel ya man....But I love getting 400+ miles to the tank.

 

I take the cake. I gave up a 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo and a 1996 Grand Am GT for my xA. The Grand Am was a POS so that was no big loss but the Monte Carlo, man I wish I kept it. Solid car overall, just really needed bodywork as the sides of the car looked like the ocean.