Anyone else who's owned an imported Japanese car will likely feel my pain - literally - on this one. But after yet another horrible cracking noise as I loaded a childseat into the back I knew the plastic wind deflectors had to go.
Purists will say they're an essential part of the JDM look. And I'd agree to an extent - I'm happy enough running square numberplates for instance. The ones on the Forester were proper Subaru items too, not the horrid aftermarket items often stuck to 90s Japanese cars and faded to a fetching shade of pink by the time they land on these shores.
But when the nearside one started flapping in the wind I knew they had to go. A realisation that filled me with dread, having spent many, many, many hours chiselling the same off my old MY95 Impreza WRX wagon a few years back. Lighter fluid, an old credit card and more time than I care to recall sorted it. Back in those carefree times I could afford a day on the driveway like that. These days I'm lucky to have five minutes to work on the car so I sought advice from (where else!) the PH forums - credit to those who responded, the tips including vegetable oil to break down the residue and a pointer to a mystery 'sticky stuff remover' from PHer RedAndy. Turns out the product is called exactly that, Halfords coming up trumps and a handful of unassigned Nectar cards from the Sainsbury's checkout grabbed as scrapers.
As anyone who's done it will know the plastic used for these things is brittle as hell, breaking into shards that'll slice your hands and prove real sod to remove from the bodywork. Then the fun really starts as you chip away at the decade old double sided tape used to stick them on. Thankfully Sticky Stuff Remover really does do what it says on the tin and after two or three passes and a couple of Nectar cards the Forester was de-deflectored and looking (almost) sleek.
The occupant of the childseat within has, meanwhile, gone up a size and when browsing the options I was inevitably drawn to a rather fancy Recaro that matches the main seats perfectly. I'm sure a Maxi Cosi or Britax would do the job just as well. But it says Recaro on it. He's happy. I'm happy, though it wasn't exactly the cheapest option. I'll dress this up as 'you can't skimp on safety' but my real motivations are rather more shallow.
Meanwhile I keep banging on about unleashing some proper Subaru noise and have been browsing the options. Hayward & Scott does a tempting sounding backbox I need to investigate further but rather frustratingly the budget for that looks like being swallowed by the need to get a second key/blipper. I'm trying various options but it looks like it's going to cost not far off the £300 or so for the backbox. Dammit!
Other than that life is good with the Forester. Recent participation in the 'Ard Rock Enduro bike race with Mrs Trent meant two consecutive days hacking along North Yorkshire back roads to and from the event base in the heart of the Dales. I'm not usually given to lifestyle posing but, I have to confess, turning up at a race in a Forester STI with bikes on the roof did unleash a degree of self-satisfaction.
Didn't last long though. Previous Subaru experience should have prepared me for this but it turns out a Forester STI has something of a thirst for super unleaded when thrashed along the back roads. The aerodynamics of a brick outhouse and a couple of bikes on the roof don't exactly help either. Ah well. No pain, no gain.
FACT SHEET
Car: 2005 Subaru Forester STI (JDM import model)
Run by: Dan Trent
Bought: December 2015
Mileage: 122,843km (at purchase)
Purchase price: £9,500
Last month at a glance: STILL needs more noise
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