Scott Wilson - 2007 Subaru Forester XT (Full STi Swapped)
“Build what makes YOU happy.”
Some builds are made to trend for a season.
Some are made to chase a trophy.
And then there are builds like Bluecar — a long-term love story written across decades of NorCal car culture, thousands of highway miles, and one driver who never stopped building for the right reason: joy.
Raised in the Sacramento area after moving from the Detroit, Michigan region at age three, this owner has been part of Northern California’s car scene since the mid-1980s. Nearly 40 years of modifying cars has a way of shaping a person’s taste: not into “whatever’s popular,” but into whatever feels honest.
And Bluecar? Bluecar is honest.
From Cali-Look Beginnings to a Lifetime of Builds
He can’t pinpoint the exact moment cars became the obsession — it’s been that long — but he remembers the era: friends into cars, the NorCal scene growing, and the first build that started it all.
His first car was a 1970 Volkswagen Beetle, lowered and dialed in with the classic California look, with the rear seat removed to make room for subwoofers.
Since then, the garage has seen it all:
- Honda CRX
- Mazda Miata
- VW Passat Wagon
- Ford Focus SVT
- A turbo’d Scion xA
- And now… the one that stuck: a Forester XT that became “Bluecar.”
Why a Forester?
About ten years ago, he needed something with more power than the Scion xA — and way more room for kids and soccer-team hauling. He started looking at Volvo V70R wagons, but then a different option popped up: an article calling the Forester XT an affordable sleeper.
That was the turning point.
He wanted the right one: manual transmission, clean history, and as close to stock as possible. He searched nationwide and got lucky — finding a 100% stock Forester XT in South Lake Tahoe, sold by a retired gentleman.
It had:
- Only 63,000 miles
- The factory Sport bumpers
- A stack of service records with consistent maintenance
- And the dream color: World Rally Blue
He made an offer immediately.
Later, he discovered a detail that makes this Forester a unicorn: Subaru only sold approximately 125 Forester XTs in the 2007 model year in the U.S. with the Sport package, manual transmission, and World Rally Blue.
That’s not just a clean find — that’s a rare foundation.
Built to Drive, Not Just Display
Bluecar wasn’t built to sit.
For six years, it was his daily driver. Now it’s his weekend and road-trip machine — and it lives the kind of life most show cars only claim they live.
He takes it to meets and shows in other states (and even runs it 7 hours down to the Los Angeles area) about 4–5 times a year, and every year he takes a 2-week vacation road trip, covering 3,000-5,000 miles in one shot.
That’s the real test of a build.
And even though it was always built for him, there’s something special about what happens on the road:
A thumbs up from a stranger.
A smile at a stoplight.
That quick moment where someone gets it.
“It makes me proud that I’ve made someone happy for a few seconds.”
That’s car culture in its purest form.
“Basically an STi… With a Forester Body”
Over time, the philosophy was simple: if something broke, it didn’t get replaced — it got upgraded.
JDM Forester STi parts.
Aftermarket pieces that made sense.
Factory-level drivability with STi-grade capability.
Now?
Bluecar is essentially a Subaru STi drivetrain wrapped in a Forester shell — a sleeper wagon with intention behind every choice.
Tips for Anyone Buying a Forester XT
He’s blunt about it: buy as close to stock as possible, and have someone who actually knows Subarus inspect it.
Why? Because the platform is famous for being modified — and sometimes abused — by owners chasing the rally fantasy.
His long-term maintenance advice:
- Check oil often
- Timing belt at recommended intervals
- Keep an eye on head gaskets
- Maintain the car, and it’ll treat you right
In his view, Subarus get a worse reputation than they deserve — most failures are born from neglect or questionable tuning choices.
What Makes Bluecar Stand Out
Yes, Forester builds are becoming more common, but Bluecar isn’t a copy-paste.
The most noticeable statement pieces:
- A custom half roll cage built by @vince_metalworks
- A rear-seat delete with a custom subwoofer enclosure + amp rack (built by the owner)
And then there are the details people don’t expect:
- One-off custom headlights he built himself
- SSR Professor SP-5 wheels with custom bronze powder-coated faces
- Neon yellow calipers, tow hooks, and STi badges
- A color-matched roof box
- Custom Status Racing seats
- Rare JDM OEM bits inside and out
It’s not one modification.
It’s the collection of choices that makes it feel personal.
Build Breakdown: Bluecar (Forester XT → STi Hybrid)
Engine / Drivetrain
- STi EJ25 “Type RA” shortblock w/ rebuilt B25 heads
- 2007 JDM Forester STi 6-speed w/ LSD front + mid diff
- JDM Forester STi R180 LSD rear diff + STi driveshaft
- TD-05 16g turbo + HKS SQV4 BOV
- Cobb Accessport V3 + Snail Performance pro-tune (305hp / 310tq, conservative)
- Grimmspeed downpipe (hi-flow cat), SPT midpipe, HKS Hi-Power Silent exhaust
- Koyo radiator + custom shroud, AOS, STi intercooler + shroud
- Killer B pickup + baffle, 12mm oil pump, Group N mounts, and more
Suspension / Chassis
- Cygnus Performance (Fortune) coilovers w/ Hyperco springs
- 2004 STi steering rack + Whiteline bushings
- JDM Forester STi control arms, STi rear lateral links
- Whiteline roll center/bump steer correction, 24mm sway bars F/R
- Perrin endlinks, mounts, braces, tower bar
- Mooresport trailing links, Kartboy subframe/diff bushings
Brakes / Wheels / Tires
- SSR Professor SP-5 3-piece 19x8.75 ET27 (bronze faces)
- Continental ExtremeContact DWS 225/45/19
- Brembo STi front calipers + 06 WRX rear calipers (custom powdercoat)
- StopTech front rotors, R1 rear rotors
- Hawk HPS 5.0 fronts, EBC Redstuff rears
Interior
- Status Racing seats + harnesses
- Vince Fabrications custom half cage
- STi steering hub (functional cruise + stereo controls)
- Converted interior lighting green → red + custom gauges
- JDM dash nav pod + dash coldbox + other JDM OEM pieces
- Short shifter, carbon accents, custom boots/trim
Audio
- Kenwood Apple CarPlay head unit
- Focal components front + rear (custom tweeter mounts)
- (3) Rockford Fosgate P2 10” subs in custom ported rear-seat-delete enclosure
- Soundstream Rubicon amps
Exterior
- Custom USDM/JDM hybrid projector headlights w/ demon eyes + sequential turns
- Custom sequential SG5-style taillights + Crossport aero (front/rear/skirts)
- SYMS replica spoiler, STi hood scoop
- Rare blue-tinted JDM mirror signals + side markers
- Paint-matched Rhino Rack roof box
- Custom tow hook setup to clear JDM bumper
Who Built It?
The majority of the work was completed by the owner.
Key hands that helped bring it together:
- Engine swap: Jarek (@jarekwrx_pdr)
- Cage fabrication: Vince Metalworks (@vince_metalworks)
- Recent paintwork (after being hit by a lifted truck): SEA Works Collision (@seaworkscollision)
What’s Next?
He’s at the stage where any changes would be major — the kind of projects you don’t start casually.
Ideas have crossed his mind:
- Molded metal STi-style fenders
- Rear-door weld + widebody concepts
But he’s not chasing the next big change just to chase it.
Because Bluecar already feels like what it is:
A build with history.
A build with miles.
A build with soul.
And he plans to keep it until the grave — because selling it would feel like selling a child after all the work and road trips they’ve shared.
Community Shoutouts
Support that helped keep the build moving and the motivation strong:
- Forester Culture (@foresterculture) — feature support + community
- Ready Driver One (RD1) (@readydriverone) — local NorCal community built on the right reasons
And after traveling through scenes in Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Denver/Colorado Springs, he’s found the truth that always wins:
No matter where you go, car people are car people.
We’re all out here to have a good time and see sweet builds.
Dream Car
Nissan Hakosuka GT-R.
A proper icon — the kind of dream that never gets old.
Final Word
There’s a lot of clout chasing in the scene right now.
But Bluecar doesn’t care.
This build is proof that if you chase what you love — even if people walk past it to stare at the same “popular build of the year” — you still win.
Because at the end of the day…
It’s your car.
Build it how you want.
Drive it far.
Make memories.
Enjoy it.
Build what makes YOU happy.