BATTLE OF THE BOXERS — WINNER FEATURE

Built for the Long Haul: Scott Wilson's 215K-Mile Forester XT

What started as a need for a family hauler became one of the most methodically built Subaru Forester XTs in the community. Scott Wilson, Battle of the Boxers champion, sat down with us to talk 12 years of mods, a JDM drivetrain swap, a custom half-cage, and the philosophy that ties it all together: build for yourself.

Meet Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson has been modifying cars since the 1980s, when he started with a 1970 VW Bug fresh out of high school. "I've been pretty much into customizing cars since the 80s," he says. "My first car was a '70 VW bug that barely ran. It was kind of neat getting in on the front end of that." From there, he's worked through a number list of cars he has modified — but none has lasted like the Forester.

About 12 years ago, Scott needed a family vehicle. His son was playing competitive soccer across the Western US and they needed something with cargo room. "Half the time we had one or two of his teammates and gear in the back," he explains. A wagon made sense — but Scott read enough articles to know the Forester XT wasn't just practical. It was a sleeper.

He found his example — a 2007 model with 62,000 miles — 50 miles from his house on Craigslist. In the years since, he's put on another 150,000.

215,000 Miles and Still Building

The early years of the build were organic — upgrading parts as they wore out, picking up quirky JDM pieces when he stumbled across them. But about three years ago, the direction sharpened. Scott started attending more shows and building with more intention.

"I built it for show, but I've also built it for practicality, for reliability," he says. "I didn't want something that had 800 horsepower but the furthest I could drive it was from my garage to a trailer." Even at 215,000 miles, the Forester still regularly takes on multi-state road trips to shows across the western US — including 2,000-mile weekend drives to Colorado and event weekends in New Mexico.That ethos is reflected in every major decision he's made on the car — starting with the engine.

About six months ago, Scott had a new short block built by Outfront Motorsports in LA. The recipe was deliberate: forged pistons with slightly lower compression for longevity, paired with a larger turbo and bigger injectors for power. On the dyno it laid down 341 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. "My tuner said he could've got more, but because I'm driving these long distances, I thought that was plenty."

The only time the car has let him down was a classic Subaru ring land failure — caught on the way home from a show. That's part of why the rebuild went the forged route. "The forged pistons have a stronger ring land area, so you're less likely to have that problem. And the lower compression itself puts less pressure on it."

The JDM STI Drivetrain Swap

If there's one modification Scott credits above all others for transforming how the car drives, it's the drivetrain. He tracked down a complete JDM STI Forester drivetrain — same year, 2007 — with only 24,000 miles on it and had it shipped over.

The swap moved him from a 5-speed to a 6-speed and brought full limited-slip differentials front, rear, and center. "It locks up and gets good grip," he says. "Probably the most expensive mod I did, but the one that made it handle the horsepower the best." All suspension components are also sourced from the same JDM STI Forester platform.

Custom Cage, Rally Aesthetics, and Stuff USDM Never Saw

Nobody builds a half-cage for a Subaru Forester. Scott found one company in Australia, but shipping costs were double the part price. Instead, he leveraged a contact at a local fab shop that builds tube chassis for off-road vehicles and had one made from scratch.

The back seat came out. In its place: the half-cage and a stealthed subwoofer box. The result is a rally-inspired interior that's deliberate, not stripped — two seats, clean lines, and a look that stands apart at shows.

The small details are equally considered. The turn signal mirrors are a rare, limited-edition OEM option from Japan. So is the center console ice box, plumbed into the air conditioning — a rare OEM option available in Japan but never offered in the US market. Brakes are Brembos up front with two-piston WRX calipers in the rear. Suspension is on coilovers — Air suspension was never really an option in Scott’s mind. “I feel safer with something metal between me and the road,” he says. For a car that spends as much time crossing state lines as it does sitting at shows, reliability always wins.

His wheels are SSR SP5s, custom powder-coated in bronze. "I like the rally look on Subarus with the blue and gold wheels, but I'm not a big fan of gold," he explains. "I kept that same color range but made it a little darker. You still get that Subaru rally look, just not with the bright gold." The overall look walks a careful line between rally-inspired and understated — purpose-built without feeling overdone.

Scott’s Kartboy Story

Scott's first Kartboy part was a short shifter for his original 5-speed. When he swapped to the JDM 6-speed drivetrain, he didn't hesitate — he bought another one. "I knew the quality was there. I'd used the 5-speed one for so long, I wanted to retain that feel."

Over the years, his Kartboy parts list has grown. He runs rear subframe locks, differential bushings, and a dead pedal — that last one replacing a cheaper brand whose rubber inserts fell out on day one. He also has a one-of-one Kartboy piece: a custom rear tow hook adapter, hand-fabricated by Tom to solve a clearance issue created by Scott's JDM rear bumper swap.

"I sent him a crudely drawn plan and he said, okay, I'll get back to you. Next thing I know he's asking me for an address." Scott made sure it got a Kartboy sticker.

Advice For Young Enthusiasts

When asked what advice he'd give younger enthusiasts, Scott didn't hesitate.

"Build your car for you. Don't worry about whether it matches the current trend or follows the popular processes going on at the time. When I first bought my Forester, people were laughing at me — why are you buying a station wagon? Now those same people are telling me, hey, if you ever sell it, let me know."

That mindset shaped the entire build. Scott never built the car to chase trends or trophies — he built it because it made him happy. And ironically, that authenticity is what ended up resonating most with people.

"I took this win as a bigger win than a trophy, because it was more of a nationwide thing. I don't go for trophies, but when I win for the right reason, it's validating. Someone else appreciates what I did to make myself happy — and they're thinking the same way I did."

So - What's Next?

Scott’s Forester now sits at 215,000 miles and is — by his own admission — about 99% done. The half-cage is in. The engine is fresh. A new set of Kartboy bushings is on the way. And somewhere in the back of his mind, there’s still the possibility of a properly built steel widebody someday.

But even if that never happens, the car already accomplished exactly what it was supposed to: it became a build that reflects the owner behind it.

You can follow Scotts Build here.

Want to add some Kartboy to your car like Scott? Here is the list of parts he has in his own Forester: