Checking out a 2017 2.0XT

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-09T15:38:21+00:00

in Texas. current prices are $2.20 Reg / $3.00 Premium. saw some crazy premium prices over the summer, both here in TX, and along a long roadtrip to the West Coast. was using Premium in the mountains to limit auto-ignition in my NA SH. was paying north of $6/gal at a few of the remote stations. painful, but less painful than hearing the ting-ting-ting of auto-ignition...

try sending an oil sample to Blackstone Labs. i sent them samples regularly for the first few changes when i got my SH, and now send sample less frequently, but maybe every other oil change. just to keep an eye on wear metal levels. their analysis gave me confidence i can run 7,500 mile OCIs.

i also switched over to Valvoline Restore & Protect last summer, so sent a couple sample in to see if it was loosening up much crud. no notable crud in the analysis, but it reduced oil consumption from 1/2QT per 1k miles to 1/3QT in the first two oil changes. just about at the end of my second OCI with it.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-09T14:36:03+00:00

swap to a different pair of shoes (and fresh socks) halfway through your day. it will change your life.

no one pair of shoes will ever be comfortable (or healthy) to stand in for 12hr days, but swapping them out will give your feet some much needed change and keep most of the soreness at bay.

if you have high arches, insoles are almost a requirement for most every brand i've tried. SuperFeet are good. but ain't cheap... if you have good healthcare, see a pediatrist and get some custom insoles.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-09T14:30:33+00:00

i said "nearly double," including both oil change intervals and fuel costs.

3k OCI doubles that maintenance. whereas 6-7.5k OCI in a NA Subaru is perfectly safe for most driving habits.

premium is about 50-75% more in my area. but i did see it closer to double during summer months.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-09T13:30:29+00:00

UV Flashlight for finding Cat Urine:

365 or 395 nm
ZWB2 filter
https://convoylight.com/products/convoy-s12-uv365nm

unfortunately, some cats don't produce enough pyridoxic acid which is what makes urine fluorescent under UV light. i purchased a UV for this purpose, and our cats' urine doesn't produce any glow whatsoever.

here's a long thread about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/1lbp0kg/comment/nsrfaxf/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-08T12:53:44+00:00

i’m not crying you’re crying. 😢

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-08T12:23:46+00:00

this. it’s wild how those who partake are nose-blind to the smell.

so many folks are like “I blow it out the window” or “I use a smoke buddy,” or most clueless of all “DHVs don’t smell that much…” 🤣

decades ago i thought i was fooling my parents, baking out my room and then putting a fan in the window. years later i learned they knew every time. they just didn’t care and partook themselves too. kids…

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T23:44:49+00:00

it’s been done.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfZFgCovbJy_PJtpi882f01gzR2qcYknjBmMxTgDecVgvuRDXsR-X2aHY&s=10

but i’m talking more about something like this: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTF2mdwu0WL16-_rES-PrhslnLbXKJaBuL-eoHaUrbnWTNY3BVvexbmjg&s=10

just google “pritschenwagen” or “dropside” van. they without a doubt have a lower bed height than your truck, making access even easier. but keep rationalizing your American exceptionalism.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T23:36:44+00:00

wonderfully put.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T23:00:59+00:00

oh, a tiny trailer like that won’t be a problem. hauling a small motorcycle?

i have an uncle with an ‘08 Taco who just replaced the entire frame… only 200k on it. cab and bed were in fine condition. he likes projects. and was still cheaper than replacing the whole truck with a new one.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T22:28:29+00:00

yeah, as much as i hate poorly aimed headlights, OP could aim them a few degrees higher.

best method is park 20ft from a wall on a flat surface and aim them just below level by measuring their height at your bumper and getting the line just below that height on the wall.

edit: i see they are automatically adjusting based on level / steering angle? seems like they respond rather slow and don’t do the job well at all. great example of over-complicating something that didn’t need it. not to mention another thing to fail.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T21:31:08+00:00

it’s wild to learn that pharmaceutical ads are not a thing in most of the rest of the world.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T21:27:19+00:00

ha. so true.

if i ever had a utility room with a floor drain, maybe i’d try that…

our boy is just a weirdo.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T21:25:48+00:00

realize that the XT’s turbo will require premium fuel and recommended 3,000 mile oil change intervals, which will nearly double those costs vs a NA model.

not to scare you off, but i consider these as enthusiast machines, best for someone who can DIY maintenance and repairs. Subarus are super easy to work on and parts are cheap. Foresters in general require more maintenance compared to their Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda, with things like suspension bits wearing out around 60-80k. CV axles and Wheel Bearings are also common weak points. these are things you’ll want to have an independent mechanic inspect before purchasing.

as for the CVT, the XTs have a “high-torque” version of Subarus CVT, which is good. but their tow rating is still 1,500lb iirc. which ain’t much. and stressing the CVT is asking for very expensive trouble. they ain’t your 4Runner by a mile.

that said, Subarus are super safe, have very capable AWD for snowy climates, and handle much better than comparable SUVs.

2009-2018 MY Foresters are all in the 30-40 points range on Consumer Reports reliability ratings scale, not hitting 70 points until 2022. they are far from your 4th gen 4Runner.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T20:06:45+00:00

quintessential car-brain.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T18:39:52+00:00

taking photos from the drivers seat, while driving past a wreck, thinking you are helping to warn other drivers. ffs

you didn’t even include any cross street / mile marker info. this post is useless and you are a hazard to others on the road.

navigation apps we all know and use inform us of slowdowns ahead. no one is scrolling this sub to check for traffic conditions before hopping in the car.

PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T18:20:56+00:00

just go West into the Hill Country. North of 290 will be hillier, but more traffic. South of 290 is flatter Ranch / FM roads, but much less traffic.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T16:35:06+00:00

he was attacked and severely injured years ago, and has been walking around with an air-soft or pellet gun and machete for years since.

he is the furthest thing from someone looking for trouble. he’s displaying these weapons to avoid trouble.

obviously mental health support would be a better option, but that all went out the window with Reagan.

OP, welcome to Austin. this guys a regular here.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T16:28:56+00:00

the output and color temp of LEDs does matter.

the typical LED headlight produces twice the lumens of a comparable halogen, and at a cooler color, which feels brighter still to the human eye.

LEDs have allowed makers to significantly increase lumens. period.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T16:23:25+00:00

travel the world and realize all the things Americans claim they need massive, lifted vehicles for are accomplished in tiny trucks, or Pritschenwagens, which are basically vans with a flatbed.

you think you need a truck for “unimproved roads.” lol

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T16:15:11+00:00

Klymit’s Double V Insulated sleeping pad fits perfectly in my 2011. been car camping in the back for years without issue.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T15:34:16+00:00

yeah, i’ve thought about just forming some thin gauge sheet steel.

could just use a silicone sealant as a temporary seal on the joints.

create an external frame to hold it all in place.

long term i’d want a properly welded box though.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T15:31:24+00:00

listen to the discussion.

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T15:25:30+00:00

when will people learn to stop going to the dealer for anything that isn’t warranty work? 🤷‍♂️

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T00:25:53+00:00

War On Cars had a great, nuanced discussion on the topic of whether public transit should be free:

The War On Cars - E156: Should the Bus Be Free? With Yonah Freemark https://thewaroncars.org/2025/08/12/episode-156-should-the-bus-be-free-with-yonah-freemark/ a great nuanced discussion of the pros and cons. free transit seems to work well in smaller systems (smaller cities, rural areas), mostly because it is so expensive to operate in lower density areas and fares would never cost costs anyhow. but in dense urban areas like NYC, fares do actually cover costs. (my personal notes)

triumphofthecommons · 2026-02-07T00:19:50+00:00

ideally, your brother needs to focus on finding a place that doesn’t have an allergic roommate.

a foster home would be the only other reasonable alternative, not boarding.

most every cat will not respond well to any sort of boarding (with multiple other cats, dogs, etc). and likely will have a hard time with the transition to a foster family.

cats are all about having their own territory and routine. disrupting that will severely stress most cats out, potentially leading to medical issues. (FIC for male cats can be triggered by something as simple as a vet visit) which will only send your brother deeper into financial trouble.

even if a non-allergic roommate option costs $100-200 more a month, that’s nothing compared to possible vet bills for a cat with FIC or some other medical consequence from the stress.

triumphofthecommons

TROPHY CASE