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814 Posts
I have a 2011 Outback 2.5i that I really like a lot. I like my wheels better than the '13 wheels, along with the instrument binnacle and steering wheel. I also like my 2011 tan cloth slightly better than the new velour stuff. I don't do leather interiors as it never last longer than 2 years before cracks and wear sets in.
That said I have decided I really like the '13 nose a lot better, enough that I'm thinking about buying the front bumper, fogs and grille, possibly even the cool SAP darker headlamps.
Trading for a '13 or even a '14 later in the year is not an option. Wife was rear-ended a year ago by some idiot in a full sized truck. Our Outback only had $2K in damage, basically requiring a new rear bumper cover, the reinforcement and very slight repair to the spare tire area. Eventhough it was a minor repair my car is flagged on CarFax as being in an accident. We tried last year to trade for a '13 but every Subaru dealer offered us a ridiculous -$4k less than the Subaru guarantee even though our car is mint and in pristine condition.
That said I really like the car we have now and all of the equipment on it currently, cold weather pkg, rear camera, HK sound, moonroof, heated cloth seats etc... If I got a '13 I would have to sacrifice a lesser equipped premium.
I'm just wondering if it would be stupid to upgrade the front end parts to get the look I want? I can't stand the grille, bumper and those painted fog lamp surrounds on the early cars. But I love the more handsome appearance of the front end on the newer car. I currently have a clear bra on my '11 which has protected the nose pretty good, however on spot took a piece of styrofoam that flew out of a truck on the highway at 70 mph, it did not puncture the clear bra but left a dime sized divot that I have been wanting to repair anyway.
On top of that all the areas that are not clear bra protected such as the ugly '11 model grille, black plastic, including the silver protector thingy and fog light surrounds are peppered from my wife's 70 mile round trip , all highway commute. So I am somewhat motivated to clean up the front end anyway. I am expecting to be about $1000-$1500 into this if I go through with it. Also should everything be direct fit to a 2011? Im most worried about the newer style fog lights and the mounting, seeing they are larger than the 2011 style.
That said I have decided I really like the '13 nose a lot better, enough that I'm thinking about buying the front bumper, fogs and grille, possibly even the cool SAP darker headlamps.
Trading for a '13 or even a '14 later in the year is not an option. Wife was rear-ended a year ago by some idiot in a full sized truck. Our Outback only had $2K in damage, basically requiring a new rear bumper cover, the reinforcement and very slight repair to the spare tire area. Eventhough it was a minor repair my car is flagged on CarFax as being in an accident. We tried last year to trade for a '13 but every Subaru dealer offered us a ridiculous -$4k less than the Subaru guarantee even though our car is mint and in pristine condition.
That said I really like the car we have now and all of the equipment on it currently, cold weather pkg, rear camera, HK sound, moonroof, heated cloth seats etc... If I got a '13 I would have to sacrifice a lesser equipped premium.
I'm just wondering if it would be stupid to upgrade the front end parts to get the look I want? I can't stand the grille, bumper and those painted fog lamp surrounds on the early cars. But I love the more handsome appearance of the front end on the newer car. I currently have a clear bra on my '11 which has protected the nose pretty good, however on spot took a piece of styrofoam that flew out of a truck on the highway at 70 mph, it did not puncture the clear bra but left a dime sized divot that I have been wanting to repair anyway.
On top of that all the areas that are not clear bra protected such as the ugly '11 model grille, black plastic, including the silver protector thingy and fog light surrounds are peppered from my wife's 70 mile round trip , all highway commute. So I am somewhat motivated to clean up the front end anyway. I am expecting to be about $1000-$1500 into this if I go through with it. Also should everything be direct fit to a 2011? Im most worried about the newer style fog lights and the mounting, seeing they are larger than the 2011 style.
