As I grew up and grew older, as minivans gave way to Explorers, Grand Cherokees and Tahoes, I wondered what the aftermarket landscape would look like when these were old, beat up vehicles and not the shiny new thing that everybody was clamoring for. Would I see turbocharged, dragstrip terror Honda CR-Vs? Yes. Ford Explorers breaking trails instead of hauling the brats to the nearest nature walk? Yes. Grand Cherokees being treated like some four-wheel-drive gladiator in combat instead of America’s Range Rover? Oh, yeah, you can check that box right off. SUVs were everywhere and cars had already started to die off. Twenty years later, and nothing has really changed.

I’ve seen modified Subaru Foresters before. That part doesn’t shock me. I’ve seen trail-ready rigs and I’ve seen STI-swapped units that were a tempting take on a badass family wagon. But this Forester has received the 2010’s gift to hot-rodding, the ubiquitous yet efficient LS swap. Hate on the powerplant all you want, but at least give kudos to the guy who will actually use it to it’s potential in a wagon that most people equate with a fun and exciting trip to REI for adventure gear they’ll wear from the car to the office on a rainy day.