Fit: The install was easy. Everything lined up as it should. The brass colored 12mm bolts supplied to connect the mid pipe to the OEM system cannot survive an impact gun. Ask me how I know.
Finish, initial thought is it is very nice, welds look great and the stainless was scratch free upon delivery. No instructions but I really don’t think anyone would need them.
Sound: it’s louder than some may want but, not that loud. At cruising speed 75mph on the highway at 1800-2200 RPM it does drone a tiny bit in the cabin. When you go above 2000 rpm, you know it’s there. It’s not quiet. That’s what I was looking for though. A nice rumble around town and great tone (low and mid) at full throttle.
It took me awhile to order and decide because the website says it doesn’t fit the 2018 XT. It does, just isn’t updated correctly or there is some performance related reason they don’t market it towards the XT. Maybe they assume the WRX/STI crowd wouldn’t buy it if it is marketed to those CVT turbo Forester dads. Anyway, you won’t be disappointed unless you want something a little more subtle. I would look at the Q300 for a similar tone and lesser volume.
Final thoughts: my neighbors probably don’t love the cold start decibel level in the mornings but, I sure do.