Next up on the agenda was a crisp '07 XT Forester, which came complete with a sharp-looking "sports package" and a ton of extras. It was at this moment that the Carrolls hit proverbial pay dirt.

Fully trimmed Forester XT models cost $37,005 (or $41,595 in Canada) and feature things like LED headlights, high-beam assist and a proximity key with welcome lighting.

The Forester XT was born two generations ago with a turbocharged version of Subaru’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.

So as you can see, a Forester XT isn't exactly on par with a STI straight out of the box, as indicated by its factory rated 210 hp and 235 ft-lbs of torque, but with a few upgrades its 2.5-liter ...

The XT, a sport-minded edition of Subaru’s second-generation crossover vehicle, uses the WRX’s turbo four that makes 210 hp in this installation. The engine is based on the WRX STi’s 2.5 ...