The Day My Forester’s Rim Met Its Match: Potholes and Pain

Hey folks, gather 'round and let me tell you the tragic tale of my trusty 2005 Subaru Forester, a vehicle that’s been through thick and thin with me—and one that recently had an unfortunate run-in with a pothole the size of a kiddie pool. Yep, it was a real doozy, and my poor rim was the casualty. Let this be a lesson: no matter how tough your car is, those potholes out there are tough as nails.

So, it’s a regular Tuesday, and I’m cruising down my usual route, just heading to grab some groceries. The sun is shining, my Forester’s running like a dream, and I’m jamming to some tunes, feeling good. For those who don’t know, my Forester is a 2005 model, and let me tell you, this thing is an absolute tank. I’ve taken it on road trips, camping adventures, even some light off-roading, and it’s handled everything like a champ. But on this particular day, my beloved Subaru met its nemesis.

There I was, minding my own business, when suddenly, out of nowhere, this pothole appears. No joke, this thing looked like the surface of the moon had decided to pay a visit to my street. Before I could even react—BAM—I hit it dead-on. And when I say I hit it, I mean I HIT it. The whole car shook like it had just been in a minor earthquake, and my heart sank. I knew something wasn’t right.

I pull over immediately, hoping, praying, that maybe the damage isn’t too bad. Maybe it’s just a little bump, right? Wrong. I get out and walk over to check the front passenger-side tire, and there it is: my beautiful rim, now looking like someone had taken a hammer to it. The outer edge of the rim was bent in a way that can only be described as "artistic"—like modern art that you definitely don’t want on your car.

I stood there for a good minute, just staring at it, trying to process what had happened. My poor Forester, always the reliable workhorse, had been brought down by one rogue pothole. The tire was still holding air, but I knew the rim was toast. Driving on it wasn’t an option, unless I wanted to end up stranded on the side of the road with a flat.

So, what’s a guy to do? I whipped out my phone and called my go-to mechanic, Gary. Now, Gary’s been working on my Forester since I bought it used, and he’s seen it all. I explain the situation, and he laughs, “Pothole, huh? You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last, my friend. Bring it in, and I’ll take a look.”

I limped my poor Subaru over to Gary’s shop, rim looking all kinds of bent. He takes one look at it, shakes his head, and says, “Man, that’s a good one. That pothole really did a number on it.” Thanks, Gary, that’s exactly what I needed to hear.

Now, I knew I was about to get hit with some bad news. Gary pulls out his little notepad, does some quick math, and says, “Well, you’ve got a couple of options here. I can try to repair the rim, but no promises it’ll be perfect. That’s gonna run you about 150 bucks. Or we can replace it with a new one, but that’ll be closer to 400, depending on how fast you need it.”

Now, I’m not made of money, and let’s be real—I wasn’t about to drop 400 bucks on a new rim unless I absolutely had to. Plus, this rim had been with me through thick and thin, just like my Forester. It had character. So, I went with the repair option. “Alright, Gary, let’s fix this thing up,” I said, hoping I wasn’t making a terrible decision.

Gary nodded, “Good call. I’ll have it ready by tomorrow.”

The next day, I get a call from Gary. “Your Forester’s ready for pick-up,” he says in that way mechanics do, where you’re not sure if you should be excited or nervous. I head over to the shop, and there she is—my 2005 Subaru Forester, looking proud as ever, and the rim? Well, it was looking a heck of a lot better than before.

Gary walks me over to the car, and I take a closer look. The rim’s no longer bent, and aside from a small scuff mark where the damage had been, it looked pretty darn good. Not perfect, but good enough for me and my old Forester. I turn to Gary and ask, “So, how’s she looking?”

He grins and says, “She’ll be fine. That rim’s got a little life left in it yet. Just watch out for any more craters in the road.”

Then came the moment of truth: the bill. Gary hands me the invoice—150 bucks, just like he said. I hand over the cash, and he slaps me on the back. “Next time, try to avoid the moon craters, alright?”

We both laugh, but I know he’s serious. So, lesson learned: keep your eyes on the road, because those potholes? They’re out there, waiting to ruin your day, your rim, and your bank account.

As I drove away, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of pride and relief. My Forester had taken a hit, but it came out the other side stronger (and slightly straighter). Sure, the rim wasn’t perfect, but hey, neither is life. Sometimes you hit bumps in the road—literal ones—and you just have to roll with it.

So, to all my fellow Forester owners out there, let my story be a cautionary tale. Potholes are real, and they’re out for blood—or rims, as it were. But with a good mechanic and a little cash, your Forester will come out just fine. Happy driving, and may your wheels stay round and pothole-free!