Congrats on the new ride. Since youre in Portland with a Golden, your interior is basically under siege 24/7. I have seen way too many people waste money on stuff that just doesnt hold up to dog claws and PNW mud. I have been driving Foresters for over a decade and seen it all. I would suggest being careful with the floor mats. I used to be a die-hard WeatherTech fan, but lately their fitment on the newer Subarus has been a bit hit or miss near the fuel door lever. Honestly, the Subaru OEM All-Weather Floor Liners Forester 2024 with the high walls are actually pretty solid now. They use the factory locking clips so they wont slide around under your feet while driving, which is a huge safety thing. For the back, you 100% need these specific items:

• Subaru OEM Rear Seat Back Protector Forester 2024
• Make sure to get these because when you fold the seats down for camping gear, the dog hair gets woven into the carpet and you will never get it out.
• Subaru OEM Cargo Tray Forester 2024
• It matches the seat protectors and catches all the leaks from wet gear.
• Vancity Console Organizer Tray for Subaru Forester
• This is like 15 bucks and stops the center console from becoming a black hole for your keys. Just a heads up, the seat back protectors are a separate part from the cargo tray. Dont assume the tray covers everything... it doesnt. If you skip those seat backs, your Golden is gonna ruin that carpet in one weekend trip to the coast and you will be vacuuming for years.

I saw this and just had to chime in because I am totally obsessed with the specs and fitment data for these new Foresters! If you're dealing with a Golden Retriever in Portland, you need maximum surface area coverage, not just the basic stuff. Forget the factory mats if you want real protection because they leave way too much carpet exposed on the sidewalls... it's like a mud trap. You gotta check these out for your build:

• TuxMat Custom Floor Mats for Subaru Forester 2019-2025 Full Set - these are incredible because they offer the highest vertical coverage in the industry.
• Orvis Grip-Tight Windowed Hammock Seat Protector Large - this is the absolute tank of seat covers, basically indestructible against dog claws.
• Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Subaru 11.6-inch Infotainment Display - that big screen is a total scratch magnet, this is a vital spec upgrade for the cockpit. Quick tip: head over to the SubaruForester.org forums and search for the interior protection megathreads. The community there has mapped out every single interior dimension and real-world durability test! Also, definitely look into a high-quality ceramic spray for your door sills. It makes wiping off that Portland mud so much faster. Seriously, the TuxMats are a total game changer for keeping the floor dry and clean!

Ngl I had some issues with my own setup recently and it was just not as good as expected. This totally reminds me of my cousin who bought a brand new car and went way overboard trying to prep it for his husky.

• The back seat was basically a fortress of plastic
• He had double-layered everything
• Spent way over his budget But then his dog decided to chew through the seatbelt while he was inside a grocery store for ten minutes. The protective mats were totally fine. The actual car was basically wrecked tho. He spent the next three months arguing with the dealership and his insurance about whether a dog-related incident was covered. It was a huge, expensive mess. He ended up selling the car because he couldnt stand the sight of the patched-up upholstery. Anyway, just a crazy story... but yeah.