Subaru Legacy Tuned by STi - jap daily
Discussion
Picked this up ast weekend, bit of an impulse purchase!
We've always had one estate on the drive, latest is an XC70 D5 that my wife uses, and the Saab 9-5 Aero that was her old daily got passed to me.
It's been a good car, but I fancied something more focused, especially with my 944 Turbo in storage, and our S2000 having the gearbox rebuilt.
Always fancied a Legacy, so started looking - initially at UK 3.0 Spec B, but then I started looking at JDM Spec B's....before realising there was also a 'Tuned by STi' version.
One came up for sale not too far away, so I went to take a look.
The owner was a lovely guy and a proper jap enthusiast - with a mkiv Supra on the drive and two (yes, two!) Honda NSX's in his garage.
Following an inspection and test drive if the Legacy I was smitten, and so a deal was struck!!
Obligatory V-Power fill up on the way home:
Got to say, so far I am loving it!
Car is nice and clean, a few small dings that I will have sorted by a PDR, wheels would benefit from a refurb and the lights are slightly cloudy.
Hopefully get chance to give it a good detail next weekend.
Couple more snaps from when I got home:
Initial plans are timing belt service (no record) and to suss out what is causing a slight pull to the right under moderate braking at speed.
I'm told the car has been mapped for UK fuel but I have no proof, am I likely to be able to find out other than paying for a map?
Enjoying being back in a Subaru
We've always had one estate on the drive, latest is an XC70 D5 that my wife uses, and the Saab 9-5 Aero that was her old daily got passed to me.
It's been a good car, but I fancied something more focused, especially with my 944 Turbo in storage, and our S2000 having the gearbox rebuilt.
Always fancied a Legacy, so started looking - initially at UK 3.0 Spec B, but then I started looking at JDM Spec B's....before realising there was also a 'Tuned by STi' version.
One came up for sale not too far away, so I went to take a look.
The owner was a lovely guy and a proper jap enthusiast - with a mkiv Supra on the drive and two (yes, two!) Honda NSX's in his garage.
Following an inspection and test drive if the Legacy I was smitten, and so a deal was struck!!
Obligatory V-Power fill up on the way home:
Got to say, so far I am loving it!
Car is nice and clean, a few small dings that I will have sorted by a PDR, wheels would benefit from a refurb and the lights are slightly cloudy.
Hopefully get chance to give it a good detail next weekend.
Couple more snaps from when I got home:
Initial plans are timing belt service (no record) and to suss out what is causing a slight pull to the right under moderate braking at speed.
I'm told the car has been mapped for UK fuel but I have no proof, am I likely to be able to find out other than paying for a map?
Enjoying being back in a Subaru
Mad Maximus said:
Looks like a grown up Impreza, nice.
That's exactly how I described it to my Dad!Had a mapped blobeye WRX some time ago, great car to drive but wasn't quite refined enough for the longer drives/mundane stuff (from memory it had replaced my Volvo 850R which I wish I never sold!).
Konan said:
56 plate. That a pre SI-drive car?
I'm fairly local (North Norfolk) and have the kit for checking this. Give me a shout if you ever want to have a nose.
I'm not a pro or asking for anything in return! Just an offer from a long term Subaru nerd
That's very kind of you, would love to take you up on that offer at some point - will PM you I'm fairly local (North Norfolk) and have the kit for checking this. Give me a shout if you ever want to have a nose.
I'm not a pro or asking for anything in return! Just an offer from a long term Subaru nerd
It has SI-drive and is the auto.
sam.rog said:
If the OP is bothered its got the wrong sti badge on the back and the wheels are from a 2007 tuned by sti.
Ask the seller who mapped it. Only a small group can and will tune these and they should confirm with the reg number.
I thought the same when I first looked at the brochures - this was manufactured November 2006 so I thought it might be on the crossover or 2007MY spec?Ask the seller who mapped it. Only a small group can and will tune these and they should confirm with the reg number.
Edited by sam.rog on Monday 29th April 11:39
I am the third owner in UK (was imported 2017), so I really need to speak to the original UK owner as the guy I bought it off of wasn't sure.
It has stickers in the back window for 'Be Forward' who are a Japanese exporter, but that is all I know.
The seller said he bought it from someone in Brighton.
Being a late 2006 car, do you think it should have had the early wheels and the 'Tuned by STi' badge?
In the past you could get a list of previous owner details from the DVLA so I will see if you can still do the same and try to get into contact with original owner.
The seller said he bought it from someone in Brighton.
Being a late 2006 car, do you think it should have had the early wheels and the 'Tuned by STi' badge?
In the past you could get a list of previous owner details from the DVLA so I will see if you can still do the same and try to get into contact with original owner.
trails said:
I used BeForward to import my Legacy a couple of years ago, they specialise in buying from dealers and shipping them rather than auction purchases. If you can find any of the original details it may be worth reaching out to them, I found them to be pretty helpful.
I managed to buy all the sti parts available for my Gen5 via ZenMarket, as Sam says above they are rare so do carry a premium, but they are out there.
Good luck with it
I'll try reaching out to them. I realised after I bought the car, that the vx report exists!! That has the auction docs, so looks like it was bought via auction.I managed to buy all the sti parts available for my Gen5 via ZenMarket, as Sam says above they are rare so do carry a premium, but they are out there.
Good luck with it
Will check out ZenMarket - it's been a long time since I had a Japanese import so a little out of the loop these days!
sam.rog said:
Also completely forgot to say. Looks like a decent car!
Not sure ho handy you are but these need a japanese code reader as they don’t comply with ibd2 specs. They are jobd.
Thanks! I saw your car, and was keen to come to look at it but I was still on the fence at the time! Looked like a very nice one!Not sure ho handy you are but these need a japanese code reader as they don’t comply with ibd2 specs. They are jobd.
Edited by sam.rog on Monday 29th April 14:32
I have all of the bits you listed, but not sure if I have braided lines and also pretty sure I have a fixed front brace.
I'd be surprised if it has had the bits changed (Legacy decal is still present) as it seems like quite an original car, but you never know with an 18 year old JDM car! Will do some digging! I actually prefer the 'Tuned by Sti' decal!
The dash is better than I expected only minor cracking around the outer vents - I didn't realise this was a 'thing' until I started looking!
Looking at the 2006 brochure it looks like it has the correct 'STi' badge, but the later 2007 wheels.
https://a15ff11300g.sakura.ne.jp/catalogue/BLBPleg...
I'm still getting used to the auto box on this, feels a little flat until you get to 3000rpm, but assumed the twin scrolls spooled quicker (and also peak torque on the auto is at 2000rpm) than single scroll EJ20's. In fairness, I am driving it fairly gently until I have had chance to give it a good once over!
https://a15ff11300g.sakura.ne.jp/catalogue/BLBPleg...
I'm still getting used to the auto box on this, feels a little flat until you get to 3000rpm, but assumed the twin scrolls spooled quicker (and also peak torque on the auto is at 2000rpm) than single scroll EJ20's. In fairness, I am driving it fairly gently until I have had chance to give it a good once over!
MattsCar said:
They are the correct wheels for a facelift, no idea about badging.
I had one a 2006 Manual TBSTI...
...but just couldn't get on with it and fell out of love with it very quickly, not because it was a bad example, it was excellent.
Literally just seen that car advertised for sale!I had one a 2006 Manual TBSTI...
...but just couldn't get on with it and fell out of love with it very quickly, not because it was a bad example, it was excellent.
What didn't you like about it in the end? I'm 100% in the honeymoon phase at the moment, but for an off the radar, quick load lugger I'm finding it spot on!
Depends what you are looking for I guess, but this spot has never been about being an out and out sports car, just a decent sized car with a bit of grunt!
Previous cars in this spot for me have been Mitsi Sigma 3.0 V6 estate (my first estate, and first auto - £150!), 850 T5 auto, 850R manual, stage 1 blobeye wagon then a Sabb 9-5 Aero.
It's not quite as nice a place to be as my old 850R was (rose tinted glasses maybe) and that made a lovely noise, but out of all the of them, it probably delivers the best blend of comfort/performance.
I saw it on the legacy Facebook group this morning, but forget what it was up for.
Oh, not at all! I am under no illusion that this a mid 2000's Subaru!! Compared to my '13 XC70 D5 it feels tiny and light, as you'd expect!!
But I do find it a nicer place to sit than my Blobeye WRX was. Steering is a tad light/numb, but it definitely handles and rides far better than the 9-5 Aero it replaces. I actually find the stock Bilstein/STi setup to be less crashy/firm then expected.
I'm sure I'll get a better feel for it in the coming weeks once I am happy that anything that need sorting is sorted!
Oh, not at all! I am under no illusion that this a mid 2000's Subaru!! Compared to my '13 XC70 D5 it feels tiny and light, as you'd expect!!
But I do find it a nicer place to sit than my Blobeye WRX was. Steering is a tad light/numb, but it definitely handles and rides far better than the 9-5 Aero it replaces. I actually find the stock Bilstein/STi setup to be less crashy/firm then expected.
I'm sure I'll get a better feel for it in the coming weeks once I am happy that anything that need sorting is sorted!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff