RE: PH made me do it: PH Blog

[canucklehead]

agreeably mental.

[bonesX]

I would also sooner have the FSTi over an Impreza STi

http://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-general-1/96768...

[Ved]

fking hell Dan! Great purchase!!! Welcome to the Fos club

[rtz62]

Always wanted an STi, but last winter bought a Turbo 5dp for Shed money. Stuck some partworn Bridgestone snow tyres on it (5mm of tread for £100) and then laughed at the 'real' 4x4s struggling to move anywhere on their useless summer tyres.
I live right on the edge of rural Ruralshire, on a road that suffers from Arctic winds in the winter which turns the surface into an ice rink, yet the Forester was better and more nimble than my RR which also has winter tyres on.
Get yourself a set Dan, and then enjoy the fun you'll have, both exploiting the grip and also at other less fortunate souls who will cast envious looks as you sail on by....

[smaybury]

That horrible moment when PH does a feature on a car you want to buy and you're convinced it'll knock the used prices up

I currently can't justify the upgrade from my current 2005 XTe, but man, there isn't a day goes by when I don't think about it.

The strong pound vs the Yen means fresh imports are relatively affordable. st, I really want one.

Welcome to the Fos club, though. I will be staggered if you are in any way disappointed with this car.

[rogerhudson]

Just make sure you get a set of suitable tyres, winter m+s with more tread than those in that photo.

[themanwithnoname]

Nice one Dan, and thanks for the namechecks! All bashful now

Really looking forward to a trip over the hill once you have it so I can have a look in the flesh. Great deal price as well, especially as they seem to have strengthened in value in Japan.

I've been thinking about a snorkus delete, so might investigate that while the car is on ramps next weekend for new tyres.

All the FSTI owners are creeping out of the woodwork now, which is awesome!

[Pesty]

Damn it. Another car I didn't know existed I now need.


Would I be correct saying its lost most of its "off road" ability?

[nicfaz]

So 280bhp and 1500kg, will be reasonably quick. Are there any cheapish mods to push the power up without mad expense - what's the limit on the standard turbo?

[Tickle]

Great car Dan!

Possibly one of the most obtainable yet engaging two car dream garage set-ups I have seen. The Elise 135 and Forrester, both for less than a new hot hatch.

Good work

[Pumpsmynads]

So it's retained more value in 10 years than a French saloon does in 2.
Good choice sir.

[themanwithnoname]

nicfaz said:

So 280bhp and 1500kg, will be reasonably quick. Are there any cheapish mods to push the power up without mad expense - what's the limit on the standard turbo?

I think Subaru quote 5.1 to 60 as standard, happy to be corrected.

A turbo back exhaust and race cat, or for a little less a 3" downpipe and sport cat, with a remap will see 330bhp and a 4.8 to 60, the turbo is this model only, a VF41, and its a given that its long life limit is about 370-380bhp, though I know a chap who has been running 410 for a while now with a big big intercooler and no issues.

[HorneyMX5]

I really wanted one of these but as I do 30,000 miles a year I needed up with a diesel Yeti.

Looks cracking dan, bring on the updates. Didn't realise you'd moved up north, still got the Eunos?

[Aerate]

Just got a 53 plate one of these as a second car. After ten minutes in it, Mrs Aerate started to refer to it as 'her' car. Considering she is conflicted between wanting a 4x4 and being a vegetarian yogi it is spot on for her (although she is a bit sheepish about how often it sees a filling station). Its a standard 2lt XT, but is quick enough for my tastes. The 4wd keeps it well-planted too.

Insurance was interesting - AXA wanted £48,000 (yes £48,000!)- just turned 40, living in the sticks and parked on a private road. Add my missus and her two years of driving and put it on a multi-car with Aviva was more like £300!

[nicfaz]

themanwithnoname said:

nicfaz said:

So 280bhp and 1500kg, will be reasonably quick. Are there any cheapish mods to push the power up without mad expense - what's the limit on the standard turbo?

I think Subaru quote 5.1 to 60 as standard, happy to be corrected.

A turbo back exhaust and race cat, or for a little less a 3" downpipe and sport cat, with a remap will see 330bhp and a 4.8 to 60, the turbo is this model only, a VF41, and its a given that its long life limit is about 370-380bhp, though I know a chap who has been running 410 for a while now with a big big intercooler and no issues.

Thanks, interesting stuff. Though the 4wd flatters the 0-60, 330bhp pushing 1500kg would be decent performance. Any idea what the chap who is running 410 has done, other than the mahoosive intercooler?

Dan - any plans? If it's currently a "no" then let us know when you change your mind!

[Konan]

Ryvita said:

Just FYI, this is the snorkus I mentioned above. First mod that every subaru should have done really. It's the resonator of the air intake and is extracted from the wing much like a recalcitrant wisdom tooth. All it does is make things quieter and be heavy... so why the hell would we want one?

How did you get on with the engine management? I ran an elbow in mine for a bit (to make room for the air ducts I have running into the wheel wells) but it made the readings back from the MAF wobble all over the place on constant throttle.

[adingley84]

Hayward and scott got it just right with the backbox on my 2.5XT.

Asked for slightly quietier than their standard fit as the big boot can make it a little boomey (so I heard) It sounds looovely!

[Bladedancer]

Remember those Foresters have the 2.5 engine. Not the best example of Subaru's engineering.

[themanwithnoname]

nicfaz said:

themanwithnoname said:

nicfaz said:

So 280bhp and 1500kg, will be reasonably quick. Are there any cheapish mods to push the power up without mad expense - what's the limit on the standard turbo?

I think Subaru quote 5.1 to 60 as standard, happy to be corrected.

A turbo back exhaust and race cat, or for a little less a 3" downpipe and sport cat, with a remap will see 330bhp and a 4.8 to 60, the turbo is this model only, a VF41, and its a given that its long life limit is about 370-380bhp, though I know a chap who has been running 410 for a while now with a big big intercooler and no issues.

Thanks, interesting stuff. Though the 4wd flatters the 0-60, 330bhp pushing 1500kg would be decent performance. Any idea what the chap who is running 410 has done, other than the mahoosive intercooler?

Dan - any plans? If it's currently a "no" then let us know when you change your mind!

Oh absolutely, AWD is always going to do that... well launch or bog depending on how much you like your clutch! But the couple of times I've played at 'emergency start' it is a proper giggle! A couple of mates call it 'the silencer' as I managed to shut a one of them up mid sentence with the same!

Performance is definitely available throughout though, most 20mph increases in speed are a 2 second toe flex away, which is nice.
I'm pretty sure, but will ask, that its just intercooler, fuel pump, exhaust and turn the electronic wick up a lot. Same guy is running a 500 or so Impreza as a track weapon.

[alfamonk]

Love them, Legacy Spec B's too...but, they get clobbered on tax / fuel. I wish it didn't matter, but when your'e spinking out #590/year on tax, and 25mpg of VMax on a good day Scoobies suddenly look like less of a good deal.