Tuesday 13th February

Subaru Forester STI | Spotted

All the goodness of the ultimate Imprezas with 100 per cent more dog-carrying appeal

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Few can stretch a platform quite like Subaru can. Look at the company’s range through the ages and you’ll spot an executive saloon in the form of the Legacy, the Outback estate and an assortment of crossovers that, when you peel back the skin, are all (aside from the BRZ and Solterra EV) based on architecture first launched on the most recent car to wear the Impreza tag - which is now different to the WRX, even though it’s confusingly still based on the same platform. Still following? Good.

Anyway, it’s been spreading its platform far and wide since the dawn of time, and for the most part it’s been very good at doing so. That’s not exactly hard to fathom given that much of its lineup has been underpinned by roughly the same architecture that gave us the WRX and an endless stream of rally specials. More impressive is that when Subaru decided to give its Forester the STI treatment, it managed to pull off something only a handful of carmakers have succeeded in doing: making an SUV (he says through gritted teeth) that is as fun to drive as the non-jacked-up car it’s based on.

Like so many Subaru specials, we never officially received the Forester STI. It launched exclusively in Japan in 2004, and it was everything you could have wanted from an STI-tuned wardrobe on its side. Under the bonnet scoop was a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer with bits and pieces, such as the manifold and six-speed gearbox, plucked from the Impreza WRX STI. The intercooler was bigger and the exhaust freer flowing as well, bringing the total power up to 265hp and 278lb ft of torque - enough to get you and a pack of hounds from 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds. Punchy.

The hilarity continues with a vastly more sporty suspension setup that all but removes the Forester’s off-roading ability, though it does somewhat resemble M-Sport’s bonkers Puma Rally1 machine. Which is very much a good thing, of course. Gold Brembo brake callipers are pure STI, as is the nutty body kit - right down to the fog lamp covers branded with three of the greatest letters in the car world. The interior is practically identical to that of the Impreza’s, including the sublime STI sports seats, only there’s a boot so vast that cartographers are still exploring its limits to this day. 

Why Subaru thought against sending the Forester STI our way is a mystery. We bought the Impreza STI in droves, and the regular Forester has been a trusty workhorse for folks in the sticks for yonks. Thank goodness someone’s gone through the trouble of bringing this one over here. Not that the Forester STI’s a particularly rare sight in the UK, they’ve actually been imported in significant numbers because there’s a massive appetite for them here (hear that, Subaru?), but even if the roads were filled with them - it still wouldn’t be enough.

So, dear reader, kindly do your part by considering the example we have for sale here. It’s a 2004 car, which many consider to be a little easier on the eyes than the 2006 facelift, and has been recently imported from Japan with 72,296 miles on the clock. That means it’s (probably) never seen a salt road in its life, nor does it look to have been modified to within an inch of its life, which is a real rarity on anything with an STI sticker. So if you’re down about all your favourite performance cars being replaced by SUVs, just know that Subaru showed everyone how it’s done 20 years ago. If only it could find some of that magic today. 

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SPECIFICATION | SUBARU FORESTER STI

Engine: 2,457cc four-cylinder boxer, turbocharged
Transmission: six-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 265@5,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 278@3,600rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 72,296
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £17,985

See the original advert here

[Konan]

I sat in one of these when I bought my Legacy. Even stationary, it was hilarious. I had very serious thoughts about changing my criteria!

In the driver's seat, you get all the trappings of a utilitarian Japanese farm runaround. Chunky plastic trim inside, big square bonnet outside. But you're also sat in a bucket seat, looking down at an sti guage cluster and there's a big daft mono-nostril protruding in front of you.

[Gigamoons]

Ahhh back when Subaru made cars you actually wanted to buy.

[jwwbowe]

Brilliant things, though they do have the EJ25 engine with its reputation for being a bit fragile preceding it. Still there’s a few decent specialists in the UK that can make it stronger for a sum. Do that and have it dintrol treated properly underneath and you’ll have something very cool on your hands, they won’t be making anything like it again.

Also I happen to prefer the facelift looks

[aarondbs]

Didn't the much missed Dan Trent of these parts have one of these when he left?

I like these and, as an ex WRX owner myself, I'm sure it drives really well... but that interior..

[Miura Anjin]

I ran one of these for a decade or so. Could take the kids snowboarding on Sunday, then do a trackday at Fuji Speedway on Monday. I still miss the burble - if not the fuel economy.

[911Spanker]

I had one for a good while. Fast enough (mine was at 320 bhp), sounded great, rare etc.

However, the body had all the structural stiffness of urine soaked toilet paper and it didn't handle that well. Also liked a drink. So I sold it and haven't missed it since.

It's like a poor man's G63.

[rossub]

These made sense when they were £10-12k, but now they’re all priced at £16-18k it seems like far too much.

I cant see many people willing to part with that for 18-20 year old Foresters.

[horsemeatscandal]

Cool, but absolutely hideous. Would prefer a Forester, which also seem to be significantly cheaper.

[cootuk]

The last of the XT 2l turbos made in 2018 seem a bit more sense at the same price

[Jamescrs]

I always fancied one of these being a previous Impreza owner but I could never see them as worth the asking prices so never bought one, still a good looking car though IMO

[Smint]

jwwbowe said:

Brilliant things, though they do have the EJ25 engine with its reputation for being a bit fragile preceding it. Still there’s a few decent specialists in the UK that can make it stronger for a sum. Do that and have it dintrol treated properly underneath and you’ll have something very cool on your hands, they won’t be making anything like it again.

Also I happen to prefer the facelift looks

Wasn't it the NA 2.5 engines which suffered CHG issues, turbo versions having steel head gaskets.

The standard 2.5 turbo in my 'unmodified' 2008 facelift XT(not STi) has been no trouble at all, though its in a lower state of tune running 227bhp, mine may be slightly up on that with the stainless exhaust, which wasn't bought for modifying as such just as a decent quality replacement...some XTs have been ruined because its just not possible to buy the correct aftermarket mild steel exhaust here in Britain, despite being sold as the correct one they are in fact only suitable for the 2.0NA, being 2" bore instead of the 2.5" the standard XT has.

A fellow with an ageing ticker daren't ask at the Subaru parts desk for the genuine replacement, the quote for the previous H6 Outback was scary enough, more than we paid for the car, that too had a stainless made and fitted.

Agree with the article the pre facelift looks better to me though beauty is in the eye etc, though the facelift benefits from much better 'xenon' headlights.

Edited by Smint on Tuesday 13th February 08:40

[WPA]

Love that, I never knew they offered the Forester as an STI

[DaveyBoyWonder]

I really like the idea of these as a practical, fun car but not at north of 17 grand for a 20 year old one. Thats the kind of money that gets you into all manner of newer, fast estates - Golf R, S4, 335i, Passat R36, even dipping into the cheap end of C63s etc.

[richinlondon]

Subaru is now a shadow of its former self - looking at one of the adverts even for a 2015 version, performance is 0-60 in 11.8 seconds and still only 43mpg! There have got to be few modern cars slower than that. I know 0-60 isnt the only important thing but c'mon.

Edited by richinlondon on Tuesday 13th February 09:02

[BUG4LIFE]

Really miss mine...I'm guessing it would now be worth a bunch more than what I sold it for 3 years ago!

[Jim on the hill]

Fantastic cars, had one for 8 years and it could do everything. Tip rubs, the Alps, track days and the best dog Wagon.

Really miss it but had some electric window gremlins that I spent four figures with various auto electricians and nobody could fix it.

Lottery win I would definitely have another in the stable.

[Muzzman]

I had a 2003 2.0 XT in about 2006. Absolutely loved it, it was my step dads company car which i bought cheap. Odd colour scheme, blue top half, silver bottom.

I was just a bit too young and part ex'd it for a 2004 Lotus Elise. Now i am in my 40's with kids i would love it now.

Edited by Muzzman on Tuesday 13th February 09:30

[BDKM]

I run an imported subaru forester XT not STI, but if you pay 17k for this you need your head checked, these were selling for about 11k -ish 4 years ago..... They are ok for 11k but no way in hell worh 17k.

These are old cars road/wind noise gets old fast, very inefficient engines and not even that fast...... don't really get what all the fuss is about....and I'm a Subaru fanboy.....

Just get this for 16k

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305349687449



Or even better a 335d that will eat any subaru for breakfast.

And if I had to have a Subaru for 17k I'd just get a spec C.

Edited by BDKM on Tuesday 13th February 09:53

[dunnoreally]

rossub said:

These made sense when they were £10-12k, but now they’re all priced at £16-18k it seems like far too much.

I cant see many people willing to part with that for 18-20 year old Foresters.

I'm sure the price makes perfect sense to a speculator or a collector or someone very rich who wants one of these specifically.

For me though, yeah, if I was buying one of these it would be as something a bit of fun that I could also use for practical hauling duty, and the price versus the age is a little too much for that.

[Darnoc95]

Love the rear cross-brace. Gives you somewhere to chain the dog to.