Tuesday 28th October 2014

Subaru Forester STI: Spotted

Subaru will show a new fast Forester in November so what better time to revisit the old one?

---

Subaru isn't giving away an awful lot just yet on the next Forester STI. There are a few moodily lit images showing daytime running lights and a few pink STI highlights. But the news that there will be another fast Forester is more than enough to prompt some tyre kicking of the previous one.

Bring on November 25...

It's now 10 years since the first Forester STI was launched in Japan. With little information to go on we would guess it will follow the same template as previously. The Forester is now more of an SUV than the off-road estate it was but expect WRX STI running gear again and lots of blue paint.

Anyway, that's to follow very soon. Now's the time to focus on the old car. Despite being a JDM only car they've proved quite popular in the UK, the combination of rapid performance and practicality tempting many into an import. In silver it could look quite sensible if certain commitments had forced you from an Impreza.

It also just has curio appeal. Almost like Volvo T5 estates the combination of such speed in a seemingly inappropriate body that makes it cool. It's not stylish, it's not sleek, but you can move big stuff and go very quickly at the same time. Which is good fun.

Not pretty, but that's not the point

This car in Ireland looks to be among the more tempting ones on PH. It has been serviced on schedule, treated to a couple of useful upgrades and the brakes are apparently brand new too. It's WR Blue, obviously.

Litchfield imported this car back in 2006 and can release a little more power if you so desire. Using the same parts as the Type 25 Impreza it can take the STI Forester to 330hp and 330lb ft for £1,500. What better car for a track day and a tip run in the same day?

Some people won't get the Forester STI. A bit too ugly and bit too weird. Some will prefer an Impreza, especially if you're being forced down the import route and could therefore find one of the desirable later 2.0-litre models. But count us in as Forester fanboys and very keen to try the new car.

---

SUBARU FORESTER STI
Engine: 2,457cc four-cyl boxer turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 265@5,600rpm
Torque (lb ft): 278@3,600rpm
MPG: 30 (according to the advert...)
CO2: NA
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 65,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £11,750

See the original advert here.

[New Forester STI story: WCF]

[Gorbyrev]

Doesn't Peter Stevens (stylist for the McLaren F1) have one of these. Capable curio, what's not to love, even if it has been comprehensively whacked with the ugly stick. From back in the day when you didn't have to buy your Forester with a DAF rubber band transmission.

[Gorbyrev]

Dale487 said:

It may be no oil painting but it appeals to me more than an Impreza & is 1000% better looking than a BMW X1 (I know its not a direct competitor, but they're similar size).

Agreed!

[Gorbyrev]

badgerracing said:

redroadster said:

I need a practical estate type car for my 3 dogs have been looking at a legacy estate j d m there are plenty advertised at sensible money, but one of these would do head scratching time,has anybody had both ? .

I had a 2000 Legacy GTB picked up for £1700. Great machine: subtle, very quick, secure, liked to be hustled along country roads but 25mpg at best. Spent a bit of money keeping it on the road, and always a slight worry the bottom end would go making it virtually a write off, but never happened to me. Can't speak for the Forester, but the GTB was a great car. There's some story that it was the fastest estate car in the world at some point in the 90s - over 170mph.
Sold it 2 years later for £1750. Still regret it - that's almost shed money.

Legacy GTB, wibble! Lovely things. Particularly fond of the Blitzen of which there are a few in the UK. Do reckon the Legacy GTB should be a Pistonheads Hero at some point. It has all the qualifying characteristics. The prices of non-Blitzen GTB's are also laughably cheap though that bottom end rebuild is a killer. Eventually the values have to start going up as the number remaining reduces. However, full respect to you sir for running one for a while.