Subaru Legacy tuned by STI

[Animal Mother]

Exactly. Special/rare specification, lower VED, more tuneable, and rust free (plus generally very low mileage and excellent condition).

[300sl-24]

Thanks guys, the car that the OP is buying looks fantastic and I am sure he will love it.

When I bought mine a read up quite a bit and the 3.0 had good reviews hence the purchase. I never considered an import but having read this thread the turbo twin scroll seems to be the thinking man's choice, I assume this is a 2.0 litre?

[Animal Mother]

300sl-24 said:

Thanks guys, the car that the OP is buying looks fantastic and I am sure he will love it.

When I bought mine a read up quite a bit and the 3.0 had good reviews hence the purchase. I never considered an import but having read this thread the turbo twin scroll seems to be the thinking man's choice, I assume this is a 2.0 litre?

Yeah, the tune by STi are 2.0 litre.

[BEAMS 162]

Animal Mother said:

Exactly. Special/rare specification, lower VED, more tuneable, and rust free (plus generally very low mileage and excellent condition).

The JDM cars do tend to have more 'spec' than the UK variants it's true,and have done for decades.ECU's are also different because of the higher RON fuel over there,and yes they tend to be more structurally sound due to the fact they haven't had to slog through a British winter for years on salty roads.Over the years of owning JDM cars and speaking to the importers etc,the Japanese seem to have a more structured attitude to maintenance as well.You can find that a lot of imported cars don't necessarily always have a 'stamped service book' ,(my latest purchase does have one actually though it needs a lot of translating!) but a lot of them tend to just pop a sticker on somewhere.We do put a lot of sway on having such a record when buying cars over here in our own market,to make sure the car has been maintained properly;the Japanese attitude to it is, "well why wouldn't you?' .Different outlook to laziness/bodgery over there on the whole it seems to me,they don't have an inherent temptation to cut corners,and it shows in most things they do,especially engineering/tech.

Edited by BEAMS 162 on Saturday 2nd January 07:57

[300sl-24]

Any particularly good recommended dealers/importers around to consider purchasing from?

[Hol]

rossub said:

Docs were sent to DVLA for this earlier in the week. Will be interesting to see what kind of backlog there is...

Very nice.

I’ve not had an Impreza since I sold the ex BRD car back in 2008. But, I would be tempted back with something like this.

[Normodog]

300sl-24 said:

Any particularly good recommended dealers/importers around to consider purchasing from?

I did it a bit differently to the op. I used a company called respect motors. They are basically an agent that bids on cars on behalf of the customer.

On a daily basis we chatted through all the options coming up for auction the next day, they translated the auction sheets and gave me their recommendations. Then they bid and sort everything japan side.

Once it was on the boat I sorted a shipping agent this side to clear it through the docks (taxes and duty) for me and arranged forward transport to my home address.

Once I had they car, straight for mot, filled in the v55/5 to get it registered and sent off all supporting paperwork for the car.

Now just waiting for a registration to come through the post in the next few weeks.

My car is a 2004 Legacy Gt Auto (Grade 4b at auction) it has some nice bits on it, bilstein suspension, alloy arms, stainless exhaust. All in registered it's cost me £4100. A similar car through an importer like tgt would be around £6000-£7000.

[300sl-24]

Normodog said:

I did it a bit differently to the op. I used a company called respect motors. They are basically an agent that bids on cars on behalf of the customer.

On a daily basis we chatted through all the options coming up for auction the next day, they translated the auction sheets and gave me their recommendations. Then they bid and sort everything japan side.

Once it was on the boat I sorted a shipping agent this side to clear it through the docks (taxes and duty) for me and arranged forward transport to my home address.

Once I had they car, straight for mot, filled in the v55/5 to get it registered and sent off all supporting paperwork for the car.

Now just waiting for a registration to come through the post in the next few weeks.

My car is a 2004 Legacy Gt Auto (Grade 4b at auction) it has some nice bits on it, bilstein suspension, alloy arms, stainless exhaust. All in registered it's cost me £4100. A similar car through an importer like tgt would be around £6000-£7000.

Interesting, thanks for that information very much appreciated.

What sort of duties are payable? I assume 20%VAT? Is VAT paid on the whole purchase price?

Edited by 300sl-24 on Saturday 2nd January 11:25

[Normodog]

300sl-24 said:

Interesting, thanks for that information very much appreciated.

What sort of duties are payable? I assume 20%VAT? Is VAT paid on the whole purchase price?

Edited by 300sl-24 on Saturday 2nd January 11:25

As a rough guide take the total cost of the car and all fees in japan including the shipping. Around 30% of this cost will cover your agent fees, tax and duty this end.

[jwwbowe]

That looks awesome bet the OP can’t wait for delivery. An update would be most welcome.

Ref some of the discussion on the 3.0 EZ30 vs the 2.0 turbo EJ20 in these. We’ve had a Outback 3.0R with the EZ30 for four months now, it replaced a temperamental PITA of a MK7 Golf R Estate.

Obviously it is not as fast and the same would be true of the Liberty GT vs a 3.0 Legacy but it is by far the smoothest engine I have ever owned (S54 engined M3 included), coupled to a slush box it just gets on with it with no lag making it fantastic for wafting about. It depends what you want from the car ours gets used and abused as a family wagon. Another car provides the thrills, but this isn’t bad to hustle when the mood takes.

Our Outback is a UK car and you’re right it is a bit crusty underneath vs a JDM car, well worth investing in a proper Dintrol treatment. Think ours might get some new bits underneath and sent to this lot. Though as a UK car it gets heated child friendly leather vs cloth in a JDM car:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18...

Edited by jwwbowe on Saturday 2nd January 15:36

[MDMA .]

Little update. Been ill with the dreaded Covid 19 for the past couple of weeks. Back fighting fit again now. Cars had a pre MOT check and inspection as it's due to go for one later this week. Only thing that's been picked up on is both front lower control arm bushes are starting to perish/split and the brakes all round are well worn/near the limit.
I've got TGT to replace the bushes with Hardrace ones and got a full set of Dixcel discs and pads put on. Should fly through the MOT then it's just a case of waiting for the new V5.
Soon as I get it, I'll get Grinspeed to do the cambelt, fit front and rear Whiteline roll bars, antilift and roll centre kit on it. Then it'll go for the wheels to be fully refurbed in anthracite and a new set of Eagle F1 Supersport.

[d_a_n1979]

MDMA . said:

Little update. Been ill with the dreaded Covid 19 for the past couple of weeks. Back fighting fit again now. Cars had a pre MOT check and inspection as it's due to go for one later this week. Only thing that's been picked up on is both front lower control arm bushes are starting to perish/split and the brakes all round are well worn/near the limit.
I've got TGT to replace the bushes with Hardrace ones and got a full set of Dixcel discs and pads put on. Should fly through the MOT then it's just a case of waiting for the new V5.
Soon as I get it, I'll get Grinspeed to do the cambelt, fit front and rear Whiteline roll bars, antilift and roll centre kit on it. Then it'll go for the wheels to be fully refurbed in anthracite and a new set of Eagle F1 Supersport.

Nice!

Are you up this way pal?

Let me know when it's going into Stevie for him to work his magic and if allowed; I'll pop along to sup his coffee

[MDMA .]

d_a_n1979 said:

Nice!

Are you up this way pal?

Let me know when it's going into Stevie for him to work his magic and if allowed; I'll pop along to sup his coffee

Just on the other side of Wigan. Soon as I get word it's registered and ready to collect, it will be going straight to Grinspeed so I know it's all sorted regarding the belts etc.

[d_a_n1979]

MDMA . said:

d_a_n1979 said:

Nice!

Are you up this way pal?

Let me know when it's going into Stevie for him to work his magic and if allowed; I'll pop along to sup his coffee

Just on the other side of Wigan. Soon as I get word it's registered and ready to collect, it will be going straight to Grinspeed so I know it's all sorted regarding the belts etc.

Perfect; sounds like a plan

[MDMA .]

Spoke to TGT on Friday. Going to be at least another month wait for the DVLA. Seems to be dragging on a bit now. Just want to get it home and get started on it.

[Pebbles167]

I've kept coming back to this thread, and decided to get in on the action.

Found a nice WR for the right price, got a few little niggles to sort but nothing major. So far seems like a brilliant car!

Hope you get yours soon.

[Normodog]

MDMA . said:

Spoke to TGT on Friday. Going to be at least another month wait for the DVLA. Seems to be dragging on a bit now. Just want to get it home and get started on it.

Think we are about the same place in the process, I submitted 4 weeks ago, called the dvla to check progress.

They haven't started it yet. They said it's taking around 8 weeks at the moment and to call back after then if the registration hasn't come through.

[rossub]

Strange. Only took 5 weeks for the Impreza and that was over Xmas too.

[MDMA .]

rossub said:

Strange. Only took 5 weeks for the Impreza and that was over Xmas too.

Was expecting it by now but never mind. Had a few quotes to have it collected and delivered to me. Big range in prices! Have pre booked a company we use at work and they'll have it picked up on a covered trailer for me. Just need to give them a few days notice. £335 from Devon to Wigan.

[MDMA .]

Pebbles167 said:

I've kept coming back to this thread, and decided to get in on the action.

Found a nice WR for the right price, got a few little niggles to sort but nothing major. So far seems like a brilliant car!

Hope you get yours soon.

Looks like a good one. Brembos too.