RE: Subaru Forester STI: Spotted

RE: Subaru Forester STI: Spotted

Author
Discussion

TEKNOPUG

18,974 posts

206 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
Sa Calobra said:
sledge68 said:
What's a cross sport? I know someone with a standard 2.5T Forester. Is it this without the lowering and performance?
The XT was the original performance Forester, based on the 2.0 WRX. In 2004 the rest of the world went to the 2.5l engine and also the STi was introduced (with 2.5l). The Cross Sport is basically a JDM XT post 2004 but still with the 2.0 EJ20. Whereas all other markets have the 2.5 XT post 2004.

rossub

4,465 posts

191 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
sledge68 said:
A Cross Sport and STI Forester are 2 different cars.

rossub said:
Yes, it’s here now - waiting for Mot and registration.

Bought at auction as grade 4B with 49k miles. Costing me £6.5k from an importer local to me that does it part time (no warranty). It’s manual too, so rare and a good price for one of them. Autos are plentiful.

Identical one here, albeit in grey and £8k. Has a warranty though.

https://www.quayvehiclesolutions.com/used-cars/sub...

Edited by rossub on Sunday 20th January 17:32
Have you read the whole thread? I do know that laugh

V8RX7

26,912 posts

264 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
TEKNOPUG said:
The XT was the original performance Forester, based on the 2.0 WRX.

In 2004 the rest of the world went to the 2.5l engine and also the STi was introduced (with 2.5l).

The Cross Sport is basically a JDM XT post 2004 but still with the 2.0 EJ20. Whereas all other markets have the 2.5 XT post 2004.
IIRC it was the later 2.5 that had issues the early ones didn't.

Mine was an early UK car with IIRC 175bhp as std, it also had 3 cats as standard.

As I have a friendly tester I removed them and upgraded to a stainless downpipe / exhaust and the difference was very obvious, I only remapped it as I was concerned it could be running lean.

Remapped to 275bhp with presumably more torque and faster response due to the additional 500cc and the smaller turbo, so IMO more usable than 2.0


SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

235 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
How are they for rust resitance? I assume with a full cavity wax etc they should be OK to run through the depths of winter?

Far more appealing than many family cars to be honest.

rossub

4,465 posts

191 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
I'm getting mine fully undersealed with Dinitrol. Probably circa £450.

Subaru subframes/cross members/bumper bars/arches are notorious for rotting away, but fresh imports can be preserved by spending a decent amount up front.

TEKNOPUG

18,974 posts

206 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
V8RX7 said:
TEKNOPUG said:
The XT was the original performance Forester, based on the 2.0 WRX.

In 2004 the rest of the world went to the 2.5l engine and also the STi was introduced (with 2.5l).

The Cross Sport is basically a JDM XT post 2004 but still with the 2.0 EJ20. Whereas all other markets have the 2.5 XT post 2004.
IIRC it was the later 2.5 that had issues the early ones didn't.

Mine was an early UK car with IIRC 175bhp as std, it also had 3 cats as standard.

As I have a friendly tester I removed them and upgraded to a stainless downpipe / exhaust and the difference was very obvious, I only remapped it as I was concerned it could be running lean.

Remapped to 275bhp with presumably more torque and faster response due to the additional 500cc and the smaller turbo, so IMO more usable than 2.0
Same turbo - TD04 on both the 2.0 and 2.5. The 2.0XT is an EJ20 WRX engine albeit it with softer cams and less agressive map. They go to 260+ with obligatory supporting mods on the stock turbo.

ericmcn

1,999 posts

98 months

Monday 21st January 2019
quotequote all
rossub said:
I'm getting mine fully undersealed with Dinitrol. Probably circa £450.

Subaru subframes/cross members/bumper bars/arches are notorious for rotting away, but fresh imports can be preserved by spending a decent amount up front.
this is under body from my Legacy last year while getting a SS exhaust fitted, no rust on mine (UK car) and its an 08 reg, many cars of that age are in bits but Subarus certainly are well put together - I have considered getting some underbody seal but never got around to it


SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

235 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2019
quotequote all
rossub said:
I'm getting mine fully undersealed with Dinitrol. Probably circa £450.

Subaru subframes/cross members/bumper bars/arches are notorious for rotting away, but fresh imports can be preserved by spending a decent amount up front.
Enjoy in good health!

That's the approach I take to all my older cars, irrespective of make. Prevention is the best way.

Black Forresters do look quite cool. Unfortunately I now have a one in, one out policy so won't be getting one in the short term. I do keep an eye on these as well as VI RS's.

marcom44

45 posts

105 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2019
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I really wanted a STI Forester but the interiors are really low rent, I now have an Audi S4 Avant expensive to maintain etc but the interior is a different league premiership v rymans league. They are great cars and very popular here in NZ where anything German is cheap once about 10 years old.

TEKNOPUG

18,974 posts

206 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2019
quotequote all
marcom44 said:
I really wanted a STI Forester but the interiors are really low rent, I now have an Audi S4 Avant expensive to maintain etc but the interior is a different league premiership v rymans league. They are great cars and very popular here in NZ where anything German is cheap once about 10 years old.
That's be because Subaru spent all the money on engineering and quality mechanicals, rather than soft touch plastics...

Sa Calobra

37,185 posts

212 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2019
quotequote all
marcom44 said:
I really wanted a STI Forester but the interiors are really low rent, I now have an Audi S4 Avant expensive to maintain etc but the interior is a different league premiership v rymans league. They are great cars and very popular here in NZ where anything German is cheap once about 10 years old.
You seek comfort, image over driving Dynamics. No problem with that, the Forester is very 90's looking with it's interior but it's got more soul; you hear and feel everything whereas the S4 is quick but numb.

Sadly I've heard that said about the RS6 too which is a car I'd really really want otherwise.

V8RX7

26,912 posts

264 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2019
quotequote all
Sa Calobra said:
marcom44 said:
I really wanted a STI Forester but the interiors are really low rent, I now have an Audi S4 Avant expensive to maintain etc but the interior is a different league premiership v rymans league. They are great cars and very popular here in NZ where anything German is cheap once about 10 years old.
You seek comfort, image over driving Dynamics. No problem with that, the Forester is very 90's looking with it's interior but it's got more soul; you hear and feel everything whereas

the S4 is quick but numb.
I thought the same of the Forester

I'd hoped it was closer to a Mk1 Impreza

Sa Calobra

37,185 posts

212 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2019
quotequote all
Different car. I know what you mean though.

kurtz15

6 posts

190 months

Tuesday 22nd January 2019
quotequote all
30+ mpg 😂

Try 18 at best... tuned to 337bhp though.

Loved it but just soooo thirsty.

Prices are inflated. 10k tops for a1

yellowstreak

617 posts

153 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2019
quotequote all
kurtz15 said:
30+ mpg ??

Try 18 at best... tuned to 337bhp though.

Loved it but just soooo thirsty.

Prices are inflated. 10k tops for a1
Agreed! I get between 18 and 23. There's no point in having a relatively inefficient engine like a boxer and squeaking every last mile out of a gallon!

They do seem a bit overpriced, but their price is supported by an increase in all the other Japanese cars.

Jim on the hill

5,072 posts

191 months

Wednesday 23rd January 2019
quotequote all
yellowstreak said:
kurtz15 said:
30+ mpg ??

Try 18 at best... tuned to 337bhp though.

Loved it but just soooo thirsty.

Prices are inflated. 10k tops for a1
Agreed! I get between 18 and 23. There's no point in having a relatively inefficient engine like a boxer and squeaking every last mile out of a gallon!

They do seem a bit overpriced, but their price is supported by an increase in all the other Japanese cars.
30 is attainable if driven sensibly, I've seen it before on long motorway routes. Always amazing me that if you get decent MPG people think you are "squeaking every last mile out of a gallon" that was 80-85mph through Europe.

My R34 engined R32 did 6mpg so the Foz feels super economical to me even if driven hard biggrin

Edited by Jim on the hill on Wednesday 23 January 20:08

Sa Calobra

37,185 posts

212 months

Friday 25th January 2019
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My old Forester passed it's MOT again today with zero advisories biggrin

airchie

6 posts

166 months

Friday 25th January 2019
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I'm sure this will upset a lot of people on here, from the JDM purists through to the petrolheads, but I reckon this would be the perfect car to convert to electric. Or more specifically, a standard non-turbo Foz base car. It keeps all the best things about the car and addresses all the short-comings.

So you get rid of the issues with lag and economy and really get the 4WD working for you.
And in non-turbo trim it'll be a great sleeper. smile

V8RX7

26,912 posts

264 months

Friday 25th January 2019
quotequote all
airchie said:
I'm sure this will upset a lot of people on here, from the JDM purists through to the petrolheads, but I reckon this would be the perfect car to convert to electric. Or more specifically, a standard non-turbo Foz base car. It keeps all the best things about the car and addresses all the short-comings.

So you get rid of the issues with lag and economy and really get the 4WD working for you.
And in non-turbo trim it'll be a great sleeper. smile
It wouldn't bother me, I'd be intrigued to know what the payback time would be though - I suspect - never

deltashad

6,731 posts

198 months

Friday 25th January 2019
quotequote all
Its not a pretty car but the concept is brilliant. Perfect for the wife and a bit of DIY shopping.