My new daily hack! - Forester STI.
16 August 2017, 05:44 PM
#333
Three cars is a good plan, or more if there's money and space to keep them! We have the commuter Nissan Leaf (quiet, comfortable, cheap to run and the wife loves driving it), the Impreza wagon (for long trips, lugging stuff and some fun for me) and a 62 Isetta bubble car, which fits the smelly/oily/old category, although it's not on the road yet.
Would also like to add some sort of camper van or big thing capable of towing a trailer with a little race car on it :-)
Would also like to add some sort of camper van or big thing capable of towing a trailer with a little race car on it :-)
Need pictures of the Isetta please. I love a bit of oily smelly motoring. Can't beat it!
Camper van is very much still on my list of things to buy, although my next toy may either be a bike engine mini of a stupid drag engine classic beetle, possibly an oval bug.
17 August 2017, 01:06 AM
#334
Need pictures of the Isetta please. I love a bit of oily smelly motoring. Can't beat it!
Camper van is very much still on my list of things to buy, although my next toy may either be a bike engine mini of a stupid drag engine classic beetle, possibly an oval bug.
Camper van is very much still on my list of things to buy, although my next toy may either be a bike engine mini of a stupid drag engine classic beetle, possibly an oval bug.
17 August 2017, 07:57 AM
#335
I am seriously considering a 04 model at the moment which torgue GT have in, got some questions for the guys in the know. 
Just like you bud I have a hawk STi with a modest 330/350, which i wont be able to keep, are FSTIs really as capable as a impreza?
I for the life of me cant find out whether they have DCCD or HID lights either
Bottom line, if your hawk and FSTi were in front of you now and you had to choose only one which would it be?
Just like you bud I have a hawk STi with a modest 330/350, which i wont be able to keep, are FSTIs really as capable as a impreza?
I for the life of me cant find out whether they have DCCD or HID lights either
Bottom line, if your hawk and FSTi were in front of you now and you had to choose only one which would it be?
17 August 2017, 10:19 AM
#336
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2004
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I had an 07 Facelift Litchfield Foz STi, and am now in an 07 Hawk STi.
My Foz had HID's but did not have DCCD.
With standard suspension the FSTi will definitely keep an Impreza honest. Mine was certainly more compliant so I could just focus on corner entries and exits, where in the Impreza I'm worried about every pothole and it bouncing me off the road. I'm unsure if the Foz has inverted struts like the STi.
The longer 6th gear also helped and I'd regularly see 35 mpg on long trips.
If I had the choice of either brand new, or my current car vs my old Foz, I'm taking the hearse
My Foz had HID's but did not have DCCD.
With standard suspension the FSTi will definitely keep an Impreza honest. Mine was certainly more compliant so I could just focus on corner entries and exits, where in the Impreza I'm worried about every pothole and it bouncing me off the road. I'm unsure if the Foz has inverted struts like the STi.
The longer 6th gear also helped and I'd regularly see 35 mpg on long trips.
If I had the choice of either brand new, or my current car vs my old Foz, I'm taking the hearse
17 August 2017, 10:30 AM
#337
Big pics, sorry.
2007
Did some work myself at a welding class
Chassis stripped and powdercoated
Front suspension rebuilt
Going to the body shop
Coming back
Wheels on
In the stable
Head with the rockers off
17 August 2017, 10:37 AM
#338
Yeh I saw that one, it looks really good. I'm not a fan of aircooled splits or beetles with Subaru conversions in general as the install and cooling always compromise the finished car, but the T25 lends itself well to that conversion.
Your Isetta looks amazing. Some really great work gone into it already by the looks of things. Can't be too far off the road now surely? I love that colour combo too. Looks class!
Your Isetta looks amazing. Some really great work gone into it already by the looks of things. Can't be too far off the road now surely? I love that colour combo too. Looks class!
17 August 2017, 10:46 AM
#339
I am seriously considering a 04 model at the moment which torgue GT have in, got some questions for the guys in the know.
Just like you bud I have a hawk STi with a modest 330/350, which i wont be able to keep, are FSTIs really as capable as a impreza?
I for the life of me cant find out whether they have DCCD or HID lights either
Bottom line, if your hawk and FSTi were in front of you now and you had to choose only one which would it be?
Just like you bud I have a hawk STi with a modest 330/350, which i wont be able to keep, are FSTIs really as capable as a impreza?
I for the life of me cant find out whether they have DCCD or HID lights either
Bottom line, if your hawk and FSTi were in front of you now and you had to choose only one which would it be?
My previous car before the FSTI was a 2006 hawk with 334bhp & 381 lb/ft and it was amazing. Loved it. Purchased it from the main dealer when it was 1 year old and didn't consider selling it.
I then bought the FSTI as a toy and another commuter car. At first I was underwhelmed by the performance as it only had 280bhp ish and was not happy with the pedders suspension that had been fitted by the previous owner. It was even softer than the standard FSTI suspension (so I'm told). But, after changing and upgrading all the suspension myself it transformed the car. Even with less power than the impreza I fell in love with the Foz and slowly stopped using the impreza. Was weird. Now the Foz has the same power delivery as the impreza I absolutely love the Foz compared to the old hawk.
If I had the 2 sat side by side I'd pick the Foz again every time. The FSTI's are still appreciating in value currently due to their rarity & practicality. Sadly, Imprezas are still depreciating.
17 August 2017, 10:54 AM
#340
Every year I say 'It will be on the road this year'...that might actually come true at some point soon
17 August 2017, 10:57 AM
#341
Yes it is, GT40 gulf colours. Love it!
Make yourself a deadline of a show to attend. Nothing like a target to get a project completed. I need to get my **** in gear to get my bug MOTd ready for VW Action in a couple of weeks time. Of course this won't happen, but you never know!
Make yourself a deadline of a show to attend. Nothing like a target to get a project completed. I need to get my **** in gear to get my bug MOTd ready for VW Action in a couple of weeks time. Of course this won't happen, but you never know!
17 August 2017, 12:30 PM
#342
Yeah, I keep saying Goodwood Revival but never end up buying tickets, and then my wife keeps having conferences the same weekend anyway!
17 August 2017, 12:42 PM
#343
Yep, great show. I missed the deadline for tickets this year but I'm on the text reminder list now so will definitely be going next year.
Although with tickets costing that much I'm not sure if I want to risk not making it there in the bug!
17 August 2017, 01:31 PM
#344
My previous car before the FSTI was a 2006 hawk with 334bhp & 381 lb/ft and it was amazing. Loved it. Purchased it from the main dealer when it was 1 year old and didn't consider selling it.
I then bought the FSTI as a toy and another commuter car. At first I was underwhelmed by the performance as it only had 280bhp ish and was not happy with the pedders suspension that had been fitted by the previous owner. It was even softer than the standard FSTI suspension (so I'm told). But, after changing and upgrading all the suspension myself it transformed the car. Even with less power than the impreza I fell in love with the Foz and slowly stopped using the impreza. Was weird. Now the Foz has the same power delivery as the impreza I absolutely love the Foz compared to the old hawk.
If I had the 2 sat side by side I'd pick the Foz again every time. The FSTI's are still appreciating in value currently due to their rarity & practicality. Sadly, Imprezas are still depreciating.
I then bought the FSTI as a toy and another commuter car. At first I was underwhelmed by the performance as it only had 280bhp ish and was not happy with the pedders suspension that had been fitted by the previous owner. It was even softer than the standard FSTI suspension (so I'm told). But, after changing and upgrading all the suspension myself it transformed the car. Even with less power than the impreza I fell in love with the Foz and slowly stopped using the impreza. Was weird. Now the Foz has the same power delivery as the impreza I absolutely love the Foz compared to the old hawk.
If I had the 2 sat side by side I'd pick the Foz again every time. The FSTI's are still appreciating in value currently due to their rarity & practicality. Sadly, Imprezas are still depreciating.
Thanks for being so candid, the more I look at them (particularly your build) the more I want one
Can you map using the standard ECU on these?
17 August 2017, 01:37 PM
#345
Yes, you can map the standard ECU on these. But the ECU is one of the 1st drive by wire ECU's that Subaru did. In such it's got a very old processor and very early drive by wire software. As yet nobody has written a cracked version that unlocks other features such as maffless, flat shifting, throttle blipping, anti-slag, launch control etc. I don't need any of those functions so it doesn't bother me at all.
22 August 2017, 11:37 AM
#349
Pic of the widetrack surround fitted to mine. Really finishes it off.
They only started fitting them to imprezas on the widetrack models from late 2004 onwards so were probably not considered when they put the FSTI together from the large STI parts bins they had around them at the time.
They only started fitting them to imprezas on the widetrack models from late 2004 onwards so were probably not considered when they put the FSTI together from the large STI parts bins they had around them at the time.
22 August 2017, 11:41 AM
#350
Also started freshening up the exterior of my car now. Both foglight covers now de-stone chipped and 1 completely re-painted to remove all the minor stone chips. Will be slowly working my way round the car to get all the little (minor) bits and bobs painted (if I can). Difficult as it's my daily and can't be out of action.
22 August 2017, 12:56 PM
#351
Pic of the widetrack surround fitted to mine. Really finishes it off.
They only started fitting them to imprezas on the widetrack models from late 2004 onwards so were probably not considered when they put the FSTI together from the large STI parts bins they had around them at the time.
They only started fitting them to imprezas on the widetrack models from late 2004 onwards so were probably not considered when they put the FSTI together from the large STI parts bins they had around them at the time.
25 August 2017, 10:34 AM
#353
The front screen is finally! Genuine Subaru FSTI screen and genuine Subaru seal fitted. Also very pleased to say that the shell under the seal was absolutely immaculate. All original paint, no scratches, no signs of rust al all. Perfect condition.
Look. No Glory hole!
Thank god that's sorted.
Look. No Glory hole!
Thank god that's sorted.
25 August 2017, 06:55 PM
#359
Scooby Regular
Antenna for gps? Or something
Last edited by ZANY; 25 August 2017 at 06:56 PM.
29 August 2017, 10:40 AM
#360
Nope, that's on the dash behind the pod. Think there were a couple of stickers I forgot to retain.
One of the previous owners had fitted a stick on DAB aerial and a stick on TV aerial on the top of the window on either side which I never used. Glad they are finally gone now.
So this weekend was the turn of the scoop and grill to get the full re-paint treatment.
Grill taken apart and in base coat.
Scoop had some areas of paint missing when I bought the car and was never happy. So was stripped, sanded and put in base coat too.
Now lacquered, flatted, polished and re-fitted. Also stripped the grill mesh trim assembly apart to paint the surround trim rota bronze to match my wheels.
Sorted!
One of the previous owners had fitted a stick on DAB aerial and a stick on TV aerial on the top of the window on either side which I never used. Glad they are finally gone now.
So this weekend was the turn of the scoop and grill to get the full re-paint treatment.
Grill taken apart and in base coat.
Scoop had some areas of paint missing when I bought the car and was never happy. So was stripped, sanded and put in base coat too.
Now lacquered, flatted, polished and re-fitted. Also stripped the grill mesh trim assembly apart to paint the surround trim rota bronze to match my wheels.
Sorted!
Last edited by BrownPantsRacing; 29 August 2017 at 10:41 AM.