My new daily hack! - Forester STI.
31 August 2017, 01:34 PM
#363
Scooby Regular
Superb job sir BPR 
12 October 2017, 06:01 PM
#366
Thanks mate.
Been fiddling with things on the car and tinkering, but nothing big for a little while. I wasn't happy with a slight mark I put on the grill paint job when I was trying to get my kids out of the way of the drying paint, so I completely stripped it and did it again. I also purchased a couple more fog lamp covers that came up for sale (as I know how rare these are). I stripped them and painted them to match the car.
I then had some bespoke STI stickers made for the doors and fog covers in a bronze colour to compliment the wheels and painted the front & rear STI badges to suit. I've also fitted a couple of my own BrownPantsRacing stickers on now very subtly.
I'll post up a few pics if I get a chance tomorrow.
Been fiddling with things on the car and tinkering, but nothing big for a little while. I wasn't happy with a slight mark I put on the grill paint job when I was trying to get my kids out of the way of the drying paint, so I completely stripped it and did it again. I also purchased a couple more fog lamp covers that came up for sale (as I know how rare these are). I stripped them and painted them to match the car.
I then had some bespoke STI stickers made for the doors and fog covers in a bronze colour to compliment the wheels and painted the front & rear STI badges to suit. I've also fitted a couple of my own BrownPantsRacing stickers on now very subtly.
I'll post up a few pics if I get a chance tomorrow.
13 October 2017, 11:06 AM
#367
Grill re-painted and STI logo detailed.
Rear tailgate STI logo done.
New bespoke door stickers done.
New fog covers painted and fitted with new bespoke STI stickers.
All cleaned and ready for Trax show a few weeks ago.
At Trax with Matty and his beast.
Not too much planned at the moment as I've been rebuilding my garage, rewiring and building benches etc in my spare time.
Still plan to upgrade the stereo as I have a full Hertz front and rear component speaker system to install, the sub, amp etc too. I'll get round to that at some point.
Apart from that I've really been enjoying the car. She is just amazing to drive daily now. Can honestly say it's probably the best car I've ever owned now. Faultless.
Cheers
Rear tailgate STI logo done.
New bespoke door stickers done.
New fog covers painted and fitted with new bespoke STI stickers.
All cleaned and ready for Trax show a few weeks ago.
At Trax with Matty and his beast.
Not too much planned at the moment as I've been rebuilding my garage, rewiring and building benches etc in my spare time.
Still plan to upgrade the stereo as I have a full Hertz front and rear component speaker system to install, the sub, amp etc too. I'll get round to that at some point.
Apart from that I've really been enjoying the car. She is just amazing to drive daily now. Can honestly say it's probably the best car I've ever owned now. Faultless.
Cheers
13 October 2017, 11:56 AM
#368
Scooby Regular
I don't see the subtle BPR decals bro??
Or was you talking about the sti ones you've had made?
Which look sikkk pal
Or was you talking about the sti ones you've had made?
Which look sikkk pal
13 October 2017, 11:56 AM
#369
Scooby Regular
Aaaah just got a glimps
13 October 2017, 12:14 PM
#370
Yeh I had all the stickers and logos redone how I wanted them and had 2 of my own BrownPantsRacing logo stickers made up too.
I designed my BrownPantsRacing logo some 20 years ago now when I used to race classic A series mini's back in the day. I've used that name ever since.
One on the front & one on the back. Subtle.
I designed my BrownPantsRacing logo some 20 years ago now when I used to race classic A series mini's back in the day. I've used that name ever since.
One on the front & one on the back. Subtle.
13 October 2017, 01:15 PM
#371
Scooby Regular
03 November 2017, 12:37 PM
#375
I can do either as I still have the original wheels, steering wheel and few other bits tucked away in my various man caves. Will most likely sell as it is with everything on it for the right deal.
To be honest, it's not advertised and I'm in no hurry and not going to push it. I love the car and if I end up driving it for another couple of years then so be it! It'll be another 2 years of great motoring.
I've had so many cars over the years and I can hand on heart say this is one of the best if not the best car I've ever owned. Helped by the £6k I've ploughed into it in the last couple of years.
To be honest, it's not advertised and I'm in no hurry and not going to push it. I love the car and if I end up driving it for another couple of years then so be it! It'll be another 2 years of great motoring.
I've had so many cars over the years and I can hand on heart say this is one of the best if not the best car I've ever owned. Helped by the £6k I've ploughed into it in the last couple of years.
04 November 2017, 12:17 AM
#377
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Aylesbury
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Oh, and I suppose I should say something along the lines of "it'll be a sad day in Bucks if / when you move on..." blah, blah 
I'll also allow you to stand at the end of my drive and look at my motor if you need a fix
I'll also allow you to stand at the end of my drive and look at my motor if you need a fix
06 November 2017, 09:00 AM
#378
haha. Thanks mate. Had Subaru's for 10 years and been the longest I've spent in one single marque. Don't wish to leave the clan / weird family to be honest, but Subaru just don't make anything in their current line up that ticks as many boxes as the FSTI and gets the blood pumping as much! So I've been toying with the idea of a C63 for some time. Probably won't happen. 
Hand off my steering wheel!!!!!!
Hand off my steering wheel!!!!!!
06 November 2017, 11:49 AM
#379
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I know what you mean - only the BRZ grabs me in the Subaru stakes at the moment, but with 2 dogs I'd either have to have 2 cars or just the Forester. Trouble is, I wouldn't know what to jump ship to anyway and it's handy having the garage 1 mile up the road.
06 November 2017, 12:34 PM
#381
Yep I like the BRZ too, looks like it could be great fun. Before we had kids, my wife had an RX8 and the BRZ reminds me of that car in many ways. Sensibly powered (not excessive) coupe/sports car that's just great fun to drive without trying to kill you.
Also, been very happy with our local Subaru garage. They've been great.
The C63 I'm looking at is a 4 door saloon, which coupled with the wife's 4 door saloon means I would potentially lose a lot of flexibility. I really love the flexibility of the FSTI and the package as an all-rounder.
Yep, mine did too! hahaha.
09 November 2017, 07:50 PM
#382
Scooby Regular
23 February 2018, 02:29 PM
#385
So it's probably time for a long overdue project update.
I still have the car (for the moment as I really do fancy a C63 at some point). I’m still using it daily and I still absolutely love this car every time I get into it. There is something about the Subaru marque I just love and something about this car that just feels special to drive.
A couple of weekends ago I felt the very early start of clutch slip in the car as it was going uphill at full throttle heavily loaded. It was only ever so slight and I haven’t felt it again since.
With that in mind I contacted Alyn at AS Performance for a quote on a new clutch and a few other bits and pieces.
I have the Perrin 6 speed quick shift kit fitted to the car (which is great) and have the Perrin lower shifter uprated bushes fitted too now. It’s completely stopped any unwanted gear selector slop front to back, but not side to side. After MUCH research it turns out that the FSTI gear selector universal joint is different to an Impreza, standard Forester, or STI. Typical. This means that the up-rated bushes are just not available for it. Thankfully someone from UKForester.com was able to measure their selector UJ removed from their 2004 FSTI with the same chassis code as mine, so I was able to do a drawing of the new uprated selector bush parts required for mine. See below.
Alyn is now making these for me and supplying these with a few extra parts.
So I’ve just ordered:
Exedy pink box uprated clutch kit for 6 speed
AS Performance Ultra-light billet flywheel
Forester STI AS Performance (BrownPantsRacing) shifter bush kit
New Rear shifter steady assembly
Millers CRX 75/90 gearbox oil
Millers LS diff oil
All of this will be fitted by Rich @ FB Tuning asap after the parts gets here.
J
I still have the car (for the moment as I really do fancy a C63 at some point). I’m still using it daily and I still absolutely love this car every time I get into it. There is something about the Subaru marque I just love and something about this car that just feels special to drive.
A couple of weekends ago I felt the very early start of clutch slip in the car as it was going uphill at full throttle heavily loaded. It was only ever so slight and I haven’t felt it again since.
With that in mind I contacted Alyn at AS Performance for a quote on a new clutch and a few other bits and pieces.
I have the Perrin 6 speed quick shift kit fitted to the car (which is great) and have the Perrin lower shifter uprated bushes fitted too now. It’s completely stopped any unwanted gear selector slop front to back, but not side to side. After MUCH research it turns out that the FSTI gear selector universal joint is different to an Impreza, standard Forester, or STI. Typical. This means that the up-rated bushes are just not available for it. Thankfully someone from UKForester.com was able to measure their selector UJ removed from their 2004 FSTI with the same chassis code as mine, so I was able to do a drawing of the new uprated selector bush parts required for mine. See below.
Alyn is now making these for me and supplying these with a few extra parts.
So I’ve just ordered:
Exedy pink box uprated clutch kit for 6 speed
AS Performance Ultra-light billet flywheel
Forester STI AS Performance (BrownPantsRacing) shifter bush kit
New Rear shifter steady assembly
Millers CRX 75/90 gearbox oil
Millers LS diff oil
All of this will be fitted by Rich @ FB Tuning asap after the parts gets here.
J
23 February 2018, 03:19 PM
#388
Scooby Regular
I'll be interested in hearing what you think of the lightened flywheel - I've heard a couple of reports from Fox owners who weren't too keen on how it changed the feel of the clutch.
Sounds like you're still having fun
Sounds like you're still having fun
23 February 2018, 03:35 PM
#389
I'm sure it'll be fine. I've owned silly cars with paddle clutches and ultra light flywheel before that I've ended up using as daily cars with no issues. It's what you get used to.
I also asked Alyn and Rich @ FB on their opinion on lightweight flywheels and they both said it was a mod well worth doing in their experience. So I went for it!
I'll report back once fitted and bedded in to let you know.
I also asked Alyn and Rich @ FB on their opinion on lightweight flywheels and they both said it was a mod well worth doing in their experience. So I went for it!
I'll report back once fitted and bedded in to let you know.
