Tell the world a little bit about your vehicle
Having spent most of my car career with a growing family , it was time for a change, the kids had grown up and I wanted a bit of fun, I hear shouts of ÂMid-Life CrisisÂ, as I advanced into my spreading waistline. I had been around the houses with Peugeot, Renault, Mitsubishi and a couple of VW SaloonÂs, BMWÂs and Mk2 Golf GTi 8VÂs but I was on the look out for something slightly out of the norm, not many about and with the uumph I had been missing. My mate Phil had just bought a Classic Sport in white and but had no idea about Subaru but I really liked the car, even as a Sport I loved the traction and the noise was just what I had been missing. and fell in love.
A few days later a P/X was done and I was the owner of a T Plate Classic Wagon in silver (I had to consider the dog), leather, sun roof and all the toys. As a newbie I did not do to much but the standard exhaust had to go and then the bug, literally set in. 12 months later a Silver saloon Bug Eye ended up on the drive with some really good OE bitÂs added, PFF 7Âs, WR backbox, UK 300 spoiler, UK 300 Prodrive headlights and a re-map made for an interesting car but I still needed some more and I was neglecting the dog. Another 12 months and a WR Blue Bugeye with full leather was on the drive ( I even got the dealer to swap the wheels, lights and backbox!) and this time I stepped up the ÂtweakingÂ. Re-map, STi suspension, STi intercooler, STi Suspension and BREMBOÂs nearly completed the quest,
But no! Once more, again 12 months later, I saw a JDM WR Ltd Legacy Spec B in WR Blue on Litchfields stand at JapFest which stole my heart, I had the performance at last, stealthy in the extreme and an awesome spec and the space again for the dog. Settled      .
No! Sometime before at a joint WMS and SWS meet I had faced a Forester STi in WR Blue and got quite excited! But at the time the price was a bit fruity for me but for some reason I knew it was the toy I could dream about        ..but one day.
So, when a WR Blue Forester STi became available at Ian Litchfields in June 2008 that I could afford I jumped at the chance. Ian made the swap completely painless, all done by telephone and fax (I would recommend his services to anyone). I picked up the car got the full tour from Tim and was off. The first owner had the car from 4500 miles and the service history was spot on, it even detailed the Waxoyl, tyre fitting, ICE upgrade and all the receipts from the servicing garage with the mechanics names!
Leaving Litchfields I was quite nervous in that the most I had handled before was 280 BHP of the Legacy, the twin scroll being very flexible. What a shock I got when I floored the Forester on the slip road down on to the M5, how I got to the outside lane is anyoneÂs guess. The shove and noise was just jaw dropping, the noise from the Induction Kit was very cheeky. I could not get over the snug seats, the taut suspension and the response from the steering, it runs very flat through corners too. LetÂs not forget this is a Newage Impreza chassis but with about 70kg extra with a quoted 0-60 as 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph! Go on You Tube and type in ÂForester STi and see the Fifth Gear test, and all is revealed. With no DCCD it can get very lively on roundabouts but is easily corrected with a bit of lift off and steer, large grins all round. It can attract some unwanted attention but when you overtake and wave wearing a flatcap it can raise a smile and laugh. Some of the big Germans find it a bit annoying too! The other half uses it regularly on trips to the recycle centre and rubbish tip (yes it getÂs used like a real car all year round) and living in a rural area the farmers do have a good look
Being a JDM itÂs got all the usual stuff like folding mirrors and heated wipers as standard, but the grandson is a big fan of the reclining rear seats. The front seats are the same as a Spec C being black alcantra and black cloth but are great on a long run. or one of the club runs into mid Wales. Most things that I would have wanted on the car where already there on purchase. Apart from the auxiliary fan and some cosmetic items itÂs pretty much there or thereabouts. Anyone who read the Top Trumps in Issue 6 of Total Impreza will see the glowing report on the Foggy, and I would like to echo the comments that IM where mad when they said no to importing them, there loss.
So, the future. AST when the current stuff wears out is a possibility. Until then a Whiteline front ARB and drop links. perhaps a bit more BHP to 350 and get myself a ÂRing time with an autobahn blast later in 2009.
Engine/Drivetrain Modifications:
JDM EJ25 2.5 l
IHI VF41 Turbo
Unequal length headers
6 Speed gearbox
WR Blue
Litchfield Performance Pack with Full Milltek 3ÂÂ System and Sports Cat
330 BHP 350 ftlbs TorqueZero Sport Cold Air Induction Kit
Auxillary Fan for the Induction Kit
Zero Sport Slam Panel
STi Coolant Cap
STi Forester Battery Bar
STi Oil filler cap
STi Intercooler hose
STi BREMBO Calipers Front and Rear
Goodridge Braided Brake Hoses
Grooved front discs 330 mm
Suspension Modifications:
STi Struts
STi Pink Springs
Whiteline front strut Brace with quick release bolts
Whiteline rear adjustable ARB
Whiteline rear solid drop links
Wheels/Tires Modifications:
STi Forester Alloys 18 x 225 x 45 with RE040 Bridgestones in the shed
White INOVIT Tarmacs 225 x 40 x 18 with Toyo T1Rs fitted
Interior/Exterior Modifications:
STi Monogramed Black alcantra and cloth seats
Reclining rear seats
STi Steering Wheel
HID Headlights
GReddy Infometer
Forester Pocket Single DIN
Alpine ICE (single DIN) with uprated speakers
Smoke rear windows
Green integrated sunscreen windscreen
Heated wipers
Folding and heated mirrors
Reverse bleeper
Rear load cover and Subaru rubber boot matt
Dog bars
ISOFIX seat anchors
60/40 rear seats
WRX Mudflaps
Waxoyled
Trackstar and immobiliser
WR Blue Poppy Coral Read more »