Originally Posted by bonesetter (Post 11338833)

Thanks for coming there Fivos

Would you know what that means to a layman like me?

Originally Posted by bonesetter (Post 11013025)

After owning more Impreza's than sense bares thinking about (including my current, and favourite of them all, 330 bhp Type R - as well as many other petrolhead cars), I recently bought a 2004, 2.5l Forester STi (320/340) and have to conclude it is something rather special, to the point where I think it edges out, over and above the Impreza as the better all-rounder...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v...-S255034-1.jpg

I say better all rounder, for all the following reasons as a whole package, a sort of synergy:

First & foremost, A/B-road blasting. With a combination of long travel and a well sorted and perhaps better OE STi tuned chassis, the Foz simply eats everything a typical rough & tumble UK B-road can throw at it. Hidden dips & high speed compressions are walkovers. Off camber drop offs, anything most other shorter travel or lowered suspension would need backing off from is a breeze, whilst also maintaining workable traction. With the Forester there's simply no drama (my car has OE shocks & dampers and these work just fine), no clunks, knocks, crashing, banging, wheels lifting or spinning, it just does it.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-C...-S255034-5.jpg

The suspension set-up is spot-on. I say spot on, although I did fit a stronger rear arb (Whiteline 22mm adjustable, set on middle) to trim the car's handling and dial out the factory set understeer. This has balanced the rotation beautifully, and other than that everything works just fine. I usually go to town on my Impreza's suspension - arb's, D/L's, bushings etc... but the Foz with all it's OE bits intact is plenty sharp and capable enough whilst holding composure regardless of how tough the going gets. Yes you get a higher CoG and what comes with that, but what you also get is broad, predictable & safe limits which are not snappy – on/off grip - but useable, fun & safe. Think of the Type R as a tarmac terror, and the Foz as gravel rally car, with fun weight transfer and chuckable too. OK it wont be as lightweight & nimble, certainly as a Type R for direction changes, but boy you can pedal it along quickly and as quickly as almost any other Impreza. 4Th & 5th are immense

There's an increased sense of the AWD system working, more so than the Impreza. I put this down to the extra torque level in the Foz (I haven't driven a 2.5 Impreza). And with great palpable feedback you can place the car wherever you like. I have just fitted Potenza S001's from some softer winter tyres and the Bridgestones have a very stiff carcass and sidewall. The extra grip makes keeping the car on its toes and loosing its weight easy

As the car sits a bit higher the driving position gives a good sense of road command and feedback and field of view is good with extra vision into & around bends

Comfort - the seats are great. Same as the Spec C. With long travel dampers the ride is very comfortable

Trim levels. inside is pretty decent for Subaru. There are some nice extras too: power points in the centre box, and one in the rear boot area, a sub-woofer (again in the rear). The rear seats are reclinable/split and w/ arm rest

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X...-S255034-9.jpg

The room inside is bigger than the Impreza wagon as it has a higher roof (same wheelbase length though)

The Forester STi seems to have all the best of STi goodies. A bespoke 6 speed gearbox (14% extended ratio so better mpg motorways), Brembo's, 18" alloys, the suspension is very well sorted with alloy rear arms, extended ball joints up front, and perhaps a few other bits I have left out. I'm not sure what the engine compared to the Impreza, or indeed if it's the same, so maybe it has the asocciated HG/piston/ringland issues. I don't see many stories around of this happeneing with the Forester, but then again there aren't to many FSTi's around

So, an immensely capable Subaru, and I would say a very polished STi, which gives comfort with real world UK specific road performance

A better all-rounder than the Impreza... maybe so :)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0.../IMAG0394e.jpg

Originally Posted by bonesetter (Post 11987562)

How things work around eh. Hello Iain and long time no see

The car has seen a couple more sets of springs/dampers/coils since your company parted, although I think the twitch probably not down to the dampers

As it happens, I bought a an (2.0 JDM Hatch) Impreza 2 days ago to replace the Forester, so the dear old gal is up for sale

Had her engine refreshed a while ago, along with bigger oil pump, larger head studs and baffled sump (work carried out at TDR Developments by Mark Thwaites)

Originally Posted by poffer1 (Post 11987588)

Is it advertised yet? Have been thinking of trading my XT for an FSTI.

Originally Posted by Eacy (Post 11988325)

I know it's a bit OFF topic, but in Denmark, we cant get the Fsti, as to tax and polution..
So I Got me a 2.5 Xt ( also have a Classic Impreza)..
With a bit upgrating, it Can almost be a wannabe Fsti :lol1:
I love it, it drinks a lot, perhaps because the uppipe and airfilter is changed, Without mapping...
But the Forester is a very nice option to an Impreza:luxhello::thumb:

Originally Posted by Cambs_Stuart (Post 11988341)

They all like a drink! And they like the expensive stuff too...