Florence 'The Machine'
 

Hi All,

I have finally taken the plunge and bought an 04 Forester STi from Japan. After a lot of waiting I picked her up on Tuesday from Torque GT.

Here she is after I picked her up and went for a spin on Dartmoor :cool:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...15c5deba21.jpg

Thoughts and comments welcomed. :thumb:

Florence Spec List:

Engine:

STi - Group N Uprated Engine Pitch Stop Mount - ST410404S000
Beatrush - Radiator Cooling Panel
Cosworth - Panel Filter
Cosworth - Oil cap
Fujitsubo - Legalis Super R cat back exhaust system

Chassis:
STi - Titanium Upper Front Strut Brace - 20560EE000
Whiteline - Rear Quick Release Strut Brace

Brakes:

Project Mu - brake pads

Interior:
STi - Duracon Gear Knob - C1010FG410

These are really growing me. does it have the 2.5 engine?

It does, however its a different ej engine compared with the UK Impreza. I have to say, bearing in mind its currently standard its still pretty rapid, great on the motorway with the low end torque.

Yesterday I decided to start adding a few touches.

STi gear k**b isn't to my liking so a duracon one has gone in.


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...b8de2709cf.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...524a3d2d27.jpg

Filter got changed over to a fresh Cosworth one.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...8fbdcc4abb.jpg


Lastly a bit of boot protection. I managed to source a genuine liner which fits perfectly. :thumb:


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...03007d2024.jpg





https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...262a0a2744.jpg

Wow that almost looks new.

Gotta love jdm imports thats a star Rusti. :luvlove:

Now get it undersealed, if it has,nt all ready been done to stop it going Rusty. :D

Beautiful enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

That looks a nice car! I really like the look of that generation forrester. How does it handle in comparison to a newage impreza?

Base engine is the WRX EJ255 with different turbo for low end grunt.

http://clarkdh.net23.net/NTL/FSTi%20EJ255.PNG

Enjoy :)

Any more pics?

https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...d-package.html

Thanks Jay, the pictures below are some from Japan and its amazing how well they do in their climate. Look at the rear arb and the engine bay, its crazy. going to be difficult to keep it that way!


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...4fd44caa56.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...5145470cc2.jpg

Thanks, Already done Ray, Torque GT do it as standard :thumb:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...1fe8e33ec2.jpg


I was really surprised at how much tighter this car felt to my hawk, but I think thats UK weather giving it a battering, Driving position is obviously higher and there is more roll. That said with some choice modes ( rear strut brace a given) it will be comparable IMO

Hey buddy, Yours and Andy (aka brown pants) threads were what sealed the deal in terms of me sourcing one :thumb:

She is filthy at the moment so no more current outside pics but below are the ones from Japan.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...377307cb2d.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...27e4a31798.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...facef17d12.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...2d868c381b.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...7619567272.jpg

That steering wheel..... is not on the car anymore :lol1::lol1::lol1:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...71f6bbddda.jpg

Thanks, looking good :)

Yeah, that steering wheel... no accounting for taste :)

Just goes to show how in right environment and conditions, corrosion is almost non- existant on a jdm car.

Even the exhaust on our hawk looks new, given its a 2005 model.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...aad3f74a30.jpg

That whole underside looks spotless Ray.

Yeah it really is good, MOT tester was amazed at the condition, low miles to only 20,000 miles and 1 owner.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...639e0f8512.jpg

like you say its going to be hard going to keep it looking like this........:lol:

ACF50 & Bilt Hamber Dynax UC are what’s needed here I would say.All about the preservation for these types of cars.

liking the FSTi :)


but please tell me you've not swapped a leather red stitched gear knob for a pool ball?

Haha yes I have mate, I prefer the feel and the one in the car was quite tatty.

Front strut brace, installed rear brace going on this weekend.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...e48a671a95.jpg

Nice - you'll get a huge more benefit swapping out your rear arb for a stiffer :)

Looks like it could do with a brake + clutch fluid change judging by the colour of them, should sharpen up the brake pedal a little

its on the list to do but zorst is taking priority at the moment... I NEED BURBLE :thumb:

hadnt spotted that. I am doing power steering flush so will hook that up as well

Really nice FSTI. Good find!

Update on last weekends work, I decided to replace the wing mirror gussets as they were shot and were creating a lot of wind noise.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...0be4146f7a.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...52c1806707.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...2ff1d2dc93.jpg

Once i got one out it was easy to see what the problem was, in fact the wind was pushing through so much the plastic bungs used to seal them from the inside had become loose from all the pushing.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...e2fd60d158.jpg

When it came to taking the door cards off this happened.....


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...ad9d8c451e.jpg

revealing this :eek:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...4b979ee9a7.jpg

I knew the speakers were naff and going to be a bit tired but these were completely knackered :lol1:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sco...0ab89f21b1.jpg

Some new speakers in, nothing amazing but certainly a massive improvement over the stock Clarions.

Once you get the burble back Rusti, you probably wont listen to the radio anyway.......:D

Lovely looking FSTI there buddy. Man, I’m really getting some FSTI envy. Didn’t even know they existed until I joined this forum, now I really want one, they really are one of those once in a while, do everything well, vehicles. If I wasn’t saving for a mortgage I’d be all over an import.

haha good point Ray, Fingers crossed I have an exhaust going on this Saturday.

Thanks buddy, they are great cars, once the mortgage is in hand you can indulge :thumb:

No disrespect to the later cars, but I always think of the subaru range from this period as the best it's offered. Particularly the JDM models. The current range just doesn't appeal in the same way.

I think you are probably right, it's no coincidence that the blobeye sti is so popular

I had one of these identical to your come thundering past me a few years ago and i loved it then, i think these are gorgeous as yours stand's there, very nice