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So as some of you may know, I sold my beloved 2004 FSTI this Sunday following the purchase of this car 2 weeks ago. The Forester started to show what I thought was early signs of head gasket failure and was diagnosed with early head gasket failure by my local Subaru dealership after I put the car in for a new thermostat to be fitted. The decision was made to cut my losses with the Forester and look for something new. I was 100% certain I was going to get a C63 this time and even the wife had bought into the idea. I had found one I liked and was in discussions with the seller to go view... until my new STI turned up for sale.
My FSTI was purchased by a local enthusiast who is on this site and works in another local Subaru dealership as a mechanic. He intends to fix the car and improve on it even further. In fact he told me last night that he's also dine a head gasket test that showed up negative. So it may not have gone after all. Thank you Subaru.
Anyhow... my new car is a 2014 VA chassis new shape STI and already benefits from a few modifications. It has a freshly built fully forged engine using mostly RCM parts purchased from Alyn @ AS Performance (who knows the previous owner and has actually driven my car). The engine was built by Jamie @ Evotune who has a fantastic setup in Durham and builds all sorts of things including his own 2000bhp GTR which is currently Europe's fastest GTR. I'm trying to get a full spec list from Jamie and Alyn and will post more details when available. Brief spec below:
Factory satnav, hands free, DVD, etc.
Genuine Subaru 18” forged upgraded wheels (also got original 18” wheels)
HTA Bottom line splitter and skirt and rear spats kit
Perrin air oil separator
Decat downpipe (oem cat inc with sale)
JE pistons
Manley rods
ACL race bearings
New crankshaft
RCM head studs
RCM head gaskets
New RCM oil pump
Full engine seal kit
RCM New timing belt kit
TGV delete
Secondary air system delete
New stage 2 clutch
3 port boost solenoid
RCM fuel pump
Cosworth panel air filter
Uprated oil cooler setup
VF48 turbo (currently)
Mapped to 335hp 420lbs ft (The engine is built for a solid 450bhp).
And in the last 2 weeks of ownership I have purchased and done:
Full service including all fluids
Aircon re-gas
Full H&S exhaust system with de-resonated centre section - now fitted
Genuine STI high pressure 1.3bar rad cap
FMIC kit ordered
Induction kit ordered
Rear lights part tinted
Rear bumper fog lamp tinted
Bootlid de-badged (except for STI badge)
New more aggressive ChargeSpeed front bumper splitter ordered from America.
H&R lowering springs ordered directly from H&R in America.
18" x 9.5" ET38 Rota Pro R wheels in hyper black ordered today.
I'm sure I've forgotten bits.
Few pics below how it was when I purchased and how it is coming on.
Last edited by BrownPantsRacing; 21 January 2019 at 11:32 AM.
Never seen one up close till this weekend at the ring, absolutely beautiful cars.
She looks stunning and good platform already, how does it drive to day the hawk you had?
did the engines suffer the usual ring land failure as previous 08-14 lumps then?
Never seen one up close till this weekend at the ring, absolutely beautiful cars.
She looks stunning and good platform already, how does it drive to day the hawk you had?
did the engines suffer the usual ring land failure as previous 08-14 lumps then?
I agree. They are even better up close to look at IMO and the finish and build inside are next level compared to the older Subaru's. Doors shut with a reassuring thud rather than a rattle and everything feels nicely designed. The cabin feels more spacious inside too as the front window rake is greater than previous models and they have lengthened the floorpan so space in the back is HUGE now. Even bigger that the wife's family car as it turns out. lol.
I was really worried it was so different to the newage model that it wouldn't have that certain Subaru feel when driving, but it really does. It feels great on the road, steering is lovely and still feels very direct as a drivers car. I absolutely love it!
They do still suffer from the normal 2.5 issues, which is why I went for a fully forged one this time.
Also, I was really disappointed they finally got rid of the trademark Subaru seat headrest shape, but have to say the seats in the new car are lovely to actually sit in.
It looks stunning and I'm very tempted to go for this shape next, I currently have a hawk, i don't really like the hatch and the 2012 saloon is ok I guess. I agree about the seats, it's a shame they have done away with the original style as these look like they belong in a Suzuki swift sport BUT if they are comfy then that's all that matters.
is the 6 speed the same bomb proof one we have all come to know and love?
It looks stunning and I'm very tempted to go for this shape next, I currently have a hawk, i don't really like the hatch and the 2012 saloon is ok I guess. I agree about the seats, it's a shame they have done away with the original style as these look like they belong in a Suzuki swift sport BUT if they are comfy then that's all that matters.
is the 6 speed the same bomb proof one we have all come to know and love?
how are the brakes on this shape?
Yep, same bomb proof DCCD 6 speed setup as hatch I believe, it's silky smooth.
Mine has uprated pads all round and it stops on a dime. Certainly don't feel the need to upgrade to anything else.
I also like the 2012 saloon shape, it's very nice. But this feels like a big leap forward to be honest.
Beautiful, congratulations on your new car
But those wheels are 100x better than the Rota you're buying.
Who are you planning on using for the mapping when the FMIC and Induction kit are fitted?
Beautiful, congratulations on your new car
But those wheels are 100x better than the Rota you're buying.
Who are you planning on using for the mapping when the FMIC and Induction kit are fitted?
Thank you. I quite like the forged Subaru wheels too. I certainly won't be getting rid of them that's for sure. They just don't fill the arches correctly and I'd rather not fit spacers to the original wheels, hence the new 9.5" wide wheels. Will see how they look on the car. If I don't like them I wills ell them on no bother.
Only owned the car 2 weeks and I already have 3 sets of wheels for it. lol.
Richard @ FB Tuning is not far away from me, so he may get the job this time to fit the FMIC, Induction kit, new turbo and re-map it again. I'm in absolutely no hurry to do this as the current setup with large TMIC and VF48 is brutal with 420lb/ft anyhow.
which brand fmic did you go for? from what i can gather this shape isnt that well catered for over here but is big in the usa. i think ETS make the fmic over there and probably perrin aswell.
which brand fmic did you go for? from what i can gather this shape isnt that well catered for over here but is big in the usa. i think ETS make the fmic over there and probably perrin aswell.
FMIC will be Perrin, car already contains a few Perrin parts.
I know what you mean about parts here in the UK. I'm finding this now. Already having to import parts from the US. It's madness. Previous models are so well catered for here in the UK, but not this shape for some reason.
Ah, the good old "3 sets of wheels" for one car. I'm the same. Have the new 330S oem wheels with the original tyres in the garage for no other reason that they are new and OEM They just never filled the arches that the wide arches deserve. So i got Rotas and 15mm spacers. But now I'm awaiting new (Japan Racing) 18' 9.5 et 38. Said 8 days so not as lucky as you in that department. I just hope they fit
oh i love those shape saloons but i still can't like those seats , terrible styling. Same with my age STI seats , just dont get their idea with them. I guess I'm just spoiled by my Recarros because of 330S.
Ah, the good old "3 sets of wheels" for one car. I'm the same. Have the new 330S oem wheels with the original tyres in the garage for no other reason that they are new and OEM They just never filled the arches that the wide arches deserve. So i got Rotas and 15mm spacers. But now I'm awaiting new (Japan Racing) 18' 9.5 et 38. Said 8 days so not as lucky as you in that department. I just hope they fit
oh i love those shape saloons but i still can't like those seats , terrible styling. Same with my age STI seats , just dont get their idea with them. I guess I'm just spoiled by my Recarros because of 330S.
wonder if you could retro-fit the earlier style seats in the 2015 shape..........
Nice! I could be tempted with one of these if they did a 5 door version except the est. so the spec c hatch is still the runner up for me when I move on...
Nice! I could be tempted with one of these if they did a 5 door version except the est. so the spec c hatch is still the runner up for me when I move on...
Yep I know what you mean. If they did a levorg estate Sti I could have easily seen myself in one of those instead.
Ah, the good old "3 sets of wheels" for one car. I'm the same. Have the new 330S oem wheels with the original tyres in the garage for no other reason that they are new and OEM
it's not just on my Subaru, for my 63 Beetle weekend toy I have no less than 20 wheels. It's madness. I've just detailed 7 Porsche Fuchs wheels for one car. Haha. I'm sure there is someone I need to talk to about my problem. 😂
Well sort of. They made a half ar5ed attempt at a Levorg STI but realistically it's just a blue Spec B Levorg with 2 STI badges. Everything else is almost identical, engine, trim level etc and it doesn't have a manual box it has semi auto from what I've read that can't take a lot of abuse. Interesting to see it's back to a 2.0L turbo though.
Yes I may do eventually. To be honest it drives great at the moment, it's very lively indeed. I eventually plan to go something like the SC38 or SC42 billet turbo and go for around 400bhp. Don't really want to stretch up to 450bhp as I want a safe working margin and a reliable daily. Will see.
Funny you mention that, the welds themselves look OK to me and the bends etc look good, but one of my rear boxes is slightly on the **** and it really pisses me off. I couldn't have welded it even that slightly off and left it. I'm almost tempted to take it back off the car, cut it, rotate it and stainless weld it back together myself so it's 100% straight.
Last edited by BrownPantsRacing; 07 September 2018 at 07:17 PM.
Did u try a wheel on for fitment ? Mine arrived today and I'm gutted to say they didn't fit. Hit calipers and if i fitted spacers they sat out too far. Though mines a 2010 hatch but still.
Oh man they look beautiful. I really wanted those for mine at one point but wasn't 100% sure they suited the current shape. They are going to look perfect on yours. Honestly looked at so many wheels in the last 2 weeks it's mad.
What size spacer do you think you'll need?
Not checked mine on the car yet, I'm lead to believe they clear brembo brakes, but I'll find out tomorrow when I check!!! ��
06 September 2018, 11:58 AM
My new MY15 (New shape) STI Daily driver
They just never filled the arches that the wide arches deserve. So i got Rotas and 15mm spacers. But now I'm awaiting new (Japan Racing) 18' 9.5 et 38. Said 8 days so not as lucky as you in that department. I just hope they fit 
I couldn't have welded it even that slightly off and left it. I'm almost tempted to take it back off the car, cut it, rotate it and stainless weld it back together myself so it's 100% straight.
