Hi all. I am after a forester either an sti or jdm sports cross. I'm at the age where I need carrying space but still want some fun. These cars are now 10-15 years old any major age related issues I should know about or do they tend to be reliable?

I have heard the 2.5 sti engine has a lot of piston failures. Any owners able to help a guy who has come from Honda's and Nissans with info and advice about the models. Are the sports cross a big drop down from the sti as far as I can see only 15bhp difference and bits inside they seem to have same suspension and parts.

thanks Muzz

 

What do you need to carry? It's worth bearing in mind that they share the same floorpan (wheelbase and track) as an Impreza. So an Impreza Wagon may satisfy your space needs and they are more plentiful.

 

Furniture when I move but mainly IT equipment and some tools occasionally. Shopping and kids eventually ha. Big boot needed!

 

Would be more space though as the shell is taller.

I've owned an Impreza wagon and thought it was pants for space. If anything I find my classic Saloon feels like it has more space than a newage Impreza estate.

 

I had a 04 FSTI after 4 imprezas and loved it. By far the best subaru i had. Plenty of room both in the front and back. Goes like a stabbed rat. The only thing that needed replacing in the three years of ownership was a interior light bulb.

The cross sports are nice but are automatic and 2.0 instead of the really nice geared 6 speed of the sti

 

There's always a Prodrive Forrester XT. Not as fast as a jdm sti but you can get a Prodrive in uk for sensible money.

 

I'd look at a Legacy in that case.

 

Self-levelling rear suspension can have issues and need replacing (ours came with a set of rear pedders already fitted to remedy this problem); rear boot locking mechanism can fail due to water getting in and rusting the mechanism causing it stick (no way of opening boot from inside); front drivers window notoriously sticks - water gets in past the weather strip and rusts the gear linkage which in turn burns out the motor because the motor overheats when trying to operate the stuck linkage. That said, I love our forester. It has plenty of boot space and performed fantastic in the drifting snow we had this winter/spring.

 

Get in touch with Charlie at Prodrift Imports - he's got Fozzys and Leggys. I haven't owned a Forester so not able to comment, however, a re-mapped twinscroll Leggy covers the ground - especially on our crap roads - quickly enough and gets all of my fishing gear in comfortably!

 

Did someone say Legacy from Prodrift
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