Forester STi - 'better' all-round package...?
04 March 2013, 07:54 PM
#1
Forester STi - 'better' all-round package...?
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...
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
Last edited by bonesetter; 04 March 2013 at 07:55 PM.
04 March 2013, 08:28 PM
#4
Ah, that was you - you just caught my eye enough for me to give the nod as I was somewhat taken aback and trying to keep looking at the plethora of very nice looking scoobies being chucked around the island
Yeah, anytime you want a blast give me a shout
04 March 2013, 08:42 PM
#5
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Really nice looking car
Have to agree with you, as an all rounder they are tops ! I was lucky enough to borrow one for a week a while back and was very impressed
Have to agree with you, as an all rounder they are tops ! I was lucky enough to borrow one for a week a while back and was very impressed
hence the reason I normally jump in with my mate
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04 March 2013, 09:42 PM
#8
I love the look of these, and yours looks as sweet as they get, very nice.
Often wondered what the STI fozey was like when i had my forester turbo, mine was not quite focused enough for me, and the STI's i looked at were either dogs with loads of miles or more than i wanted to spend, they are so difficult to find too, so i plumped for the Wagon PPP that i have now, with a few choice mods, easier to find, cheaper and enough room for me.
But have to agree as an all-round package they are top draw.
Often wondered what the STI fozey was like when i had my forester turbo, mine was not quite focused enough for me, and the STI's i looked at were either dogs with loads of miles or more than i wanted to spend, they are so difficult to find too, so i plumped for the Wagon PPP that i have now, with a few choice mods, easier to find, cheaper and enough room for me.
But have to agree as an all-round package they are top draw.
05 March 2013, 07:59 AM
#11
I love the look of these, and yours looks as sweet as they get, very nice.
Often wondered what the STI fozey was like when i had my forester turbo, mine was not quite focused enough for me, and the STI's i looked at were either dogs with loads of miles or more than i wanted to spend, they are so difficult to find too, so i plumped for the Wagon PPP that i have now, with a few choice mods, easier to find, cheaper and enough room for me.
But have to agree as an all-round package they are top draw
But have to agree as an all-round package they are top draw
Cheers - I bought the car from your neck of the woods - Hindley
05 March 2013, 05:44 PM
#14
Great write up Nigel (as per usual). To be honest on the basis of your evaluation I'd be sorely tempted by one of these if I was in the market for an Impreza. Just to clarify are you saying you can push on in one of these where in your type r you would be backing off when the going gets a bit bumpy?
). To be honest on the basis of your evaluation I'd be sorely tempted by one of these if I was in the market for an Impreza. Just to clarify are you saying you can push on in one of these where in your type r you would be backing off when the going gets a bit bumpy?
05 March 2013, 05:49 PM
#15
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Lovely looking car. I had a normal UK turbo version. Can fit loads in and extra gadgets that the Impreza didn't have were useful. However, the MPG was truly horrendous, much worse than Impreza. It was the only drawback of the car.
05 March 2013, 06:05 PM
#16
=bonesetter;11013512]
Cheers DM. Wagon DD still going strong then. The PPP wagons are like gold now - esp since Hammond has been driving like a loon in Africa
Cheers DM. Wagon DD still going strong then. The PPP wagons are like gold now - esp since Hammond has been driving like a loon in Africa
So is hammond driving a blob then, i can't get bbc iplayer here so missing it.
07 March 2013, 09:47 AM
#18
Yeah it's fine, although i think it needs a new rad after i holed it on the A1 outside Peterborough on new years eve, but not had chance to look at it properly as i flew out the same day, back in a couple of weeks, just hope i don't miss the ally rad group buy.
So is hammond driving a blob then, i can't get bbc iplayer here so missing it.
So is hammond driving a blob then, i can't get bbc iplayer here so missing it.
30 January 2014, 12:39 PM
#24
30 January 2014, 01:24 PM
#26
https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...i-type-uk.html
Last edited by fpan; 30 January 2014 at 01:25 PM.
30 January 2014, 01:29 PM
#27
Forester STis use the EJ255 block as opposed to the EJ257 that ISTIs use.
https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...i-type-uk.html
https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...i-type-uk.html
Would you know what that means to a layman like me?
30 January 2014, 01:32 PM
#28
Forester STis use the EJ255 block as opposed to the EJ257 that ISTIs use.
https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...i-type-uk.html
https://www.scoobynet.com/general-te...i-type-uk.html
30 January 2014, 04:17 PM
#29
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So the engine in the fozzie isn't prone to ringland and HG failure like the Impreza 2.5 then or is it because the Forrester is pretty rare that the failure rate isn't as obvious?
30 January 2014, 04:49 PM
#30
'fraid not - they have their fair share
Great car though. Mine's storming along. Extremely solid performer, especially in the recent bad weather
Was 4 & a dog up last Saturday right after that hail/ice storm - great stuff
Last summer was good fun too with frequent trips across Snowdonia to the Welsh sea-side
Great car though. Mine's storming along. Extremely solid performer, especially in the recent bad weather
Was 4 & a dog up last Saturday right after that hail/ice storm - great stuff
Last summer was good fun too with frequent trips across Snowdonia to the Welsh sea-side