No ISF...so I bought this instead!

[BUG4LIFE]

I haven't been on here for a while, mainly cos my ISF search came to an end.

I wasn't having any luck find one that ticked all the boxes [will I did, an ex-forum car, but unfortunately the owner had to sell before I could get sorted], when all of a sudden a different car become available that I have always been interested in.

In my head, there wasn't a massive difference...fast, Japanese, more than 3-doors!

So here's what I bought [if this pic works]! 

[rich1068]

Excellent stuff 

And very practical too. In case you need to justify purchases to anyone in particular.

[Big Rat]

@BUG4LIFE Rhys Well that’s alright in my book, looked at Subaru a number of times in the passed, couldn’t deal with all that Blue /gold wheeled stuff..... but that is brutally subtle right colour for one IsFesque wheels as well......

Ratty

[tomRCFcarbon]

I believe an STI Forrester holds the lap record at a couple of the Subaru Club Circuit meets...v.fast car, handles beautifully apparently and unusual - although it has a face only a petrolhead could love

[BUG4LIFE]

Cheers guys.

It's got roughly 330bhp and just under 400lb-ft, so pretty brisk!

I'm still getting used to the way it delivers the power. It's pretty tough to drive smoothly as it so full on, all the time! Fine if I fancy going for a blast down some nice roads but less so if I'm just popping to the shop with the wife!

As mentioned, it is pretty practical. Haven't tried fitting in the baby seat yet though so all hell will brake lose if that test doesn't go well.

Spec is nice on this one. Previous owners have spent a few quid. I'll have to post up the full list.

[rich1068]

1 hour ago, BUG4LIFE said:

As mentioned, it is pretty practical. Haven't tried fitting in the baby seat yet though so all hell will brake lose if that test doesn't go well.

[Womble72]

Congratulations, the wife has a Subaru Outback, although a nice car it definitely isn’t an F experience, having had both heads done I’ve been assured it’ll outlive me, so fingers crossed yours has been done 🤞🏻......any oil smell is the start, not visible as it drops on the exhaust, but this is the cheap time to rectify, although anything but cheap.......five garages and no agreeable diagnostic, so make sure u trust the garage that’ll be looking after it. 👍

[EvoStevo]

Rhys, glad you got fixed up.

[Mattmech]

Very nice, well done. What year / engine is it, I’ve had two impreza’s, the 2.0 & 2.5, both put down the power in different ways.

although you can’t beat the noise of a v8 it has to be closely followed by a Subaru boxers unequal headers 👍🏻

Enjoy, 

[Rusty Crobar]

Very nice, have thought about one as a family wagon myself but I don't think you can get an auto on the top spec model 🤔

[BUG4LIFE]

3 hours ago, Womble72 said:

Congratulations, the wife has a Subaru Outback, although a nice car it definitely isn’t an F experience, having had both heads done I’ve been assured it’ll outlive me, so fingers crossed yours has been done 🤞🏻......any oil smell is the start, not visible as it drops on the exhaust, but this is the cheap time to rectify, although anything but cheap.......five garages and no agreeable diagnostic, so make sure u trust the garage that’ll be looking after it. 👍

The 2.5 isn’t renowed for its reliability, which will be something always in the back of my mind...I’ve got a bit of a slush fund for repair work but rebuilds are quite common (at a cost of 4-5k)!!

There a specialist in Warwick that I’ve read good things about - http://tdracing.co.uk/

[BUG4LIFE]

1 hour ago, Mattmech said:

Very nice, well done. What year / engine is it, I’ve had two impreza’s, the 2.0 & 2.5, both put down the power in different ways.

although you can’t beat the noise of a v8 it has to be closely followed by a Subaru boxers unequal headers 👍🏻

Enjoy, 

It’s a 2004, 2.5...tuned to 330bhp.

Cheers :)

[Womble72]

5 minutes ago, BUG4LIFE said:

The 2.5 isn’t renowed for its reliability, which will be something always in the back of my mind...I’ve got a bit of a slush fund for repair work but rebuilds are quite common (at a cost of 4-5k)!!

There a specialist in Warwick that I’ve read good things about - http://tdracing.co.uk/

I know very little about them tbh, I was LED to believe the 2.5 is harder and more costly to modify, but was LED to believe once head gaskets are done they’re pretty much bulletproof, they only kept the 2.5 in the outback as it isn’t the car of mods, the gaskets always have oil laying in them, hence they rot, the updated ones are a 5 ply steel gasket, any oil smell will probably be the gaskets, done immediately will save the cost of head skimming and other associated issues, change the oil twice as often as recommended, I’ve spent to much on ours to warrant changing as it does what we need it to do, they are good fun in the snow and mud, also maybe worth investing in a obd2 reader as the engine light comes on when symmetrical drive goes out of sync, enjoy it 👍👍

[Mattmech]

The 2.5’s can suffer from ringland failure.  A good reason to put in premium fuel 👍🏻From what I recall that was the only weakness with them. Worst case with your slush fund is fully forged and big power 😎

[BUG4LIFE]

Here's the spec...

- Prodrive sports cat, Scorpion Hawk centre section, JDM ss Wagnam exhaust.
- Bob Rawle remap.
- Whiteline f+r roll bars.
- Ultra racing f+r braces.
- Godspeed g-hook discs and kevlar pads.
- STi Battery clamp.
- STi oil cap.
- Perrin short shifter.
- Pioneer App4 radio/system.
- Defi STi Genome controller and boost gauge.
- STi pink oil filter.
- Cosworth panel filter.
- Tein lowering springs.

Here's a pic of the back! 

 

[Tfp]

That's a lovely looking car.

But I'd change the red mudflaps.

[Toothy]

Red flaps are the best bit! Gotta love rally flaps. Please keep them.

[BUG4LIFE]

The previous owner did give me black muflaps too, but I like the red ones so they're staying :)

[Mark G]

I really like these, always have done, I wouldn't change a thing on the car, they are loud and shouty, they need red mudflaps, one thing though, get V8 Lexus next, you wont regret it................

[C.B]

I love it!

Uncle had a few when I was younger, one of the factors that turned me into a petrol head. The last one he had was PPP 2.5 and it was so fast for the power it put out kinda defied belief. Short gearing and crazy grip played a part I'm sure.