This is my JDM model Forester Turbo. It's an S/TB, and is considerably more powerful than the model we got here. This one's apparently been remapped to 300bhp - it might manage that on mega-octane Japanese petrol, but it's not even close on the monkey piddle we get over here. I reckon 250-ish feels about right. Like a lot of grey imports, it's automatic, but it's not a bad 'box despite only having four ratios - it's pretty responsive and doesn't hinder the driving experience too much, bearing in mind this ain't no Impreza WRX despite sharing the same engine - it's rather less manic and more comfortable.
It has the toys you normally get in a Subaru of this year, but no more - electric windows all round, climate control (aircon doesn't seem particularly effective), but no cruise control or power seats or owt like that. It has the original JDM double-DIN stereo, but I think it's been recalibrated as it picks up FM stations that aren't Radio 2.
Bad bits: It's not immaculate - it has a few scratches, including quite a big one on the bonnet. It also has a crack in the screen, but it's over on the passenger side so not an issue for the MOT (yet - it does seem to be gradually getting bigger). The engine is a bit tappety, especially from cold - it quietens down noticeably once it's fully warmed up. This seems to be a common feature of these engines - both my turbo Legacies did exactly the same thing. It has aftermarket multi-fit 15" alloys with tyres which are, how can I put this, not the best. The offside front was replaced for the MOT (with a part worn) as it was perished and cracking quite badly. The others aren't so bad and passed the test, but with an advisory so could do with replacing soon. It used to have a tendency to overfuel and splutter a bit when pottering along (easily cured by an Italian tune-up), but since the garage tweaked it to get through the emissions it doesn't seem to be doing it any more.
It has pretty much a full MOT on it. I gave it a minor service when I first bought it (oil, filter, plugs) and I can't have done more than a couple of thousand miles in it. I don't know when the cambelt was last done though - although they're not too bad of a job on these. Nor do I know the exact mileage - the odometer reads 166K but some of that will be in km and some in miles - I'm not sure exactly when the speedo was recalibrated.
Pictures:
It has the toys you normally get in a Subaru of this year, but no more - electric windows all round, climate control (aircon doesn't seem particularly effective), but no cruise control or power seats or owt like that. It has the original JDM double-DIN stereo, but I think it's been recalibrated as it picks up FM stations that aren't Radio 2.
Bad bits: It's not immaculate - it has a few scratches, including quite a big one on the bonnet. It also has a crack in the screen, but it's over on the passenger side so not an issue for the MOT (yet - it does seem to be gradually getting bigger). The engine is a bit tappety, especially from cold - it quietens down noticeably once it's fully warmed up. This seems to be a common feature of these engines - both my turbo Legacies did exactly the same thing. It has aftermarket multi-fit 15" alloys with tyres which are, how can I put this, not the best. The offside front was replaced for the MOT (with a part worn) as it was perished and cracking quite badly. The others aren't so bad and passed the test, but with an advisory so could do with replacing soon. It used to have a tendency to overfuel and splutter a bit when pottering along (easily cured by an Italian tune-up), but since the garage tweaked it to get through the emissions it doesn't seem to be doing it any more.
It has pretty much a full MOT on it. I gave it a minor service when I first bought it (oil, filter, plugs) and I can't have done more than a couple of thousand miles in it. I don't know when the cambelt was last done though - although they're not too bad of a job on these. Nor do I know the exact mileage - the odometer reads 166K but some of that will be in km and some in miles - I'm not sure exactly when the speedo was recalibrated.
Pictures:
