Subaru Legacy Tuned by STi - jap daily
Discussion
Picked this up ast weekend, bit of an impulse purchase!
We've always had one estate on the drive, latest is an XC70 D5 that my wife uses, and the Saab 9-5 Aero that was her old daily got passed to me.
It's been a good car, but I fancied something more focused, especially with my 944 Turbo in storage, and our S2000 having the gearbox rebuilt.
Always fancied a Legacy, so started looking - initially at UK 3.0 Spec B, but then I started looking at JDM Spec B's....before realising there was also a 'Tuned by STi' version.
One came up for sale not too far away, so I went to take a look.
The owner was a lovely guy and a proper jap enthusiast - with a mkiv Supra on the drive and two (yes, two!) Honda NSX's in his garage.
Following an inspection and test drive if the Legacy I was smitten, and so a deal was struck!!
Obligatory V-Power fill up on the way home:
Got to say, so far I am loving it!
Car is nice and clean, a few small dings that I will have sorted by a PDR, wheels would benefit from a refurb and the lights are slightly cloudy.
Hopefully get chance to give it a good detail next weekend.
Couple more snaps from when I got home:
Initial plans are timing belt service (no record) and to suss out what is causing a slight pull to the right under moderate braking at speed.
I'm told the car has been mapped for UK fuel but I have no proof, am I likely to be able to find out other than paying for a map?
Enjoying being back in a Subaru
We've always had one estate on the drive, latest is an XC70 D5 that my wife uses, and the Saab 9-5 Aero that was her old daily got passed to me.
It's been a good car, but I fancied something more focused, especially with my 944 Turbo in storage, and our S2000 having the gearbox rebuilt.
Always fancied a Legacy, so started looking - initially at UK 3.0 Spec B, but then I started looking at JDM Spec B's....before realising there was also a 'Tuned by STi' version.
One came up for sale not too far away, so I went to take a look.
The owner was a lovely guy and a proper jap enthusiast - with a mkiv Supra on the drive and two (yes, two!) Honda NSX's in his garage.
Following an inspection and test drive if the Legacy I was smitten, and so a deal was struck!!
Obligatory V-Power fill up on the way home:
Got to say, so far I am loving it!
Car is nice and clean, a few small dings that I will have sorted by a PDR, wheels would benefit from a refurb and the lights are slightly cloudy.
Hopefully get chance to give it a good detail next weekend.
Couple more snaps from when I got home:
Initial plans are timing belt service (no record) and to suss out what is causing a slight pull to the right under moderate braking at speed.
I'm told the car has been mapped for UK fuel but I have no proof, am I likely to be able to find out other than paying for a map?
Enjoying being back in a Subaru
That does look fantastic. They're great cars, I'm on my second. I've currently got a manual 3.0, having previously had an auto Twin scroll.
All Subarus are made of thin metal, so they pick up car park dings really easily. As for the map for UK fuel, there's not a way to tell without linking the car to a mapping system and having a play. But if you run it on 99 RON it'll be fine.
For the pull to the side under braking, the slider pins in the brembo callipers do tend to corrode and stick. Stainless ones are available.
All Subarus are made of thin metal, so they pick up car park dings really easily. As for the map for UK fuel, there's not a way to tell without linking the car to a mapping system and having a play. But if you run it on 99 RON it'll be fine.
For the pull to the side under braking, the slider pins in the brembo callipers do tend to corrode and stick. Stainless ones are available.
Hallsy01 said:
I'm told the car has been mapped for UK fuel but I have no proof, am I likely to be able to find out other than paying for a map?
56 plate. That a pre SI-drive car?I'm fairly local (North Norfolk) and have the kit for checking this. Give me a shout if you ever want to have a nose.
I'm not a pro or asking for anything in return! Just an offer from a long term Subaru nerd
Konan said:
Hallsy01 said:
I'm told the car has been mapped for UK fuel but I have no proof, am I likely to be able to find out other than paying for a map?
56 plate. That a pre SI-drive car?I'm fairly local (North Norfolk) and have the kit for checking this. Give me a shout if you ever want to have a nose.
I'm not a pro or asking for anything in return! Just an offer from a long term Subaru nerd
d_a_n1979 said:
That's a superb car; great buy 
Always on my radar; just not been brave enough to buy one yet...!
My exact thought. Always on my radar; just not been brave enough to buy one yet...!
I had an ex GF whose dad had one, complete with barely legal front tint.
He got tugged one day on the way to work because of the windows, don’t think plod were expecting it to be driven by an accountant in a 3 piece suit
Konan said:
That's what I was thinking, but I always feel the need to check on the crossover years.
If the OP is bothered its got the wrong sti badge on the back and the wheels are from a 2007 tuned by sti. Ask the seller who mapped it. Only a small group can and will tune these and they should confirm with the reg number.
Edited by sam.rog on Monday 29th April 11:39
Mad Maximus said:
Looks like a grown up Impreza, nice.
That's exactly how I described it to my Dad!Had a mapped blobeye WRX some time ago, great car to drive but wasn't quite refined enough for the longer drives/mundane stuff (from memory it had replaced my Volvo 850R which I wish I never sold!).
Konan said:
56 plate. That a pre SI-drive car?
I'm fairly local (North Norfolk) and have the kit for checking this. Give me a shout if you ever want to have a nose.
I'm not a pro or asking for anything in return! Just an offer from a long term Subaru nerd
That's very kind of you, would love to take you up on that offer at some point - will PM you I'm fairly local (North Norfolk) and have the kit for checking this. Give me a shout if you ever want to have a nose.
I'm not a pro or asking for anything in return! Just an offer from a long term Subaru nerd
It has SI-drive and is the auto.
sam.rog said:
If the OP is bothered its got the wrong sti badge on the back and the wheels are from a 2007 tuned by sti.
Ask the seller who mapped it. Only a small group can and will tune these and they should confirm with the reg number.
I thought the same when I first looked at the brochures - this was manufactured November 2006 so I thought it might be on the crossover or 2007MY spec?Ask the seller who mapped it. Only a small group can and will tune these and they should confirm with the reg number.
Edited by sam.rog on Monday 29th April 11:39
I am the third owner in UK (was imported 2017), so I really need to speak to the original UK owner as the guy I bought it off of wasn't sure.
Any documents on who imported it? If its been down south all its life it could be engine tuner in Plymouth.
If you want I can list all the oem sti parts that should be on the car. The stuff is now getting expensive to replace.
The later 07 car had a different and bespoke map on the 5eat gearbox.
If you want I can list all the oem sti parts that should be on the car. The stuff is now getting expensive to replace.
The later 07 car had a different and bespoke map on the 5eat gearbox.
It has stickers in the back window for 'Be Forward' who are a Japanese exporter, but that is all I know.
The seller said he bought it from someone in Brighton.
Being a late 2006 car, do you think it should have had the early wheels and the 'Tuned by STi' badge?
In the past you could get a list of previous owner details from the DVLA so I will see if you can still do the same and try to get into contact with original owner.
The seller said he bought it from someone in Brighton.
Being a late 2006 car, do you think it should have had the early wheels and the 'Tuned by STi' badge?
In the past you could get a list of previous owner details from the DVLA so I will see if you can still do the same and try to get into contact with original owner.
I used BeForward to import my Legacy a couple of years ago, they specialise in buying from dealers and shipping them rather than auction purchases. If you can find any of the original details it may be worth reaching out to them, I found them to be pretty helpful.
I managed to buy all the sti parts available for my Gen5 via ZenMarket, as Sam says above they are rare so do carry a premium, but they are out there.
Good luck with it
I managed to buy all the sti parts available for my Gen5 via ZenMarket, as Sam says above they are rare so do carry a premium, but they are out there.
Good luck with it
Hallsy01 said:
It has stickers in the back window for 'Be Forward' who are a Japanese exporter, but that is all I know.
The seller said he bought it from someone in Brighton.
Being a late 2006 car, do you think it should have had the early wheels and the 'Tuned by STi' badge?
In the past you could get a list of previous owner details from the DVLA so I will see if you can still do the same and try to get into contact with original owner.
Yes. For that year I think it should have the earlier enkei wheels. What size are the ones on yours 17 or 18 inch? The seller said he bought it from someone in Brighton.
Being a late 2006 car, do you think it should have had the early wheels and the 'Tuned by STi' badge?
In the past you could get a list of previous owner details from the DVLA so I will see if you can still do the same and try to get into contact with original owner.
I think it should also have the tuned by sti badge and not the one fitted. I think it was de-badged at some point as it should also have legacy lettering on the RHS, can’t make out if its there or not.
This one was mine. 2008 legacy tbsti.
Take care of the front splitter as its £400 from subaru if you can still get one. The wind deflectors are also silly money and jdm only.
Little list of sti bespoke parts that it should have.
The bilstein shocks should have sti on the bilstein sticker. Sti pink springs.
Sti quad back boxes
Sti splitter
Tuned by sti badge on the rear
Sti embossedleather/alcantara seats
Sti 280kph clocks.
Sti flexible strut brace
Sti lower rear control arms.
Sti aluminium front control arms.
18 inch enkei wheels
Sti braided brake lines
Brembo 4 pot front and 2 pot rears
Edited by sam.rog on Monday 29th April 14:26
Edited by sam.rog on Monday 29th April 14:31
Mine's just the regular GT Spec B and I've had it 6 or 7 years now I reckon.
I was averaging a car a year (although spread over 3 or 4 cars ) and always after 'the next step' but it just stopped with the Legacy. It's my daily and I suppose age and wear/tear will maybe get in the way of keeping it forever but there isn't a 'next step' clear in my head... I just want the same again with less miles.
Does just about everything pretty well. Wouldn't mind a bit more ground clearance sometimes (I had a WRX before and the shorter overhangs and higher bumpers were handy trying to park on rutted areas). They come up on a rare occasion but there is an Outback XT...
With a couple of Caveats, it's very easy to just check 1) If it's a stock map or not and 2) If it's got any major grumbles. Save you a trip somewhere just to find out (if you don't have any luck tracking down the original owner/tuner... if there was one).
Mine was 'ok' on 99 on the stock map, but only 'ok' - I pootled around until I got the time to make some timing adjustments up the top end.
I was averaging a car a year (although spread over 3 or 4 cars
) and always after 'the next step' but it just stopped with the Legacy. It's my daily and I suppose age and wear/tear will maybe get in the way of keeping it forever but there isn't a 'next step' clear in my head... I just want the same again with less miles.Does just about everything pretty well. Wouldn't mind a bit more ground clearance sometimes (I had a WRX before and the shorter overhangs and higher bumpers were handy trying to park on rutted areas). They come up on a rare occasion but there is an Outback XT...
Hallsy01 said:
That's very kind of you, would love to take you up on that offer at some point - will PM you
It has SI-drive and is the auto.
Just give me a shout. I quite often come down to the JDM Sunday morning meets near Ipswich and work around Norwich. Don't see many others around these parts.It has SI-drive and is the auto.
With a couple of Caveats, it's very easy to just check 1) If it's a stock map or not and 2) If it's got any major grumbles. Save you a trip somewhere just to find out (if you don't have any luck tracking down the original owner/tuner... if there was one).
Mine was 'ok' on 99 on the stock map, but only 'ok' - I pootled around until I got the time to make some timing adjustments up the top end.
Edited by Konan on Monday 29th April 15:12
trails said:
I used BeForward to import my Legacy a couple of years ago, they specialise in buying from dealers and shipping them rather than auction purchases. If you can find any of the original details it may be worth reaching out to them, I found them to be pretty helpful.
I managed to buy all the sti parts available for my Gen5 via ZenMarket, as Sam says above they are rare so do carry a premium, but they are out there.
Good luck with it
I'll try reaching out to them. I realised after I bought the car, that the vx report exists!! That has the auction docs, so looks like it was bought via auction.I managed to buy all the sti parts available for my Gen5 via ZenMarket, as Sam says above they are rare so do carry a premium, but they are out there.
Good luck with it
Will check out ZenMarket - it's been a long time since I had a Japanese import so a little out of the loop these days!
sam.rog said:
Also completely forgot to say. Looks like a decent car!
Not sure ho handy you are but these need a japanese code reader as they don’t comply with ibd2 specs. They are jobd.
Thanks! I saw your car, and was keen to come to look at it but I was still on the fence at the time! Looked like a very nice one!Not sure ho handy you are but these need a japanese code reader as they don’t comply with ibd2 specs. They are jobd.
Edited by sam.rog on Monday 29th April 14:32
I have all of the bits you listed, but not sure if I have braided lines and also pretty sure I have a fixed front brace.
I'd be surprised if it has had the bits changed (Legacy decal is still present) as it seems like quite an original car, but you never know with an 18 year old JDM car! Will do some digging! I actually prefer the 'Tuned by Sti' decal!
The dash is better than I expected only minor cracking around the outer vents - I didn't realise this was a 'thing' until I started looking!
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