Can I do better for 10k than my JDM Turbo Forester
Discussion
Right first things first I love the car and it makes me smile it's an import has the same engine as a WRX:
- EJ20 OUTPUT 230ps(169kW)/5600rpm TORQUE 325kg*m(3190Nm)/2800rpm It's a 2008 3'rd gen Forester XT.
I imported the car myself from Japan has only 50k miles (full service history from Subaru Tokyo) I've done timing belt including water-pump changed all the fluids, new maf sensor,new spark plugs, had it undersealed being a JDM import it had no rust whatsoever.
It has a few extras: STI twin exhaust(It sounds awesome I never turn the stereo on, I just lower the windows and just listen to the boxer engine don't need music), STI pink springs, STI front tower bar (or whatever is called). Two sets of alloy wheels winter/summer.
What I hate is, the pain of getting it insured the premium I pay for it and the fuel economy 17 -19 mpg on a good month and the fact that I have to use super-unleaded...It's quite old now I'm dreading a bit when things will go bad it will very expensive...
Could I do better for about 10-11k something newer? with better mpg, family friendly, 200bhp minimum, reliable....? Something that will still make me smile when I drive it... Some cars I thought about Octavia Vrs, BMW 3 or 5 series GT....
- EJ20 OUTPUT 230ps(169kW)/5600rpm TORQUE 325kg*m(3190Nm)/2800rpm It's a 2008 3'rd gen Forester XT.
I imported the car myself from Japan has only 50k miles (full service history from Subaru Tokyo) I've done timing belt including water-pump changed all the fluids, new maf sensor,new spark plugs, had it undersealed being a JDM import it had no rust whatsoever.
It has a few extras: STI twin exhaust(It sounds awesome I never turn the stereo on, I just lower the windows and just listen to the boxer engine don't need music), STI pink springs, STI front tower bar (or whatever is called). Two sets of alloy wheels winter/summer.
What I hate is, the pain of getting it insured the premium I pay for it and the fuel economy 17 -19 mpg on a good month and the fact that I have to use super-unleaded...It's quite old now I'm dreading a bit when things will go bad it will very expensive...
Could I do better for about 10-11k something newer? with better mpg, family friendly, 200bhp minimum, reliable....? Something that will still make me smile when I drive it... Some cars I thought about Octavia Vrs, BMW 3 or 5 series GT....
Edited by BDKM on Monday 5th April 21:18
Edited by BDKM on Monday 5th April 21:32
How much is your insurance?. Have you tried Keith Micheals or A plan for a quote? they're pretty competitive.
The problem is, you might miss the Fozzie. Subaru's are great cars and reliable as long as they're serviced. Why swap it out for something much more commonplace and dare I say it (as a Subaru fanboy) a bit dull in comparison?.
I don't think they're super expensive to fix when they go wrong, most of the running gear and engine parts are shared across the range of Subaru from that era. Agree about the economy though, that's painful...
The problem is, you might miss the Fozzie. Subaru's are great cars and reliable as long as they're serviced. Why swap it out for something much more commonplace and dare I say it (as a Subaru fanboy) a bit dull in comparison?.
I don't think they're super expensive to fix when they go wrong, most of the running gear and engine parts are shared across the range of Subaru from that era. Agree about the economy though, that's painful...
I have recently bought into something very similar to your forester, a legacy twinscroll
I also looked at alternatives Inc the Skoda vrs, when I did the maths the only real negative of the Subaru was the mpg, which actually when added up in terms of annual milage Vs a 30 mpg car wasn't too bad.
Yes having the actually phone around for insurance is pita but it's only a pita once a year and the fact that we get cheaper road tax does offset that a little.
I think you will struggle to find something with 4wd, similar performance and similar reliability for the money
I also looked at alternatives Inc the Skoda vrs, when I did the maths the only real negative of the Subaru was the mpg, which actually when added up in terms of annual milage Vs a 30 mpg car wasn't too bad.
Yes having the actually phone around for insurance is pita but it's only a pita once a year and the fact that we get cheaper road tax does offset that a little.
I think you will struggle to find something with 4wd, similar performance and similar reliability for the money
Gut feeling is your Forester is a pretty good bet. Generally a good Japanese import has a lot of life left in it, at 50k miles, just don't let it rust. Insurance should be a fair bit less as you build up NCB.
17mpg sounds quite low for what's not that heavy a car - it's possible that re-mapping it could get you a chunk better mileage. I was seeing up to 38mpg in my remapped S13 with SR20DET, which was also a two litre turbo although I know Scoobies are notoriously thirsty. You may also find you could adjust your driving style (e.g. using more torque and fewer revs) and find a bit better mileage.
Personally I'd never consider selling a Subaru for a Skoda, just a generic VAG platform.
I asked for ideas for a fast, practical, cheap car a few months ago, quite a few ideas here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I was in a similar-ish position a few years ago but with a Honda Integra, after having pumped more money into it that I ever want to know.
I ended up selling up and getting a 330d, although on here especially they are the butt of a few jokes for me it's the best all rounder I have come across. MPG in town isn't fantastic but once up to speed 40+ is easy and it's as fast as you would ever need.
I ended up selling up and getting a 330d, although on here especially they are the butt of a few jokes for me it's the best all rounder I have come across. MPG in town isn't fantastic but once up to speed 40+ is easy and it's as fast as you would ever need.
I have the Forester STi. Great car, but I probably wouldn't consider one at the prices they are apparently fetching today; £12k+
Have you tried Aviva/Direct line for insurance, rather than comparison sites/specialists? Both those insurers/underwriters have the STi at least as a unique variant on the system, so not a special case that needs explanation & the premium is pretty much the same as the UK models.
Have you tried Aviva/Direct line for insurance, rather than comparison sites/specialists? Both those insurers/underwriters have the STi at least as a unique variant on the system, so not a special case that needs explanation & the premium is pretty much the same as the UK models.
HayesDC2 said:
I was in a similar-ish position a few years ago but with a Honda Integra, after having pumped more money into it that I ever want to know.
I ended up selling up and getting a 330d, although on here especially they are the butt of a few jokes for me it's the best all rounder I have come across. MPG in town isn't fantastic but once up to speed 40+ is easy and it's as fast as you would ever need.
Thanks yeah I’m just looking into that also for about 12-13k there’s some nice 330d’s around....what’s the road tax on these ?I ended up selling up and getting a 330d, although on here especially they are the butt of a few jokes for me it's the best all rounder I have come across. MPG in town isn't fantastic but once up to speed 40+ is easy and it's as fast as you would ever need.
DaveCWK said:
I have the Forester STi. Great car, but I probably wouldn't consider one at the prices they are apparently fetching today; £12k+
Have you tried Aviva/Direct line for insurance, rather than comparison sites/specialists? Both those insurers/underwriters have the STi at least as a unique variant on the system, so not a special case that needs explanation & the premium is pretty much the same as the UK models.
I’m due my renewal in a couple of months I’ll try Aviva and Direct line.... i wanted and STI but didn’t want a manual that’s why I went for an XT ....in the last year prices have gone up massively for FSTI’s even on the auction sites in Japan the last one sold a couple of weeks ago went for about 11k £ at auction in Japan ....too much to be honest......how’s yours been did to change head gaskets etc ? Any engine work? How’s the rust do you check the underseal every year ? Have you tried Aviva/Direct line for insurance, rather than comparison sites/specialists? Both those insurers/underwriters have the STi at least as a unique variant on the system, so not a special case that needs explanation & the premium is pretty much the same as the UK models.
It’s a bit of an odd one though where do you go from here
very hard do get a better car than a FSTI .... for about 10-12kEdited by BDKM on Tuesday 6th April 08:13
Edited by BDKM on Tuesday 6th April 08:36
If I were you I’d consider having it checked and custom mapped by someone reputable.
That could make it so you can run normal unleaded which would probably pay for itself in about a year lol.
Might release some more power too
Unless you are just using it for commuting around town the mpg sounds awful. Our 2.5XT with a PPP on it (about 260bhp) always averaged about 26/27mpg with mixed and not slow driving, even better on a run. I managed Swindon to Doncaster and back on a tank once (350 miles).
My P1 even manages about 18-20mpg on a run out and that is with deploying 500bhp regularly. Even that can manage 25-28mpg driven fairly sensibly.
Definitely worth speaking to someone like Bob Rawle about a map.
That could make it so you can run normal unleaded which would probably pay for itself in about a year lol.
Might release some more power too
Unless you are just using it for commuting around town the mpg sounds awful. Our 2.5XT with a PPP on it (about 260bhp) always averaged about 26/27mpg with mixed and not slow driving, even better on a run. I managed Swindon to Doncaster and back on a tank once (350 miles).
My P1 even manages about 18-20mpg on a run out and that is with deploying 500bhp regularly. Even that can manage 25-28mpg driven fairly sensibly.
Definitely worth speaking to someone like Bob Rawle about a map.
RB Will said:
If I were you I’d consider having it checked and custom mapped by someone reputable.
That could make it so you can run normal unleaded which would probably pay for itself in about a year lol.
Might release some more power too
Unless you are just using it for commuting around town the mpg sounds awful. Our 2.5XT with a PPP on it (about 260bhp) always averaged about 26/27mpg with mixed and not slow driving, even better on a run. I managed Swindon to Doncaster and back on a tank once (350 miles).
My P1 even manages about 18-20mpg on a run out and that is with deploying 500bhp regularly. Even that can manage 25-28mpg driven fairly sensibly.
Definitely worth speaking to someone like Bob Rawle about a map.
Cheers, that’s next on the list I’ll swap both O2 sensors for new ones and get it mapped see if that will improve things....other than that there’s nothing else I can do it has new spark plugs, new Maf sensor, all the filters and oils have been changed, done a coolant flush and new coolant..That could make it so you can run normal unleaded which would probably pay for itself in about a year lol.
Might release some more power too
Unless you are just using it for commuting around town the mpg sounds awful. Our 2.5XT with a PPP on it (about 260bhp) always averaged about 26/27mpg with mixed and not slow driving, even better on a run. I managed Swindon to Doncaster and back on a tank once (350 miles).
My P1 even manages about 18-20mpg on a run out and that is with deploying 500bhp regularly. Even that can manage 25-28mpg driven fairly sensibly.
Definitely worth speaking to someone like Bob Rawle about a map.
Edited by BDKM on Tuesday 6th April 10:01
As mentioned above, having owned one, you definitely don't get a sense of specialness getting into an Octavia vRS. I went from one of those to a 330i E91 and it was a world apart from the Skoda. Apart from the build quality being on another level, the engine and RWD was absolutely brilliant. A car I still miss 6.5 years after I sold it. I'd imagine for your budget you'd get into a half decent 335i wagon which would certainly give you a decent albeit non-old skool JDM, driving experience.
For me I've been struggling with this too, but after something thinking and chatting with my family (who aren't into cars) I won't be switching. V-power costs are small in comparison to my other outgoings and insurance is around £500 for me which is acceptable level given that I can drive something different, my experience is that insurance does drop significantly from my first year with an import being around £800.
I guess all my friends/family are unlucky but only one of their European cars has done serious mileage without reliability issues I don't want to take the risk of being stuck somewhere with a car I'm, at worse, indifferent about.
I guess all my friends/family are unlucky but only one of their European cars has done serious mileage without reliability issues I don't want to take the risk of being stuck somewhere with a car I'm, at worse, indifferent about.
There's no real replacement for the Forester but if you want an SUV then take a look at the Infiniti EX, add a map & you'll have a mid size SUV with a nice amount of go as well as being a very nice place to sit:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012066...
Or the X3 35d SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049...
X3 30d SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104040...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012066...
Or the X3 35d SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103049...
X3 30d SE:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104040...
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