Subaru Forester STI purchase/import

[RicM5]

Hi All
After a bit of advice and potential recommendations
I’ve developed an urge to buy a Forester STI as a winter workhorse
Can’t find anything uk based that fits the criteria but unsure if these are advertised on specialist sites i’m unaware of or are just very slim pickings
Now considering importing one through “Torque GT” can anyone vouch for them or point me in the right direction
I’m after a low mileage relatively standard car preferably black
Thanks
Ric

[vxr2010]

There’s a nice white one on ebay , that’s the one I would be looking at , plus it’s ulez compliant , as it’s an 06 plate any thing pre that can be an issue to get it ulez if it’s at all possible , they are more expensive now , Harlow jap autos , torque gt , both are good , if it was me again for my 6th Fsti , I would buy what’s over here , most jdms are rust free but not all , I think it’s called a car vx report , it’s around 30 quid or so but is like a full check on the car

[designforlife]

Have recently completed the import of a WRX STI through Torque GT, and couldn't recommend them highly enough. I'll absolutely be importing more cars with them in future.

Great customer service, very attentive, and in terms of car prep they're very well set up to do whatever extra work you'd like done to the car prior to collection...from servicing, modifications, to paint.

Things to note-
-From initial deposit/search starting, you're looking at something like a 6 month tunaround to collecting the car.
-£1000 deposit for Torque to start looking, then payment of around 70% of the hammer price of the car when it's won at auction, then the remaining balance is paid on collection
-They can also buy through Japanese dealers, my car actually came from Fuji Cars Japan rather than the auctions.

Edited by designforlife on Friday 18th August 15:26

[RicM5]

Thanks guys
I spoke with Darren at Torque GT today very informative and comes across very genuine
Unfortunately white isn’t for me but that example looks very clean
Are there any major issues with the EJ25 engine to look out for
Had 3 Impreza’s over the years version 2 JDM STI wagon my first and bloody loved it , bugeye JDM STI (150 miles bottom end failure) blob eye uk Impreza STI PPP didn’t gel with it (was buying a type 25 but having done deal on collection seller couldn’t find paperwork and wanted to forward onto me as was moving house and had packed it I walked away shame bloody amazing car)
Little nervous about spending £15k + with no safety net

[designforlife]

I don't know Foresters too well, but ideally you want an EJ20 if any came with them... the EJ25s are renowned for bottom end failure leading on from ringland/hg issues due to having the same casting as the EJ20 but bored out more, so thinner walls/more fragile.

Torque are pretty good when it comes to sourcing so you shouldn't end up with a lemon. Mine only had a few surprises on import- cooling fan motor was knackered so that was an extra £300, bearing in the rear diff was gone so another £400, and I think that was more or less it in terms of unexpected additional costs.

I've got a 2006 hawkeye wrx sti with the EJ20, remapped for UK fuel through Torque GT by Enginetuner in Plymouth... i'd advise budgeting in to have this done (£500ish), peace of mind that the map is right for UK 99, and it'll release some extra ponies.

Edited by designforlife on Friday 18th August 21:28

[vxr2010]

The sg Fsti has a sti 2.5 engine , it’s not the same engine as the sti impreza ,it is less prone to failure , failures can come in 93k miles plus , but not all fail , the sg 2006 plus will be ulez , the 2 litre ones tend to be older models and not ulez compliant , the sg fsti is the better option to go for , better mpg around 36 mpg if driven very carefully , brembos and 6 speed box fitted , but carries a premium

[RicM5]

Appreciate the input guys
Will have a man think
Always dangerous ………

[vxr2010]

Condition and mileage is way more important than colour , there are only four colour options , blue probably the best looking , but I’ve had all options , the dark grey colour can be more effected by the sun , but when there are not many around then there’s not as much choice , less are being imported and prices have gone very high , a fresh import 3 or 4 years ago around 12 k , now 17k

[lemmingjames]

RicM5 said:

Hi All
After a bit of advice and potential recommendations
I’ve developed an urge to buy a Forester STI as a winter workhorse
Can’t find anything uk based that fits the criteria but unsure if these are advertised on specialist sites i’m unaware of or are just very slim pickings
Now considering importing one through “Torque GT” can anyone vouch for them or point me in the right direction
I’m after a low mileage relatively standard car preferably black
Thanks
Ric

What's your criteria?

[RicM5]

vxr2010 said:

Condition and mileage is way more important than colour , there are only four colour options , blue probably the best looking , but I’ve had all options , the dark grey colour can be more effected by the sun , but when there are not many around then there’s not as much choice , less are being imported and prices have gone very high , a fresh import 3 or 4 years ago around 12 k , now 17k

Hadn’t looked at prices for years and was surprised to find how strong they are
Torque GT suggest total cost through them £15-20k all in for fresh import obviously mileage/condition dependent

[RicM5]

lemmingjames said:

What's your criteria?

Hi
Not white
70k miles or under
Standard or gently modified by someone respectable
Clean example well serviced with history of cam belt water pump on import and strong maintenance since
Not a rescue mission

[ChocolateFrog]

RicM5 said:

vxr2010 said:

Condition and mileage is way more important than colour , there are only four colour options , blue probably the best looking , but I’ve had all options , the dark grey colour can be more effected by the sun , but when there are not many around then there’s not as much choice , less are being imported and prices have gone very high , a fresh import 3 or 4 years ago around 12 k , now 17k

Hadn’t looked at prices for years and was surprised to find how strong they are
Torque GT suggest total cost through them £15-20k all in for fresh import obviously mileage/condition dependent

The days of a mint Forrester STI for £5k are long gone.

£20k is punchy though.

[lemmingjames]

RicM5 said:

Hi
Not white
70k miles or under
Standard or gently modified by someone respectable
Clean example well serviced with history of cam belt water pump on import and strong maintenance since
Not a rescue mission

and as cheap as possible im guessing

there was this one but its gone now but guess it gives an indication of the market, if you hadnt seen it already:
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2005-subaru-fo...

regarding the water pump, stay away from Gates Racing

If its OEM, and watch everyone get in a tizzy over this but whilst Subaru suggest 5 year/60k miles a change, if a car is only doing 3k miles a year, it doesnt need changing. I believe the same pump design is still on current gen Subaru's and Scooby USA suggest a 10 year cycle. Obviously if its doing the 12k/y then advisable to get it changed.

IM guessing youve checked out the forums and facebook groups? Forum is more knowledgeable, FB group more active but not all the information they give you is shall we say accurate and dont like to be pulled up on it.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Go in eyes wide open on these.

I don't think I have to mention the various major potential engine issues.

[RicM5]

lemmingjames said:

and as cheap as possible im guessing

there was this one but its gone now but guess it gives an indication of the market, if you hadnt seen it already:
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2005-subaru-fo...

regarding the water pump, stay away from Gates Racing

If its OEM, and watch everyone get in a tizzy over this but whilst Subaru suggest 5 year/60k miles a change, if a car is only doing 3k miles a year, it doesnt need changing. I believe the same pump design is still on current gen Subaru's and Scooby USA suggest a 10 year cycle. Obviously if its doing the 12k/y then advisable to get it changed.

IM guessing youve checked out the forums and facebook groups? Forum is more knowledgeable, FB group more active but not all the information they give you is shall we say accurate and dont like to be pulled up on it.

I was bidding on that black one on collecting cars and finished at £12840 including fees but couldn’t find the time to get to Aberdeen
Great price
It’s becoming a buyers market

[vxr2010]

As above engine issues not as common as the sti but likely will need a re build at some point , i heard if you are importing through a company and the bottom ends gone of hg gone and it’s not realised their end , which can be easy to miss plus the cars cannot always be started by the buyer , jap rules , then you are on your own not the importing company’s fault , where as buy what’s landed it’s on the dealer , plus with an import you wait ages for it to get to the uk , of my number of cars I’ve owned definitively my favourite all round car , the first one I bought was 2008 , hit 198 k miles with a rebuild around 100 k

[lemmingjames]

RicM5 said:

I was bidding on that black one on collecting cars and finished at £12840 including fees but couldn’t find the time to get to Aberdeen
Great price
It’s becoming a buyers market

I imagine that black one is known in the owners group as it seems thr type based upon the mods.

The forester markets never really been a sellers market. Even the recent boom didn't amount to much. But bang for the buck, I'm not sure I'd swap mine for, for the same amount of money (and I've had to make that decision recently). Definitely get a 6 speeder though just for motorway use.

Weirdly, ebay is where you'll find most fsti's for sale. I found mine on Facebook marketplace many years ago.

[designforlife]

My wrx sti hawkeye worked out at £18.5k landed with 67k miles on the clock, so I'd expect a forester sti to come in closer to £15k than 20, unless prices have risen again in the last 6 months.

Mileage seems to make a massive difference to hammer prices over there, if you're OK with something on 80k miles you can save quite a bit of cash vs a 50k low miler.

[vxr2010]

The problem you have is the Fsti was only built 04 to 07 , so not as much option , the ulez ones being 06 plus , on import you can get an sva showing 0 on emissions , so your car tax will be lower , I think mines around 320 pa , after the governments increase to repair the uk roads , i will not hold my breath on waiting for the repairs , so you get less option , but to date every import I have had has been rust free and in good condition

[RicM5]

On the plus side
Nobody’s come forward with personal big bill horror stories having imported
There’s risk involved with all second hand non warranted car purchases