The Subaru Forester is one of the most popular vehicles in Australia, enjoying strong sales due to their affordability, reliability and safety with the symmetrical AWD system providing sure-footed handling in any weather. It’s a perfectly sensible car for practical people, and for those on a budget, the first and second gen models are hard to overlook. However the thing that’s really made it popular is the Impreza underpinnings. The whole running gear is identical, so modifying it is a breeze. Many enthusiasts have taken advantage of this and the higher trim levels with the 2.5 litre turbo boxer are especialy sought after – yet none are more desireable than the STI Version. The example featured today is an ’04 model from the Dragon Motorsport den and is modified in the best way possible.
Subaru never sold the STI Version of the Forester outside it’s homeland in any official capacity, thus guaranteeing future collectability like several other Japan exclusives. The legendary Subaru WR Blue was a factory colour on the STI variant and it’s dazzling here. However Subaru didn’t just slap on their famous colour and decals for nothing. An air scoop was put onto the bonnet for better cooling, the front bumper was cleaned up to mimick the Impreza WRX STi, the suspension was overhauled and the full-fat EJ25 with a turbo was placed under the bonnet. All of this in a practical wagon body with a bit of ground clearance is truly inspired stuff.
The novelty factor of this car alone is enough to make my blog, but this one goes a few steps further to make sure I never forget it. To start we have the wheels – the Volk Racing TE37 “Saga” painted in silver. The TE37 is one of the most loved wheel designs in history and seems to work on pretty much every car. It really jazzes things up without taking away the original vehicle’s charm. Secondly, the ride height has been lowered for a more street-friendly look and feel, reducing the centre of gravity whilst increasing driveability on the road. Thirdly, the paltry rear spoiler on the tailgate has been replaced with something more substantial, thus increasing the length of the roof and probably fuel economy. Not that it’s the name of the game, but aero efficiency is good.
At this point you probably want to know my feelings about the car. In short, I really like it because high performance wagons are always exciting – particularly those which are produced in low numbers. Subaru is not a big company compared to the behemoth that is Toyota, but the underdog status is what makes the brand soo endearing to soo many. Combining a homologation rally car with a wagon bodyshell without watering anything down is the sort of madness that creates a legend in the eyes of enthusiasts. Adding spice to a rational vehicle always goes down a treat because you get the best of both worlds.
The Forester nameplate is one of Australia’s most beloved, sitting alongside big names such as Corolla, Hilux and Commodore when it comes to cultural relevance. No matter what generation, they keep on kicking because they use proven engines and components which are easy to fix. However, the first two generations with the Impreza mechanicals are staples in the car community due to their tunability and value proposition. This STI Version is the best of the bunch and it’s made an undeniable mark on me. I just hope we get it in Forza Horizon 6.
