One of my attainable dream cars, I love these things, the only turbo petrol Forester to ever have a 6 speed manual. And I consider this version the real STi Forester since there was the S/TB STi version which was just a regular turbo EJ20 Forester with a bodykit on it. I've seen 2 STi Forester's IRL so far, one was a black one at Adelaide airport, and I saw a blue one on the road, both facelift models too (which honestly I prefer).
I’ve got the closest thing we can get in the US; FXT Manual w/sport pack; it’s got pretty much every STi suspension piece that bolts on and it blows my mind every time I’m on a tight twisty road.
Great video Ross. I took a side step from my 50th anniversary FG XR6 turbo due to financial issues with full time University, house bills, and mandates.... However, I was lucky enough to pick up a 2004 Forester STI a few weeks ago. This video was a nice selling point when I was on the hunt. Currently a fairly stock example with 130,000kms with immaculate interior and great body for the age. It does have coilovers and Work wheels which set it off nicely. Can definitely relate to the wind noise from the vents but a small price to pay for the fun. A potential collector which handles like a modern sports car. Great fun. Keep up the quality videos
Super rare this car, one of those special cars thats posted about when it goes through the japanese auctions. Also the choppy turbo upon acceleration is the coolest sound for an EJ motor, love it.
Great review of the Forester, Ross. Nice looking Subaru. Not a bad 0-100 time. Didn’t think it would be that quick. Quite a good sound to it as well. Thanks for the review.
Great video, I especially like the step up in production quality with drone shots and rolling shots. :) I'm wondering if You could review Subaru Liberty 3.0R Spec B 6MT wagon too. Especially the late model from 2006-2008.
Might be a bit late but the wind noise comes from the side mirror window gudgeons. They stretch open as there is no frame around the window. Put some thin felt carpet strips inside each of the gudgeons and that solves the problem.
I have seen this car around Perth but have not met the owner yet, there are about 7-9 STI Foresters in Perth at the moment. Would love to get them all together for a group photo. Blue is actually one of the more common colours, along with white. Black is less common with gun metal grey being the least common colour. Coilovers are needed on them to really make them handle, with upgraded sway bars. I currently have a 07 Black facelift STi Forester. With alot of upgrades in the pipeline. Great to see people recognizing how great and versatile these cars are.
Absolute great car very rare sight to see within the Subarus.. just like the 6 cylinder liberty/legacys if you ever come across one don’t hesitate to review one! Kinda like a baby Porsche 🔥
@@RossReviewsau Yeah, also very common drivetrain/engine, there's so many guides for them, parts, knowledge etc issue is the ej255 does need a refresh around 150,000 - 200,000 usually so good to budget for that
The wind noise comes through the side mirrors, where the window goes up through the mirrors, they have a rubber that goes in between the window on both sides and the rubber cracks at the top of it as the window pushes through the rubber over time, it is a Forester problem, awesome review though, you gotta love the note of an EJ.
this takes 90 seconds with a gallons size paint stirrer and a pair of pliers to remedy. Roll the window down, stick the paint stirrer in the gusset and squeeze, problem solved
This generation of Forresters were made with super strong high boron steel bars in the pillars, so tough, that firefighters used to have trouble cutting the B-pillars with the jaws of life after an accident. Quality that Subaru doesn't do these days Be nice to see a Liberty RS on here.
I bought a black one of the facelift version and drove it as my daily in Japan for a couple of years. Awesome car but I ended up sending it to my brother in Melbourne after I bought a convertible S13 which is my new daily/ drift car. My brother has the forester on carsales now because it was a little too much car for him haha.
A neat little rare wagon there indeed Johnny,sounds bloody good & goes great,see that's why your channel is so cool man because you review so many different cars,ok thanks bro loved it.
i love all subaru´s i have a legacy 3.0R (2004) limousine and its a BLAST to drive it also i sub right after this vide keep it up man greetings from germany ^^
This car was made in an era when crossovers actually were cool, unlike the crossovers of today which are all clones of each other... Gotta love the boxer sound, great video 👍
Wow indeed what a rare drive here in oz. I must not have seen many of these at all. Definitely a driver's car, and very well engineered. Thanks for another quality drive, Ross!
I love a good STI WRX but to see these that brings a new meaning to cool I've noticed that people are doing up wagons again from these to falcons to commodores and more, I guess it's a case of what goes around comes around cool video Ross 😎
Slam lower a N/A manual forester and even that's fun to drive and handles well.. Don't forget the interior is originally designed for dirt and dust, hence simple.
It’s not the air vent. Because it dosnt have a frame around the window, over time people closing the door by the window bends the bracket that the mirror attaches to and that breaks the seal around the window. Just needs bending back mine had same problem
@@RossReviewsau it sounds Like the air vent as it’s literally just next to it. My foz sti did it and did my head in anything over 50kph lol. Window down and bent the bracket ever so slightly driver and passenger. It’s silent now 🤟 thank god dosnt help my tinnitus at all 🤣
When I had my wrx in the 90s I got rid of the silly exhaust the previous owner put on. As trust me it gets old very quick especially on long journeys when your head is ringing and you can't hear much in the car.
@@RossReviewsau Not just everyone in it had headaches of the day but also after an hour or more, you felt dizzy and uneasy. Everyone thought it was an exhaust leak but I got it checked twice. Turns out it was the frequency according to the tuner. Great car thou. Wish I never sold it
Nice vid. Just one criticism though, these aren't really a big family sized suv as you mention a few times... They are actually pretty small. Imagine a gd wrx with a slightly higher roof and lifted suspension. Both of those things are improvements over the impreza imo.
@@RossReviewsau yes they're spacious for sure. With all the headroom and the square back. But they're still a small light chassis I would argue. Slightly bigger than a gc or gd impreza but if you park it next to even 1st gen xv (crosstrek) the sg forester is smaller and has a shorter wheelbase.
Hey Ross! Enjoy all your posts! I’ve owned a Sti and found they are ticking time bombs, blown engine - value let go, then new short block and reconditioned heads and blown bottom end from new! Lost faith in Subaru and got a Holden ssv redline added boost and never looked back!
Oh definitely spot on with that!! Cost a damn fortune to fix things also plus stock well they ain't very much fun you gotta put a fair bit of work done.
Amazing car! Pretty sure not stock on this car 1. That is not the factory bonnet scoop, believe it’s off a WRX STI. 2. Centre stack gauges are not factory from what I recall
Those gauges on centre dash aren't factory, nor is the scoop. Factory scoop is smaller, he has changed to bigger one for the looks and bigger intercooler.
@@davidpreston959 funny how my own Forester STI doesn't have these factory gauges, nor do any of the ones currently for sale. Even the original Japanese brochure doesn't show a centre console gauge pod.. surely if it was "Factory OEM" they wouldn't leave that off - autocatalogarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Subaru-Forester-STi-2004-JPN.pdf
One of my attainable dream cars, I love these things, the only turbo petrol Forester to ever have a 6 speed manual. And I consider this version the real STi Forester since there was the S/TB STi version which was just a regular turbo EJ20 Forester with a bodykit on it. I've seen 2 STi Forester's IRL so far, one was a black one at Adelaide airport, and I saw a blue one on the road, both facelift models too (which honestly I prefer).
Definitely still attainable at the moment and a proper fun car
I own two of these in my jdm collection.
There’s nothing to consider it is an STI fact
I’ve got the closest thing we can get in the US; FXT Manual w/sport pack; it’s got pretty much every STi suspension piece that bolts on and it blows my mind every time I’m on a tight twisty road.
Great video Ross. I took a side step from my 50th anniversary FG XR6 turbo due to financial issues with full time University, house bills, and mandates.... However, I was lucky enough to pick up a 2004 Forester STI a few weeks ago. This video was a nice selling point when I was on the hunt. Currently a fairly stock example with 130,000kms with immaculate interior and great body for the age. It does have coilovers and Work wheels which set it off nicely. Can definitely relate to the wind noise from the vents but a small price to pay for the fun. A potential collector which handles like a modern sports car. Great fun. Keep up the quality videos
Glad you enjoyed it and got one.. quite a fun wagon eh! The Forster are cool
What a great car with an iconic sound that just never gets old, loved the review as always and can't wait for the next one bro 👍
Thank you mate appreciate the support
Love it, There's a few ultra low k cross sport's on the market for between 15 to 25, about 25 kW less, heap of sti add ons, still cracking cars
Super rare this car, one of those special cars thats posted about when it goes through the japanese auctions.
Also the choppy turbo upon acceleration is the coolest sound for an EJ motor, love it.
Pretty epic eh mate.. definitely a cool jdm exclusive
The not rare in Japan , but in blue paint they're
Great review of the Forester, Ross. Nice looking Subaru. Not a bad 0-100 time. Didn’t think it would be that quick. Quite a good sound to it as well. Thanks for the review.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video, I especially like the step up in production quality with drone shots and rolling shots. :)
I'm wondering if You could review Subaru Liberty 3.0R Spec B 6MT wagon too. Especially the late model from 2006-2008.
World Rally Blue - the best Forester STI colour and a beautiful example!
awesome vehicle
Might be a bit late but the wind noise comes from the side mirror window gudgeons. They stretch open as there is no frame around the window. Put some thin felt carpet strips inside each of the gudgeons and that solves the problem.
Love a Subaroo JR. Lovely sound, don't know why they ever got rid of it. Keep em coming bro ...
Appreciate it mate was a great ride eh
Heard these make super good sleepers! Can’t wait for this one!
Very nice sleepers eh
I have seen this car around Perth but have not met the owner yet, there are about 7-9 STI Foresters in Perth at the moment. Would love to get them all together for a group photo. Blue is actually one of the more common colours, along with white. Black is less common with gun metal grey being the least common colour. Coilovers are needed on them to really make them handle, with upgraded sway bars. I currently have a 07 Black facelift STi Forester. With alot of upgrades in the pipeline. Great to see people recognizing how great and versatile these cars are.
this was a really fun car.. great family allrounder!
Fellow Black 07 FSTi owner here, I’m over in Brisbane. Black is king!
So 8 of them then?😂
Absolute great car very rare sight to see within the Subarus.. just like the 6 cylinder liberty/legacys if you ever come across one don’t hesitate to review one! Kinda like a baby Porsche 🔥
Thanks mate! I’ll definitely keep my eyes open for one 🤙
So cool. These look sick
Brembos, sti 6 sp/r180, big displacement subi 4 cyl, turbo, good awd
Lots of aftermarket support and parts
Awesome vehicle eh
@@RossReviewsau Yeah, also very common drivetrain/engine, there's so many guides for them, parts, knowledge etc
issue is the ej255 does need a refresh around 150,000 - 200,000 usually so good to budget for that
The wind noise comes through the side mirrors, where the window goes up through the mirrors, they have a rubber that goes in between the window on both sides and the rubber cracks at the top of it as the window pushes through the rubber over time, it is a Forester problem, awesome review though, you gotta love the note of an EJ.
this takes 90 seconds with a gallons size paint stirrer and a pair of pliers to remedy. Roll the window down, stick the paint stirrer in the gusset and squeeze, problem solved
Cant wait till these become legal in the states. For now ill enjoy my remake Forester XT!
Almost!
This generation of Forresters were made with super strong high boron steel bars in the pillars, so tough, that firefighters used to have trouble cutting the B-pillars with the jaws of life after an accident. Quality that Subaru doesn't do these days
Be nice to see a Liberty RS on here.
Really hard to believe anything can stop them jaws of life! I’ve used them before training on mine sites for rescues..
Now that is a proper subaru rumble
I'm proud to say I own one and just hit 100,000 😃 full stock though, saving up to get a xforce tbe can't wait
Right on man! hold onto it.. rare thing
I bought a black one of the facelift version and drove it as my daily in Japan for a couple of years. Awesome car but I ended up sending it to my brother in Melbourne after I bought a convertible S13 which is my new daily/ drift car. My brother has the forester on carsales now because it was a little too much car for him haha.
Cool story! Glad Australia has another one atleast! They do have a lot of go
I'm from Kenya 🇰🇪 and I have one of these with an electric sun/moonroof on it. There are only about 4 of them in my city. I love it
Wow awesome stuff man! Great to hear from you
A neat little rare wagon there indeed Johnny,sounds bloody good & goes great,see that's why your channel is so cool man because you review so many different cars,ok thanks bro loved it.
Thanks pete! appreciate the constant support
Love it! My fav is the 09 spec b and LGT’s but I love these foresters
Awesome cars eh! 🇯🇵👏
i love all subaru´s i have a legacy 3.0R (2004) limousine and its a BLAST to drive it also i sub right after this vide keep it up man greetings from germany ^^
Thanks for the sub 🤙
I still regret not buying 2007 XT instead of non turbo X for my wife in USA
This car was made in an era when crossovers actually were cool, unlike the crossovers of today which are all clones of each other...
Gotta love the boxer sound, great video 👍
Like all the toerags and queer 7's all running the peugeot diesel motors
@@P2DAPIPE Are you sure about that? I thought Touareg's and Q7's used engines made by VW/Audi
@@MartinJones123 yeah they do
@@rwd323 Which engine?
@@MartinJones123 Audi/VW, no ties with Peugeot at all
Wow indeed what a rare drive here in oz. I must not have seen many of these at all. Definitely a driver's car, and very well engineered. Thanks for another quality drive, Ross!
Love the rare and weird here on the channel this one a bit of both 👌 impressive
@@RossReviewsau yeah that's what makes your reviews shine , the common and the rare, keep up the good stuff!
I love a good STI WRX but to see these that brings a new meaning to cool I've noticed that people are doing up wagons again from these to falcons to commodores and more, I guess it's a case of what goes around comes around cool video Ross 😎
glad you enjoyed this one mate.. was very cool to experience
When I get my 2015 STi built by maximum motorsport I’d love to get your review on it!
Awesome review by the way, love this Forester 🤙🏽
Would love that mate hit me up when it’s ready
Where are you located in Oz my friend?
Does the shop specialize in suburu??
Ultimate Japanese shaggin wagon 👍🇦🇺🍻
😏😏😏 🇯🇵🤣👏
Love my FSTI. Mine is the face-lift but I wish I'd have got the pre face-lift.
This was actually really interesting to see and experience.. fun vehicle
One of my dream cars or the hatchback sti then the audi avant my top three dream cars.
It’s a really nice attainable car
Slam lower a N/A manual forester and even that's fun to drive and handles well..
Don't forget the interior is originally designed for dirt and dust, hence simple.
i love the simplicity
I need this in my life yesterday pls and thank you
It’s epic eh
It’s not the air vent. Because it dosnt have a frame around the window, over time people closing the door by the window bends the bracket that the mirror attaches to and that breaks the seal around the window. Just needs bending back mine had same problem
Interesting could have been
@@RossReviewsau it sounds Like the air vent as it’s literally just next to it. My foz sti did it and did my head in anything over 50kph lol. Window down and bent the bracket ever so slightly driver and passenger. It’s silent now 🤟 thank god dosnt help my tinnitus at all 🤣
The Japanese sandman
sounds beautiful looks beautiful
Where in Australia did you film this?
Perth
Why didn't USDM get these Subaru Forester STi?? Those thangs are sick!!
Epic cars 🚙
Warranty for covering the CVT transmission probably makes it non-profitable, I think
Am coming to Australia Next year am a Kenyan And am a Subaru boy kindly link me on how I Will come acquire one
Ayy G not for my Maori family G. all big cxnts 🤣🤣 why we stuck with tha au Barra T zf6 swapped. Churr bro much love 🤙
🤣 gotta love them BIG Barra Cars eh bro🤙
Love the SG9!!
Amazing machine
Sick mate.
Drop it off at my place when ya finished lol.
The little changes the owner made are awesome 👍 great car!!!
👏 agreeed owner did a great job
Can't wait for these to be legal to import to the US. I can only imagine the price these will go for here, though.,
When I had my wrx in the 90s I got rid of the silly exhaust the previous owner put on. As trust me it gets old very quick especially on long journeys when your head is ringing and you can't hear much in the car.
I can imagine it could get to much for daily duties at times
@@RossReviewsau Not just everyone in it had headaches of the day but also after an hour or more, you felt dizzy and uneasy.
Everyone thought it was an exhaust leak but I got it checked twice.
Turns out it was the frequency according to the tuner.
Great car thou. Wish I never sold it
That wind is not coming through the vents, that's coming from in between the mirrors and the windows.
Could be actually
@@RossReviewsau it is as I own a Forester.
Sik beast of a wagon 👑
Really fun car 🚙
Nice vid. Just one criticism though, these aren't really a big family sized suv as you mention a few times... They are actually pretty small. Imagine a gd wrx with a slightly higher roof and lifted suspension. Both of those things are improvements over the impreza imo.
Felt pretty spacious to me.. back seats and a massive boot.. family practical I reckon
@@RossReviewsau yes they're spacious for sure. With all the headroom and the square back. But they're still a small light chassis I would argue. Slightly bigger than a gc or gd impreza but if you park it next to even 1st gen xv (crosstrek) the sg forester is smaller and has a shorter wheelbase.
now thats a cool subie!
Very 😎
Please review more Australian , European and American legend cars ( collectable cars)
Thank you.
Hey Ross! Enjoy all your posts! I’ve owned a Sti and found they are ticking time bombs, blown engine - value let go, then new short block and reconditioned heads and blown bottom end from new! Lost faith in Subaru and got a Holden ssv redline added boost and never looked back!
Oh definitely spot on with that!!
Cost a damn fortune to fix things also plus stock well they ain't very much fun you gotta put a fair bit of work done.
yup the EJ may be a fun engine.. but reliability is not its strong suit lol fully aware
Amazing car!
Pretty sure not stock on this car
1. That is not the factory bonnet scoop, believe it’s off a WRX STI.
2. Centre stack gauges are not factory from what I recall
Scoop not OEM. Gauges are 100% Factory.
The scoop is aftermarket.. gauges factory
I have seen one of these around in northern alberta. This is the only acceptable Forester imo lol
Great for Canada with the snow 👏
Can you do a review on the VT Calais L67 haven't seen any reviews on this engine before
ill do my best to find one
You should do more Subaru reviews!
I’m trying 😁
Those gauges on centre dash aren't factory, nor is the scoop. Factory scoop is smaller, he has changed to bigger one for the looks and bigger intercooler.
Yes scoop is aftermarket but the centre gauges are factory
@@RossReviewsaumate I own one of these, I assure you they are aftermarket.
So are they factory or aftermarket ??
Anyone ? Anyone?...
They (Gauges) are FACTORY OEM fitment. It's my STI so I would know. End of story.
@@davidpreston959 funny how my own Forester STI doesn't have these factory gauges, nor do any of the ones currently for sale. Even the original Japanese brochure doesn't show a centre console gauge pod.. surely if it was "Factory OEM" they wouldn't leave that off - autocatalogarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Subaru-Forester-STi-2004-JPN.pdf
A total of 3,645 of these were made.
Cheers for that stat
What model Invidia exhaust is that?
Have been lucky enough to work on one of these, only one I've ever seen
Very rare things
They sound good the old Foresters
Love the EJ noise
Never get bored of the Subarus because of the sound
They do sound great
Not if you're driving one daily, it gets old very quick.
Gonna get me a forester soon
Cool vehicles
I have a modified XT and I want a STI so bad
they are out there bro!
It’s all about family 😔
Family ✊
全く同じ色のＳＧナインに乗ってます。
Nice❣️Forester😉👍
Beautiful cars
Gotta wait two more years to import to US!!
Almost there
Subaru Outback/Forester official drivers jacket is a Kathmandu 😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣
im thinking a 5s 0-100. time inputting this guess...5:02
Great guess
@@RossReviewsau lol i was a bit off, thanks for the encouragement though lol.
The sound of the car reminds me of the wrx
Yup the same
Your right
Interestingly this time I guessed 6.59 secs so not far off again
Very close
well i was close if the car was on flat ground.
100%
I feel sad for this FSTI... Those wheelnuts hint this Subbie will experience some ringland failure at some point
🤣 not a fan of the wheel nuts for sure but the engine mods were done well in my book
Hey, it’s a wagon. Not a SUV -.-
The liberty looks like a wagon to me it’s more a suv cross wagon 🤣 idk
Ahh yes manual sti 1st gear all the way to 6th welllll lag,lag,lag,lag,lag,lag....BANG....tow truck incoming
🤣🤣🤣 that’s why I stopped, I know there reputation
So awesome until we got to the lug nuts ... cringe
Sex on wheels in my opinion
😏😏😏🤣🤣🤣