Building Your Own Subaru Forester STIWhen I was just getting involved in the whole import tuner scene, machines like the Nissan Skyline GT R, Mitsubishi Evolution and Subaru Impreza STI were as legendary as they were unobtainable. But Japan has been much more willing to share its best cars with the American market in recent years from the R3. GT R to the Evolution X and Impreza STI. In many ways these are the golden years of Japanese performance car ownership in America, but what if you want to drive something with more passenger and cargo capacity while flying a little OK, a lot lower under the radar than any of these angry looking, all wheeldrive monsters In Japan you could opt for a Subaru Forester STI, perhaps the ultimate utilitarian wolf in sheeps clothing, but unfortunately for us Yanks, this hot version wagon never made an appearance at the local Subie dealership. All is not lost, however, since those of us who crave an angry toaster of our own see www. Angry Toaster, an amazing SF5 Forester given a thorough STI conversion and suitably cool nickname to match, theres a surprisingly easy conversion that was recently brought to my attention by Doug Nelson, the education manager at UTIs Norwood, Massachusetts, campus. Dougs a genuine Subaru fanatic whose GC8 Impreza build was so impressive we had to feature it on the cover of our January 2. MARCOAP/SUBARU008.jpg' alt='How To Install A Front Mount Intercooler On A Wrx Wagon' title='How To Install A Front Mount Intercooler On A Wrx Wagon' />UTI he was an Acura technician for almost a decade. Doug is the very definition of a car guy and as passionate a tuner as youll ever find. But like all of us, Doug is getting a little older and maybe even a little wiser, and with a wife and kids at home he decided he needed a practicl daily driver. Subaru Forester 2. Base Model MSRP. MPG. Fuel Economy. A younger man might have opted for a first generation SF5 Forester as the starting point for an epic STI conversion that requires a challenging engine swap, because the SF5 is a very affordable platform as a starting point a 0. This ISR test pipe is designed to increase exhaust flow and improving your engines performance. Shop at Enjuku Racing for this upgrade and other mods. New Android Games Cracked Apk Site. Subaru launched the third generation Japanese and worldmarket Legacy in June 1998, while the North American model was introduced in May 1999 for the 2000 model year. Forester has a Blue Book value of 7,7. That being said, by the time you add up all the costs associated with converting one to STI power especially if you include the 6 speed transmission and DCCD, as well as the suspension and brakes what started out as a budget build will inevitably turn into a big dollar affair. D/525026_10150943804557764_169525982763_10169993_2119568356_n-01-01.jpg' alt='How To Install A Front Mount Intercooler On A Wrx Wagon' title='How To Install A Front Mount Intercooler On A Wrx Wagon' />So much so in fact that you can, as Doug Nelsons second generation SG Forester XT project proves, start with a much newer machine an 0. Forester XT has a Blue Book value of 1. STI power for a similar if not smaller overall investment. Hows that possible Just this once, you wont have to enroll at UTI to tap into Dougs Subie vault of knowledge. The secret lies in the fact that the 0. XT model Forester like Dougs came from the factory with a turbocharged 2. STIs. According to Doug, The 0. Forester is basically a box shaped WRX STI on stilts. Basically, if a part fits an 0. WRXSTI it fits on a XT Forester. The main differences performance wise between the WRXSTI and the Forester XT are the use of a small TD0. WRX, a top mount intercooler thats smaller than a WRXs, a catted up pipe like those found on a WRX, different ECU tuning boost tops out around 1. Forester, whereas a WRX will hit 1. STI will hit 1. 4. WRX 1. 30 lph rating compared to the 1. STI pump. So as you can see, a Forester XT isnt exactly on par with a STI straight out of the box, as indicated by its factory rated 2. STI equivalent power and the Forester is actually 1. STI according to motortrend. Forester XT has a curb weight of 3,2. Impreza WRX STI has a curb weight of 3,2. According to Doug, the must have parts to upgrade a XT to STI power under the hood are a STI non catted up pipe, a STI intercooler, a STI VF3. STI axle back exhaust system although the front muffler hanger and tailpipes will need to be tweaked for proper fitment, a STI hood scoop from a JDM 0. WRX, and if you have an 0. XT you can directly swap in a STI ECU, but later year XTs will need a reflash and of course a reflash is a good idea anyway if you make some other high performance mods to your XT. An STI fuel pump will work fine, but given how inexpensive a Walbro 2. The beauty of this upgrade path is that all the parts are easily sourced for around 1,0. JDM importers and in the For Sale forums on popular Subie spots like nasioc. Dougs favorite shop eastcoastswappers. The surprising part about this pseudo STI conversion is that its not only inexpensive but also very effective in the power department. A stock Forester XT produces about 1. STI generally produces about 2. With the above STI upgrades, Forester XTs generally produce about 2. STI. Doug was unsure why XTs make so much power with these simple STI upgrades, but some good theories include better airflow to the air intake because of the larger front grille opening on the Forester, better airflow to the top mount intercoolerbecause of the shapeangle of the Foresters nose and hood, and perhaps even a less restrictive exhaust path. Since the Foresters chassis is basically the same as an Impreza, The STI treatment doesnt have to end under the hood either. According to Doug, Any 0. WRX or 0. 4 STI springstrut combo will bolt right up without any problems. Only the 0. 4 STI struts will work with the Forester XT because the hub mounting was changed for 2. They can be made to fit, but its not really worth the cost involved. The WRXSTI both use the same sized front sway bar. Another thing to consider is the fact that Japan has had the Forester STI for some time, and it has a number of cool toys and trim options that are easily sourced. For starters, the trim piece around the radio on JDM models come in a slick flat black. Also offered in Japan is a cool little storage box under the radio that can hold two 1. And, of course, theres also the STI badges off a JDM Forester STI and other items thatll bolt right up like STI seats and steering wheel right down to the big Brembo brakes and programmable center differential. View Photo Gallery 6 Photos. With so many OEM STI upgrades available at a reasonable price and with factory quality and ease of installation, turning the awardwinning 0. Forester XT Car Drivers Best Small SUV, 0. Can you imagine the look on the face of that mullet haired Mustang driver who just ate a mouth full of dust from your box on wheels cute ute And with a nice set of aggressively offset wheels and a ride height reduction via 0. STI shocks and springs or an aftermarket coilover setup, a Forester should retain most of its utility though I doubt many Forester owners ever go off roading anyway while achieving a much sportier appearance and far superior handling. As Doug Nelson from UTI put it, For me, the appeal is the fact that the Forester XT is a bit more refined and luxurious than the WRXSTI, plus it has all the benefits of being a wagonSUV for those of us that need to move large items JDM parts or have kids. The other driving factor for me was that it already had the 2. Basically, with a XT you have all the creature comforts that come with the Forester, have the ability to bolt on OEM STI parts and make the same or more power than a STI and go undetected at the dealership so the warranty remains intact, all for less money than a STI. Whats not to like about that View Photo Gallery 6 Photos. Send your feedback to dprattemodified.