Stock #6410
Exterior Overview
The Forester is a beloved nameplate here in the US. These crossovers are beloved for their cavernous interiors, determined symmetrical AWD, and unmatched year-round capability. Our USDM SF5 foresters made for great daily drivers, but the performance was admittedly lackluster. In Japan, however, Subaru engineers were cooking up turbocharged variants years before we got our hands on any, and this 1999 S/TB is a great unit, optioned with a robust EJ205 engine mated to a 5 speed stick. It also looks snazzy, wearing an OEM optional 3 piece lip kit and finished in Royal silver metallic (792). An optional rear spoiler, aftermarket coilovers, and BBS CV alloys look the part, and this SF5 gets plenty of looks with its OEM plus aesthetic. Sure there are some exterior defects on this two decade old crossover, but the cosmetics are in good shape overall and the 81k miles on the clock do a lot to seal the deal. At the top of its class for utility, style, and no-holds-barred fun, this Forester is one heck of a Japanese Classic!
Interior Overview
The interior is a lovely place to be. It’s finished in a classy patterned cloth, for period-correct appeal. It features a host of useful amenities for your daily commute. Most importantly, it’s clean and appears to have been well cared for in a prior life. The seats show no rips, stains, or tears apart from some discoloration on the driver’s side bolsters. The remaining upholstery is in good nick, from the black vinyl dash to the leather wrapped MOMO steering wheel, which feels great in the palm. Mounted centrally, a touchscreen Pioneer head unit has Bluetooth functionality and sound quality is decent overall. To keep the cabin comfortable, a digital automatic climate control system is close by, and a sought after Lamco OEM gauge pack helps monitor engine vitals. All four power windows work as advertised, and there’s a massive power moonroof on hand to let in additional sunlight. The power locks and mirrors work too, for good measure. The rear seat is spacious and can fold flat to maximize the potential of this Fozzy’s cargo area. In fact, if you can see past some scratched door panels and miscellaneous wear and tear, this cabin should please most any enthusiast. We’ve even retained the owner’s manual, and maintenance booklets to preserve this investment!
Mechanical Overview
The heart of this beast is a turbocharged flat-four similar to those found in the GD Impreza WRX. Like the WRX, the Japanese SF5 Foresters offered unparalleled power and driving excitement for the crossover segment, while sharing many interchangeable parts with Imprezas and Foresters offered for sale stateside too! The EJ205 powerplant fires up without a hitch, care of a new 12v battery, and operation is certainly par for the course for such a low mileage SUV. A fresh fuel filter keeps this flat four operating in tiptop shape, alongside new spark plugs and coil packs and acceleration is potent, offering plenty of get up and go for city and highway driving! We even took care of new cam seals and a valve cover gasket job, keeping your lubricant from the oil and filter service internal. The five speed stick is plenty responsive and an excellent choice for anyone looking to daily drive this super SUV. Drivability is second to none, and the coilover suspension offers increased control and a more responsive ride. New swaybar links front and rear assist through backroad twists and turns if needed, and new inner and outer tie rods keep your power steering on point. Subaru’s championed Symmetrical AWD works as expected, and with new tires mounted and balanced on all four corners, you’ll never have to worry about losing grip for tens of thousands of miles to come!
*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.
