Chris tii
RMS Regular
- Messages
- 1,565
- Drives
- BMW 2002tii
Time for a new daily driver. I've been trying to figure out what to replace my e39 with. I didn't want another saloon, this time I wanted to go back to an estate car. It had to be interesting, pretty rare, fast and practical.
I initially wanted a Mitsubitshi Evo Wagon. I even went as far as bidding on a mint white one at a Japanese Auction. I didn't win the auction, and it was looking like I was going to have to accept a more rough, high mileage car to fit my budget. I didn't want a car that might need work so the Evo idea was starting to fade. I also figured the Evo was more suited to a weekend car, than a daily driver.
My attention soon started to go towards a Forester Sti. I've always liked the Forester but theres no hiding the fact that they are pretty dam fugly!
I soon spotted a blue one with a forged engine for sale at Torque GT. I enquired if it was still for sale, unfortunately they had just taken a deposit that day. Though we still sent a few emails back and fourth about the pros and cons of Foresters over an Evo. They couldn't of been more helpful.
Below is the Torque GT car that was already sold.
So my attention soon switched to a silver one for sale at Harlow Jap Imports. The car definately suited Silver more. It was a fresh import in perfect condition.
This one...
I phoned about the car. There wasn't any answer but the dealer soon called me back. One of the questions I asked was about whether they take trade ins. I didn't have to trade in the e39 to buy the Forester but I think this gave the impression I wasn't a serious buyer. I read on a review of Harlow that WhatsApp was the best way to contact them as they don't reply to emails, so I followed the phone call with a few more questions about the car via WhatsApp. Each message took a whole day for a reply. The last message I sent was me asking for his best price on the car. I had all the intentions of putting down a deposit that day. He never replied.
At the same time Mike from Torque GT sent me an email asking if I still wanted a Forester. I mentioned I was thinking of buying the one at Harlow. Though since I wasn't getting a reply from Harlow I enquired about importing one with them. Didn't take long for them to convince me importing one with Torque GT was the way to go. I could of went with JDM Auctionwatch again like I did with the Jap e39 but getting the car undercoated, changed over to MPH and registered was both expensive and a pain in the ass. All this is included with Torque GT so it was a no brainer.
So after I sent a £500 deposit, the process began. First thing was a phone call with Mike to talk about my budget and to decide what spec I wanted. The spec I wanted was;
Silver or Grey Facelift model,
Low mileage, grade 4B car,
As many factory options as possible including;
Sti front splitter and a Genome Exhaust.
Mike was quick to point out that Grey was going to be impossible to find. The colour was only available in the last year of production (2007) and wasn't as popular as Blue and White. He said the last one he saw at auction was 3 months ago. So the hunt was on, I have access to all the auctions via my JDM Auction watch sign in, so I was going to keep an eye on the autions as well. I wasn't sure how long it was going to take. Could be a while until the perfect one popped up.
About ONE HOUR later! I get a phone call from Torque GT. This time its a guy called Darren. He mentioned Mike was with a customer and this couldn't wait. He has a live feed to all the auctions and theres been a late, unscheduled entry into the Kobe auction. Its only a 2007 GREY Forester Sti, 84,000 km, grade 4B!
I wasn't quite ready for things to move this quick but he mentioned he never sees Grey ones at auction and he had to phone me because he knew grey was on my wishlist. He emailed through a few grainy screenshot pictures of the car. I tried to see if I could see it when I logged into the auction list, it wasn't there, it really was a late entry and not showing up on the usual website.
The car had a few tacky after market bits attached including a rare looking steering wheel. Darren told me all this was easily taken off and replaced with OEM parts once they had it. I told him to go ahead and try to get it.
It was a Friday and they are closed Saturdays but he told me he would ring me anyway to let me know how we got on. Next day I get the call to say we got it! Apparently it went slightly over my budget but they are going to take the difference out of their end. That was over 2 weeks ago, since then I've had some more photos of the car. Darren thinks it looks to be in great condition. And its got some great options that we didn't know it had because the auction photos were so poor.
It has the Sti Splitter. the Genome center turbo/temp dials (a really rare factory option) and a big s/s exhaust (not Genome), Sti front stut bar and a rear after market one. And the original steering wheel was in the boot!
So without further or do, my next daily driver. Ignore the blue gaiter, red tape on the splitter, gold wheel nuts, red gear knob, stupid fog lights, awful red toggle switches, cr*p steering wheel, carbon finish centre dash. They wont't be there when I collect it.
Also, you'll notice its not got any Sti badges on the front or back. Maybe the original owner wanted it to be discreet? Torque GT will fit all the badges and bumper stickers for me as well.
I initially wanted a Mitsubitshi Evo Wagon. I even went as far as bidding on a mint white one at a Japanese Auction. I didn't win the auction, and it was looking like I was going to have to accept a more rough, high mileage car to fit my budget. I didn't want a car that might need work so the Evo idea was starting to fade. I also figured the Evo was more suited to a weekend car, than a daily driver.
My attention soon started to go towards a Forester Sti. I've always liked the Forester but theres no hiding the fact that they are pretty dam fugly!
I soon spotted a blue one with a forged engine for sale at Torque GT. I enquired if it was still for sale, unfortunately they had just taken a deposit that day. Though we still sent a few emails back and fourth about the pros and cons of Foresters over an Evo. They couldn't of been more helpful.
Below is the Torque GT car that was already sold.
So my attention soon switched to a silver one for sale at Harlow Jap Imports. The car definately suited Silver more. It was a fresh import in perfect condition.
This one...
I phoned about the car. There wasn't any answer but the dealer soon called me back. One of the questions I asked was about whether they take trade ins. I didn't have to trade in the e39 to buy the Forester but I think this gave the impression I wasn't a serious buyer. I read on a review of Harlow that WhatsApp was the best way to contact them as they don't reply to emails, so I followed the phone call with a few more questions about the car via WhatsApp. Each message took a whole day for a reply. The last message I sent was me asking for his best price on the car. I had all the intentions of putting down a deposit that day. He never replied.
At the same time Mike from Torque GT sent me an email asking if I still wanted a Forester. I mentioned I was thinking of buying the one at Harlow. Though since I wasn't getting a reply from Harlow I enquired about importing one with them. Didn't take long for them to convince me importing one with Torque GT was the way to go. I could of went with JDM Auctionwatch again like I did with the Jap e39 but getting the car undercoated, changed over to MPH and registered was both expensive and a pain in the ass. All this is included with Torque GT so it was a no brainer.
So after I sent a £500 deposit, the process began. First thing was a phone call with Mike to talk about my budget and to decide what spec I wanted. The spec I wanted was;
Silver or Grey Facelift model,
Low mileage, grade 4B car,
As many factory options as possible including;
Sti front splitter and a Genome Exhaust.
Mike was quick to point out that Grey was going to be impossible to find. The colour was only available in the last year of production (2007) and wasn't as popular as Blue and White. He said the last one he saw at auction was 3 months ago. So the hunt was on, I have access to all the auctions via my JDM Auction watch sign in, so I was going to keep an eye on the autions as well. I wasn't sure how long it was going to take. Could be a while until the perfect one popped up.
About ONE HOUR later! I get a phone call from Torque GT. This time its a guy called Darren. He mentioned Mike was with a customer and this couldn't wait. He has a live feed to all the auctions and theres been a late, unscheduled entry into the Kobe auction. Its only a 2007 GREY Forester Sti, 84,000 km, grade 4B!
I wasn't quite ready for things to move this quick but he mentioned he never sees Grey ones at auction and he had to phone me because he knew grey was on my wishlist. He emailed through a few grainy screenshot pictures of the car. I tried to see if I could see it when I logged into the auction list, it wasn't there, it really was a late entry and not showing up on the usual website.
The car had a few tacky after market bits attached including a rare looking steering wheel. Darren told me all this was easily taken off and replaced with OEM parts once they had it. I told him to go ahead and try to get it.
It was a Friday and they are closed Saturdays but he told me he would ring me anyway to let me know how we got on. Next day I get the call to say we got it! Apparently it went slightly over my budget but they are going to take the difference out of their end. That was over 2 weeks ago, since then I've had some more photos of the car. Darren thinks it looks to be in great condition. And its got some great options that we didn't know it had because the auction photos were so poor.
It has the Sti Splitter. the Genome center turbo/temp dials (a really rare factory option) and a big s/s exhaust (not Genome), Sti front stut bar and a rear after market one. And the original steering wheel was in the boot!
So without further or do, my next daily driver. Ignore the blue gaiter, red tape on the splitter, gold wheel nuts, red gear knob, stupid fog lights, awful red toggle switches, cr*p steering wheel, carbon finish centre dash. They wont't be there when I collect it.
Also, you'll notice its not got any Sti badges on the front or back. Maybe the original owner wanted it to be discreet? Torque GT will fit all the badges and bumper stickers for me as well.
Last edited:
. It look awesome!
