2001 Subaru Forester S/tb STi

Imported into the UK in 2017, this 2001 Subaru Forester S/tb is a 2001 model year car. It has two keepers in the UK (including the vendor). It also comes with a service history from the time it was in Japan and receipts of the work done on its arrival here. The pictures do speak loudly about the car’s decent condition both on the outside and especially inside. In a time when most crossovers are just high-riding hatchbacks, the Forester S/tb is a good reminder of when this genre of cars was rare — and the products were special.

Considering this is a JDM car, you wouldn’t find many of these around but local Subaru specialists won’t have an issue servicing it, either. Not only as a future classic, the car can also be a great way to enjoy a remarkable engine in an easy-to-drive package, especially with the automatic gearbox. It can also tow a classic, says the vendor, although he adds that it was suggested to him and he hasn’t tried it. The only reason he’s selling the Forester is to make space for his other classics. He adds, ‘it is a practical and reliable 4WD car with character. For those who know about it, this is basically a bigger version of a WRX.’

The first-generation Subaru Forester (SF) looked more upright than the immediate replacement, the SG. On this car, it’s the Aero Spec body kit that makes all the difference. The overall shape and the way it sits mightn’t appear changed, but the kit makes it appear closer to the ground — instead of it looking like a tall SUV. While the arches show enough space for wheel travel should one decide to traverse some imperfect roads, the supplied BBS wheels are the proverbial icing on the cake. The STi badges and stickers do set it apart from the standard Forester.

This is a two-decade-old car, which did about 90k km in Japan, before being shipped to the UK. The regular use means there are some marks left on the car’s exterior, which while not deal breakers by any means, show that it can benefit from some TLC. The front and rear bumpers have scuff marks, and the wind deflectors have been removed as due to age they'd begun to crack. There are some residual marks because of that. On the whole, the car is largely devoid of any major damage, although use-related wear can still be seen, along with a few scratches on the bodywork.

It wasn’t a globally available car, the Forester S/tb, and all the changes that Subaru made to distinguish this from the lesser models are worth noticing. It got a nice MOMO steering wheel, STi upholstery, STi badges and inscription on the seats, STi pedals, etc. Apart from the factory stuff, the car also has a Japanese-language screen, a minidisc/CD player with a hard disk drive and subwoofer input.

In terms of condition, the interior has some wear: the plastics have understandably seen better days, the seats do require a cleanup, the door cards do look alright, and there are no visible issues with the carpet. The boot is massive, clean, and holds a space saver wheel under the mat. The pillar-less doors aren’t a common sight these days, and they make the Forester even cooler.

According to Gran Turismo Wiki, the Subaru Forester S/tb was the first crossover/SUV to be featured in a Gran Turismo game. Those who appreciate video games (especially titles like GT, which have been influential in shaping up car culture globally) know this is a fairly big deal. The Forester was based on the Impreza platform, and the S/tb shared its engine with the Impreza WRX STi, too, making it the crossover of choice for those who didn’t want a dull driving experience.

It had some work done at the time of import and afterwards, more details on which are mentioned in the section below. It also got an underbody treatment done at the time of the import. In terms of condition, its age is evident but there’s only some surface rust underneath.

About how it is to drive, the vendor says, ‘The car is a real pleasure to drive. And if you want it to go, it does. It has plenty of power for the road and is delivered very smoothly. It is perfect for going to pick up some supplies or a spirited drive — especially with the power button engaged.’ It has a turbo timer, which was fitted in Japan.

This Subaru Forester St/b was manufactured in 2001, used in Japan for nearly 90,000 km, before being imported into the UK about four years ago. The vendor is the first owner here, after which the car was used by his family as a company car. The odometer reads 112116 and the vendor mentions ‘the first 90k is in km and the rest in miles. So whatever the mileage is shown in the car, subtract 90k km and add 50k miles and you’ll have the reading in miles.’ That comes up to about 72k miles.

Accompanying the car is its service history from Japan (stamped service book) and receipts of the following repairs and replacements carried out: brake discs and pads, filters and belts, user manuals for the radio, etc. It also got new tyres fitted three years ago. It passed its latest MoT, carried out in November, but with one advisory: minor leak of gases from the exhaust.

The Subaru Forester is a great everyday car: it’s easy to drive, has lots of space, it’s reliable, and with 4WD, its capabilities are further widened. With the S/tb, Subaru gave the car even more power, effectively making it the Impreza STi for those who wanted more space but didn’t want to compromise on everyday usability. With cars only allocated for the Japanese market, it didn’t get a global customer base straight away. But with individually imported cars, that’s been changing.

The 2001 example here mightn’t be straight out of a museum, but it has decent bodywork, a clean interior, service history, a tasteful bodykit, and pretty spectacular-looking (especially on this car) BBS wheels. At an estimated £6000 - £10,000, the car can be a great, practical fast car that doesn’t shy away from the mundane stuff. Or, if you’re inclined in making the most of the Impreza platform, it can be quite a handsome project, too. It is multi-faceted, exactly how crossovers ought to be.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at our headquarters near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, so to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.