When viewed from a distance, you could be excused for thinking this was just any old 2004 Subaru Forester. However, it is actually a very exciting sleeper that is looking for a new home.
The Forester is up for auction through Bring a Trailer and while the exterior is relatively unassuming, it has been outfitted with the same 2.5-liter turbocharged EJ257 four-cylinder engine used by the potent Impreza WRX STI back in the day.
This engine has also been comprehensively modified and features forged connecting rods and forged pistons from Manley Performance, a 2015 WRX STI forged crankshaft, ACL bearings, B25 cylinder heads with APR studs, a VF48 turbocharger, Cobb air intake, 2015 WRX STI intake manifold, a Grimmspeed top-mount intercooler, new fuel lines, enlarged injectors, a flex-fuel kit, and an aluminum radiator.
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No mention is made in the listing about how much power the Forester now pumps out but we do know the engine is coupled to a six-speed manual transmission and a rear differential also sourced from a Japanese-market 2004 Forester STI. A new downpipe and cat-back exhaust have also been fitted.
Some exterior changes have been made too such as the fitment of a Japanese-market front bumper, hood scoop, side skirts, rear hatch, and rear spoiler. There are also 17-inch BBS wheels from an STI and wrapped in 225/50 General G-Max AS05 tires. Other modifications made include the fitment of Brembo brakes from an STI as well as Fortune Auto 500 coilovers, Kartboy front and rear end links, a Whiteline roll-center kit, and the same steering rack as a 2015 WRX STI.
The listing notes that the Subaru’s powertrain has a touch over 50,000 km (~31,000 miles) on the clock but doesn’t mention the true mileage of the car. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the car has been on Bring a Trailer as it was sold on the auction site for $26,750 back in May 2020.
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