Forbidden JDM Fruit: Subaru Legacy STI

"Michael Woyahn" (michaelwoyahn)
08/22/2015 at 09:54 • Filed to: None

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. There was once a time when Subaru made a Legacy that was something more than an all wheel drive Camry. Subaru made this generation Legacy even sweeter with a special package brought to you by Subaru Tecnica International.

When Subaru decided to make an STI out of the fourth generation Legacy, it didn’t have a bad starting point. The U.S. market already had the 2.5 liter mill from the WRX that packed 250 horsepower, but the Japanese market got Subaru’s top of the line 2.0 turbo engine with an extra 30 horsepower.

The STI package could only be added to 600 wagons and sedans. However, it was more than just an appearance package. It added a sport suspension with dampers provided by Bilstein, which is similar to the American Spec.B package. The STI package went beyond the Spec.B by adding Brembo brakes, a quad outlet exhaust, a front splitter, and a rear spoiler.

The aesthetic improvements include STI specific gauges, STI leather and suede seats, with red stitching, and, of course, the 18 inch STI wheels.

Here’s the crazy part. These all wheel drive, turbo, manual cars can be bought right now on GooNet Exchange. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! particular example has the equivalent of 35,000 miles on it and it can be had for $23,540.

It even has a JDM specific shift surround!

If 23 grand is pushing your budget, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! one only costs $6,180 and it has just 50,000 miles. It is the pre-facelift model, though.

This Leggy is let down by the 5 speed automatic, but look at those blue seats!

But if your bank account is screaming out in pain because it is more full than the star of My 600-lb Life ’s Thanksgiving dinner plate, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! beautiful S402 could be yours for $35,900. It has an astonishing 8,000 miles.

The S402 package sticks the 2.5 liter engine from the STI under the hood, but power is restricted to 282 hp. This package gives the Legacy an even sportier suspension, a revised, quicker steering system, and new Brembo brakes. They are six piston units in the front and two piston units in the back. The S402’s also get wider front fenders, a carbon fiber front lip, and BBS wheels.

Interior upgrades include a full leather interior and a STI stop start button.

Now, we only have to wait 16 more years until these can be legally driven on American streets. Unless, of course, the star of My 600-lb Life finds your bank account and eats all of your money.

DISCUSSION (17)

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Michael Woyahn
08/22/2015 at 10:00

hhhhhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Michael Woyahn
08/22/2015 at 10:32

Kinja'd!!!

I’ll just take a B4 Blitzen if you don’t mind.

Michael Woyahn > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
08/22/2015 at 10:34

I wouldn’t mind one of those either haha!

Tom McParland > Michael Woyahn
08/22/2015 at 10:59

Aw man...I had an 05 LGT, with dreams of modding into an STi clone. It was not to be.

Michael Woyahn > Tom McParland
08/22/2015 at 11:19

That would have been awesome! Too bad it didn’t work out. Legacy GTs will always hold a special place in my heart.

Tom McParland > Michael Woyahn
08/22/2015 at 11:24

Yeah that sucker ate clutches like a mofo...It had to go. Still loved it.

Michael Woyahn > Tom McParland
08/22/2015 at 11:48

I've heard that their reliability isn't great, but I can forgive it because it looks so good! And since I don't own one or have to pay for its repairs haha!

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Michael Woyahn
08/22/2015 at 14:40

Looks damn good!

Michael Woyahn > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
08/22/2015 at 16:23

Right? The want is strong!

Irlyluvwagons > Michael Woyahn
09/03/2015 at 10:45

It is not often I find out about a wagon I had never heard of. My thanks to you.

Michael Woyahn > Irlyluvwagons
09/03/2015 at 10:49

You’re very welcome. The world needs to know about the Legacy STI!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Woyahn
11/25/2018 at 17:35

Any links with more info on these?

Michael Woyahn > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
11/25/2018 at 17:54

Good question. I definitely should’ve provided more links when I wrote this. I ended up googling a bit and h ere’s a link for more info on the S402 Legacy that I think I used : https://www.carscoops.com/2008/05/subaru-legacy-sti-s402-limited-edition/

Here’s a link for just the STI package, but it seems like this package was introduced with the facelift: https://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/subary-legacy-sti-package-introduced-in-japan/

The pre-facelift ones seem to be Tuned by STI in addition to the Spec.B package , based off of this video:

Hopefully the se links are of some use to you! Let me know if you have any specific questions on this gen Legacy, too; I’ve spent quite a bit of time researching the USDM spec ones so I may be able to answer some.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Michael Woyahn
11/25/2018 at 18:03

Thanks!

Michael Woyahn > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
11/25/2018 at 18:06

No problem! It also seems like you could get the “Tuned by STI” package officially in Australia along with Japan, too: https://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/spec-b-vs-tuned-sti-34914.html

Marine's '05 LGT Limited Wagon > Michael Woyahn
04/09/2019 at 20:10

Okay, so we in the States can not get these cars imported from Japan unless they’re 25 years old? , does that mean we also can not import from Australia as well?

Michael Woyahn > Marine's '05 LGT Limited Wagon
04/09/2019 at 21:34

That’s correct, unfortunately! Any car imported from any country has to adhere to the import laws, unless it’s 25 years old or older.