DaiOni

A question for the locals - can you still find option magazine at your local conbini? I used to buy it regularly when I first came to japan (usually option 2, which is a more parts-centric), but I can't find it on the shelves (or even under the shelves) at any of the local stores now... Is this just my area? In fact, all of the modified car mags seem to be gone now - there's only the car classified mags and the occasional issue of the 'spy shot' style new car mags...

coilovers - I'd suggest tein wagon spec or something similar. The previous owner of my st/b just used springs - and the inner side tyre wear was horrific. http://search1.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/sea...=0jp&acc=jp

they are transformed (from SUV to more of a true wagon) via lowering:

see if you can find a copy of hyperrev 75 (forester) - it doesn't cover our car, but does have plenty of interesting info and leads on aftermarket suppliers. as you've probably realised, a lot of the WRX parts can be used. check out club f-star (japanese fanboy site) - check out the member cars. There's a few sg9 owners on there - with mods listed, so that's another good place for hints. Anyway, be very careful with the modifying! My FD is a good example - I 'invested' bulk $$$ in that because I couldn't help/stop myself. I didn't intend to sell it though, but I also didn't intend to stay in Japan for as long as I have (going into year #7) - so it's gone, I'm still here, money 'invested' is someone else's gift, and I'm starting all over again. I'm limiting modifying to a cat-back for the burble, and a few STi upgrades off yahoo, when I find them. If the car is anywhere near as nimble as my old st/b (255ps stock + exhaust @ 1380kg) I'll be happy - that thing rocked.

260ps actually. My old st/b forester would be quicker. That said, litchfield (who do the version in the youtube vid) remap them (they are detuned from the factory - relative to the impreza) for 300hp. They add exhaust system to get the 330hp. If you want to do the same here - get a prova or ksrom ecu (the latter is only ~50,000yen), and, of course, there are plenty of exhaust options. I like the sti genome cat-back - but it's not cheap (~80,000). I'll probably add a kakimoto regu (I'm assuming the standard sti exhaust isn't going to be loud enough). I actually just bought my first mod for mine:

Yeah, shame it's four hours away! It's not about liking the car (that's dangerous! I can vouch for that from experience), it's about the $. That said, I've had a JDM forester before and absolutely loved it - they are sensational. Looking forward to seeing how the 2.5L goes. I have to have four doors, and I wanted an evo, but the only ones making $ are evo 8MR and above, and I couldn't quite justify pushing the budget that far.

you'll want to get in quick - unless you are lucky to buy in the same ken, as the paperwork can take a while I signed the contract on this today:

Just remember, if you're checking out online car classifieds, that the advertised price is not the 'real' price. All the taxes, duties, and oddball fees will be added on top - and it can make a significant difference.

The subaru is the smartest choice on that list.

I would have had an M3 here years ago, but finding a well-priced one with the wheel on the right side is a bitch...

deposit taken.

It's on there. But serious buyers are hard to find. I was hoping a limited (forum) exposure would net me a buyer - rather than opening it up to classifieds etc (and unleashing the wider world of tyrekickers and dreamers). Perhaps the fastfours feature will help find the right person.

I don't have a good pic that faces into the interior. But the pic below shows the same seats (but in red) (note that these ones have a patch too!)

Passenger side is fine, driver's side has the standard elbow area tear that almost all of these seats have. It's covered by a leather protector (it's a tear so common that an aftermarket cover was produced!), so it's not obvious. It's repairable - I just haven't had time to take it to a trimmer. These seats are worth, believe it or not, $5k EACH (inc. rail). A new skin alone is over $1K - thus, I figured it would be a more sane option to get it repaired by a trimmer. PM me if you want a pic.

exedy twin plate clutch (+ lightweight flywheel) only has around 1000km on it.

If I was living in Australia I would part out the whole car and return it to stock. Unfortunately, not an option.

The Merc is not a good idea. Here's why - with the sporty JDMs, there's a willing and relatively unfussy market of buyers. With the euros, you're mostly in a market which is more discerning - and the idea of an import (from Japan) isn't so appealing. The key to private import $$$ is quick turnover, while the resale is good - you don't want to be stuck with an expensive door stop that takes for ever to sell (and loses $$$ every month it doesn't). This becomes even more of an issue if you're in Japan and the car is in Australia (and the onus is on someone else to shift it for you - or it has to wait until you're home again). There are no 'rules' to the game - you may well get lucky and offload it quickly at a profitable price - but I guess it is a question of risk management.

Usually it's the same story in these kinds of thread - on one side you have the newbies and short-termers, who are still in love affair phase, and you have the long-termers and lifers who have long since become jaded. It's a great place to live (I'm heading into my 7th year), but it's far, far from an idyllic paradise. Here's a paradox for you: I love living in Japan, but, generally, I don't like Japanese people. Luckily I don't have to deal with them very often.

I daily drove it for three years.

NO TRADES I don't live in Australia permanently - thus trades are as useless to me as this car, sadly

no, car is in Australia. I'm coming back for a quick visit in a couple of weeks, hoping to finalize a sale in that time... fingers crossed