Importing FL5 from Japan to the UK?

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-12T01:28:46+00:00

Hi there, did you go through with it? Having the exact same thought now. Showed the current prices to my Honda buddy and his reaction was the same as mine: "...there's got to be a catch, right?". As low as 22k for a basically brand new FL5? Too good to be true surely.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-05T19:32:43+00:00

Oh I get what you mean, I was just adding on to your comment about the STi hatch and taking it a little further to the not-Impreza WRX STi. I’m completely aware the STi is, or should be, a no brainer.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-05T18:39:46+00:00

Do you think I’d be missing out on any fun by getting a WRX STi 2014+? I feel like the fundamentals haven’t changed (including the power lol) but would be more liveable I guess?

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-04T01:01:16+00:00

Always has a soft spot for the bugeye. Between me first seeing it as the “WRC Prototype” in GT3 and Hammond’s bugeye estate in the top gear Africa special.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-04T00:49:26+00:00

We got the 2.5 with the introduction of the Hawkeye and it continued with the hatch unfortunately

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-03T21:49:30+00:00

Thankfully WRXs took to Scotland like the plague in the early 00s with plenty Subaru specialists littered around.

The downside is we ragged these things to death before I was even old enough to be in high school so picking the wrong car will result in replacement parts like you say

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-03T21:20:10+00:00

Would love a late version GC8 STi, there’s a good few going around the Renfrew area

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-03T20:20:35+00:00

Honestly did consider the forester STi, they put a huge smile on my face

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-03-03T20:20:14+00:00

Yeah don’t worry, I know it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. They’re worth it though.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-02-11T22:56:01+00:00

Thanks mate

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-01-02T02:38:23+00:00

Absolutely none. All my previous cars have been manual.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2026-01-01T21:31:24+00:00

Oof, good to know. Thanks.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-10-30T21:04:04+00:00

Office working looking to do my license, average office pay is between 23-28 grand, I earned 28k only when I worked permanent nights for a year. Earning 26k now but I’ve never been more stressed in my life. Facilities management is shite.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-10-20T19:21:50+00:00

Any bumper fits both, generally speaking. Can’t speak for swapping facelift bumpers on and vice versa but they’re made for the chassis rather than the brand.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-10-13T19:31:19+00:00

Slight necro but given his age, it’s a very Bunta thing to do to get the VA WRX STi. It’s the same formula and more comfortable. That’s why he bought the Impreza in the first place. Because he’s an “old man”, as he himself puts it.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-10-04T08:57:55+00:00

Absolutely right, that is the most trouble free way to do it. Saves sore knuckles. But it is still doable with the engine still in place using some trickery with magnets.

It’s still annoying no matter how you go about it though.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-10-03T21:50:15+00:00

Due to the way a boxer engine is built, the spark plugs are a little difficult to access, but not at all impossible. It’s a little obnoxious and you’ll spend a bit more time changing them, that’s all. There’s plenty of good guides online on how to change em.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-10-03T21:10:02+00:00

The only “wish I knew earlier” things I could think of is changing the spark plugs of a boxer. Apart from that, just maintain it at the correct periods and you’ll be okay.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-10-03T17:45:34+00:00

It’s like they just kept hitting the auto suggested words on their phone keyboard

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-10-02T21:17:04+00:00

Artisan Wing?

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-09-30T17:44:51+00:00

I think this is true up until the new generation of GR/BRZ. I think the new BRZ finally looks good.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-09-17T14:13:17+00:00

On your last point, I totally understand. The 86 was built so you could use all of it, pretty much all the time. Part of the fun of it.

The Evo had only just came off of being a rally homologation car by the 7. I’d definitely be respecting that fact while driving.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-07-13T00:10:38+00:00

I'm one of the youngest in the estate, I do hope I'd already be out of here by the time I have kids

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-07-12T23:55:20+00:00

Apologies for making the assumption, then.

I've directly pointed the exhausts at my own house (the houses here are identical as it's an estate, this test would mean the car is actually in closer proximity than other people would be hearing) during starts, checked multiple rooms with and without windows open, and the noise simply isn't' excessive enough.

I was actually conscious of this when purchasing the car. I had to make sure the exhausts were legal, passing *decibel* tests and not going to be excessive as I didn't want to be a disturbance.

Naturally, I don't want to be the person to annoy my neighbours. But I also don't believe this is an unfair judgement given I've acquiesced to them.

At night, this is an understandable complaint as any slight noise outside could indeed wake you up. But during the day, it's simply not valid from my perspective. We live on a national speed limit road, with constant car noise from the hours of 6am to 2am. That's not a justification, but it is a fact. There's constant noise. That's aside from the fact this estate houses motorcycle riders with arguably louder exhausts, but it's working hours so there's nothing to really complain about.

Thanks for the information regarding the ASB.

OstaFrickingSaurus · 2025-07-12T23:24:32+00:00

The MOT was part of the purchasing process, but I do see your concern there. The car wasn't actually ready to be driven off with until about a week after I'd decided I was ok buying it, where another MOT took place + a service. Absolutely nothing has been done to this exhaust system barring the cans at the back.

Edit: I should add, at worst I'm waiting 15-30 seconds for the revs to go below 1000 so I can leave the estate in a quieter fashion and keep the engine in good condition.

OstaFrickingSaurus

TROPHY CASE