Mr B

I'm just giving you the reality, if you get a bad one it will be ballache and serious big bills, Subaru themselves don't want admit any issues thus help you get is limited and not warranty covered unless get lucky . I got a lot of customers who keen on the diesel, I won't buy them for customer resale as simply don't want hassle and bad rep that they could give, we currently have one for personal use and loan car basically for our own personal learning . It a 50/50 gamble on the pre 2014 stuff and even the post 2014 not proven itself fully . It is a complex diesel and boxer layout makes it more complex plus subaru had no diesel background work from so it a lot of high tech and tricky emission control in a short learning curve :-/

Sounds good To be honest I wouldn't do too much to it, subtle changes to rollbars & custom springs can improve handling if mainly used on A roads & motorways. Custom exhaust helps a lot on turbos, remap with slight boost increase would give good gain of power, brake upgrade and good tyres important before more hp. Be sure service well with frequent engine oil and coolant flushes using quality products, the 2.5 head gaskets will thank you for that. Great practical and fun cars when take time find a proper clean one, facelift looks okay :-/ i'm more of a SF forester fan but like you say beauty is in eye of beholder . Keep enjoying it ...

old id gold, I would buy pre dpf diesel. Not a lot of benefit in going newer diesels and anything under 2014 is risky era on the boxer diesel . They super pricey when get problems, your sort of mileage would probably be good to dpf but software issues with injector relearning and some component issues makes them a bit of a gamble . You could be good for few years and really enjoy it or end up with 500 and £1000 bill after bill within first year if unlucky. Would have buy very wisely, do huge amount of research from previous dealers that handled the car, very thorough extended test drive and not go too cheap or will be buying problems for sure . I've had a few in and early heater plug issue not biggest concern as fixable, dpf, injector learning and awful dmf clutches are the other problems, clutch expensive but resolvable, dpf and injector learning issues not really got cures as so much of it linked to the software mapping and actual design of dpf which can't legally remove unfortunately .

2012 still iffy, injector learning and dpf issues still persist, issue as well is a lot of subaru specialist don't have answers for lot of the issues (myself included) . I wouldn't waste my money on any modern dpf diesel, dpf is ridiculous waste of resources and reduces engine efficiency & in long term makes it use more fuel , It all a con for emission figures and nothing else unfortunately and one that if look into through an engineers perspective actually is far worse for planets pollution situation :-/

Bit pricey for just just basic clutch job. They not hard or over time consuming to do and clutch kit not overly costly either, ideally want flywheel skimmed as new clutch on old flywheel waste of time really, sure you can get away with it when condition fair but it bad practice and can end up twice the bills .... I would say 400-480 about right cost with skimmed old fly and all parts required, get good clutch like luk or exedy .

unfortunately not, is easy diy one though, just couple alloy flat bar strips off the number plate holes to a 25x50mm or 75mm alloy angle cut to required length for spotlight spacing. Alloy bar easily shaped for nice contour and can go to back of angle keeping joints neat, less than £20 in materials inc stainless m6 bolts/nuts/washers . You then feed a flat bar through the grill, can do one in centre as this lines up with bonnet latch support upright for easy attachment, can do 2 bars through grill but bit more work, 1 works fine and doubles as track for wiring .With fairly slim lights this keeps them flush to bumper so less prone to damage and vehicle length not increased . You can get some A-bars with spot mounts, iffy with insurance these days though .

^ rectangular like the Hellas ideally I think . Very easy make your own light bar, problem with ebay one is sticks outwards a lot as bumper already protrudes massively on the SG fozzy, can make simple one from some alloy flat bar and short length alloy angle plus some stainless bolts or rivets and fit similar by using number plate fixings but also have 2 flat bars go through grill to keep it firm, wiring can run under one of these bars (ebay one one just 2 plate fixings will flex a lot making lighting look flickery) . doing this means lights can mount above and flush to bumper . We done a couple and alloy bumper lipped skid pan to replace the plastic nappy :-) ...

If rollbar feels loose in the bar rubber D bushes get new pair. Febi Bilstein, Delphi or Firstline would be options . Firstline less half cost of our local factors on eBay, not used Firstline but at eBay price of around £8 a pair inc P&P hard beat (£18 at our factors :-O ) Do measure rollbar diameter to see size compatible ...

impreza subframes will fit ...

^ only if was liked to gearbox reverse switch and new oil helping movement/function of it !

The 255lph walbro does whine a bit, was old one same flow model ? Is a lot of china pumps out there .... The earlier sti (pre 2008) or wrx (2008-2009 wrx is same pump as earlier sti) is easy swap, we used them few times as easy find a few low mile pumps pulled purely for tuning and they cheap grade A quality pumps . I would imagine your issue was more than one fault, hopefully some of new parts have helped and bit of diagnosis can finish it off .

I would be inclined pick up a used oem sti/wrx pump and confirm the FPR is standard as your last attempt and tidy up before handing it to specialist . Just no need for a 255lph pump and you better off with oem match/quality . O2 readings etc should give someone idea/clues if fueling off, being intermittent stumble/miss possibly not but hopefully good visual inspection and diagnostics can pin something down . We got well over 20K in diagnostics kit, picoscope being one of our newer ones and it super useful, can pick out faulty commutator on a fuel pump motor for example in 5 minutes, intermittent stuff can still be pain but can't see it going be too much of a problem for Subaru specialist .

Using the new parts cannon technique is expensive ... Got be super fussy buying used turbo models, Subaru of this generation are above average in reliability so you guys been unlucky with what purchased . I wouldn't use a 255lph pump on it (assume running standard boost and map), ideally want pick up an sti or 2008-2009 wrx oem pump . We don't use walbro full stop, use denso mostly or bosch . You want get fuel pressure checked & see FPR (fuel Pressure regulator) is standard unit and working right. If has aftermarket FPR get an oem fitted . Ideally these faults needs diagnosis, we can run pressure guage in fuel line and also use an oscilloscope on pump power supply so can see pump operation and motor health etc . Can use oscilloscope on ignition too to rule out or pin down fault .

^ probably eBay but always worth getting price from local supplier before committing . personally I think Meyle drop links are better than the blueprint, can't go far wrong with blueprint stuff in general, ignition leads are junk though ;-) We find eBay prices can be better than what we get trade from local factors, so much so we got about 4K in common parts stocked now as makes prices better for customer plus jobs can be done quicker because stocked and using our preferred quality which generally fits far better as well as lasting like oem too .

Only brands we use are Blueprint or Meyle HD, we not had bother with either and price sensible too . Blueprint ADS78504 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Anti-Roll-Bar-Link-fits-SUBARU-FORESTER-Front-Left-or-Right-2-0-2-5-2002-on-New-/232082360398? Meyle HD 34-160600003/HD http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MEYLE-Front-Right-Stabiliser-anti-roll-bar-DROP-LINK-ROD-No-34-16-060-0003-HD-/361074352328? l like the Meyle ( used these on few local farm foresters and they been going strong almost 3yrs), left and right are same part so no need worry handed )

All my parts drivers have wired call mic and speaker system and 90% of similar business use do too without major drama as being described, is it a distraction, yes, but so is so many other things. How many people actually pay actual full possible 100% attention/focus when driving. emergency services etc use radio communication while in some awkward driving situations without major drama. Used sensibly for audio communication it not a big problem, If think driving so difficult while talking to someone try manoeuvring a helicopter while talking to ground crew via headset ...

It the individual not the technology, people been using CB and radio equipment in vehicles for over 3 decades without massive drama. I can remember the huge mobile box heavy as a car battery we had back in 1990 and amount of people using CB. It no drama with common sense, unfortunately newer generation don't have common sense and also suffer an addiction to social network apps which are the big problem not a basic audio phone call .

Sounds worthwhile having look at pump, pickup and filters. worth checking mounting position and pickup as most issues on low lank is pickup position related .

Rather than A/T, ones I like and think great buy are hankook optimo 4S , excellent in snow, ice, winter rain etc, quite good on muddy tracks but obviously heavier A/T tread beats it here.It all down to what usage you doing and annual mileage too really, likes of the optimo also good fuel rating and that helps quite a bit in the fozzy mpg. I got toyo open country on one of mine, they okay and got them as local tyre supplier had them left over from buyer who dropped out so done him a favour and had them, optimo 4S far far better if mainly road/hardish tracks and similar cost .

van drivers and businesses need phones working. This idea is not workable unless your phone had gps active, would also be easy hack around any implementation or use older hardware devices . End of day more severe punishment for offenders is only way. While writing text is indeed major stupidity, actually making or taking a call is no bother and with bluetooth & other wired handsfree more safe than many other things you can be doing while driving such as eating, smoking, playing with sat nav, playing with audio system etc . It not just drivers who an issue, pedestrians wondering round like zombies with smartphone or tablet in their face are a risk to themselves and everyone else, fine them as well ...

Time for a specialist and bit of diagnostics. Could be as simple as a small air leak, other things such as O2 sensor TPS maf/map could all be possible. Have seen air leaks trigger the egr codes so good area check as work through it . Doubt it anything major but Subaru specialist look over from basics to in depth scoping if needed could pin it down fairly quickly compared to someone less experience in the brand .

Updates us after your wales trip, would nice see most faults resolved and you had great drive .

Good result. Those plugs get left a lot, I seen it even on cars with full dealer history and a recent last stamp :-/ Coil packs do play up a lot too, keep old ones in a zipped bag as not all bad so got spare or 2 . Lucky really as DIY effort cost about same in parts as just labour/diagnostics probably and being done now means you get benefit of A1 new parts for the long run . Plugs get easier with practise, just right socket and extensions make all the difference too. Quite possible code not fully cleared or pump/valves needed bit of use to settle in . Glad it worked out and hope all is well . Have a good run on your trip and enjoy the 2.5 ...

^ EJ201 NA . you have MAP sensor , no MAF .

Likes of ebay good place get plugs at sensible price. Coils don't have service schedule, being intermittent issue not likely you going diagnose bad one easily, If have a multimeter you can do checks on coil winding impedance.