2.0XT Forester - opinions?

L

Lex Luthor

Sunday Drivers
have managed to talk to missus to sell her "family wagon" with the strong possibility of getting a 05/06 Forester. Looking realistically at a 2.0XT, some nice examples out there at the moment.

That way I keep the leggy estate diesel and I'll have something for a bit of fun at the weekend. I'll probably even take the Forester more often and give her the leggy.

Would like to get as much info on the forester as possible?

What to look for?
Auto or Man?
Major service intervals and what needs to be done?

etc etc.

Thanks in advance..

Tom
 
i have seen what seems like a good value at ryans in cork. 08 2.5XT with all the works for just shy of 14k.
i might not be totaly impartial here but i think that forester MY98-MY07- before toyota interfered and made it look like any other jap/korean "suv", is the best what money can get if you are after a practical/utility car. looks like a normal wagon, just a bit jacked up, drives like a proper car. because of the impreza pedigree you are bound to have a good car to start with. it is good on the road and decent enough off the road (within reason)- it can go to many places where proper off road 4x4 go but faster and more comfortably. it is not a posers car, quite importantly (to me anyway) it does not look like an suv. styling wise it is a bit eighties like with no useless/redundant gimmicks. best drive train in a very practical body...spare parts are expensive but you don't get to buy any if you keep in a good order:)
 
Hi Tom. Maybe go over and have a look on subaruforester.org. I'm driving a 99UK S turbo for over a year and I like it to the point where I would buy another one. The 2.5XT is a bit of a guzzler and goes like stink in standard trim, but because the engine is based on an Impreza, it is infinitely tuneable. I have not bought any parts from Subaru because they are overpriced but there are a good few alternative venders for OEM and aftermarket. There was some issue with head gasket problems with the post 03 2.5 turbo engine but not the N/A, see if you can get some info on the above site. Gavin Cooper (Coopster) has a really nice 2.0 XT running about 300hp I think.

Overall the Forester is as reliable as the Impreza and if you take a look at the Foretser forum you will see that there are a lot of modified EDM and JDM Foresters from 1997 to 2000 that look amazing for their age and many of them are well tuned. Check this factor out before commiting the extra dough to a newer one.

The boot in the Foz might be a little disappointing after the Legy but it's adequate however, there is a higher ceiling and more glass along with the loony moon roof, so the cabin is spacious and comfortable.. The extra ground clearance will let you go places off road too and make no mistake, these cars are VERY capable in snow and dirt. Mine has three LSDs and last new year I got bogged down in compacted snow (worn out road tyres :icon_redface:) and I had the Foz idling with all four wheels turning/slipping at the same time. As soon as we bounced the car into fresh snow it rolled off about five yards and stalled, with no one in the drivers seat, show me how many AWD cars can do that.

Fuel consumption will probably be the same for the 2.0 L foz compared with the Legacy but I think the older ones are a bit noisier inside than the saloon cars, I've done some serious sound deadening on mine.

The Forester is an annonymous vehicle that tends not to attract tea leaves or the attention of the Gardai, and there is always the entertaining look on other car drivers faces when you blow them off in your kiddie carrier. Overall, there is generally a high smile factor amongst owners, turbo or N/A.
 
Cheers for that great review fozzy.

Can anyone tell me am I right in quoting the 2.0XT has 177bhp and the 2.5XT has 235bhp?
 
I thought that head gasket issues were with 2.5 N/A which were only sold in the US and Oz. Subaru came out with "conditioner" (kinda kalimax k-seal) that is put there at coolant change/service.
 
I know 177 is correct for the 2.0, 235 sounds about right for the 2.5 Tom.
Perhaps I have it the wrong way round Milo and I do recall reading about the coolant conditioner, but seriously Subaru...... :hammerhead:

There are a number of anomolies in the Forester design which are a bit thick, but I have read in a few places that Subarus are designed by enthusiasts/engineers rather than according to a marketing plan which may explain why they are satisfying to drive, despite their quirks.
 
Hi Tom, Our family car is a 05 2.0 xt forester. We have over three years now and not an ounce of trouble out of it. It is ok on petrol, around 250 miles on a tank around town and about 330 miles on a journey. Good luck with your search. I would recommend one to anybody. Best of luck Gavin :thumbsup: :subaru:
 
Great write up fozzybear :thumbsup:

I love the Foz xt - I have heard lots of issues with the foz 2.5engine wise, but maybe that's down to incorrect mods or just not looking after them. If I had the cash I would buy the Sti version but with the money I've spent on me own Foz there just wouldnt be any point as I'm at the power I was look for and after nearly 3 years ownership it's been trouble free ..... Happy out am I :icon_grin:

http://coopster.synthasite.com/my-subaru.php
 
Looks nice Tom and I think thats's the same model Coop has. 10 grand for a six year old with 56k? Sounds ok. Go and have a look I guess. I can't say for sure but I think they may have had that for a while (how's that for sitting on the fence?) unless they trade a lot of silver models.
 
if it came with timing belt and all the fluids, plugs etc. changed it should be trouble free for years to come (it has this mileage that if it was not done it would have to be fairly soon)
 
cheers milo....will try to drop in next week for a look.

SO what are the service intervals on the Forester? Is 60k km's a big one?
 
The older Foresters are meant to have the timing belt done at 50k miles but the newer ones may be 60k. Depending on who does this Tom, it could add up to another €850 and make sure the water pump is changed at the same time if it's not a main dealer or Subaru specialist. Good observation by Milo and I would assume unless the garage have the paperwork, that the belt hasn't been done otherwise I'm sure they would mention it in the sales talk. It might be a good bargaining point too because I doubt they will want to drop the price but if you could get the TB/waterpump done by them inside the €10K, that would make it sweeter.

One other little detail, and I don't know if the Legacy has the same thing, the gearbox has it's own dipstick to the left rear and slightly under the IC when looking at the engine. When I bought mine I didn't know about this and the seller failed to mention the leak from the gearbox when on the move but not when parked. I seized the gearbox 2 weeks later, quite scary in an AWD.
 
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