Any Forester Drivers?
Discussion
Anyone on here with a forester? That dont use it to ship family around?
Im only 24 and have been looking at various cars but seem to always come back to the forester, Not really sure why, but i think the fact it can be used all year, and can be enjoyed whilst doing tasks you need a big car for! And it is liked by insurers being a car you wouldnt think could do a sub 6 second 0-60. It also has that innocent 'im a estate car' look which really classes it as a sleeper to me!
I have never actually seen a STI Forester, or a Spec'd up XT as these two are the ones id be looking at, but having been on a few subaru forums, im looking to get some info on the ownership side and possibly have a nice Samaritan take me out in one/let me come have a look!
Im in either the South (Portsmouth) or The NW (Liverpool)
Ive heard the engines are pretty bullet proof if looked after, i 6 month service my current car even though it really doesnt need it, so this shouldnt be much different.
Ive also noticed the price on these is quite high as its an import, (STI) and stay fairly consistent, if i was to buy one at around 9k and keep it for a few years, it doesnt look like id lose anything going off the last 3 years with prices? anyone sold one/bought one for this reason?
Im only 24 and have been looking at various cars but seem to always come back to the forester, Not really sure why, but i think the fact it can be used all year, and can be enjoyed whilst doing tasks you need a big car for! And it is liked by insurers being a car you wouldnt think could do a sub 6 second 0-60. It also has that innocent 'im a estate car' look which really classes it as a sleeper to me!
I have never actually seen a STI Forester, or a Spec'd up XT as these two are the ones id be looking at, but having been on a few subaru forums, im looking to get some info on the ownership side and possibly have a nice Samaritan take me out in one/let me come have a look!
Im in either the South (Portsmouth) or The NW (Liverpool)
Ive heard the engines are pretty bullet proof if looked after, i 6 month service my current car even though it really doesnt need it, so this shouldnt be much different.
Ive also noticed the price on these is quite high as its an import, (STI) and stay fairly consistent, if i was to buy one at around 9k and keep it for a few years, it doesnt look like id lose anything going off the last 3 years with prices? anyone sold one/bought one for this reason?
Hi, the Forester is a great choice and a brilliant all rounder, you will find lots of help and expert opinions on the link I've posted. Have a look at some of the Fsti's the guys in the U.K own, they're fabulous. http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f75/
I bought my XTEn in August and am still grinning. No mods (yet, saving up £60 at a time). Mine is burgundy with cream leather - like sitting in a greenhouse with all the glass around - proper 'old man' spec - though it can embarrass quite a lot of prestige metal. I love mine.
I do find myself browsing AT looking at the STIs though - *only* a few grand more than mine, but *soooo* much more car
I'm Leeds-based, so unable to help with the test drive.
Do it - you'll love it!
I do find myself browsing AT looking at the STIs though - *only* a few grand more than mine, but *soooo* much more car
I'm Leeds-based, so unable to help with the test drive.
Do it - you'll love it!
XTen PPP here, still loving it despite forking out for an engine rebuild due to failed head gaskets. Very practical, great mid-range power from the 2.5 and there's still nothing else quite like it available.
I would like the 6 speed box and sports seats from the STI though, my car is black with cream leather armchairs!!
I work near Manchester Airport, but I doubt that's much help to you.
I would like the 6 speed box and sports seats from the STI though, my car is black with cream leather armchairs!!
I work near Manchester Airport, but I doubt that's much help to you.
I have a FSTI. in Wigan if you are passing and want a look. there is a breakfast meet at GTCARS in Appleton on 3rd April. will be there if you have a drive over.
exhaust clip. was a cold night :
now fitted with smaller plates :
exhaust clip. was a cold night :
Edited by MDMA . on Thursday 24th March 14:35
now fitted with smaller plates :
Edited by MDMA . on Thursday 24th March 14:39
stedaley said:
Ive heard the engines are pretty bullet proof if looked after
I bought a 2.5 XT new in Jan 2006, I don't cart family around and loved it, right up to the point where the head gasket(s) failed in 2012. I never skimped on maintenance and it was always looked after by the Subaru dealer I bought it from.Prior to that I had 3 Imprezza's of varying types, they all had the 2.0 engine, which I did find to be bullet proof.
Russ T Bolt said:
I bought a 2.5 XT new in Jan 2006, I don't cart family around and loved it, right up to the point where the head gasket(s) failed in 2012. I never skimped on maintenance and it was always looked after by the Subaru dealer I bought it from.
Prior to that I had 3 Imprezza's of varying types, they all had the 2.0 engine, which I did find to be bullet proof.
Genuine question...how many miles had the engine, at point of head gasket failure?Prior to that I had 3 Imprezza's of varying types, they all had the 2.0 engine, which I did find to be bullet proof.
I too have a 2006 XT, it's now at 72,000 miles. We hear lots of doom and gloom notes about the 2.5ltr engine...head gasket and ringland failure...but it's also been shown that failures lie within a certain group of engine numbers; this, primarily from US model feedback.
v8250 said:
Genuine question...how many miles had the engine, at point of head gasket failure?
I too have a 2006 XT, it's now at 72,000 miles. We hear lots of doom and gloom notes about the 2.5ltr engine...head gasket and ringland failure...but it's also been shown that failures lie within a certain group of engine numbers; this, primarily from US model feedback.
From memory it was around 76,000. It always ran fine, then one morning having picked my sister up from Heathrow got almost home and the temp went off the gauge. I stopped let it cool down and drove home. I too have a 2006 XT, it's now at 72,000 miles. We hear lots of doom and gloom notes about the 2.5ltr engine...head gasket and ringland failure...but it's also been shown that failures lie within a certain group of engine numbers; this, primarily from US model feedback.
Took it into the Subaru dealer who looked after it and they had just fixed an identical car with same symptoms so could tell me what was wrong and likely cost.
Real shame because I loved the car and haven't yet found anything to replace it with, the Toyota was a stopgap. I keep looking at the new XT but auto only puts me off.
Edited by Russ T Bolt on Friday 25th March 10:40
I have an fSti , the only ever issues I have had with it was crank bearings and head gasket , it's a very quick capable car it works well with a cat back system a remap and a thicker rear arb , fuel economy I have had 32.5 to 35 mpg, I have a ver 7 Sti it leaves the ver 7 for dead on the initial move off till the turbo on the ver 7 spools up , the fsti has so much more torque , the Sti with forged Pistons welded oil pick up pipe race spec crank bearings and arp head bolts is problem solved , it was probably quicker than my friends spec d in same tune due to smaller turbo on Sti and quicker spool up , when my fsti finally gets beyond economical repair I will get another one
My head gaskets went at 88k miles, as described earlier, running normally and then the temperature gauge just kept going up. It cooled down, the air lock seemed to move and it got me home but it was pretty clear what the fault was and Prosport confirmed it. It would run all day off boost but where's the fun in that?
Anyway I went with the forged rebuild option and even without a remap it feels superb again, very tempted to do some upgrades (4 pot brakes etc.) and a remap. When they stripped the engine down it was very clean as it had been serviced by the book and always run on Shell Helix Ultra oil, the cylinder bores were in excellent shape and there were no signs of abuse, basically I did nothing wrong. Prosport didn't do the build btw.
It was a close call but I decided to fix the car and run it until it really dies, it's just too good. The radiator went last month as well, not a big thing but still annoying.
Anyway I went with the forged rebuild option and even without a remap it feels superb again, very tempted to do some upgrades (4 pot brakes etc.) and a remap. When they stripped the engine down it was very clean as it had been serviced by the book and always run on Shell Helix Ultra oil, the cylinder bores were in excellent shape and there were no signs of abuse, basically I did nothing wrong. Prosport didn't do the build btw.
It was a close call but I decided to fix the car and run it until it really dies, it's just too good. The radiator went last month as well, not a big thing but still annoying.
vxr2010 said:
I think I will run my fsti into the ground , it's prob on 135 k miles now , it makes the odd noise but I think rear diff is the culprit on over run but it's not worn , gearbox is good , engine was rebuilt and it goes like a stabbed rat
I must admit I'm starting to think this is the way to go for me too, mines on 94+k and hasn't shown any signs of problems, had a clutch a while back and a second timing belt as a precaution. I've tried selling it but I'm thinking engine rebuild and some more goodies and keep going, to get anything new that's this capable will cost so much. Gassing Station | Subaru | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff