Forester 2.0 NA/Turbo
Discussion
Weighing up a Forester depending on size, my only concern is how strong the 2.0 lumps are? I've had a bottom end failure in the Autumn on my V3 STI wagon engine but I've never heard any real Forester horror stories, is the 2.0 NA lump pretty immune to the rod knock/bottom end failures and what about the 2.0 turbo? I'll be putting 3k-5k on whatever I buy and I quite like the idea of a Forester for the job at hand as long as it measures up big enough, I just don't want to find myself in Europe only to hear EJ knock start
If you're looking at SG era Foresters....
Subaru 2.0 non turbo engines are near-as-makes no difference unkillable unless severely neglected and wilfully run into the ground. Cam belts are the main thing you need to check - preferably swapped out with a new water pump and tensioner at the same time. If no proof/evidence of a cambelt change and if it is due - factor in £100 in parts to DIY swap it or £250 ish for an indy garage to do it for you. Early EJ201 was SOHC and a bit wheezy at the top end of the rev counter (still shifts mind you if you use the gears) - later ones from 05 onward on the facelift are DOHC and have more power.
Turbo'd ones are no more likely to give any trouble overall - however obviously they are running a tad hotter and harder with the complexities of a turbocharger plus induction plumbing. Proof of regular oil changes and no untoward puffs of smoke from the tailpipe would be preferable. Quite quick in a 'cut-price rally car' kind of way.
I'd check rear subframe for rust - this can be fairly easily swapped out for a good refurb'd one. Did that two months ago on mine along with new shocks and anti-roll-bar links - otherwise over the past few years it has required very little attention. Shares its parts with the Impreza so spares can be sourced fairly cheaply via Ebay if picking up used bits and bobs.
Oh and if the dashboard external temperature shows a balmy +50C then the sensor is buggered - it's mounted on the lower valence grill right in the path of every wayward globs of mud, grit, blasts of water and/or anything else. Given how decent the engineering is everywhere else on the thing I find that incredibly daft. Gave up trying to fix it - doesn't survive going through the next puddle.
I test drove a few but went for a 2005 2.0 N/A with the lower powered SOHC unit. Non-turbos have a low range gearbox and I use it occasionally off road so that was a major selling point. I liked driving the DOHC one I tested but it was low on oil and the engine bay had things living in it when I viewed it - I went for the older but better looked-after car and have been very happy with it ever since.
Worth noting that most people seem to hang on to them for quite a while - only to replace them with....you guessed it....another Forester. If something happened to mine I'd probably buy another one in a heartbeat.
Subaru 2.0 non turbo engines are near-as-makes no difference unkillable unless severely neglected and wilfully run into the ground. Cam belts are the main thing you need to check - preferably swapped out with a new water pump and tensioner at the same time. If no proof/evidence of a cambelt change and if it is due - factor in £100 in parts to DIY swap it or £250 ish for an indy garage to do it for you. Early EJ201 was SOHC and a bit wheezy at the top end of the rev counter (still shifts mind you if you use the gears) - later ones from 05 onward on the facelift are DOHC and have more power.
Turbo'd ones are no more likely to give any trouble overall - however obviously they are running a tad hotter and harder with the complexities of a turbocharger plus induction plumbing. Proof of regular oil changes and no untoward puffs of smoke from the tailpipe would be preferable. Quite quick in a 'cut-price rally car' kind of way.
I'd check rear subframe for rust - this can be fairly easily swapped out for a good refurb'd one. Did that two months ago on mine along with new shocks and anti-roll-bar links - otherwise over the past few years it has required very little attention. Shares its parts with the Impreza so spares can be sourced fairly cheaply via Ebay if picking up used bits and bobs.
Oh and if the dashboard external temperature shows a balmy +50C then the sensor is buggered - it's mounted on the lower valence grill right in the path of every wayward globs of mud, grit, blasts of water and/or anything else. Given how decent the engineering is everywhere else on the thing I find that incredibly daft. Gave up trying to fix it - doesn't survive going through the next puddle.
I test drove a few but went for a 2005 2.0 N/A with the lower powered SOHC unit. Non-turbos have a low range gearbox and I use it occasionally off road so that was a major selling point. I liked driving the DOHC one I tested but it was low on oil and the engine bay had things living in it when I viewed it - I went for the older but better looked-after car and have been very happy with it ever since.
Worth noting that most people seem to hang on to them for quite a while - only to replace them with....you guessed it....another Forester. If something happened to mine I'd probably buy another one in a heartbeat.
Extremely helpful, appreciate the response. I'll be looking at an SF or a pre facelift SG, I wouldn't own an auto so likely to be an NA if I buy one. Only reservation about the S-Turbo/XT is from having a couple of 2000 Turbos bottom end fail on me. one was running a standard V3 STI engine and the other was a lightly fettled EJ205. I'd also guess most XT/XT's have been pretty heavily thrashed as cheaper alternatives to the Impreza by now
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff