RE: SOTW: Subaru Forester S-Turbo
Discussion
I like this, and only wish I could find a use for one. They seem to have a shabby old farming money air about them. Not landed gentry range rover or Land Rover, but I think in the right enviornmnet, a shabby Scooby conveys a certain image - and not a bad one.
Assuming it is mechanically OK, you could have some fun tweaking it. Keepng the hard-worked farm hack look, but pushing out some serious power.
I had a boss who had one as a toy to go with his L322 Range Rover. It was some sort of crazy powered grey import. Didn't look much, not great inside, a bit better than the one featued here on the oputside, but christ could it shift! he used it more than his newish Rangey.
Riggers said:
I do see your point there... but if you knew your stuff could you assess the situation with a test drive? I admit it's probably not a chance I would take, however...
Oh absolutely - but there is a psychological concept whereby introducing a fault and downplaying it is better than simply not mentioning it in the hope the buyer won't notice blue smoke/oil around the exhaust or whatever (it often also soothes the brow of the otherwise honest seller).My New Beetle used oil like it was water for 20,000 miles (1l/1000 miles tho it was declining in use when I sold it) - some engines just do that - but when a seller goes out of their way to mention it, I generally think they're telling me more than it might appear, on paper
)Not sure I like these hitting shed money. Mine spends 330 days of the year parked on my driveway. Only called into service when the wifes skoda packs up or I need to go racing. I got dead lucky with mine. It was a low mileage car found in weston on the cusp of the recession. Full service history, some weird sports pack where it has a growth on the bumper and a compass/altimeter in the centre console. 63K on the clock and a detachable tow hitch for £2500. It has been incredible. Never missed a beat, doesn't use any oil, but I will say the fuel consumption is crap. It's got a leaky sunroof, but I think they all do that, and yes I have blown through the channels and checked the drain off pipes.
It's basically a motorhome now. It honks along with my quad and trailer in tow with ease. The steering wheel is a bit big, but whatever the weather, that car has been the most loyal of servants. I've been to races that have decended into car park quagmires. Proper pick ups, purpose built 4x4's have had to be towed out by tractors, but the forester has simply driven out towing the quad behind. As for snow, no worries. No traction control or electronic tomfoolery to hault your progress. Does suffer from a touch of body roll, but I've been more than happy to overlook it's sins.
I've been tempted to sell mine, but it's worth more to me sat on the driveway, especially as s
t ones are in shed territory. It's only got 83K on the clock now, sailed through it's last MOT, and aside from a dead battery earlier this year (easily forgiven as it was the factory original dumped in there ten years ago) it's costing me very little.
It'd benefit from a valet, but I don't know many cars that will shift four people and a suzuki LT50 in the boot without any agro.
Do Subaru still make them like this??
It's basically a motorhome now. It honks along with my quad and trailer in tow with ease. The steering wheel is a bit big, but whatever the weather, that car has been the most loyal of servants. I've been to races that have decended into car park quagmires. Proper pick ups, purpose built 4x4's have had to be towed out by tractors, but the forester has simply driven out towing the quad behind. As for snow, no worries. No traction control or electronic tomfoolery to hault your progress. Does suffer from a touch of body roll, but I've been more than happy to overlook it's sins.
I've been tempted to sell mine, but it's worth more to me sat on the driveway, especially as s
t ones are in shed territory. It's only got 83K on the clock now, sailed through it's last MOT, and aside from a dead battery earlier this year (easily forgiven as it was the factory original dumped in there ten years ago) it's costing me very little.It'd benefit from a valet, but I don't know many cars that will shift four people and a suzuki LT50 in the boot without any agro.
Do Subaru still make them like this??
Iamnotkloot said:
However, not this one. Think I'd spend a bit more and get the 2.0XT
Yeah, they are pretty good value these days,http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3844081.htm
Proper shed in my eyes as much hard wearing all-rounder but manual clutch pedal too heavy for traffic but take it off road it can go further than most modern cross-roaders and my old one did at pace!
The parts and everything very cheap compared to Impreza of similar year it was most reliable 100k i ever done consisting of 5 main dealer services with 1 major service at 60k for timing belts but 15mpg average did hurt. Interior is very hard wearing nothing broke or tore despite looking dated when new much like exterior.
The parts and everything very cheap compared to Impreza of similar year it was most reliable 100k i ever done consisting of 5 main dealer services with 1 major service at 60k for timing belts but 15mpg average did hurt. Interior is very hard wearing nothing broke or tore despite looking dated when new much like exterior.
Awesome - something I can actually comment on!
I run a 2005 XTen with a prodrive performance pack and around 250bhp. I've not replaced it because it does everything so well, I take it shooting where its ground clearance is useful and it holds all my kit. It churns motorway miles and is easy to drive quickly cross country. It never beats 25mpg though and does burn a little oil. Its been most useful in the snow we've had in recent years as it is a machine which can't be stopped (unlike my girlfriend's old Z4 which was useless).
On the downside my girlfriend is now embarrassed to get in it.
Anyway - as a sub-£1000 shed this makes sense to me.
I run a 2005 XTen with a prodrive performance pack and around 250bhp. I've not replaced it because it does everything so well, I take it shooting where its ground clearance is useful and it holds all my kit. It churns motorway miles and is easy to drive quickly cross country. It never beats 25mpg though and does burn a little oil. Its been most useful in the snow we've had in recent years as it is a machine which can't be stopped (unlike my girlfriend's old Z4 which was useless).
On the downside my girlfriend is now embarrassed to get in it.
Anyway - as a sub-£1000 shed this makes sense to me.
The clonk from the rear suspension could be expensive if it has the same self-levelling rear end as the 2002-on XT Turbo. The shocks are £450 EACH (parts only), & ours is on its third set in 60K miles. Which is why we converted to standard shocks & springs. Oh, and when the front wheelbearings wear they will take the front hub uprights with them at over £200 a side in parts alone. Cambelts are not cheap to replace either, so budget for this if it's not been done, or weigh it in when it goes..For added joy, try getting the rear discs off without trashing the ABS rings - even the main stealers have fun with this one. AVOID
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