RE: Shed of the Week: Subaru Forester
Discussion
Snails said:
The 2004-2009 2.5 XT look like fantastic Q-cars in standard form especially in Green or Gold. Very unsuspecting and with it sharing an engine with the Impreza WRX there is plenty of scope to make it go even quicker and surprise a few people.
I couldn't agree more, now just waiting for next week's snow to arrive and give the winter tyres a good exercising Edited by Snails on Friday 23 February 12:19
I think it's great to see something slightly more unusual in SOTW.
I had a 2.5XT - the turbo version. It was a hoot to drive - used to lean and drift gently into a bend then stay there, until you fully floored it on exit and it shot you out the other side. Daft levels of grip in the wet and snow. Great for towing or carrying bikes on, both on the back and the roof. Mine had heated fabric seats, which were lovely and warm, but lacked some support. Mrs xcentric has a dodgy back and found them too soft for her liking, but it's relatively easy to swap them for much better ones - harder if you want to keep both the side airbags which are in the seat and the heated function.
mpg was indeed awful - as was anything that required dealer only parts. Scrapyards became my friend, especially when I reversed into a gatepost.
But it was reliable, immense fun, practical if not putting on mega miles (because of cost), and very very stealthy.
But there are some better ones out there than this slightly rusty one, IMHO.
I had a 2.5XT - the turbo version. It was a hoot to drive - used to lean and drift gently into a bend then stay there, until you fully floored it on exit and it shot you out the other side. Daft levels of grip in the wet and snow. Great for towing or carrying bikes on, both on the back and the roof. Mine had heated fabric seats, which were lovely and warm, but lacked some support. Mrs xcentric has a dodgy back and found them too soft for her liking, but it's relatively easy to swap them for much better ones - harder if you want to keep both the side airbags which are in the seat and the heated function.
mpg was indeed awful - as was anything that required dealer only parts. Scrapyards became my friend, especially when I reversed into a gatepost.
But it was reliable, immense fun, practical if not putting on mega miles (because of cost), and very very stealthy.
But there are some better ones out there than this slightly rusty one, IMHO.
marshall100 said:
TEKNOPUG said:
This one is a dog. You'd be far better spending the money required to fix it on the purchase price of another. And unless you really need the ground clearance, I struggle to see the case for the Forester over an Impreza Wagon, considering they share the same floorpan and many of the mechanicals (and in lesser tune in the Forester). Do the XT's come with diff-locks, making them more offroad than on?
Have you seen the price of a half straight Wagon these days?As a car in general, a Forester should the best shed ever. This particular one, not so much.
I have owned 4 original shape Impreza Turbo's and loved them dearly but I got a bit old to keep driving one.
But a Forester Turbo is still on the bucket list. Less highly strung but THAT warble and general feel, all in a totally unassuming package. In many ways, perfect.
Except for all that rust, obviously...
O, and only the original with the 2.0 engine. I spent enough time in Scooby world to know the 2.5 is no go.
I have owned 4 original shape Impreza Turbo's and loved them dearly but I got a bit old to keep driving one.
But a Forester Turbo is still on the bucket list. Less highly strung but THAT warble and general feel, all in a totally unassuming package. In many ways, perfect.
Except for all that rust, obviously...
O, and only the original with the 2.0 engine. I spent enough time in Scooby world to know the 2.5 is no go.
Edited by 323ti on Friday 23 February 18:46
Lovely loyal cars, but only if treated with respect. I picked up a smart 2-owner Sport (non turbo) with phonebook sized history file for £650 last year. This, however, rings the wrong bells.
Here’s mine, doing what it does best.
(Help! Why do my images always rotate 180?!)
Here’s mine, doing what it does best.
(Help! Why do my images always rotate 180?!)
Edited by DaveEvs on Friday 23 February 19:47
Edited by DaveEvs on Friday 23 February 19:48
Maybe he's not posting as he's out being baited into races by diesel BMW's DaveEvs said:
Lovely loyal cars, but only if treated with respect. I picked up a smart 2-owner Sport (non turbo) with phonebook sized history file for £650 last year. This, however, rings the wrong bells.
Here’s mine, doing what it does best.
(Help! Why do my images always rotate 180?!)
That's some traction.............Here’s mine, doing what it does best.
(Help! Why do my images always rotate 180?!)
Edited by DaveEvs on Friday 23 February 19:47
Edited by DaveEvs on Friday 23 February 19:48
My (even older) STurbo is still going strong and I’ve just been using it to get about in the snow and ice - no problem.
I bought it about 4 years ago as a temporary stop-gap for about £1k and I’ve done plenty of miles in it since and spent next to nothing, just the usual servicing, a wheel bearing (think the other side is starting to go now...) and a broken HT lead. Fuel consumption is not fantastic but acceptable as other costs are minimal and yes, it’s a bit noisy.
Amazingly for a car of this type and age (2000 / W plate) it has heated seats and mirrors, air con, moon roof and is lovely to drive. Mrs BB is now using it for her new decorating business and at weekends I take the boys and the dog to the park in it, do the tip run and anything else. Best all round car I’ve had and it’s the right size for doing the lanes, too.
Bought the FSTi last year to use as my DD, also brilliant.
I bought it about 4 years ago as a temporary stop-gap for about £1k and I’ve done plenty of miles in it since and spent next to nothing, just the usual servicing, a wheel bearing (think the other side is starting to go now...) and a broken HT lead. Fuel consumption is not fantastic but acceptable as other costs are minimal and yes, it’s a bit noisy.
Amazingly for a car of this type and age (2000 / W plate) it has heated seats and mirrors, air con, moon roof and is lovely to drive. Mrs BB is now using it for her new decorating business and at weekends I take the boys and the dog to the park in it, do the tip run and anything else. Best all round car I’ve had and it’s the right size for doing the lanes, too.
Bought the FSTi last year to use as my DD, also brilliant.
seawise said:
2.5XT didn't excite but STI did
Here's my current 2.0 NA /160bhp model from this weekend
You either get them or you don't. They are marmite and sublime.
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