Shed of the Week: Subaru Forester XT

A potential bargain, or a ruinous money pit? Shed has found a turbocharged Forester with a few 'issues'

In life, what is it that separates the winner from the also-ran, the mighty from the milk toast, the rampaging rhododendron from the shrinking violet?

Looks tidy enough outside for 108k

The answer, as any powerfully-built PH type will confidently tell you, is risk.

This week's Shed should be of interest to anyone with an eye for the main chance and the courage to put everything on red when everyone else is on black. Not that that really stands up as a metaphor because obviously you both have the same chance. But don't let that get in the way.

The Subaru Forester is a most worthy vehicle and no stranger to us PH Sheddites. This very clean and well-specced '54-plate XT shouldn't be within our greedy orbit, but it is because it has a whining issue that the vendor believes to be transmission related. A quick skim through the classifieds validates his valuation of £3.5k for non-whiney '04 models. Shed easily found a 128,000-miler in silver for £3995, a 78,000-miler for £5495, and one drifty dealer asking £9.5k for his shiny 57,000-mile STi import.

Just how problematic is that auto 'box?

The reward for the risk-taker could be either an instant profit or a great driving car that you won't want to sell. But would it be a quick fix?

The fact that the problem cropped up immediately after an oil change, and that the problem seems to get worse with heat, suggests that there may have been some catastrophic balls-up with the grade or even the nature of the gloop used to refill the diffs. Shed knows that some quick-fit outfits have used engine oil for this. It's better than watch oil or WD40, but not much.

Maybe the designated oil-changer overfilled the diff, or didn't spot a leaky seal letting the lube out, or simply forgot to put any new stuff back in. Lord knows it's so easy to be distracted these days, what with such high-quality entertainment temptations as Strictly Come Dancing or Britain's Big Bun Bakeoff on offer. If the lube work was carried out by a garage, you do have to wonder why the owner didn't go back there with a grievance and a selection of blunt instruments to make his point.

Vendor keen to show clean wheelarches...

Then again, this whole lubrication thing could be a red herring. There are plenty of other ways to queer up the transmission on a Subaru, or indeed many other 4x4s. Fitting tyres with different rolling circumferences will do it. Even fitting odd brands of tyre with different grip compounds can mess up the diffs. Subarus are quite fussy in this regard.

Or it might just be a dried-out driveshaft carrier bearing that picked the precise moment of the oil change to make its presence felt. Maybe even a busted CV joint. Stranger things have happened.

In the event of it needing a new differential, there's no shortage of Subaru bits or expertise about and a goodly degree of parts commonality with the Impreza. There's a guy in Bilston, Notts specialising in used Subaru diffs at £190 each including delivery. With a Forester-sized space in your garage, it could be a fun project and a potentially rewarding one given the aforementioned difference between normal retail and the Shed price.

... and headrests too!

Regarding the windows, if they need new motors (the gearbox splines can corrode and slip) you're looking at £300 a pop from Subaru, but only about a third of that from one of the many 'genuine parts' suppliers on the net. If it's a dodgy earth or switch, then obviously much less.

Of course, there's nothing to say there won't be other problems, but if we all went through life without taking risks, there'd be no Pokemon or Maccy-D Filet O' Fish. Think positively: you might buy this Forester, get home and find there's a small colony of cats stuck between the exhaust and the body. Heat build-up would certainly cause them to whine more loudly with increasing speed. In which case congratulate yourself on your wisdom and bravery, and don't forget to give the moggies a good home.

Here's the ad.

Top of the range Subaru Forester 2004 (54), Black Metallic, Mileage 108,360. Full Service History, Subaru main dealer up to 80k, remaining 2 at independent. Extras include full length sunroof, heated leather seats, cruise control. 12 Months Mot, 6 Months Tax, just been serviced and Mot at a cost of £800, including new pads and discs, new V belts, new tyre, new rear wiper including recently replaced radiator early this year at a cost of £228

Genuine car which I've owned for 6 years and it has been a fantastic utterly reliable family vehicle. The body work and interior are in good condition. I have all the invoices and related paper work to prove this has been a well kept car.

Bad points
The gearbox oil was changed at the last service/Mot renewal on 20th Sept 2013 and since then it has developed a whining noise, therefore this will need attention, the car does drive and slots in the gears but once heated you can hear the noise, hence the bargain asking price of £950 otherwise the car is fantastic to drive and would normally sell in the region of £3.5k

2 front electric windows have also developed a fault and no longer working.

I have been honest in my description and happy to answer any further questions.

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