1998 Subaru Forester L: $2012 Classifieds forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Oct. 25, 2010 7:37 a.m. fastasleep Reader

I have a 1998 Subaru Forester L that I recently picked up to drive as a DD, but have decided to keep my Maxima a little while longer. The car is a 2.5/5-speed AWD. The car is has all of the power equipment (I think; I am not a Subaru expert) except for the power sunroof (there is no sunroof). The car runs really well but the Check Engine Light is on due to an Idle Air code. The A/C blows very cold. There are no rips in the interior and all of the windows work with no issues. The car gets about 27 MPG from what I can tell. It is forest green/grey and has tan cloth interior.

The bad:

The Check Engine Light is on, but it runs well. It leaks a little oil. I just put an oil change on it. It has 258,000 miles on it. The PO said they had a salvage yard engine put in it at about 200,000 miles but doesn't know how many miles were on the salvage yard engine. The car needs tires. You could drive around on them for a little while, but a new set is needed. The cruise control doesn't work.

The good:

It is an inexpensive, well-running, AWD, manual Subaru. The paint is good for a 12-year old car. NO RUST (one-owner, Southern car).

I need $2000 from a GRM'er. It will be more on craigslist. I am in Atlanta.

-Les 770-778-7368
Oct. 25, 2010 2:49 p.m. fastasleep Reader

BTW, the oil leak is from between the engine and tranny. I am assuming it is a rear main seal........... Up for a good trade, too!

-Les
Oct. 25, 2010 3:24 p.m. carzan HalfDork

FWIW, on our '04 Forester, the cruise control will not work as long as the CEL is on.
Oct. 25, 2010 5:48 p.m. fastasleep Reader

Thanks, carzan; I will check on that!

-Les
Oct. 25, 2010 6:29 p.m. DrBoost Dork

Just a bump. This will be a FUN car. I had a '98 auto and it was fun. I figured a stick would make it that much more betterer.
Oct. 25, 2010 6:54 p.m. 44Dwarf Dork

98 with check engine light is likely one of two things... 1) cat under performing = do nothing reset light and hope it doesn't pop up before inspection. you could try replacing the O2's but it will not fix it. 2) evaporative fault. = pin holes in gas tank filler tube. it will not leak when filling but since the alky in the fuel the dealer told me they sell 3-5 per week.. I changed out our filler tube took about 45 minutes.
Oct. 25, 2010 7:42 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

44Dwarf wrote:

I did my wife took about 45 minutes.

Not sure what that has to do with a Forester, but good job!
Oct. 25, 2010 9:45 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

Hey Les:

My son is interested. Can you shoot me some pics?
Oct. 26, 2010 5:04 a.m. fastasleep Reader

MrJoshua wrote:

44Dwarf wrote:

I did my wife took about 45 minutes.

Not sure what that has to do with a Forester, but good job!

Priceless!
Oct. 26, 2010 5:05 a.m. fastasleep Reader

Yeah, I left the house really early this morning but will get pics up soon. Wayne is interested in it too for his cabin; talked to him yesterday.

-Les
Oct. 27, 2010 1:51 p.m. evildky Dork

pic's, I got a bud just totaled an imprezza looking for a wagon, might be worth the drive