WTB 2004-2006 Forester

Looking for a Subaru Forester for DD#2.

2004-2006 or so - condition more important than age
<100k miles
Prefer automatic transmission Prefer midatlantic / southern location
Does not need to be cosmetically perfect or optioned out
Needs to be reliable and relatively up to date on major maintenance

Thanks!

What is the price range?

For the right price I might be able to convince my wife to sell her 04 XT. Black, 5 Speed, 96,XXX miles. It's a 5speed with a clutch around 80k. Just replaced both rear wheel bearing (updated subaru bearing) and hubs (Dorman) and front & rear brakes less than 500 miles ago. Will need a timing belt at 105k but could do that prior to sale.

Stock aside from a downpipe, STI muffler and STI rear sway and WRX seats.

Hrm, I'm looking in the $5k range, with some leeway both directions. 5-speed is going to require some thought - daughter is willing, but I'm not sure how much of that is lip service and how much of that is actual enthusiasm about the idea. Thanks!

This thing is probably closer to $10k based on comparables. If she is not interested in a manual or turbo (requires premium fuel) its probably worth just getting an non turbo auto. Although Peter AK's Legacy GT seems like a screaming deal.

Beware of wheel bearings. They are not cheap or easy to replace. I was quoted about $600 per side without using new hubs and with aftermarket bearings. I ended up having to replace an axle that was stuck in the hub. Just listen for a rumble. They will be loud for a while before needing replacement but it is an annoyance.

Yeah, DD#1's original Impreza had the RR wheelbearing bad when I bought it. That was part of why it was so cheap.

Thanks!

@Greg Voth: Wow! Your experience with the XT is so different than ours. We now have 150K miles on our black '04 5spd and have had no issues with either the clutch or wheel bearings. There was a rumbling at one point about 30K miles ago, but went away with a major brake job that found one or more sticking calipers.

Search wheel bearings on Forester.org. Tons of threads on it.

Worst part is now that the rears are fixed it sounds like the drivers front is getting loud. I like the car and aside from those issues its been pretty rock solid.

Bumpitty bump bump. I'm still in the market if somebody has or knows of an '02-'06 or so Forester in the $5000 range.

Thanks!

I did a search on Cars.com for a Forester in that range this morning and the majority of it was 98-03 but mileage average was closer to 125-150k range and higher. It might be harder to find something in the 100k range in that price range.