My wife and I are test driving a Forester XT tomorrow. 5 Speed, 62,000 miles, asking $13k, pretty much stock. Nice guy, two owner car.
Here is the ad. http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=p&car_id=280538148&dealer_id=65338853&car_year=2004&rdm=1276001890443&lastStartYear=1981&model=FOREST&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=25&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&sownerid=64939939&showZipError=n&make=SUB&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=32712&advanced=&end_year=2011&doors=&transmission=&max_price=14000&cardist=0&standard=false
Being that I have never spent more than 3k on a car at one time you can understand that I am nervous about spending this much on a car. The decision rests on how much she likes it since it will be her car and if we can come to terms with a car payment.
What should I know about these cars?
Forester.org Everything you need to know is over there. If the wife quits smoking by the time her '02 is worn out it will be our next vehicle.
once, at a particularly nasty rallycross, a stock class XT automatic won FTD...
good enough for me.
I have been doing some reading over at subaruforester.org
Good site but haven't found a good FAQ about problems. Although there was a nice write up about how to go as fast as an STI for about 2k.
Also I will not call it a "foz" that is already annoying me. Just like "rex" for the WRX and RX-7. Stupid people.
agreed. very annoying. 
Yes. Everything that people upgrade on 04 STis will bolt on the 04 Forrester. But only the 2004 years interchange. Doooo-eeeit. Angry toasters rule.
I know that on the WRX they moved up to the 2.5 Turbo in 2006. I have an 04 WRX with the 2.0 and I love it, but if I were shopping used right now, I'd look for a 2.5.
Do it. I have three subaru's right now. Should I find the need to replace one. A forrester xt is on the short list. Though none of the cars have any desire to die.
Awesome car. Buy and report back.
Well, as it so happens, we have one identical to the one in the ad (purchased new). With the exception of one notable item (which I will cover next) we have had zero issues with the car. We now have over 100K miles on it.
The "notable item" is that for some reason, Subaru chose to install tiny thimble-shaped filters in the oil lines feeding the turbo and the AVCS mechanism. It appears these filters were only installed on the '04-'05 model FXT, Baja turbo and Legacy turbo etc. If these filters occlude to the point that the turbo isn't receiving enough oil, which is what happened to us at about 99K miles, buh-bye turbo. Subaru will tell you that if you kept up with maintenance, this won't be an issue. I'm not in total agreement.
Luckily, the turbo is the same as what is used on the WRX and they are easy to find used as they are replaced with bigger tUrBoZ for moar POWAR!! We found our low-mileage replacement on a Subaru forum for $100 shipped. The seller was a Subaru tech that had pulled it off of a WRX with about 20K miles on it...no free-play whatsoever The needed gaskets were another ~$50.
Now, when the filter for the turbo plugs-up, since that line also feeds the AVCS (Active Valve Control System) on the passenger side head, the car throws a CEL indicating an AVCS issue (P0011). Apparently, the ACVS mechanism is not damaged by this lack of oil, just unable to function properly without its oil supply. I don't know if shutting down the motor as soon as the CEL came on would have saved the turbo or not. It may have already been damaged at this point, but the CEL light coming on was the first indication of trouble. Soon after, the turbo started to sing its death song and shortly after that lost boost. Bear in mind that at the time I had no idea the filters existed, nor did I have a scanner with me to know what the CEL was. Foolhardy to keep going, probably, but I monitored everything and checked the oil frequently. Everything checked out fine other than the no-boost condition and the glowing CEL that I erroneously associated to the dead turbo. The car ran fine other than being down on power...no noises indicating death of an engine.
So, when we did stop, I began searching for turbo information. I started coming across posts about these filters and the problems they have caused. When I replaced the turbo, I removed the filter in the line feeding it as later models don't have them, anyway. There were no obvious signs of blockage (like dirt, metal shavings or coked oil). I can only guess a bit of sludge got dredged up on this trip (about 1500 miles IIRC). I reset the CEL, changed the oil a couple of times and drove it around and everything seemed fine. A couple of days later, it threw a CEL for the AVCS on the DRIVER side head. I had been warned this might happen. If the filter on one side was plugged, the other side would probably soon be or already was. Problem is, this filter is located in a banjo fitting BEHIND ONE OF THE STINKIN' CAM WHEELS!! Just for grins and giggles, I called the dealership to ask how much they would charge to pull this filter. $900!!!...um, no thanks. Searching on-line, I found a posting of someone who detailed how to get the filter out without pulling all the parts required "by the book". I decided to pay an independent $400 to do it as I had run out of time for fooling with it. The oil was changed again and the CEL reset by the shop. The car has performed flawlessly for the last 6 months and probably 5K miles.
We love this car and other than the ~$550 we spent on the turbo replacement (which I could've done for ~$150 had I more time), it's been all maintenance items. Just be aware that if this car in the ad still has the filters installed in the oil feed lines, there is potential for disaster.
I had one as a demo when I sold Subaru's , 5spd XT cloth interior
I would lay beat downs on everyone with it. It would have no problem pulling a friends S2000 to well over 100mph.
handles like a waterbed thou
Please like it so I can buy Monique's blurple wagon.
I almost bought one myself. Dealer wouldn't budge on the price though and the asking price was well north of where it deserved to be.
Get it. 
They are essentially lifted-up, boxy Imprezas. Everything that's not a body panel (aside from the 02-03 hood scoops) swaps over. It should have the 2.5L motor too, so it'll be a bit more torquey than the older WRX's with the 2.0L, and with these, there's no replacement for displacement. The added torque from the 2.5L is great! Finding one with a stick is pretty tough around here, so consider yourself lucky.
I say get it, slap on a bigger turbo, lower it with Impreza suspension on 18x8 Rota Formula Mesh wheels, and have at it!
Here are some cool ones:
Thanks for the replies. We are heading out in a few minutes. I will report back afterwards. If Monique loves it and he is a little flexible on the price I think we may have a "new" car on our hands. It really comes down to how she feels about it and if I can come to part with the money.
So we test drove it and she loves it since it is so similar to the Impreza just with more power. I had forgotten how semi underwhelming these things are stock. That is coming from the V8 Volvo which has loads of torque and the RX-7 which pulls to 9k. It pulls well everywhere but not real hard down low or up top. Nice all around. I figure a take off STI turbo, STI intercooler, tune and open up the exhaust should change all that and get me about 50 more HP.
Made a deal for 12.5k and the Impreza goes to Per who should give it a good if not rough home 
Rallycross project should be fun.
I need that dancing banana emoticon.
Sweet a leather jacket wearing Asian dude comes with the car!
Just your standard japanese slovakian canoe salesman. Excellent.
Would you buy a canoe from this man?
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - that's one of those new-fangled fancy canoes, huh?
That's actually too cool to delete. I'm leavin' it, though I did remove the link.
Margie
Congrats on getting the Forester! You will love it.
Also, congrats to Per for getting a Subaru (maybe!)
And also, congrats to whatever or whoever posted the most random of canoes. Seriously, WTF are they trying to sell? 
sorry, I blasted it before I saw Margie's response. forever a mystery.
SilverFleet wrote: And also, congrats to whatever or whoever posted the most random of canoes. Seriously, WTF are they trying to sell?
I think he's trying to say he's kidnapped Herbie Hancock and wants some money or he starts mailing us fingers.
jg
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