Subaru Forester - 2.5 turbo
Discussion
Hi All,
I'm handing back my lease car in end of February, and am in the market for an SUV and having had several Subarus in the past - a couple of Legacys, an Impreza and the long term keeper SVX - I've found them to be very reliable.
I'm not an expert on the Forester model, and specifically the 2.5L turbo. The particular vehicle I'm looking at is an auto, and looks to be in good condition. I thought I'd ask the Subaru aficionados in this group, if there are any specific things to look out for before a test drive and potential purchase..?
I'm handing back my lease car in end of February, and am in the market for an SUV and having had several Subarus in the past - a couple of Legacys, an Impreza and the long term keeper SVX - I've found them to be very reliable.
I'm not an expert on the Forester model, and specifically the 2.5L turbo. The particular vehicle I'm looking at is an auto, and looks to be in good condition. I thought I'd ask the Subaru aficionados in this group, if there are any specific things to look out for before a test drive and potential purchase..?
Pretty good car all in.
Make sure the coolant's good, but HG issues arn't supposed to be as big an issue as some say, certainly mine has had no trouble but i keep it ridiculously well serviced.
Auxilliary air pumps can and do fail, will put the engine light on, if they fail just get them removed and programmed out.
Check for rust underneath, especially if its lived in Scotland.
Has it had a cambelt kit?
Brakes need regular cleaning and lubing as do all Japanese cars, but its the trusty drum inside disc design parking brake so no worries about working on the brakes which are simple.
Check for possible noisy front CV's, even if you detect a little rattling these are well made items and a regrease will more than likely see them last the car out, i don't think they have quite the same trouble as Outback where the inner CV joints were directly over the Cats so could perish and split, but luckily the non STi is high enough off the ground you can inspect underneath without lifting.
Exhaust...check it, seems weakest at the joints, if its on the way out don't be tempted to get an aftermarket mild steel jobbie, no one makes the right one for the XT which is a 2.5" bore, they try and palm you off with the 2.0 litre version which is only 2".
MIJ at Walsall made and fitted a stainless system to mine for £300, which was less than the aftermarket mild steel wrong system would cost anyway.
Auto box is unusual in that it has an external spin on oil filter, which looks like an engine oil filter but works in the opposite way to an engine filter in that it filters only part of the oil constantly, i have heard of fools refitting an engine oil filter in place because its about 1/3rd the price, if you look at the filter it has transmission or gearbox or something smilar written on it...not a regular thing to renew, probably once or twice in the life of the car.
Autobox oil changing is a breeze, probably easier than the engine oil.
Only pig of a job, like all Subarus is spark plugs, other than that its a doddle to work on, 3 dipsticks under the bonnet.
You know its high rate tax if regd after March 06.
edit, oh and stick your head underneath the back end, you'll find a small adjusting lever for headlight levelling on the back suspension leg, its like a small drop link with a ball joint on each end, the joints can seize solid which then breaks the mounting.
Rear dampers will be self levellers more than likely, not a cheap replacement so look for sagging...i believe these can be swapped for heavier springs and normal dampers for more reasonable cost.
Make sure the coolant's good, but HG issues arn't supposed to be as big an issue as some say, certainly mine has had no trouble but i keep it ridiculously well serviced.
Auxilliary air pumps can and do fail, will put the engine light on, if they fail just get them removed and programmed out.
Check for rust underneath, especially if its lived in Scotland.
Has it had a cambelt kit?
Brakes need regular cleaning and lubing as do all Japanese cars, but its the trusty drum inside disc design parking brake so no worries about working on the brakes which are simple.
Check for possible noisy front CV's, even if you detect a little rattling these are well made items and a regrease will more than likely see them last the car out, i don't think they have quite the same trouble as Outback where the inner CV joints were directly over the Cats so could perish and split, but luckily the non STi is high enough off the ground you can inspect underneath without lifting.
Exhaust...check it, seems weakest at the joints, if its on the way out don't be tempted to get an aftermarket mild steel jobbie, no one makes the right one for the XT which is a 2.5" bore, they try and palm you off with the 2.0 litre version which is only 2".
MIJ at Walsall made and fitted a stainless system to mine for £300, which was less than the aftermarket mild steel wrong system would cost anyway.
Auto box is unusual in that it has an external spin on oil filter, which looks like an engine oil filter but works in the opposite way to an engine filter in that it filters only part of the oil constantly, i have heard of fools refitting an engine oil filter in place because its about 1/3rd the price, if you look at the filter it has transmission or gearbox or something smilar written on it...not a regular thing to renew, probably once or twice in the life of the car.
Autobox oil changing is a breeze, probably easier than the engine oil.
Only pig of a job, like all Subarus is spark plugs, other than that its a doddle to work on, 3 dipsticks under the bonnet.
You know its high rate tax if regd after March 06.
edit, oh and stick your head underneath the back end, you'll find a small adjusting lever for headlight levelling on the back suspension leg, its like a small drop link with a ball joint on each end, the joints can seize solid which then breaks the mounting.
Rear dampers will be self levellers more than likely, not a cheap replacement so look for sagging...i believe these can be swapped for heavier springs and normal dampers for more reasonable cost.
Edited by Smint on Wednesday 26th January 19:23
Edited by Smint on Wednesday 26th January 19:24
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