I've been lurking. Maybe a couple of days now. One thing that's really stood out to me, is the way people seem to reply to these posts with "Welcome to the forum from Oregon!" I also recall seeing welcome from Wisconsin too, I believe. That's a nice touch.
Preemptive thank you from Arizona. :biggrin:
I was just kidding with the title of this thread, but I'm hoping to get some expert confirmation that I'm on the right track. Was hoping I might summarize what I know and make sure I've got it (as well as open up things to other considerations I hadn't, um, considered).
A bit about me, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Mitsubishi owner. I've started, ran, moderated, contributed on a number of DSM forums over the years. I started Mitsubishi Gearbox Magazine, go to Mitsubishi Owner Day at HQ in Cypress, California, and consider the DSM/EVO Shootout at Buschur's in Ohio a yearly pilgrimage.
I daily drive a 92 Galant VR4 (#464/1000) and, in my garage, I've got a 91 Galant VR4 (#195/2000) being stripped for rally prep. It's painfully slow progress, but it's getting there and I hope to be out in SoCal mixing it up with "those funny sounding blue cars" by April.
I know. So far? :crazy:
I'm into getting my cars dirty. Filthy, mud-covered, drive-it-like-they-designed-it-to-be-driven. So I'm a member of DirtyImpreza.com. Just because I favor three diamonds on my grille over seven sisters doesn't mean I don't have much love and respect for the Subaru community.
Now my wife tells me she really likes the Forester, so I'm starting my research in preparation to scoop one up by summer. Since I trust the DirtyImpreza community, I went to them for general Subaru insight. When the Forester came to the fore, they pointed me here.
So here I am. Longest. Intro. Shopping. Thread. Evar.
We're looking towards 2003-2008 FXT with the slushbox. I believe that means it's called a 4EAT or something. All have the 2.5, but "T is for Turbo," and that's what we want. NT models were more susceptible to HG failures, but if they're going, they tend to go externally back towards the firewall.
30K service is typical of a turbocharged, AWD vehicle, although driveline fluids get changed out. The turbo models go 60K on plugs, though? I'd change more often. T-belt interval is 105K, at which point the usual suspects should be replaced along with it.
Foresters are damn reliable when properly maintained and, although some might say two heads are better than one, I know they all have adorable little cams in them. Little cams, big heart. It's just going to take me some time to get used to riding around in a car that sounds like my Galant with a dead cylinder.
So, am I missing anything? I haven't been too far outside of this area of the forum, but should we pick up a Forester, I suspect this will end up being my go-to resources.
Appreciate the patience with the read and anything additional you think would be worth looking for when considering a used Forester turbo in the private market. (Particularly, when the seller says all maintenance is done, but has no receipts, tips on things to look out for.)
Cheers.
Brian
Preemptive thank you from Arizona. :biggrin:
I was just kidding with the title of this thread, but I'm hoping to get some expert confirmation that I'm on the right track. Was hoping I might summarize what I know and make sure I've got it (as well as open up things to other considerations I hadn't, um, considered).
A bit about me, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Mitsubishi owner. I've started, ran, moderated, contributed on a number of DSM forums over the years. I started Mitsubishi Gearbox Magazine, go to Mitsubishi Owner Day at HQ in Cypress, California, and consider the DSM/EVO Shootout at Buschur's in Ohio a yearly pilgrimage.
I daily drive a 92 Galant VR4 (#464/1000) and, in my garage, I've got a 91 Galant VR4 (#195/2000) being stripped for rally prep. It's painfully slow progress, but it's getting there and I hope to be out in SoCal mixing it up with "those funny sounding blue cars" by April.
I know. So far? :crazy:
I'm into getting my cars dirty. Filthy, mud-covered, drive-it-like-they-designed-it-to-be-driven. So I'm a member of DirtyImpreza.com. Just because I favor three diamonds on my grille over seven sisters doesn't mean I don't have much love and respect for the Subaru community.
Now my wife tells me she really likes the Forester, so I'm starting my research in preparation to scoop one up by summer. Since I trust the DirtyImpreza community, I went to them for general Subaru insight. When the Forester came to the fore, they pointed me here.
So here I am. Longest. Intro. Shopping. Thread. Evar.
We're looking towards 2003-2008 FXT with the slushbox. I believe that means it's called a 4EAT or something. All have the 2.5, but "T is for Turbo," and that's what we want. NT models were more susceptible to HG failures, but if they're going, they tend to go externally back towards the firewall.
30K service is typical of a turbocharged, AWD vehicle, although driveline fluids get changed out. The turbo models go 60K on plugs, though? I'd change more often. T-belt interval is 105K, at which point the usual suspects should be replaced along with it.
Foresters are damn reliable when properly maintained and, although some might say two heads are better than one, I know they all have adorable little cams in them. Little cams, big heart. It's just going to take me some time to get used to riding around in a car that sounds like my Galant with a dead cylinder.
So, am I missing anything? I haven't been too far outside of this area of the forum, but should we pick up a Forester, I suspect this will end up being my go-to resources.
Appreciate the patience with the read and anything additional you think would be worth looking for when considering a used Forester turbo in the private market. (Particularly, when the seller says all maintenance is done, but has no receipts, tips on things to look out for.)
Cheers.
Brian