Hi all,
Maybe this shouldn’t be on a Forester site but hey ho its a Subaru.
Thinking of chopping in my Forester 2006 for a Outback of similar age but lower mileage but cant find much info. I don’t like the look of anything newer than an 07 that’s the last generation I like and I want a manual (rare)
Questions as follows:
I’m looking at the model with the 2.5 engine is this as reliable as the 2.0 Forester I currently own and are there any obvious pitfalls??
Subframe corrosion seems similar to the forester, Yes or no?
Also maybe a Legacy with the 2.0 engine, is this the same engine as the Forester 2 litre?
Any other info would be much appreciated
Cheers
Rupert

 

Questions as follows:
I’m looking at the model with the 2.5 engine is this as reliable as the 2.0 Forester I currently own and are there any obvious pitfalls??

Yes - Head gasket failure is extremely common on the 2.5 Litre engines. The 2.0 like in your Forester is much more reliable

Subframe corrosion seems similar to the forester, Yes or no?

As far as I know yes

Also maybe a Legacy with the 2.0 engine, is this the same engine as the Forester 2 litre?

I would assume so......... It might have slight tweaks like Drive By Wire Throttle but a same or similar year Outback to your Forester would be the same too

Have you considered a 2.0 Turbo JDM model? Those would be lower mileage generally - And with a turbo, a little more exciting

Mr @Alan MaC has an Outback from memory.

 

I had a Gen IV Legacy until a few months back, a JDM Twinscroll 2.0 turbo, great car but the EJ20X/Y in those cars is high compression and bottom end failure seems a bit more common than you'd like. I avoided bottom end failure because the timing belt broke on mine, trashing the engine, so I put an EJ207 in it and turned the wick up to a little over 300BHP, which was nice.

I think an n/a 2.0 would be a bit sluggish, but the n/a 3.0 flat six is supposed to be a peach, and with the 6 speed box as well.

Ask your questions on UK Legacy Forums, lots of UK specific knowledege there and a helpful bunch.

 

Cheers chaps

 

I have just recently PX my Outback with Foresters in Bilston West Midlands. I originally Bought the car off them absolutely mint. Japanese import.
Very clean motor MOT bloke said it was cleaner underneath than newer UK cars.
Foresters completely rebuilt the engine.
Its a rare car 2.5 petrol Turbo which was never available in the UK.
It has Auto & F1 manual Paddle Gear shifts.
Tons of work done on it.
Remapped for UK Super Unleaded by Subaru Legend Bob Rawle.
Its got a combination of KMS/Miles on the Speedo.
Full UK Service Book from engine rebuild.
Since the rebuild its done around 28,000 miles.
They have people interested in in.
Probably gone by now however, worth a phone call to Ivan or Sean @ Foresters.
Check out all my posts and you can see the history.
Also worth a visit to UK Legacy Owners Website.
Good luck, cracking cars loved it.
Always promised myself another Forester.
Good Luck.

ATVB

Alan

 

Thanks Alan,
Bit late I know , but I’m not overly interested in something modded, mapped and imported, I’m too old for all that though it sound like a super car

 

If you go for a GenIV Legacy, I think the prefacelift ones have the 4 speed 4EAT auto box, while the facelift ones have the 5 speed 5EAT, which also comes with flappy paddles. It's the better of the two options, but definitely nothing like a modern auto or DSG in terms of shift speed when you are using the paddles. But if you run it as an auto all the time, it's a typical 20 year old auto box, fine but not the last word in refinement.

At the back of my mind when I had my Legacy was the worry about getting the auto box fixed if it went wrong (which it never did fortunately). Whereas I could take my 6-speed manual STi gearbox to plenty of places and have it repaired, I'm not sure it would be as easy with those older autos.

There's a decent looking 3.0 spec B manual on Autotrader - it's a saloon, though, not an estate.

 

My Outback was sold within 2 days. Lots of interest, regular Foresters Customer snapped his hand off. 🤗

 

With respect to manual versus auto, I have two comments::
1) driver assist and auto driving require an automatic. If you don't get these features in your new automatic transmission vehicle, you can add them later with the "comma ai" device
2) automatic transmissions come in traditional and continuously variable (CVT). CVTs are cheaper, but less robust, on average, than a traditional torque-converter transmission.

You might seriously consider a traditional automatic transmission on an older car.

 

I considered a 3.0 Legacy Spec B before I got my Forester... The thirst put me off. The H6 is pretty reliable and smooth though.
I drove an 07 Forester 2.5 XT Auto and honestly, I was expecting to hate the autobox but it was nice.

If you don't do many miles, the 3.0 could be a nice viable option. If you do a few miles, I would go JDM Cross Sport Forester 2.0 Turbo - But That's just me............
And it would have to be in World Rally Blue but retains 2.0 Litre reliability

I'm not a fan of CVT in the modern Subarus but that isn't what you're interested in

 

Thanks chaps, I’ll make a decision soon. might try an auto then, can always pass it on if I’m not happy. Always thought of auto’s as old mans’ car but when I think for a moment I realise I am an old man!
The H6 does look tasty.