[jamesk]

Hi, all.
Quick introduction, names James, from Ireland. I am in the market for a forester. Have mainly been looking at 2.0l n/a but after a phone call to my insurance, the s-turbo is looking do-able

Ive been into hondas till now, namely the JDM cr-x mk2. However ive been diving a few years and the cr-x is getting slightly ridiculous turning up at piers piled high with gear

I will probably be towing a light RIB diveboat occasionaly so just wondering would i be better off going for the sensible n/a forester, or going for a turbo? At the moment my budget is limiting me to 1999-2000 year cars. Whats the mpg looking like under tow? i hear 35 without a trailer is possible.

SO is there many problems to watch out for?, ive tried finding the buyers guide but the search function is a little awkward with the US sections!!

hope to have a forester soon, but in the meantime will keep reading around the site.

Rgds,
James

 

[2.5x_sleeper]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon! :biggrin:

Good luck on your Forester search! Post up a pictures when you find one so we can look it over. :wink:

Bobby...

My MODding Journal

 

[deebom]

Welcome. You need the turbo. Turbo Turbo Turbo. You wont regret it. :biggrin:
You get a cool hole in your bonnet. People will say "whats that hole in your bonnet for?" And you can say something like "Oh that, thats for the intercooler." Or someone may Say "where did you get your bonnet vent?" And you can look down your nose at them and say "I didnt buy it, it's factory." And they will be jealous.

 

[adc]

Welcome from Pennsylvania.

 

[major]

Hi jamesk,

And welcome to subaruforester.org !

As your question about buying a SF5, I would go for later S-turbo model with manual gearbox. Or if you prefer a higher spec forester then do look around for a JDM. :biggrin:

 

[mdg]

Obviously get the best you can afford. If i had my choice again, i'd go turbo. But, i'd go for one without a tow bar and then get one fitted. You never know what it's been towing before.

Service history is everything. Pref by a Subaru mechanic.

 

[Brian Lacey]

Towing with a turbo is no problem. I had Legacy turbo estates and towed a pony trailer and all the extras, great fun. Still remember the looks as they got overtaken by a pony !
Just had to renew the clutch every 70k.

Good hunting.

Cheers
Brian

 

[Neil8p]

I used this info when looking for mine
Subaru Forester (1997 - 2002 ) | Car Reviews | Honest John

As said, look at the service history, but they are pretty tough. I bought a cheapish turbo and have spent a bit sorting it out. Best mpg I've seen is 30, worst 26. Our n/a impreza does 35-38 mpg so not that much better really.

 

[D Man]

Welcome from Wicklow! Turbo all the way mate!!!

 

[Tuned200]

Welcome from Ky.

 

[mykp]

had an N/A for a week when my turbo was in the shop and man was it slow. but depends on your application, either will do but the turbo will be more fun.

if you go turbo get a boost controller so you can turn the boost down when your towing and your mpg go up.

 

[jamesk]

Thanks for the welcome guys, was expecting a few honda digs

Well this is what i hope to view over weekend:


it ticks all my boxes, and has the subaru history. Is there anything that usually goes upwards of 100k miles, ive read big end bearings and clutch, and also to check self levelling suspension (how do i check this, tyre wear??)
@Brian, good stuff with the pony, id say the animal had more "pony" power than our dive boat!!!

Will keep you updated and will read the honest john review.

Cheers

 

[jamesk]

sorry, tried to post a link to the ad, i know this is cheating but:

cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1188809

add the http bit

 

[TarmacBoy]

I'd say keep looking James....a quick browse on autotrader shows a few with a lot less miles for the same money...granted they're the wrong side of the irish sea for you, but the pound to euro exchage rate is pretty good for you right now, might be worth a trip over

 

[Duderotomy]

Welcome to the forum from Niagara Falls!

 

[forester200]

Thanks for the welcome guys, was expecting a few honda digs

Well this is what i hope to view over weekend:


it ticks all my boxes, and has the subaru history. Is there anything that usually goes upwards of 100k miles, ive read big end bearings and clutch, and also to check self levelling suspension (how do i check this, tyre wear??)
@Brian, good stuff with the pony, id say the animal had more "pony" power than our dive boat!!!

Will keep you updated and will read the honest john review.

Cheers

Depends how its been looked after . You would have to be very unlucky to get a forester with big end bearings gone, that's more common to the Impreza because they get the arse ripped out of them ! The S/tb (JDM) is the one to go for if you can find a decent one and i'm pretty sure in saying that they didn't come with self levelling suspension ( i will need back up with this comment from another member ...or not)! Mine has done 150k with no major issues with the engine or gearbox at all.... the clutch went on me after 110,000 miles of me driving it let alone what it did before being imported..:biggrin:

 

[The Rookie]

Welcome to the friendly forum!

I've towed 1750Kg behind my turbo and it barely broke sweat, even outdragging a chavved up Fiesta out the M1 average speed cams (him revving the nads off it, me in fourth!)

Typical MPG for a turbo is 22-25, an N/A about 27. My best is 29.9mpg (Grrrr) on a run to Eurodisney at 85(UK) to 90(France) and back.

Simon

 

[Alan MaC]

good luck, Turbo is best.






Regards



AM

 

[jamesk]

Thanks again for the comments. I will keep an eye open for jdm variants, but our insurance companies here are not too fond of the imports, especially with a turbo in its name! Will also keep an eye on something around or below the 100k miles, however I would be happy with a higher mileage if it had full subaru history. If i dont pick up something in next week I will probably start looking in the UK in a months time as im off to sea for a few weeks. In regards to big end bearings on higher mileage cars, I guess all i can do is try and view the car when the engines cold. Cant bloody wait now!! Oh and for those of you under 6ft, do you find the rear hatch handy for getting changed/keeping rain off? thats the 1st thing i thought

 

[Mark CSC]

Oh and for those of you OVER 6ft, do you find the rear hatch handy for getting changed/keeping rain off? thats the 1st thing i thought

Yeap and great for sipping champagne while watching the polo.