Currently on the hunt for a Forester to replace my 2000 Integra dd.

Been checking CL every day but haven't found anything that quite fits the bill yet, most people are asking too much for cars with really high mileage.

Few more details about what exactly I'm looking for:

• 2000-2005
• 5spd
• Non-turbo
• < 200k miles
• Any color except black
• No major body damage (typical dings & paint chips are OK)
• Timing belt / HG's done
• Clutch replaced if needed
• Working AC, heater & acessories etc..
• Up to date general maintenance
• Close to stock as possible
• At most willing to spend $4500

EDIT: See post #11

 

Yeah, the price for the manual turbo make people think they can ask more for the non-turbos unfortunately. I agree on what you're looking for price wise too. Good luck.

 

Thanks, I know I'll find one eventually.

I test drove this one yesterday, seemed to be a really solid car but the guy wouldn't back down below 4.5k despite the bluebook being more like 2.1k so I passed.
1999 Subaru Forester

 

Check Ebay, I bought my first Forester on there, 2000 L model for 700 bucks on Ebay, car was located in Fresno.
Currently I drive 2006 NA auto Foz and I love it, great gas mileage, plenty of space, perfect daily driver.

 

I tried, still showing 0 results for anything 00-05 within 200mi of Fremont.

Just gotta keep tabs on CL & hope something good pops up, also kind of hard to go check out the ones that are further away during the week... just don't have time. Hoping I can get a few lined up to go see on Sat.

 

Check with Chris over at Fremont Auto World on Fremont Blvd. He can likely find you one, if not has one already.

 

Will do! Thanks for the heads up.

 

He normally picks up automatics, but occasionally has manuals and he can find them.

 

I just talked to him a few minutes ago, he has about 6 of them over at his lot.. think mostly autos like you said but I'm gonna go check em out tomorrow anyways.

 

I test drove this 03 yeserday even though it was AT.
2003 Subaru Forester AWD XS 4dr Wagon In Fremont CA - Auto World Fremont

Mileage was too high though and it was a little beat up on the interior / exterior as well as having a large dent in the oil pan and I could smell some burning oil when I got back from the test drive.

I emailed Chris a more precise list of what I'm looking for so he can keep an eye out.

 

So I'm just gonna say I'm ****ing pissed!!

I went up to Roseville on Saturday and bought an 2004 Forester X, AT for 3k flat. This one in particular: 2004 Subaru Forester

I did a complete look over the whole car and checked everything. Took it for test drive and drove it hard in 90 degree weather and everything seemed fine. Looked it over even more after getting back from the drive and couldn't see any reason not to buy it. Drove it all the way from Roseville back to Fremont without any issues until I exited the freeway from 84... 5min later car started to overheat. I pulled over and shut the car off. Eventually got the car home but had to turn it off multiple times to avoid getting in the red on the temp gauge.

On Sunday morning I went out and checked the radiator and it was very low, I had to add 3qts of water to get it back up at the top... and the coolant overflow was practically about to spill over out the yellow cap. I have done a few test drives since then and the same thing happens, coolant expands and gets into the overflow but doesn't return back to the radiator and then the car starts to overheat.

Last month 6/6 the car had a lot of repairs and had the radiator, cap, hoses, thermostat and inlet all replaced with oem parts. I called the shop that did the repairs today and they mentioned they did a chemical test on the coolant and found the hydrocarbon content was in the 250ppm realm and told me they suggested the previous owner take the car back to where the head gaskets were done (different shop) to have them fix it. The tech told me he's very certain the car has an internal head gasket leak (despite that the HG's were done last year).

Now I have some contact #'s for the lady who owned the car prior and a smog tech's # who was helping her sell the car. I can't reach either of them via phone, text or even calling the shop where the smog tech works at. If anything I'd take the car straight back to where the head gaskets were done but I have no way of knowing what shop did it. If you look at the engine you can tell the gaskets are pretty new and it even had a new set of heads installed also which are very clean.

Not sure how I can dispute this without driving back all the way to Roseville if I can't reach anyone... or even guarantee I'll run into the guy who sold it to me at the shop. Other than the overheating everything else on the car is great so I'm also toying with the idea of just dropping another ej25 in there if I can find a cheap one... or just cut my losses and sell it as is. The car did pass smog on 7/12 but can I even sell the car if its not registered to me yet? I don't see any point in registering it now.

Cliff notes: Bought a forester but turns out it has an internal HG leak which wasn't apparent right away, now trying to figure out WTF to do with it.







Inside the radiator cap after the car cools down (hmm where'd the coolant go?)

 

Damn dude. That's wack!

If the person knowingly mislead you you have a small claims case/fraud case.

It's difficult in private sale situations but it's pretty clear the owner was informed and did not inform you.

If a shop did the headgaskets and they screwed them up maybe they'd be willing to cut you a break on redoing it. But I'd try to get that car back into the owners hands and get your dough back.

There's way too many foresters out there in the $3-4k range to be buying one that needs that kind of work right away.

 

Yea I feel I was knowingly mislead. The shop that did the radiator work told her to bring it back to the other shop responsible for the HG work... but I'm unable to find out where that work was done.

I'd go back to Roseville tomorrow but just straight up don't have time for that with work & ****.

 

You could get the HG done by a shade tree on here.

The sohc motors are pretty easy, ridiculous the HG is going again after a year. Unless they didn't resurface, and if they used an oem type gasket.

The oem turbo metal gasket, or the fel pro mls gasket is the best.