Subaru forrester

[FarmerPug]

I bought a 1997 Subaru Forester 2.0 tonight, a friend of a neighbour was selling it and i was looking for something with 4x4 to replace the suzuki which i sold a few months back.

Its got 206K miles and runs good, has 7 months mot, a months tax,heated seats etc, and oddly for a 2.0 n/a model it has an STI suspension kit so its a bit bumpier than normal.
A few problems like the smell of petrol inside and the petrol leak round the back end, the sidelights dont turn off, the switch is jammed, the drivers door lock is busted and there is a dab of rust above the windscreen, just surface rust no leaks of holes.
All for £200, what the suzuki sold for.

What are these old subarus like, the man selling it says its been completley reliable and it sounds ok, but are there any issues with the engines or the 4x4 system?

[steve_earwig]

It should be ok at that age, they only seem to go bang when people try and get stupid amounts of power out of them...

[FarmerPug]

This thing is the bog standard non turbo 2.0, the only thing is the STI suspension has been added, as has an STI exhaust so it makes quite a throaty exhaust sound.

[jasper5]

I used to do a lot of work on these at one time.

The fuel filler pipe is a problem for corroding on these.

Front driveshafts can be a problem.

Keep an eye on the rear suspension struts.

Changed a few radiators.

Spark plugs are a bit awkward to get out and in, but timing belt/s is/are a fairly easy job to replace....there 2.

If the clutch is the manual adjusted cable type make sure there is a good free play in it.

Exhausts are expensive...or they used to be at least.

A bit thirsty on fuel, but otherwise a darn good car!

[trufflehunt]

The thirst. If you've been running a diesel 406, you're in for a nasty shock.., I think.

[FarmerPug]

The thirst. If you've been running a diesel 406, you're in for a nasty shock.., I think.

Its to replace my suzuki jeep which was extremley sore on petrol, only for rallying round the fields cheaper and safer than a quad, and when finished and broken still worth a bit in scrap.

[scotty73]

The thirst. If you've been running a diesel 406, you're in for a nasty shock.., I think.

Its to replace my suzuki jeep which was extremley sore on petrol, only for rallying round the fields cheaper and safer than a quad, and when finished and broken still worth a bit in scrap.

Anyone looking at your avatar will know what you got planned for it.

[FarmerPug]

It arrived, here are a few pics:






All seems good so far, the owner complained he couldnt turn the sidelights off and had been removing the battery for the past year because they wouldnt turn off, but i jumped into it and there is a button between the steering wheel and instrument cluster that turned them off there and then, strange sort of setup for controlling the lights but it was nothing serious. The check engine light comes on i think for one of the 02 sensors.

The petrol leak is coming from a pipe on the side opposite from the filler, the car stinks of petrol even when standing outside, i have a tray underneath and can see the petrol coming from the pipe, my mum was a bit careless and smoked a cigarette while looking at the car.

the body seems quite free of rust with just a bit along the top edge of the windscreen, the tax runs out at the end of march and the MOT runs out in september, there is plenty of reciepts and service history inside it.

[Bailes1992]

Personally I would sort it out and sell it on!

These are known for being aboslutley bulletproof!

[Welly]

They are tough as old boots, sort the petrol leak out though - that would annoy me.

Enjoy it though

[scotty73]

I'm with Sam on this one that's a lot of car for 200 notes and with a few simple jobs done you could get a few hundred more.... Or rally the hell out of it that sounds fun too.

[DaiRees]

What a bargain for £200!! I'd fix it up too, looks far too good to be solely a farm truck.

[lozz]

Looks nice & tidy that fp,

its far too good for The mud use imho,

jasper is spot on about,the fuel pipes rotting, iirc there is ametal breather pipe on the main filler neck that rot away,
ive had a few early nissans & japs do this, the smell of fuel inside the car aint good,

The forresters are pretty common up where ilive but they been Ruined, They black the windows out and lower them,
realy goes against what there built for, 4x4 that carnt go over a speed hump

[FarmerPug]

I need to get under it to inspect it for rust, the rear arches are quietly bubbling on both sides, and some nasty suprises may lurk behind that plastic side trim.

I looked this evening the fuel pipes that come from the tank are rotten, i hope there is a pump under the back seat so i could just attach rubber fuel lines instead, otherwise getting the tank out will be a right hassle the back axle etc need to be removed.

[FarmerPug]

Fixed the fuel leak today, the tank on these things would be a big job to get out, the exhaust, rear diff and suspension all need to come out of the way first, and the car is a bit rusty underneath, not as bad as the carina but the back arches are quite shite, and there is surface rust under it.
The leak was caused by the metal fuel lines being completley rotten, they are exposed for such a short section but its enough to do the damage, and the funny thing is the pipes come from the tank, to a hole/grommet and then in through the car, i cut out the metal bits and replaced all with new rubber hoses and jubilee clips:

The old




The new:




I also seen this man made hole under the back seat, whatever its for?



The problem with fixing it up to sell it is there is not many buyers for a car like this here, everyone wants diesel.