Turbo-4 Life: 2004 Subaru Forester XT
The second generation Subaru Forester was released for the US market in 2003, but in 2004 they released a turbocharged model called the XT that produced 210 horsepower from a 2.5 liter flat-4 that was based on the STi powerplant. This next example has a few miles and isn’t showroom perfect, but it’ll be good for taking the dogs to the park or kids to school AND hitting some dirt on the way home. Find this 2004 Subaru Forester XT offered for $6,600 near Charleston, SC via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.
From the seller:
2004 subaru forester xt
fuel: gas
odometer: 194000
title status: clean
transmission: manual
2004 Forester XT MANUAL TRANSMISSION 194,000 miles. Oil changed every 3k miles. Upgrades include Invidia turbo back exhaust. Cobb air intake. Cobb accessport. Cobb short throw shifter. Full alpine sound system with a 12” alpine type R sub. General tires on Method race wheels. The front axles and CVS and ball joints were replaced about 6k miles ago. The clutch and flywheel were replaced about 1k miles ago. The timing belt, pulleys and water pump were just replaced. Compression test on all cylinders are good. Also comes with the original wheels and tires(must take these) $6600 OBO LOCAL PICKUP ONLY
See a better way to drive a cool turbo thing? tips@dailyturismo.com
Is it really better to change the oil every 3,000 miles with conventional oil or every 9,000 miles with a premium synthetic? Did the seller change the oil filter every 3,000 miles? So many questions.
It’s a turbo subaru — you change the engine oil every 3000 miles, the filter every 6000 miles and the engine every 9000 miles.
Should be just about time for the third head gasket.
I was hoping to find something that had been kept at stock boost levels; it appears there’s no such luck with this one. A Subaru with nearly 200,000 miles and aftermarket tuning devices? Yikes.
I was just going to post “it hardly matters what rational thinkers have to say regarding a car like this” and yep, the post is already gone. Subie culture is amazing (in a good way). This car is the only one my son claims he has sworn off forever and I suspect he could still be talked into buying another one. The engines are hilariously finicky but the driving experience seems to make the suffering worth the headaches.
I owned a sibling to this vehicle, a 2002 WRX wagon. It was, at the time, a ridiculously fast little car. Terrorized more than it’s fair share of BMW Ms and Lexus I300s. I finally got rid of it because I couldn’t go anywhere without ricers orbiting it like flies on a horse. Always wanted one of these XTs, thinking I could avoid the juvie attention. But not this one – too much evidence of ‘rode hard and put up wet’.