2004 Subaru Forester XT Review: Subaru's Best Swiss Army Knife?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- The Forester is a sales juggernaut for Subaru, but before it went mainstream, it was a bit of an oddball. We like oddballs around here. 2004 was the first year in the States where you could land a turbocharged model, the XT. To sweeten the pot further, this example comes equipped with the harder to source 5 spd manual transmission. Does the Forester XT offer enough fun, utility, and reliability to make it one of the best all-around vehicles produced by Subaru...a Swiss army knife if you will? #subaruforester #foresterxt #carreview
Thanks, I’ve got an 05 non-turbo 5speed. They are a fantastic little beast- picked up on the cheap-engine knock. Turns out Gates has a recall on the timing kit- the tensioner knocks. The engine is fine so far!
Sounds like you got a steal. They are fantastic vehicles.
Just picked up a gem for my son’s first car. Found a senior driven bone stock 06 forester xt limited all black leather package turbo manual. 169k on the clock here in Florida. Picked up the car from a trailer park. Car was used down here while the snow birds were town. The car has one little bubble of rust on the hood other than that it’s the body is completely rust free. Yes the spare tire well, seat brackets and all quarters are rust free, even the differential has a steel protector cover around it. Runs very strong, no oil burn or leaks. Just put new timing belt, tires and plugs in it. New exhaust going in next week. Obviously the stock exhaust had its time. Yes I even have the old plugs for comparison and conversation purposes. Two little door dings on the passenger side door one is a dime size the other a quarter. Pant is a close to a 10 that you can get. One non performance issue is the vent solenoid is bad on the charcoal canister. This car could be for sale just testing the waters before i potentially put the car on bring a trailer. If interested let me know. The car tucked away in my garage out of the elements clean a waxed.
Seems like you tracked down a real gem for sure. These things just don't exist in stock condition any longer. Congrats!
Im trying to convince my parents to do the same thing with the same car😭 they wont budge
that's a great find! I saw 2 xs in Florida on sale recently
Ah man, that 0-60 cant be right. My 08 FXT with the 4EAT is in the high 5.0 seconds range.
It's a combination of my driving skills and the road (not perfectly straight, flat, or track prepped). Hopefully more of the road's fault, but the time is consistent with other vehicles I've tested.
I’m surprised the vehicle has not sold yet. I’m so tempted to buy it and sell my 2005 WRX Wagon.
To be fair, I’m catching up on emails/messages as I’ve been away…it’s getting a ton of attention as it deserves.
Love those WRX wagons too.
I have the full FSTI suspension imported from japan and STI rack in mine. Handling goes up a large amount withj these additions.The Automatic is actually really well suited to the Turbo tuning for urban assault purposes. Wish mine was corrosion free. If you get a Northern used steering wheel it will be like new.
Those suspension mods sound so worth it.
thx for this review! I am going to check one out that has only 92k miles!
Thank you for watching. Dang that’s low mileage.
I would consider the 2.0 turbo engine much better choice ,and the classic sf5 Forester being the best looking
Yeah that 2.0 is a nice engine, but stateside we only got the 2.5 Turbo in these...it's not all that bad though and makes this a pretty damn fun vehicle.
Great cars, just change oil in time and keep it lvl, let engine warm for 15min before hammering it, have a custom tune on my2005 2.5xt 5mt 165k miles :)
That’s exactly it. Also changing the timing belt and water pump on time is essential.
@@autoobsessivegarage yes indeed u are true ;) change them both @ the same time...
Two seconds longer than car and driver and motor week
But I saw your comments below
Real world vs. auto journal times will always have a disparity. If you stopwatch a similar vehicle in real world conditions, my times will usually be much more accurate.
I bought one of these 2004 subaru forester 2.5xt awd me and my dad rebuilt motor and transmission and everything around it bigger turbo pushing 400hp. Had this car for about 2 years and loved everything about it, was a great daily driver and super fast when we sold it to some teenager he was so excited and happy to see and buy the car the same excitement I had when I first got and washed the car and was happy to sell it to him and let him continue the journey and now realizing what a gem 💎 and rarity that car is. It's amazing to have had one of those subaru hatchbacks out of all my line if cars I had since now I am 27 and first car BMW 2000 528i E39, second car BMW 2001 530i E39, this was my third 2004 Subaru Forester 2.5xt, fourth car BMW 2005 E60 525I M Sport, fifth car and now current BMW 2013 F10 535i M Sport one of my dream cars that I have crossed off in my bucket list. 🙏🦍🪙
That thing must have boogied! Quite the list you got there.
Dang I’ve had mine for 3 years and I haven’t driven it much in the last 2 years as I don’t daily it anymore I’m going to dedicate a month of just daily driving it miss driving it haha
Drive that FXT!
Best car ever
It’s certainly up there.
Picking up a red 2004 manual xt with 119k miles today
Sounds like a peach. Enjoy it!
Just got a 2004 XT black on black leather interior, automatic, super clean, everything works, new timing belt and head gasket 20k ago, 2 previous owners, everything works, clean car faxs, all maintenance, tires were decent. One big concern... The transmission delays between 2nd and 3rd gear and then thuds into gear. Ive heard this is no big worry and may be a solenoid and not the tranny? Any advice? Paid $6,300, how'd I do? Its a super clean and well maintained vehicle. be honest,,,, thanks
Not sure what the mileage in it is…but seems like a solid purchase to me. Not super familiar with the auto gearboxes on these but I’m assuming they are similar if not identical to the units used in other Subaru models which are pretty stout.
@@autoobsessivegarage Awe Thanks, sorry ...153,00 original miles
I have an 04 Legacy Outback LL Bean edt. I am on the hunt for either an XT, XS or a LL Bean edition. which one do you think is better?
The XT is a very different animal and I believe the turbo engines to be slightly more stout and reliable. I’d go XT for sure.
@@autoobsessivegarage thanks. I've also been eyeing b spec or GT wagons
Just had heads rebuilt in my stg 3 FXT. Got it back yesterday and want to sell it as I have crossed my fiftith trip round the Sun and a screaming fast Forester suddenly is scary to me.
How would one go about selling such a beast?
Thing sounds like an absolute beast! If she’s super clean, the big auction sites will get you you’re biggest return. These machines are very popular and for good reason.
@@autoobsessivegarage Cool thanks!
@@dougvelliquette7655 I am interested in a 2004 forester xt manual, let me know if you’d like to exchange information :)
@@stankybaboon3799 Sry Stank, this one is a 4EAT.
With 0-60 time, your turbo is probably done for. Whats r mileage on this car?
Turbo is very healthy.
My acceleration times are usually a bit behind magazine tests when the vehicles first came out.
My tests are far more real world with no adjustments.
Found this exact model with 180,000 miles, bone stock, no problems, for $7K
Well bought, congrats!
I just got mine today! 188k for $7k!!!
Got mine in red with the standard gearbox, in-laws sold it to me for 1k.
Is this still available for sale where can I buy it or??hardly see these posted online for sale
Sorry, I ended up selling it to another enthusiast.
Agreed, clean examples are very hard to find.
How about 5.3 0-60? “The mighty 350z just got smoked by a family of five and a dog”?
You gotta love how all this performance is wrapped in a totally useable package. A Subaru all-time hit for sure.
Is your cat okay? Also I need help finding a good mosquito net, since the windows on this car have no rim around the window. Once the window is open the door is separate from the car. Any idea what I can do? I am going on a roadtrip soon.
How to install a fuel pump on a Subaru Forester 2000 04
Chadwick?
Please don’t say it three times…because then I’m obligated to appear out of thin air.
These are selling for $16-17k, not 10k. Autos will go for that.
I’ve seen very clean, low mileage examples hit that number for sure.
Why so much?
@kev S only made about 5,000 in US so not many around
@Nathaniel Hawes I bought a 2005 for 1250$. Mileage has 111,000 miles. What do you think about that bro?
I own 2 04 xts
Heck yeah…I see someone is cornering the market.
I've recently found out these 04-05 Forester XT's are actually pretty much just FWD cars most of the time. They have a 90/10 power slip front/rear, and they only engage the center diff lock to send power to the rear wheels once the front wheels are slipping and spinning at a rate greater than 20% faster than the rear wheels. So "feeling that awd grip and pull out of the corners" is a placebo effect, unless your getting front wheel spin... These cars do not have the VTD (variable torque distribution) center diff that the WRX and STI's have.
Damn, no kidding? The FXT never felt lacking in the grip department, especially in dirt roads.
@autoobsessivegarage yeah on dirt roads where the front tires can slip a lot more than on paved roads you'll get that center diff locking up a lot more often which gives you a 50/50 power split front/rear. There is also a very common mod where you can wire in a toggle switch to engage the center diff lock to have that 50/50 power split on demand. Some people even buy a used VTD center diff and swap it into these cars to have the true awd all the time.
This is actually only true for CVT Foresters, manual transmission models are 50/50 all the time.
Still reliable at that mileage?
I would say that this example is…but maintenance/ownership history are massive factors.
04 or 05 better?
Pretty much the same vehicle. You can get an 05 manual with the premium package if that’s your thing.
04 u can swap in a sti 16 bit ecu with a vf38 and tmic. 😊