So I bought a Subaru.....

[MagnetON]

For anyone that's been following our adventures you'll know that we had the Audi allroad for pulling the caravan. Unfortunately it's finally got to the point where it was beyond economical repair and it's gone to the next person along the line (someone with the mechanical skill to fix stuff and source parts etc.)

So I've now acquired a 2001 Subaru Forester (2.0L, Turbo, Manual Transmission, "S" pack)

I've read on other forums that the timing belt should be done every 100K miles, anyone any experience of these? (Subaru Foresters, not timing belts in general!)

[GORDON STREETER]

Had a couple on my books over the years and not had too many problems with them.
One was more trouble than the other with head gasket problems and a catalytic converter, however the cat that failed the mot was a cheapo one.

[JHamilton]

Is it the 2L that has the reputation for chewing through head gaskets or is that the 2.5L?

fieldodreams is on vacation, but he's got quite a bit of experience with Subies.

[garcon]

I think that was the 2.5.

The huge majority of Subaru engine problems are with examples that have been poorly modified by idiots who think they can double the output with a remap without having to change any hardware.

[GTRMagic]

Subarus generally should be reliable MagnetON.. as long as they are shown the service bay when the time is due.

Not so long ago, I worked for the largest Subaru dealer group in Australia, living just above the service workshop of their main location.

Generally there arent too many problems with them, but they have been prone to be finicky on fuel. There have been people putting that ethanol blend in them, and it causes the head gasket issues that Gordon Streeter mentions (the techs reckoned it burns hotter & warps stuff.. who knows..)

While anyone who thinks increasing the boost without regard to anything else deserves the trail of white smoke and oil out the back

That said, the turbos seem to be a good product, but seemed to last a lot longer if you idle them down after hard owrk or long runs.

The biggest issue that seemed a repeat offender, under warranty anyway, is the front diff wearing/failing. Its not a cheap fix, and any noise should be looked at right away as it can be something as simple as noisy bearings, but more regularly the sign the whole unit isnt well.

And make sure you have a super strong battery in it. The poor little flat four is great at making engine power, but not so much battery power. They seem to have put a too small a CCA battery in there, as warranty complaints that were refused & made it onto negative NPS scores were mostly around battery failures inside the first few years of ownership, and a second failure before the warranty ran out... <2 years of life..

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Is it the 2L that has the reputation for chewing through head gaskets or is that the 2.5L?

fieldodreams is on vacation, but he's got quite a bit of experience with Subies.

My 04 STi did happen to find a stonewall on a gravel driveway. In hindsight, 50+ mph through my friends' frontyard wasn't the brightest of ideas.

The 01 Legacy is the one I final ruptured the head gasket on doing donuts in the snow at the Academy Sports parking lot. There was 206K miles on it and it was a mess when i bought it. I just put it out of it's misery.

I'd have to look it up again but it's one type of motor built between a certain time that the head gaskets WILL go on; it's only a matter of time. The rest? Keep under the redline and you may do OK. However, once it's replaced by the right people, they'll last forever.

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

My 04 STi did happen to find a stonewall on a gravel driveway. In hindsight, 50+ mph through my friends' frontyard wasn't the brightest of ideas.

The 01 Legacy is the one I final ruptured the head gasket on doing donuts in the snow at the Academy Sports parking lot. There was 206K miles on it and it was a mess when i bought it. I just put it out of it's misery.

I'd have to look it up again but it's one type of motor built between a certain time that the head gaskets WILL go on; it's only a matter of time. The rest? Keep under the redline and you may do OK. However, once it's replaced by the right people, they'll last forever.

Interestingly, the dealer may not be the right place to get that kind of work done. They usually dont have a clean room to do the engine out/head gasket off/machine the facings kind of environment.

I have watched them rebuild an STi engine onto a replacement block (the old one had a hole in it) out in the open air, bringing a combination of new and old bits into the mix... It seemed to run all right, and the customer gave a good NPS score But it was kind of a bit 3rd world in the preparation stakes.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

In hindsight, 50+ mph through my friends' frontyard wasn't the brightest of ideas.

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

...doing donuts in the snow at the Academy Sports parking lot.

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

Keep under the redline and you may do OK.

Some solid advice from my man right there.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Some solid advice from my man right there.

Hey, I speak from expureeeunce.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

Interestingly, the dealer may not be the right place to get that kind of work done. They usually dont have a clean room to do the engine out/head gasket off/machine the facings kind of environment.

I have watched them rebuild an STi engine onto a replacement block (the old one had a hole in it) out in the open air, bringing a combination of new and old bits into the mix... It seemed to run all right, and the customer gave a good NPS score But it was kind of a bit 3rd world in the preparation stakes.

The Japanese car specialist that I take my Japanese cars to in my town give me the impression they do a Scoobie head gasket replacement 3 or 4 times a month. It's trannys for Hondas, gaskets for Scoobies and something else for Toyotas. Each have their one Achilles heel.

[Fro5TI]

What a wise choice you have made!!
I'm on my 3rd Subaru now, having had 2 (2.0) Impreza's I now have a 2.5 Forester XTe which pulls my 5 berth caravan with ease. Never had any real problems with any Subaru I've had. I guess that correct & regular servicing is the key, but isnt that the same for all cars?
You may find useful information here http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f75/

PS AFAIK that Timing Belts should be done every 50K?

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by Fro5TI

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f75/

I've already joined that forum

[garcon]

Don't bother joining Scoobynet. It's full of half wits who think their smoking 15 year old Impreza is faster than a 458.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by garcon

Don't bother joining Scoobynet. It's full of half wits who think their smoking 15 year old Impreza is faster than a 458.

If the 458 is burning, they could be correct, but half wits they still are.

[garcon]

[joeb]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

My 04 STi did happen to find a stonewall on a gravel driveway. In hindsight, 50+ mph through my friends' frontyard wasn't the brightest of ideas.

Actually 50 mph in somebody elses front yard is a much better choice than in your own.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by joeb

Actually 50 mph in somebody elses front yard is a much better choice than in your own.

Indeed! My front yard at the time limited speed greatly; I could faster on my bicycle through it than in the Scoobie. However, my friends' "frontyard/driveway" was a farm; plenty of space!


Well, almost plenty of space........................

[Fro5TI]

Originally Posted by garcon

Don't bother joining Scoobynet.

Also very true!