2004 Subaru Forester 5MT

This has kicked around GRM and is overall a decent car. For someone excited about these the chassis condition coming out of Florida makes it pretty choice. I just don't need it, was going to use it for the Panhard but decided to go a different direction. I bought it with rod knock and swapped the long block that was in the LMP360 into it. So it has prominence the engine in this car WON the GRM $2000 Challenge. Runs/drives nice, just needs a few things and some love to be an excellent first car/winter beater/DD/or long term Project. I can get more pictures of anything if anyone is interested. The paint is lighter on the front doors due to GRM Challenge stickers pulling up the fresh Macco paint job when this car ran the Challenge a few years ago. The Maxpeedingrods coilovers are great from a looks/handling perspective but ride harsh.  PimpM3 ran this car at the challenge and then it went to Patrick for a while before it got rod knocked up.  I bought it, dumped questionable amounts of money and time into it fixing the engine and am ready to pass it on at a reasonable price so someone can push it accross the finishline to being "good".  

I've listed it elsewhere for $2500.  

2004 Subaru Forester  –  5MT Base model

5 speed manual, 148K miles. 

Florida car, excellent chassis condition. 

I’ve put about 700 miles on this since I did the engine work. 

Good-

New MLS Head Gaskets, Gates Timing set, Water Pump. 

New Flywheel, Clutch, Pressure plate, Throw Out bearing. 

New Battery, New front brake pads

Florida Car – Car came from Florida and has seen minimal MW winters.  Sills, fenders, quarters show no signs of corrosion.

Engine replaced with similar mileage shortblock from 2002 outback.  Heads were swapped so EGR, intake system and all accessories remain 2004 forester. 

Heat/AC work, Trans seems to shift fine

Recently repainted

Bad –

Cruise, rear wiper do not work.  Intermitent speedometer signal loss (Looks like wiring at sending unit plug).  Passenger upper window seal leaks. 

Interior is mid, drivers seat torn, rearview mirror is bad, overhead console and rear cup holder broken. 

Car is lowered on Maxpeedingrods coilovers.  Looks cool, handles well, rides harsh. 

Drivers rear tire has slow leak.  Full size spare is same age/brand as the other 4 tires so can be swapped.  

As the one that drove this from Florida to Ohio I have a little love for it.  It was a good first Subaru experience for me.

When my sister had it a mouse or something ate the speed sensor wire and I just tossed a crimp connector on what was left so that's probably the intermittent speedo deal

I realized I didn't explicitly state location.  Car is located in Mahomet IL about 1t minutes from Champaign and 2 hours south of Chicago. 

I snagged this and had a great interaction (again) with nocones. He graciously gave my kids and I a tour of all of his race cars and projects and it was absolutely amazing!

My daughter told me, "I want to be like him when I grow up!".

Me too, kid... Me too.

In reply to The_Jed :

Nice buy and did you give him a hug for the rest of GRM?

Damn, I forgot the hug!

I'll get him next time, he's not too far away.

As we were looking things over he excitedly trotted away saying he had a special things to throw in with the deal. He bounded up the stairs in his garage and sounds of parts being shuffled around could be heard. He came back downstairs with a long metal thing in his hand. As he got closer I recognized the front strut bar that I had slapped onto the Scoob probably ten years before I sold it to nocones.

Man... all of the feels.

He still has the EJ22 and gearbox from the Scoob as well.

In reply to The_Jed :

I had been plotting to ask nocones about the scoob since we left to see the Forester. Lol.

In reply to The_Jed :

Glad to see it end up with you! It was a good car for my sister till the quick lube didn't put oil back in the engine