We have around 11k in hand and are willing to stretch to about 15k. We want a manual transmission version of one of the following Forester XT, Legacy GT, Mazdaspeed3, or maybe a Mazdaspeed6. The problem is the closest Foresters and Legacys are about 800 miles away. The 3's and 6's seem to be closer at about 100-200miles away but our limited efforts to travel and see them have produced excessively and poorly modded rats. Anyone here have one they want to part with? I can travel or even possibly fly in to get one that is in decent condition. I am located in Gainesville, FL 32605.
Well that's interesting, now isn't it?
I failed to see it was the auto, not manual.
For what it's worth, I have a 05 legacy turbo with the auto and find it acceptable. It has a "sport" mode, and the ability change gears manually and stay in those gears.
However, there are many cars there that might suit your need if you are willing to travel.
I had an LGT with the five-speed auto and never regretted my choice.
The rest of the car was a complete lemon though. I think it may have been that particular car.
You really need to watch out for the 05 legacy gt's in my opinion. The VF40 likes to disintegrate it's bearing sending metal downstream. The filters on the banjo bolts clog, starving the engine of oil. Sadly, some folks replace the turbo only to find out there was further engine damage. If you find one that is working properly, it almost makes sense to remove the banjo bolt filters and upgrade to a different turbo. Even subaru updated to the vf46 for that application. If you find one that has "a new turbo" might want to skip it unless they also did a new shortblock too(or has had more than 10k on that motor since new turbo).
New short blocks are $2,000. Ask me how I know....
In reply to DaveEstey:
Or rebuilts are $1300. Ask me how I know.....but I bought mine when it was broken, so I knew that going into it.
I
Is there a good Mazdaspeed 3 and/or 6 forum out there? With cars like those, model specific forums tend to be a good source of used cars. The tough part is weeding them out from the tuner kids' cars.
Strizzo
SuperDork
12/15/11 11:47 a.m.
legacy GT, i'm assuming you're going to want manual and wagon, which were only in 05, if you're willing to go with a sedan, they were 05-06, but the seats couldn't be folded until 07 iirc. there are about a dozen 05 lgt manual wagons for sale in the US right now. just so you know.
a lot of the forester XTs that were sold ended up with automatics because the XT was more expensive and kinda the top trim level. i gave up trying to find one with a manual almost before i started looking, much less one at a decent price, but that was not very long after they first came out.
you should be able to find an 07 or early 08 MS3 for 13-16k, depending on trim and miles. the sport model came with cloth seats, regular halogen headlights and single-cd stereo, the GT trim added HID auto-on auto-leveling headlights, rain-sensing wipers, leather/cloth seat trim, Bose 6-cd in-dash changer, LED taillights and gave you the option of navigation.
aux input and stability/traction control were standard
We got our 04 Forester XT 5speed about 1.5 years ago for $12.5k from Orlando with 65,000ish miles on it. Has 82,000 on it now. Needed a clutch (about $800 at a shop) shortly after buying it but otherwise no problems.
Will need rear wheel bearings soon which is common and apparently not very easy to do.
For what the car gets used for (wife's DD) I kind of wish we would have gotten the LGT Wagon simply because I like them more. Monique on the other loves it because it is very similar to her old 2000 Impreza Wagon (current GRM rally project).
I have been thinking about parting with my mazdaspeed6, it would be a bit of a drive for you though... (I am out in cali)
Of those choices I would go MS3. Most fun of the bunch for sure. It also has the least amount of weak points.
Greg Voth wrote:
Will need rear wheel bearings soon which is common and apparently not very easy to do.
Greg, check with your Suby dealership to see if they will cover this repair. It's a common problem and they replaced one on my LGT and it was covered in full at 94k miles.
They extended the warranty on the legacies to 100k, but I don't think it applies to the forester.
I will sell my Forester XT if the price is right, but I'm in Raleigh, NC.
It is a 2004, 5 speed and getting close to 60k miles. I've already had the 60k service done, too. =)
My wife scuffed the paint on the rear driver side door with the Jeep, but I never got it fixed.
The only reason I'd be selling this is to buy a Legacy Wagon, by the way. 
In reply to Brett_Murphy:
You've got Mail!
I have a similar thread on wagons
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/mid-size-wagon-that-can-handle/43092/page1/
Hey Brett,
What was the 60k miles service in case the PO missed it?
There is a nice white 70k ish Mazdaspeed6 for sale in the NASIOC classifieds.
Greg:
I don't have the manual in front of me at the moment, and it has been a few months. If I recall correctly, it was all fluids, spark plugs, tire rotation, check timing belt tensioner, belts.
There might have been something else, but it is a pretty basic service. I had mine done at a local subaru shop instead of doing it myself so I had a receipt that showed it was done. I think I paid $450.
Also, the book value of my XT has plummeted. PLUMMETED, I SAY!
we have manual forester xt's come in every once in a while here. I definitely recommend the manual over the auto for any of the 2.5 turbos, but that might just be my preference.
I've looked aroudn mazda6club a bit, they have some speed6's on there. not too sure whats for sale in your area on there right now, though. I'd love a speed 6. out of your list of cars, though, the speed 3 is gonna be easiest to find, but idk about it being in the price range. speed 6's usually sell for around 13k ish iirc though. I work for subaru and I'd still rather have a speed 6 over any of the other ones.
Keep in mind the forester xt, and wrx with the 2.5 and auto transmissions use the 4eat 4 speed auto, which is entirely lackluster.
The Legacy uses the 5eat 5 speed, which in my opinion is much better.
Brett_Murphy wrote:
Greg:
I don't have the manual in front of me at the moment, and it has been a few months. If I recall correctly, it was all fluids, spark plugs, tire rotation, check timing belt tensioner, belts.
There might have been something else, but it is a pretty basic service. I had mine done at a local subaru shop instead of doing it myself so I had a receipt that showed it was done. I think I paid $450.
Also, the book value of my XT has plummeted. PLUMMETED, I SAY!
That value you quoted me in your PM is waaaaay low unless you have about a million miles on it.
forgot to mention that the normal torque split on the 5eat on the legacy is 55% rear, 45% front, where the others are 50/50. Some of the older subies with autos had a front bias.
