'04 Forester Automatic?

Any potential with one of these if'n I can pick it up on the cheap?

We had an '05 X model automatic that we bought (well leased) new. Had it a few years and loved every bit of it. Just was a little small with two car seats when our second child arrived. It was awesome in the snow even with the crappy geolander tires.

The auto mutes some of the fun, but great winter cars and I have been beat at a rally-X by a guy in an auto Forester (I was in an Outback).

They have good resale value if you really don't like it.

Mom's '05 X w/automatic Forester is approaching 215,000 miles and runs/drives excellent.

fornetti14 wrote: They have good resale value if you really don't like it. Mom's '05 X w/automatic Forester is approaching 215,000 miles and runs/drives excellent.

Good point - up here a Forester of that vintage will still bring $3500-$4500.

It's an impreza with lifted suspension pieces that swap back and forth. Really no worthwhile engine mods on n/a subarus. But it's not too difficult to swap in a turbo motor.

I've been told that if the car shows an AT TEMP light that flashes or doesn't go out immediately after startup, you should either run away or lowball like crazy, because that signals a significant issue with the transfer setup and/or trans.

Autos do better off-road and hold their resale.

Throw it into "2" instead of "D" and they can be entertaining on a rallycross course.

Get a model with a limited slip if you can.

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/forester/forester2004.html

Wife has a 04 XS auto. The auto is kinda stinky, but the rest of it is nice. It's reliable, but it might need to go soon for needing more interior space. Right now we're at over 160k. We got it at 60k. We've done headgaskets, timing belt, and seals on it. Methinks a manual transmission would really wake it up a bit.

The heater fan is starting to go, and on cold days it clatters a little bit until it warms up for a few minutes.

Didn't know it had a lsd in the back...