1998 Forester 5MT

Got the title this week, so it'll be available for it's new home soon.

The Good:
98 Forester S, EJ25D. 183,128 miles, going up a bit as I'm driving it.
5MT swap from an 03 Impreza (3.9 gears, a little tall with the larger Forester tires, lugs in 5th under ~60mph)
Good used KYB GR2 struts
Good used 99-01 (vertical flow) Radiator, new OEM hoses/clamps. New OEM thermostat.
"S" model means rear disc brakes, moon roof, etc.
New Powerflex poly rear diff bushings and new OEM rear diff side seals.
Big ol' Ford starter relay on the firewall, cranks strong every time, even at 20 below or worse.
Sik LED headlight bulbs
A lifetime supply of "Subaru Badge of Ownership" badges on the hatch
Heated seats

Car drives really well.

The not-so-good:
Has moderate rust around the rear quarters and a few other spots, somebody painted over it with something pretty heavy duty (I'm guessing undercoating of some sort) that's holding up very well.

Ebrake does not work. Leave it in gear.
Has an aftermarket remote start system, not wired into a neutral switch so it will start in gear. System disabled, enable at your own risk, this car has crashed into the back wall of a garage.
I suspect it had a Subaru accessory push bar, there are holes in the top of the bumper cover.
Scuffs/scrapes, especially on the front bumper cover
Fog lights are smashed, might try to swap them from the parts car
No front sway bar (handles fine, but will probably oversteer more than stock)


Occasionally it makes a clunk in the engine bay when it first fires. I suspect it is motor mounts, I will be spending some time on these this weekend and might put some good used ones in it.
Cruise doesn't work, also on my list for this weekend.


MNSubaru price: $1500, will be starting at $2k everywhere else.


20210129_101826 by Numbchux, on Flickr

I'm going to clean it up this weekend and take more pictures, and then list it everywhere.

 

Hmmmm

 

Very decent price for a very decent car. GLWS, shouldn't be long.

 

Figured out the clunk.

Motor mounts are fine. It has a notched crossmember

2021-02-22_08-29-40 by Numbchux, on Flickr

No other evidence of a turbo install (no oil drain, engine/transmission wiring unmodified, which is right where the turbo would sit). Tried to bend it to get a little more clearance with the exhaust, but no dice, too strong. Either live with the occasional clunk, or take the exhaust off and cut that edge down some and/or dent the exhaust.


My Outback fought me this weekend, I need to get that back on the road before the Forester goes away. But other than that, it's basically ready to go.

 

20210226_170006 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210226_170024 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210226_170032 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210226_170045 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210226_170050 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210226_170016 by Numbchux, on Flickr

 

If i hadn't just bought my wrx...

 

Lol remote start on a manual car that you have to park in gear. I would almost call this a booby trap.

 

Just think of it as anti catalytic theft device.

 

Seriously. The remote start was triggered while parked in the garage. I would highly recommend the parking brake be fixed and remote start be re-installed before using it, and will likely add that wording to the bill of sale.

 

its a feature, its a lot like the self parking/pull ahead from the fob features on some cars.

 

"Remote start works great, must chase car down the street." Lol

 

What is wrong with the e brake anyway? Cable is hosed?

 

I assume so. Zero resistance on the handle....

 

20210318_125222 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210318_125607 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210318_130017 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210318_132000 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210318_132024 by Numbchux, on Flickr


20210318_132038 by Numbchux, on Flickr

 

Gone!