Need to replace the radiator in our 05 Saabaru 155k, unmodded. Daughter has about $125 for the radiator. Ebay? Used Oem? Rock auto? Radiator Express? Way too many choices...looking for recommendation please. Car is a 4eat.
1-800-Radiator. Has a warehouse in St. Paul where you can pick up or get it delivered. Cost me a $100 for CSF radiator. Napa sells the same thing for $350 for my car. They almost always have it available the same day you buy it, part of the reason I bought from them.
I am also of the opinion that stock/OEM replacement is your best bet. Your daughter will hate winter time with a full aluminum 'sport' radiator, as she will be unable to get reliable heat at freeway speeds.
Prior to living here I lived in southern California. So I was unaware of "blocking the radiator." I drove to Chicago from here in late January the first winter I was here, after having replaced my radiator with a Koyo, and also having a lower temp T-stat. I had to stop about once an hour and idle the car in a parking lot somewhere to get the temps up enough to warm up the car. Then drove till my eyes and fingers started to hurt again, only stopping to repeat the heat cycle.
I too am in the OEM camp only because of previous experience with aftermarket...OEM replacement, not a "performance" product. The Toyota dealer gave me the option of going with a Modine brand (with which I was familiar with) at a substantial savings over OEM Toyota, for our Camry. After two Modines were installed, both with leaking issues - first one lasted less than a week and the second one less than a year, we went with Toyota brand...no problems.
I ended up ordering one from radiatorexpress for $135 overnight shipping included. Good fitment, no issues. Once I took the old one out, I was curious as to where exactly the leak was and filled it with water. It was running out the top where the fins meet the plastic top piece. Took the liberty and replaced the lower radiator hose at the same time. Everything was original and I destroyed by default every single clamp along the way, except the upper radiator hose ones.
