"The Ghost of Oppo" (gohstoklasa)
11/25/2014 at 15:10 • Filed to: ForesterXT
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"The Ghost of Oppo" (gohstoklasa)
11/25/2014 at 15:10 • Filed to: ForesterXT | 0
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After this mornings Best AWDs under $10k post, I am toying with the idea of replacing my GTI with a 2004 Forester XT.
Can anyone fill me in on their reliability? Or any WRX owners speak to the EJ255? I know turbo maintenance on these is a must and the timing belt will need redone around 100k, but is there anything in particular to look for?
Hey its gotta be more reliable than a MkIV 1.8T...
HammerheadFistpunch
> The Ghost of Oppo
11/25/2014 at 15:13 |
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Had an 05, the ej255 is extremely reliable. change the timing belt at regular intervals, water pump, etc...no problems. it has none of the problems the single overhead cam engines had and its overbuilt for the amount of boost it gets stock. one thing ot keep an eye out for is abused transmission (worn 1st and 2nd) and for suspension noises indicating worn bushings. all the bushings are easy to replace though so its no biggie. Nothing will break electronically.
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The Ghost of Oppo
> HammerheadFistpunch
11/25/2014 at 15:20 |
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Nothing will break electronically
I drive a VW, I don't understand what that means.
But in all seriousness, thanks!
rockingthe2
> The Ghost of Oppo
11/25/2014 at 15:24 |
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My buddy loves his XT, his problems in the year of owning it were an alternator and the valve cover gaskets.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> The Ghost of Oppo
11/25/2014 at 15:25 |
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I know your feel. My wife drives a sportwagen TDI, before that a B4 passat, before that a cabrio. Her TDI's fuel system just completely shit the bed and had to be replaced, meanwhile here i am in my 253k mile land cruiser all like "no leaks, no electrical problems, no worries"
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The Ghost of Oppo
> HammerheadFistpunch
11/25/2014 at 15:31 |
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What year TDI?
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HammerheadFistpunch
> The Ghost of Oppo
11/25/2014 at 15:31 |
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2011
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The Ghost of Oppo
> HammerheadFistpunch
11/25/2014 at 15:35 |
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Ouch.
Stupidru
> The Ghost of Oppo
11/25/2014 at 15:36 |
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I have not had good luck with my 3 Stupidrus. It's just one thing after another that keeps going out at the most in opportune times.
-My Impreza is on its 4th set of head gaskets at 123k miles, and the oil pump bearing seized up causing my car to jump timing. $1118 paid just last week.
-My 09 Forester XT is showing signs of a main bearing failure. That will be at least $1800-$2300 to replace.
-My 06 LGT showed signs of ringland failure and I ditched that thing faster than a one-night stand who stays around for breakfast. It also chewed through wheel bearings and burned oil.
But yeah, aside from those issues they've been great cars.
Keep in mind if you go back from a VW, you will be disappointed about build quality. Things rattle, things squeak, things go bump, and things go boom. But you'll develop an ear and eventually tune it out; it's all part of owning a Subaru
Boxer_4
> The Ghost of Oppo
11/25/2014 at 15:42 |
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The EJ255 is pretty reliable. It seems like you have a good understanding already on the areas that need to be watched.
I'm not sure if you are including this in turbo maintenance, but the oil feed line banjo bolt should be replaced, or at least inspected, every so often. These can clog and block the oil feed to the turbo, which is the most common cause of turbo failure for the EJ255. The filter is there to try to prevent "coked" oil from circulating through the entire system, but the "coked" oil can eventually block the filter in the banjo bolt. "Coked" oil, of course, occurs when the engine is shut off before the turbo has a chance to cool properly. There are filtered banjo bolts used, but the oil feed bolt is the most critical.
The timing belt should be replaced every 105,000 miles or 105 months, which ever comes first.
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The Ghost of Oppo
> Stupidru
11/25/2014 at 15:47 |
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I actually learned to drive on a Second Gen Forester, the NA 2.5, so I am used to that. And with the terrible aftermarket head unit the previous owner installed, my GTI has plenty of squeaks.