03 era Forester Feedback

[Edward Hayes]

I think the 03 was a very good year. My 2000 Forester with 108,000
miles has had no problems. The problems you spoke of were with the
phase 1 engines (1996?-1999) and the HG & wheel bearing issues were
not wide spread. If your looking to get a price go to www.edmunds.com
and find the retail, wholesale & privet seller prices.

 

[Jim Stewart]

I'm looking at baying a co-workers 03 Forester. He bought it new and
it has 25K on it now. Haven't talked price yet. A few questions,

- what's it worth? It's the xs model or whatever the top of the line
is. About the only thing it doesn't have is the sun roof and leather.
-

Check edmunds, kelly bluebook and craigslist in your area.

- In reading some reviews it seems like a lot of people mention it
being a somewhat noisy vehicle, esp at 80 mph where supposedly the
wind noise gets really bad. Any feedback on the noise of this thing?

Take a test drive and decide for yourself.

- It doesn't seem that power seats were available in 03. How hard to
adjust are these non power up/down seats and how comfortable are they?

Take a test drive and decide for yourself.

- I also see a lot of posts about blown head gaskets, surging,
expensive routine maintenance, bad wheel bearings, overheating and on
and on. It leaves me wondering how they got a reputation for
reliability.

Haven't heard many beefs about the '03's.

My personal experience ('99 OB, 127k miles,
04' WRX, 27k miles, '98 Imprezza, 150k miles)
is that they require almost no maintainance
besides what's on the factory schedule.

 

[Ashton Crusher]

I'm looking at baying a co-workers 03 Forester. He bought it new and
it has 25K on it now. Haven't talked price yet. A few questions,

- what's it worth? It's the xs model or whatever the top of the line
is. About the only thing it doesn't have is the sun roof and leather.
-

- In reading some reviews it seems like a lot of people mention it
being a somewhat noisy vehicle, esp at 80 mph where supposedly the
wind noise gets really bad. Any feedback on the noise of this thing?

- It doesn't seem that power seats were available in 03. How hard to
adjust are these non power up/down seats and how comfortable are they?

- I also see a lot of posts about blown head gaskets, surging,
expensive routine maintenance, bad wheel bearings, overheating and on
and on. It leaves me wondering how they got a reputation for
reliability.