Hi all,

As above i am thinking of getting a second gen Forester XT as a daily and mountain bike taxi.

Love my Hawk spec D but useless for bikes and dont really want to leave it in a forest car park all day either!

could I get by with an X or are they ridiculously slow/ under powered.

What are peoples thoughts?

 

It'll be slow compared to a spec d, but they're good tough awd cars and perfect for bike duties. I don't know what kind of budget you've got but this version always appealed:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152489059495

 

That is seriously nice looking. My budget at the moment is 3 grand and preferably the right side of 06 if you get what I mean as my hawk is the wrong side and i dont think i could live with paying a grand a year in tax

 

Dont take thus as gospel, but don't JDM'S get a reduced rate of tax?

 

£230 for my Foggy 2.5 STi when I had it

 

I am assuming that they are fairly reliable cars and subject more or less to the same sort of maintenance as an STi 2.5 lump?

 

The 2.0 XTs are WRX's with a different body and a softer cam. They'd probably be a better buy than a later 2.5 with your budget.

 

Thats a good shout actually buddy

Can anyone report back on how they drive, most online reviews suggest that they are decent?

 

Like a slightly heavier, softer WRX.

 

I've seen people tracking fsti's. I don't know how different the chassis/suspension and set up are but it would suggest that they can be made to handle.

 

I have a 54 plate XT as a daily. Its nippy at circa 180bhp but not the same acceleration as even a WRX, its a smaller turbo than even a TD04. Parts are inter-changeable with Imprezas of the same years so i have STI exhaust manifold/up-pipe, 4 pot front calipers, STI Impreza suspension.

Fuel consumption is not great, i'd say its no different from an Impreza WRX if i'm honest. Although i can run it on standard unleaded.

It is however big, has heated seats, sunroof, aircon etc and is practical.

I paid £6k for a UK XT with 40k on the clock, full history etc about a year ago

 

The mechanicals underneath are as near as damn it an Impreza STi, so no real surprise there.

As said the 2.0 XT is basically a WRX with a different body. Engine has softer cam and slightly different turbo. Good for maybe 270bhp following the usual WRX tuning routes.

 

So that's settled then. You should definitely get one.

 

My daily XT and my Type R

 

...and yes the type R has a flat front tyre :/

 

Dont worry, I badly want one and will continue my search especially after seeing the one posted above

I was surprised to see so many automatic ones around it never really dawned on me that they would be popular, not a route I want to go however, In would imagine the fuel economy is even worse then!