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I have now decided the outback isnt for me and i now want a forester GT. IS thier anying i should look out for? E.g the outbacks had head gasket problems.

Is a 1998 GT worth is compaed to a newer 2.5L? What would you recomend?

Also what are these things like on and off road and particulay on the beach. Does the manual have a decent low range?


Anyother user expenances would be great!

I don't think any turbo Subaru's with manual gearboxes have low range.

Ok i have now test driven the GT and liked it. It has 150000km on the clock. are these high kms a problem? Will the GT make 200 000 with no problems? How many kms can these cars do before they let go?

Do you think $17,500 for a 1998 GT forester with 150 000km, full service history 1 owner good tries and body is a good price?

And on the beach would the GT still go alright?

Not a problem on the beach, then again show me a Suby that is bad on the beach. As mentioned already none of the EJ turbos had a low range. Not that if time and money say you cant put one in there. It will make 200000kms no worries but the recomended service interval for Turbo cam belts is only 50000kms. As for the money go to redbook .com .au to find out what the going rate is.

Ok i have now decided to buy the GT and i am getting an RAA check done just to be sure and i will make sure i tell them to check the timing belt, im hoping its been done! It was a shame the GT's didnt have Low range and cruse control.

So in a few day time its good bye ford falcon and hello GT!

Good choice!

The GTs are a good car. Keep up the servicing and you will get many more kms out of it.

I know a guy in Sydney that has one - leased it and when the lease was finished bought it. He does alot of kms and last time I spoke with him (xmas) he had done 265,000 km in it. He drives his cars pretty hard, but (over) services them regularly. Most of his kms are country driving due to his job.

I hope our XT with the 2.5 170 kw turbo motor gives us just as much reliable motoring as his. I intend keeping it for at least 10 years.

Suby Wan Kenobi wrote:but the recomended service interval for Turbo cam belts is only 50000kms.

Since what year? 100,000 on an RS lib.

seacliff wrote:I have now decided the outback isnt for me and i now want a forester GT.

What was it that you made you change your mind?

What sold the GT for me was the better performance, clearance. But somthing i didnt find so great, No crusie control, No low range!, Less options that the Outback had.

But i love the turbo feeling, ive never driven a turbo until now and loved it!
at the end of the day it was a hard choice and i hope i have made the right one!

All the jap ones that we get in all have the timing belt down as to be done every 50000kms, i do know of the 100000kms Oz setup in the RS, and as the non turbo single cams with shorter belts are down as 100000kms it sounded about right. But in all honesty when you take a belt out that has only done 50000kms they look like new with a slight fade in the line markings.

Suby Wan Kenobi wrote:All the jap ones that we get in all have the timing belt down as to be done every 50000kms

Interesting. Your right about the marks though. I had mine off at 80,000 and you could just make out the marks.

I would rather do a timing belt more often and not have to replace the valves if one let go when being made angry. I was lucky with my TT engine in my last Liberty in that the timing belt looked ok but the tensioner was siezed so when it was given hell the first time it only jumped a tooth and therefore i didnt have a problem with my valves. Others have not been so lucky.

I spose im once warned and i listen harder.

Yes. Every early model hydraulic tensioner I have pulled off has leaked so much they need replacing.