Potential new Subi owner looking for advice

[Xjrockeater]

Hey Ya'll- new to the forum and looking to you guys for some advice, input, direction and knowledge. So here it goes, my family and I are moving to Japan (Okinawa to be specific) and for obvious reasons will need a ride. Never owning anything outside of full size GM trucks, I'm slightly naive to say the least to the import tuner world... No offense intended.

Looking at various vehicles available to us, I have narrowed it down to 2 different Subaru's and am hoping y'all can tell be the good bad and indifferent between the two to help me decide which one.

First is a 2001 Forester S/tb STI (j-spec) and here is a break down from the owner
-- Very quick, AWD, AT, non-smoker, no pets
- JCI due June 2014, Road Tax paid
- Great for hauling dive gear (will include some foam tank holders with purchase)
- Great Condition only minor paint scratches but what car on Oki doesn't?
- Replaced radiator, NOX sensor, and right wheel bearing when I bought the car last November. Absolutely no issues since
- Installed HID headlights and a new air filter
- 116,000km (approximately 72K miles)
- Available towards the end of November will hold with a deposit
- You won't find too many of these on-island!

Second is a 2001 Legacy Blitzen edition (j-spec) and again here is a break down from the owner
-2001 red Blitzen edition. JCI June 2014. The car has glossy paint and is in great mechanical condition. Brand new battery and fresh oil change. 11Xxxx k odometer reading. There is a crack in the middle of the front bumper. I only noticed when I put it on the lift to change the oil last week. I have an aftermarket head unit in the car for iPod hook up purposes, but I still also have the radio the car came with. Please contact me anytime


So again blow it up on what the differences between the 2 are, the good the bad the indifferent.

The only thing I know is that it appears the forester has been very well cared for and most likely older adult owned so not flogged on the streets...

I will look into attaching a pic of each for you all to criticize or admire...

[Xjrockeater]

Link to forester ad
http://okinawa.bookoo.com/i/40394553

Link to legacy ad
http://okinawa.bookoo.com/i/40476573

[Garrison]

Well, for starters the forester is turbo, the legacy is (i believe) N/a
the forester seats 4, the legacy -should- seat 5
Legacy looks like it has a sport shifter (manu-matic)

That's all I know from the top of my head, but we have plenty of members in here much better versed in this dept. that'll chime in when they see this. They'll be able to give the engine specifics and such.

If it were up to me, I'd take the forester.

[rkrenicki]

They both should be 2.0liter Twin Turbos. The S/tb may have a different (better?) tune, but I believe they are the same engine.

The Blitzen is basically a Legacy GT-B with a body kit. That Blitzen says it only has 11,000km on it, where the S/tb says 116,000km.

If they were the same price, I would probably do the Blizten, but then again I am biased towards Legacies, as most people on this forum will probably be.

[Xjrockeater]

That Blitzen says it only has 11,000km on it

Was able to get information that the Blitzen has ALOT more miles then the 11k and actually has 114k. The poster made a type - O when writing his ad.

What are of any mechanical (motor trans brakes) and performance (suspension steering tuning) is different between the two rides.

From what I can tell, the blitzen has probably been owned by a younger single person and probably drivin as such where as the Forester has been owned by an older individual that has taken very good care of the car.

Keep in mind, This car is going to be my wife's car and primary family vehicle (we have two small children still in car seats) as well as used to haul camping gear, fishing gear and my three large meat head dogs...

[Asphalt Art]

I want that Blitzen center garnish something bad for making a mold.

Go with what you like when you see them though. People have a tendency to omit things when trying to impress a potential buyer. I personally couldn't tolerate an automatic so I choose neither of them myself.

[Xjrockeater]

I want that Blitzen center garnish something bad for making a mold.

Let me know what you are looking for and I'll see if I can find one once I get to the island


Go with what you like when you see them though. People have a tendency to omit things when trying to impress a potential buyer.

Sadly I don't have the opera unity to see both as I am still in the US and need to arrange transportation before I get there.


I personally couldn't tolerate an automatic so I choose neither of them myself.


I completely agree with that, however in Okinawa there and not many cars that have manuals. Even a lot f the more performance oriented cars to include STI WRX's have auto's


I think I am going to go with the Forester as it has more service records available to include a well known and reputable mechanic that knows the car over the Blitzen which I could only ascertain that after sitting for a month it needed a new radiator and t-stat which was scavenged from a parts yard and is in need of brakes.

[Muse]

Though the Blitzen wagon (I had no idea they even made one) looks gorgeous, I have to say your logic for getting the Fozz is the right way to go.

[Xjrockeater]

Though the Blitzen wagon (I had no idea they even made one) looks gorgeous, I have to say your logic for getting the Fozz is the right way to go.

I do like the looks of the Blitzen, but I have to over look my desire for looks and go with practicality and reliability for my family. Not that the Forester is a bad looking car, actually I kinda like its odd lines and bold in your face boxy approach to its existence...

"Fozz"??? Inform me please

[thenines']

Though the Blitzen wagon (I had no idea they even made one) looks gorgeous, I have to say your logic for getting the Fozz is the right way to go.

I do like the looks of the Blitzen, but I have to over look my desire for looks and go with practicality and reliability for my family. Not that the Forester is a bad looking car, actually I kinda like its odd lines and bold in your face boxy approach to its existence...

"Fozz"??? Inform me please
It's the acronym for Forester :smile:

[Muse]

Fozz, Fozzie, both short ways to say Forester. Not an acronym, though, I think. Euphemism, perhaps. Or nickname.