Used 2003 Subaru Forester Consumer Reviews
Used Forester for sale
2003 Forester 2.5X
ace57, 06/13/2002
2003 Subaru Forester X AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Bought an '03 soob forester X for my wife. So far very happy (only 700 miles) Build quality and fit/finish very good. Handling excellent. Interior not plush but firm/supportive. Base CD player fine. Room pretty decent for a basically subcompact frame. Visibility excellent. Controls easy to operate, wiper stick a little complicated LOL. Exterior looks are sharp, IMO, better looking than previous generation. Wind noise acceptable, dB at idle,low. Auto tranny shifts smoothly. Ride decent for a 99 inch wheelbase. 16 inch wheels excellent. So far, awesome little crossover vehicle, well, its really a little wagon on steroids....
Rock solid vehicle. Never a complaint or problem.
Steve Wohl, 05/19/2018
2003 Subaru Forester X AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This was/is a rock solid vehicle. Used for several years as wife's "town" car. Then it spent a few years touring Arizona including some off road/back road use by husband. Never a problem or a challenge it couldn't overcome. Still rock solid when sold to cut down on the stable.
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2003 Subaru Forester for sale near you
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- XS Wagon w/Premium Leather PackageMSRP: $4,45020 mi away
- X WagonMSRP: $6,491242 mi away
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Falling apart
Gerterschnitz, 07/24/2010
2003 Subaru Forester XS AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
We bought this car new in 2002. It was fine for the first few years. It's been well maintained. However, in the past 2 years we have replaced sway bars twice; sway bar links need replacing; heater blower fan just died; several engine gaskets are seeping. The car is simply not built for much other than smooth highway driving. It's also noisy - and was right from the get-go. I would not buy again.
piston slapping Subarus
Phil Mag, 09/01/2006
2003 Subaru Forester XS AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
My Forester has the 2.5 engine that has developed the infamous PISTON SLAP which makes it sound like an old uncared for car. We service per the manual, so it IS cared for. It sounds like loud lifter noise and it doesn't go away when warm. The dealer, after several visits, says it is just normal. Guess what car I will NOT buy next time. & I'm telling everyone I know.
Be Careful with this one
..., 06/16/2008
2003 Subaru Forester X AWD 4dr Wagon (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I thought this car would be a great buy and at first it was. I love the way it handles, acceleration is good, gas mileage is fair. Now after owning it for not even two years, and still paying the sucker off I have not one but two count 'em two bad head gaskets, $1600 to fix, and it is a common problem. Just check msn autos reliability raitings. Bad head gaskets, it's what makes a Subaru a Subaru. Do not buy!