At $15,000, Is This ‘Fully Stock’ 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT Worth Stalking?

With Subaru debuting a new Forester at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, it’s a good time to look back on a far less fancy Forester. Today’s Nice Price or No Dice 2.5XT is said to be all-stock. Let’s see if its price tag could stand some customization.

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“Busted-Ass” is not how we might describe yesterday’s 2010 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport pickup, despite the fact that it, indeed, in fact, did have a busted ass. That dented tailgate was one of the issues noted in the comments that made the truck’s $15,250 price tag feel like a bit too much of a flex. In the end, that turned into a 65 percent No Dice loss.

As much utility as a 4WD extended cab pickup offers, some people are better served by something a little less brawny and a good bit more enclosed. That generally means a wagon, whether of the SUV/crossover persuasion or of the more traditional station wagon variety.

Today’s 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5XT straddles those lines and offers both a turbocharged engine and a five-speed manual gearbox along with that chameleon-like nature. And to top it off, this clean title wagon is kind of brown. Can I get an amen?

The seller describes the Forester as being “Fully Stock,” and aside from the cat-back exhaust that has been added, it certainly appears to fulfill that claim. To further validate the seller’s assertion, the ad says a new OEM exhaust will be included in the sale.

Full disclosure seems to be a hallmark of the present owner as they provide a good bit of info about the car, both in the description and in pictures. In the latter, we see one small ding in the front bumper, something that seems to be the only noticeable flaw in the bodywork. The pictures also provide an idea of all the records that come with the car, right down to its original Monroney window sticker — 20 city, 26 hwy.

Those records include pages upon pages of documented maintenance that show that the car has been properly serviced over the course of its life and three owner existence. The pictures also show us an engine bay and interior that look to be remarkably clean and without any obvious issues.

As noted by the 2.5XT badging on the butt, this Subie is powered by a turbocharged DOHC flat four of 2457cc displacement. Being so low in the engine bay means that the intercooler could be fitted on top, making this car’s hood scoop functional, unlike the faker on yesterday’s Toyota. In this model year, that turbo’d and intercooled 2.5 EJ25D made 230 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque, healthy numbers both. Here, that’s mated to the standard-equipment five-speed manual and there-when-you-need-it AWD.

According to the description in the ad, the engine enjoyed a new timing belt in 2017 and, in total, has powered the car through 168,000 miles. Minor surface rust on the undercarriage is noted, but the overall the ad says the car is in “too good of a condition.”

The only fly in this Forester’s ointment appears to be a non-functioning moonroof that luckily failed in the closed position. The seller has replaced the car’s battery, which likely wouldn’t have been the issue, but says they have otherwise not addressed the problem directly. The purchase of another AWD car is given as the reason for the sale and is probably also why little effort has gone into that recalcitrant moonroof. The asking price for the car is $15,000.

OK, now, before you get all fizzy about that price, consider just what we have here. This is a compact, parkable wagon with a fairly hot motor, a manual gearbox, AWD, and it’s sorta brown. This is a car that really ticks a lot of boxes. Does it, however, check the good value box?

What do you think? Does this seemingly clean and well-optioned Forester seem worth that $15,000 asking? Or do the miles and years outweigh the paperwork and the kit?

You decide!

Delaware Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.

H/T to Bill Rice for the hookup!

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