Rally Dreams: 2005 Subaru Forester XT

The Subaru Forester was launched in 2007 as Subaru's first entry into the (then small, now large) segment known as the crossover SUV, but the Forester was a long way away from being an AMC Eagle. A few years later Subaru put a slightly detuned version of their 2.5 liter turbo motor from the legendary Impreza WRX STI and called this new model the Forester XT.  Today, as cheap used cars, they offer an interesting combination of off roadiness, boosted all-wheel-drive fun, and manual gearboxes that'll challenge all takers for a few grand. Find this 2005 Subaru Forester XT offered for $5000 in Atlanta, GA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Tommykaira Tuned: 1995 Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon

If you don't get the appeal for this next car, you've probably never played Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo racing series on Sony Playstation.  And that's fine, not everyone will appreciate this car...but for the diehard JDM lover who remembers the feeling of a numb thumb from hours of lapping Trial Mountain Circuit...yeah...you know who you are and you want this bad. Find this 1995 Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon offered for $11999 in Staten Island, NY via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Custom Wagon: 2007 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT

This next car comes as a tip from Jeff who writes: Never really been into the who Subaru thing, but this is super cool.  I have been was into the Subie thing...and it was something special -- all-wheel-drive grip mixed with a torquey turbo engine that farts out a raucous exhaust note as the tires scramble for grip.  This next car is offered for a price where you could get into a older Subaru STI...but if you are willing to live with the day-to-day realities of a custom/modified car...this could be your jam. Find this 2007 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT offered for $12,000 in Sacramento, CA via craigslist.

Flat 4 Powered 2+2: 2017 Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ /Toyota 86 /Scion FR-S was the fruit of an arrangement between Subaru and Toyota to produce a world class 2+2 sports car for the masses.  It offered an interesting combination of Subaru flat-4 power and Toyota mechanical bits...but was assembled at Subaru's Gunma plant in Japan.  Sales in the US market for the combined BRZ/GT86/FR-S were low with something like 10,000 in 2017...so used examples have been expensive, except for this next one that has a salvage title...but nobody else will know when you are carving up the apexes of your local track. Find this 2017 Subaru BRZ offered for $13,800 in San Jose, CA via craigslist. 

Little Lion: 1988 Subaru GL

Ask the average Joe what he knows about Subaru and he will probably talk about the new Forester or a variety of SUV-ish looking wagon-things that are designed to be lightly off-roaded and driven around the city.  Press a little more and Joe might talk about the sporty WRX or STI versions of the Impreza...but it is entirely likely that he is totally unaware of Subaru's interesting history of importing oddball economy cars into the US market starting in the 1960s with the Ladybug and continuing through the 80s with things like the GL. Find this 1988 Subaru GL offered for $3700 in Westchester, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Cheap Alcyone: 1992 Subaru SVX

I'm going to admit that I like strange features on cars...but if you read this website you probably share love of strange design elements.  Take half windows for instance, these are certainly less usable than a regular window, but it is a design feature shared exotics like the McLaren F1, Lamborghini Countach and DMC DeLorean....and it can be found in something as cheap as a used Subaru SVX. Yes, that is indeed a good thing. Find this 1992 Subaru SVX offered for $3700 in Eastville, CA via craigslist. Tip from Erik202.

Could Be Trendy: 1991 Subaru Justy

Random fact of the day: The 1990 Subaru Justy was the last car sold in the US to have a carburetor...but this is a 1991 Justy so it should have some kinda fancified fuel injection setup feeding the 3-cylinder lump under the hood (which conflicts with the seller's statement that the car needs a CA legal carb to pass smog...hmmm).  A 5-speed equipped Subaru Justy isn't a car that will get bidders fired up into a 6-figure frenzy at the next Barrett-Jackson live auction or get mad respect at a BaT auction, but it might put a smile on the face of an average Joe for a small pile 'o' cash. Find this 1991 Subaru Justy offered for $2100 in Oakland, CA via craigslist. Tip from Matt.

Grounded To The Ground: 2005 Subaru Legacy GT

This next car comes as tip from Jeff who writes: Nice long roof for the money! It does need a bit of work, but doesn't seem huge for the right person.  I like it because I like Subie wagons, but I think this one is too grounded to the ground for me...and the color is odd..but it is a wrap that could probably be removed exposing the original blue paint..which probably has flaking clearcoat and lots of scratches.  Maybe leave the wrap. Find this 2005 Subaru Legacy GT offered for $5400 in Ft Collins, CO via craigslist.

Manual Turbo Wagon: 2005 Subaru Forester XT

This next car comes as a tip from Art C who writes: If I had the cash I'd buy it myself. Looks realtively clean, little rust bubbling but should be an easy fix... 4.44 gears, pulls hard to 80+... fun DD that fits a ton of crap, very good in the snow. If compression and leakdown look good, with confirmation of work done this is a great buy! Shoot, I sold my '05 FXT  manual with 155K and a blown cylinder for $3500... They are rare and have a following.  Find this 2005 Subaru Forester XT offered for $4500 in Pawtucket, RI via craigslist.

SubieTurbo Madness: 2004 Subaru Forester XT

This next car won't win an beauty contest awards, but it sure will get you and a bunch of your junk from point A to point B with turbocharged 5-speed all-wheel-drive fury...and that is a rare thing in this world these days.  Find this 2004 Subaru Forester XT offered for $5500 in Jacksonville, FL via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Goes Like Flintstones: 1981 Subaru GLF

This next car is one of the few from a mass market automaker (Subaru, in this case) that elicits a "what?" response from even the most knowledgeable car nut.  The car in question is badged as a Subaru GLF...which elicits responses of "uhhhhh" from even astute Subaru-weenies...but the uber-savants will know this is a Leone also known as the Subaru GL, and with any luck that emblem on the front is one of the rare flip-out third headlight.  Good stuff! Find this 1981 Subaru GLF offered for $1850 via Portland, OR craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck,

Subaru Boxer Power: 1974 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle

The Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle is a famously cheap car to drive around...mostly because the engineering is simple, parts are cheap, and everything is fixable by a DIY mechanic.  Throw that all away with this next Beetle because it is powered by a watercooled Subaru 4-banger.  Find this 1974 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle offered for $7,500 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Flat-6 For The Flatbrimmer: 2006 Subaru Impreza H-6 Swap

This next car comes from tipper Art C who writes: I obviously love swapped cars... this one has a really clean looking swap, the flat 6 subys with exhausts sound amazing. Fun DD if you can figure out emissions. Find this 2006 Subaru Impreza H-6 Swap offered for $6,500 in Hartford, CT via craigslist.

Clutch Player: 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5 X Premium

The manual gearbox used to be the ultimate in performance...but dual clutch gearboxes and hypershifting automatics are faster in a straight line or at a track.  Regrettably the only thing a manual gearbox is better at now is driving the price of late model "normal" cars lower because most used car shoppers are looking for a slushbox. This is good news for those looking to shift their own gears. Find this 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5 X Premium offered for $6795 here on eBay buy-it-now located in Bohemia, NY

5-Speed Uticorn: 2005 Subaru Baja Turbo

Are you a fan of the utility of El Camino style 4-door car-based pickup trucks?  What about 5-speed equipped, turbo, all-wheel-drive versions? Down under they call them utes, but up here in right-side-up world we call them uticorns because they are all but non-existent -- and if it wasn't for a little Japanese company called Subaru, we wouldn't have them at all.  Find this 2005 Subaru Baja Turbo offered for $9,500 in Pittsburgh, PA via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

A WRX By Any Other Name: 2005 Saab 9-2X Aero

The Saab 9-2X (aka the Saabaru) tones down some of the boy racer Japanime styling of the Subaru Impreza WRX, but keeps the neck-snapping turbocharged 2 liter flat-4 and asphalt-gripping all-wheel-drive.  Saab sold a few more than 10,000 examples of the odd little wagon and this next one is high mile example, but cheap. Time to lift it a few inches, add some mud tires, exo-skeleton, and skid plate for the ultimate Saabajaru.  Find this 2005 Saab 9-2X Aero offered for $4,400 in Fremont, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Louver Lovers Unite: 1988 Subaru XT6

This next car checks a few boxes that aren't easy to check -- first it has a cool boxy look that was only in vogue for a few years in the 80s and second it has louvers that are so awesome I can't even explain it. Find this 1988 Subaru XT6 offered for $6,500 in Montclair, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

STi Light: 2004 Subaru Forester XT

It's dirty and it's ugly, but it is ready for a rallycross event or a nasty SF Bay area commute.  The second generation Subaru Forester was released for the US market in 2004 with an available turbocharged model called the XT that produced 210 horsepower from a 2.5 liter flat-4 that was based on the STi powerplant.  This next example won't win any concours events, but it'll be perfect to taking the dogs to the park or kids to school AND hitting some dirt on the way home. Find this 2004 Subaru Forester XT offered for $6,500 in Milpitas, CA via craigslist.