Gidday Randy
This looks like it could be good. 4EAT Auto (note that this is NOT the sports auto - so drive it like an auto, not like a manual ... ). 148K kms. $11,990. Dealer (they take trade-ins, so no need to get a roadworthy on your existing car if trading it). 12 months RACV "guarantee". Good colour ... Looks to be a pretty clean unit.
I always grovel under any car I'm looking at buying. Run all the body seams with my fingers looking for repair work. I also look for any sign of oil leaks from diff and gearbox, CV joints, etc. Look for damage/deformation of the floor pan and underneath generally.
Carefully examine the paintwork on all panels, looking for slight colour differences that might indicate an accident.
Check the colour of the light covers, they should all look the same. If one is "lighter and brighter" than the others, it indicates that it is new, and possibly the result of an accident.
Check the spare wheel and tyre, and then remove it from the wheel well and check for rust or water entry.
The advert states "2 airbags". It looks to me to be a "Luxury Pack" model, so look for the warning labels on the outside rear sides of the front seats for an air bag warning - "SRS Air bag" label sewn into the seat cover. The warning may be moulded into the centre pillar trim, I'm not sure. Some luxury pack models came with side air bags as well. A nice extra, if fitted.
It does not appear to have a tow bar, which may or may not be important to you.
Note all the extras - aero roof bars, deep dish cargo protector, rear bumper protector, side, door and corner body protection strips - these are surprisingly expensive items. That crappy piece of plastic that protects the rear bumper retails for about $180!
https://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Subaru-Forester-2004/AGC-AD-14190024/?Cr=4&sdmvc=1
With both of ours, the dealers patently did not know what they had, and how much extra they could have charged (at least another grand each, perhaps a bit more). They didn't even bother to read the paperwork that came with both cars! This is one way of picking up a good deal, paying the same price as you would for a far lesser equipped model.
With the SH, the salesman only realised what a gem he was selling, and how many expensive extras it had when the deal was done and he was filling in the contract forms from the car's paper work! He said "Oh well, too late now!" ... :iconwink:.
We paid a fairly high price for the SH, but I was expecting to pay the same amount for a previous year's model, with about 35,000 kms more on the clock. And I was expecting to pay that price for a car without the tow bar, cargo protector, rear bumper protector strip, cargo barrier mounts, genuine OEM floor mats, and without locking aero roof bars. Were we happy? Yup ... :iconwink:.
I also cannot tell you how much comfort it gives me that both cars were delivered directly to their single owners by pre-order. Regardless of how they have been driven or treated by that owner, at least they haven't been driven by every second person and their dog, as a demo model has been. The first 1,000 kms are the most important in a car's life. But that's a long story for elsewhere ...
:lol:.
to the ORS forum, mate.
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:ebiggrin:
:biggrin: :lol:.