I would charge the battery first I have a Chevy the battery will die down on if I don't drive it for a week or more So I bought a battery maintainer to keep it hook to It's a real lite charger Kinda sucks having a cord run to it but it works for me
Don't know what they are like to today My son had a 2011 Forester It was a bucket of bolts one thing after another Blown head gasket at less then a 100000 sold it to carvana so no one would have to come look at iy
Just my thoughts A good wash (scrubbing) then some kind of mild buffing compound The reason I said mild I used rubbing compound on a old chevy truck I had and it started to take the clear coat off
Marietta Transmission did us right about 7 yrs ago charged us about $1500 don't remember the exact amount to R&R and rebuild a trans in a 05 Ford Escape