RE: Turbo Forester is back, officially

[davidf4]

Lay off critising the looks of the older Foresters.
They might have looked boxy with low key styling, but that is the appeal to me. They have a nice simple and practical, but still purposeful appearence and are very hard wearing.

I have a 2002 model, not a turbo, but I still love its looks and handling (thirsty b*gger though).

The new ones (and a great percentage of all other new cars on sale for that matter) look like a dog's harris though.

Edited by davidf4 on Tuesday 27th November 12:59

[TEKNOPUG]

GC8 said:

Expect 18mpg.

18? is it not possible to drive it off boost? Makes Cayenne seem frugal.

[Coolbanana]

It's such a shame that they look dreadful. But then, I find 99.9% of Estate cars look hideous too and this isn't far removed; great for Funeral homes possibly but not for me sadly as I really like the on-road performance they offer combined with soft off-road.

[MikeyLCR]

Loving the FSti mines the same colour as that one at the top with no badges on the back and the Litchfield performance pack, it does tend to startle people a bit, not as bad as I was expecting on the juice either, 22-23 mpg overall.

Don't like the looks of the new ones at all though, if I should ever decide to sell this I can't really see anything that would be a suitable replacement, second hand RS4 perhaps.

[jr502]

TEKNOPUG said:

18? is it not possible to drive it off boost? Makes Cayenne seem frugal.

My '97 import averages 25-27, have got 31 on a run (taking it easy).

[markCSC]

Love my Fozzy


also does 27mpg on average

[The Wookie]

Bloody CVT, why do they do it??

[GC8]

TEKNOPUG said:

GC8 said:

Expect 18mpg.

18? is it not possible to drive it off boost? Makes Cayenne seem frugal.

It depends on the turbo, with the larger turbos easier to drive in that manner. If you have a TD04 equipped car, then as with similar Imprezas, its had to keep off boost because the small turbo spools up so quickly.

Another unexpected Impreza/Forester quirk is that the normally aspirated models are terrible on fuel too, so you might as well buy a turbo, get a sh*tty petrol mileage, but have a smile on your face!

24mpg is probably the very best that you can hope for with regular driving. Ive owned quite a few Imprezas and managed to achieve this whilst friends have seen 18mpg from similar vehicles, but 18mpg is more likely, I think. I have to add, that this applies to first and second generation models only (SF & SG) as I know nothing about the latest model at all. I suspect that its these which will interest most people though, the second generation SG model particularly.

[RB Will]

My Dad's 07 xten (with PPP) will do 25-28mpg.
Its on nearly 90,000 miles now and has only had one problem that was a wheel bearing gone about a month ago but you kinda have to expect stuff to be wearing out after 5 years.

[trashbat]

This must be a candidate for worst looking recently available car, not far after that Rodius thing.

The old ones aren't anything to write home about aesthetically but they don't look too bad.

Edited by trashbat on Tuesday 27th November 13:26

[GC8]

New?

[Jayinjapan]

Over here, I am seriously tempted by this, soooo cheap,what could possibly go wrong?

http://www.goo-net.com/usedcar/spread/goo/15/70002...

Actually, if anybody knows, could you tell me as I know nothing about them?

[urquattro]

I liked the Forester, thought a good design/mechanical combination, better than my RS2 re bad conditions, but can match the low flying old Audi 80 when it really on boost, interesting price comparisons - around £13k for each now.

[LukeyLikey]

GC8 said:

FHI/Subaru arent to blame for the range that we see here - there are plenty of exciting JDM models. The blame lays squarely with International Motors who are the concessionaires; they specify the models imported, the specs (remember tweed trim and headrests on early UK Turbo 2000s compared to the sports seats and trim on JDM cars?) and set the prices.

As soon as the Impreza turned into a success, despite IMs incompetence, then IM immediately started to profiteer from the restricted supply and great demand (2.0l Sport being a case in point, although there are many).

Theyre completely inept.

Edited by GC8 on Tuesday 27th November 12:13

I'm not sure what your problem is with the importer but you are wrong on many levels. Importers have very little say on the structure of model ranges. Usually, importers who want to profiteer offer very small model ranges. When you look at the Subaru range over the years, it has always been very big - expensive for the importer but better choice for the customer.

As for the Japanese market specials, most of those cars are actually illegal for an official importer to introduce due to emissions and type approval legislation. Due to a loophole in the law, a 'grey' importer, who has much less intention and ability to meet warranty obligations, can type approve these vehicles on a 'single unit' basis and sell them. The industry has long complained about it because the playing field is not level and grey imports often rely on the goodwill of the official importer and dealer network when things (inevitably) go wrong.

All these importers make repeated requests to be supplied the same products as grey importers, properly engineered for the destination market (think about it, why wouldn't they? - None of them are in the business of not selling cars) and are consistently refused. Manufacturers are never happy that unofficial product finds its way into overseas territories but they struggle to control their dealers in the local market, who usually supply if asked.

Nothing to do with inept importers. As further proof, the UK importer was responsible for the P1, which they developed with ProDrive at great expense. Without either company the best ever Impreza would never have happened.

[beergibbon]

Sshhhhhhh Pistonheads, don't tell everyone about the FSTI or my car won't be a sleeper any more! A new exhaust and remap and I have 340bhp / 360lb ft, which is more than enough. Removed the horrible pink stickers from the front though.

[GC8]

LukeyLikey said:

GC8 said:

FHI/Subaru arent to blame for the range that we see here - there are plenty of exciting JDM models. The blame lays squarely with International Motors who are the concessionaires; they specify the models imported, the specs (remember tweed trim and headrests on early UK Turbo 2000s compared to the sports seats and trim on JDM cars?) and set the prices.

As soon as the Impreza turned into a success, despite IMs incompetence, then IM immediately started to profiteer from the restricted supply and great demand (2.0l Sport being a case in point, although there are many).

Theyre completely inept.

Edited by GC8 on Tuesday 27th November 12:13

I'm not sure what your problem is with the importer but you are wrong on many levels. Importers have very little say on the structure of model ranges. Usually, importers who want to profiteer offer very small model ranges. When you look at the Subaru range over the years, it has always been very big - expensive for the importer but better choice for the customer.

As for the Japanese market specials, most of those cars are actually illegal for an official importer to introduce due to emissions and type approval legislation. Due to a loophole in the law, a 'grey' importer, who has much less intention and ability to meet warranty obligations, can type approve these vehicles on a 'single unit' basis and sell them. The industry has long complained about it because the playing field is not level and grey imports often rely on the goodwill of the official importer and dealer network when things (inevitably) go wrong.

All these importers make repeated requests to be supplied the same products as grey importers, properly engineered for the destination market (think about it, why wouldn't they? - None of them are in the business of not selling cars) and are consistently refused. Manufacturers are never happy that unofficial product finds its way into overseas territories but they struggle to control their dealers in the local market, who usually supply if asked.

Nothing to do with inept importers. As further proof, the UK importer was responsible for the P1, which they developed with ProDrive at great expense. Without either company the best ever Impreza would never have happened.

Im not going to argue with you, but from your location I do wonder whether you work for IM? The specific examples that I have given were used because they were IMs choice.

My username should be a clue, but I am, or was, extremely enthusiastic about Imprezas - the P1 certainy wasnt the 'best ever' Impreza and it wasnt the best ever GC8 either.

[paulbranston]

Then there are the ones fitted with the Prodrive Performance Pack such as can be found in my garage: 260BHP; now that's a sleeper

[Pique]

I check the classifieds daily for a sensibly priced FSti - most seem to be horrendously overpriced or sheds though!

[tommy vercetti]

Always have liked the hot versions of the Forester.

[TORQ]

The Wookie said:

Bloody CVT, why do they do it??

No idea!

Fitting a transmission with rubber bands and expecting it to last is laughable.

It will go wrong. It will cost a fortune to fix.

Why do Subaru insist on slowly, painfully committing corporate suicide?