RE: SOTW: Subaru Forester turbo

[caraddict]

Fleetwood said:

Nice. And I hate you.

Really envy you guys with RHD STI's... Wish they made them i LHD too!

[itsrodders]

Have owned 2 1800 estates, 2 pickups and a Legacy estate over the years, astoundingly capable motors. Road rubber will get you surprisingly far in iffy conditions (fond memories of trading at glastonbury in 2005, pulling a twin-wheel 10' box trailer full of stock through the waist-high oomscah with the Legacy).

The addition of nobblies - to the pickups, at least - meant I never, ever, ever got stuck, even with a trailer full of sheep on a steep hillside in a couple of feet of snow. The 84 hasn't been near a testing station for six or seven years (no point), yet continues to give sterling service in all conditions. Chuffing brilliant.

great shed.

[marshall100]

I must admit, the temptation to start modding my forester is overwhelming....

but not until that cam belts been changed

[fildigger]

Mighty machines with excellent oily bits and the best All Wheel Drive platform you can get!...What's not to like about owning a Subaru?

About time somebody famous said "You aint a Petrolhead until you've owned a Subaru"

[GC8]

itsrodders said:

Have owned 2 1800 estates, 2 pickups and a Legacy estate over the years, astoundingly capable motors. Road rubber will get you surprisingly far in iffy conditions (fond memories of trading at glastonbury in 2005, pulling a twin-wheel 10' box trailer full of stock through the waist-high oomscah with the Legacy).

The addition of nobblies - to the pickups, at least - meant I never, ever, ever got stuck, even with a trailer full of sheep on a steep hillside in a couple of feet of snow. The 84 hasn't been near a testing station for six or seven years (no point), yet continues to give sterling service in all conditions. Chuffing brilliant.

great shed.

I love Subaru. 2007 would have had you looking for a tow, though...

[K50 DEL]

rallycross said:

this clip is Forrester sideways - on gravel, tarmac or snow. driven by a loonie.
impressive though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfpr6vYZ_U0

He really can peddle that thing can't he!!

Should remember to ensure his thumbs aren't resting on the inside of the wheel rim though... that can get painful very quickly.

[RichardR]

nosuchuser said:

They're very popular in the States - but that's mainly because many US buyers think it's a Scandinavian brand.

That'll be the Saabaru!

[GC8]

That monstrosity (it was an Impreza New Age WRX 'Wagon, for those who dont know, which had a Saab style external body make-over on the front panels and was sold as a Saab to Merkins) will only have added to their confusion!

[markCSC]

GC8 said:

That monstrosity (it was an Impreza New Age WRX 'Wagon, for those who dont know, which had a Saab style external body make-over on the front panels and was sold as a Saab to Merkins) will only have added to their confusion!

The X2


I rather like it

[MC Bodge]

Here's another US-market Subaru oddity for you, the Baja:

[ScoobieWRX]

I quite like the Baja. Subaru Brats are cool too in a retro way

[Tribal Chestnut]

martyn b said:

enjoyed my Forester, but couldn't live with it because I was too tall for comfort in the space available for the driver, just couldn't push the seat back far enough.

How tall is too tall? Looked at a few ads for these last week. I'm not massively lanky, just a bit above average, but comments like this worry me...

Maybe I should stick to looking at the Legacy....

[Zead]

Fozzi's rock indeed. My turbo opened the door of 140K miles on a '99 V. and is a gem. Previous owner FSH to 130K and filled the service book! I use it as a work horse, plaything in the snow, and kid taxi when the wife's car is in dock. Keep it sparkling inside and out, which is tricky after a weeks plastering! I'd like to update it but with what? Ok it does 20mpg at best but to get something fuel efficient will cost me so much more than putting extra petrol in. I'd stick a picture up if anyone cares to see it. Z

[marshall100]

Zead said:

Fozzi's rock indeed. My turbo opened the door of 140K miles on a '99 V. and is a gem. Previous owner FSH to 130K and filled the service book! I use it as a work horse, plaything in the snow, and kid taxi when the wife's car is in dock. Keep it sparkling inside and out, which is tricky after a weeks plastering! I'd like to update it but with what? Ok it does 20mpg at best but to get something fuel efficient will cost me so much more than putting extra petrol in. I'd stick a picture up if anyone cares to see it. Z

I think the only thing that compares now is the Skoda Yeti. However after my last run in with a 4wd skoda I wouldn't go there in a million years.

I honestly need a van to move mine and my boys quad about, however I just can't bring myself to move the forester on. Such a workhorse and when it did snow I was fully mobile, and warm to boot. I may just get a decent lockable box trailer and keep using it.

[markCSC]

Tribal Chestnut said:

martyn b said:

enjoyed my Forester, but couldn't live with it because I was too tall for comfort in the space available for the driver, just couldn't push the seat back far enough.

How tall is too tall? Looked at a few ads for these last week. I'm not massively lanky, just a bit above average, but comments like this worry me...

Maybe I should stick to looking at the Legacy....

I'm 6'2" and 34" leg and I have no problems.

[caraddict]

marshall100 said:

Zead said:

Fozzi's rock indeed. My turbo opened the door of 140K miles on a '99 V. and is a gem. Previous owner FSH to 130K and filled the service book! I use it as a work horse, plaything in the snow, and kid taxi when the wife's car is in dock. Keep it sparkling inside and out, which is tricky after a weeks plastering! I'd like to update it but with what? Ok it does 20mpg at best but to get something fuel efficient will cost me so much more than putting extra petrol in. I'd stick a picture up if anyone cares to see it. Z

I think the only thing that compares now is the Skoda Yeti. However after my last run in with a 4wd skoda I wouldn't go there in a million years.

I honestly need a van to move mine and my boys quad about, however I just can't bring myself to move the forester on. Such a workhorse and when it did snow I was fully mobile, and warm to boot. I may just get a decent lockable box trailer and keep using it.

I am sharing the same kind of thoughts. What comes after the Forester Turbo? No real competition is it... Only car think I can think of the Cayenne GTS (because it can, although very rare, be had with a manual). But that thing weighs a half ton more and is much bigger. Not to mention tens of times more expensive to buy, maintain and fuel.

That's part of the reason why I want a mint (old fart driven) '04 XT, and keep it "forever". Heard that the 2.5 l. '05+ models aren't as much fun.

[marshall100]

I'd question the porka's ability to pull itself out of a muddy field though. The forester is old school. Perm 4WD, not massively servo'ed abs, no traction control, it works because it's simple.

That's what I think anyway.

[Zead]

Ha, a Yeti has got my attention, but it would need to be a fully loaded 2.0D auto, 180 horse, permanent awd, heated leather, even to compare it to the Forester. Let alone the £££s. maybe a DIY LPG conversion is the answer or find a wrecked legacy with an oil burner under the hood, and perform heart surgery.

[ScoobieWRX]

Nothing like Subaru heart surgery

Just don't forget to make sure you get the ECU, cabin/engine bay/engine wiring looms to go with the engine otherwise you're going to struggle to run the engine.

[Zead]

ScoobieWRX said:

Nothing like Subaru heart surgery

Just don't forget to make sure you get the ECU, cabin/engine bay/engine wiring looms to go with the engine otherwise you're going to struggle to run the engine.

not to mention the fuel pumps. I think it wise just to cough up for the ron 95, it will be kinder.

or I could get used to one of these if I parked it nose in to the drive

Edited by Zead on Wednesday 5th December 00:23