Subaru Forester - any good? What to look for?

[jonnylayze]

We live out in the sticks and at the top of a large hill whichever way you come into the village. Last winter our village was cut off a couple of times to anyone without a 4wd vehicle.

In preparation for winter I want to get something 4wd. I also really need to replace my wife's Fabia as its not really big enough for 2 children and accumulated pushchairs/clobber etc.

Option 1: replace Fabia with somehting bigger but 2wd and get an old S2/ S3 landie

Option 2: kill 2 birds with one stone and get a Subaru Forester which should do the job of bigger car and something to overcome the snowy hills.

What are the thoughts of the PH massive?

I'm looking at 5-7 year old Foresters - what should I be looking for and what goes wrong?

Any sensible alternatives also welcomed (my wife doesn't really want a Disco and Range Rovers are out....)

[uk89camaro]

http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f75/

Try here.

I run an '06 2.5 Turbo Prodrive Pack.

Main issue on this model tends to be the air intake valves jamming, and causing harmless water vapour screen, but it does cost over a grand to fix.

Prices fairly buoyant.

I bought mine just before the snow landed and xmas, and it was great, even on standard tyres.

Don't expect much in the way of toys though.

Engine is fab, very soggy round the corners though.

Poor aftermarket parts, market.

[Ed.]

I like them, only downside being fuel consumption.
Most questions answered here and the search function works

[spyder dryver]

Had my Forester for 9 years and 110k miles. Still on its original clutch when I parted with it. Two sets of brake discs, two electric aerials, one cambelt change and not much else apart from service items.
Never failed to do its job. I only replaced it for something heavier for towing.
Highly recommended. Perfect all-rounder.

[jonnylayze]

Thanks for the replies - the continued failure of the PH search function is a frustration....

[smifffymoto]

Why limit yourself,look at an Outback as well.We love ours.

[road_rager]

I have a ten year old turbo version. Very very good in bad weather, I live in rural Kent and didn't get stopped once last year. The rear suspension can sag, front cv gaitors get cooked by the engine, wind noise from framless windows, rear bearings can hum, exhaust is prone to corrosion, some engines prone to piston slap. All issues are common to a lot if cars and easily sorted. They tend to understeer.

Go for it, even my wife loves mine.

[jonnylayze]

smifffymoto said:

Why limit yourself,look at an Outback as well.We love ours.

not limiting myself - Forester looks like better value than the Outback from what I have seen - like for like. Am I wrong? (always a dangerous question to ask on PH!!)

[ChasMill]

smifffymoto said:

Why limit yourself,look at an Outback as well.We love ours.

Plus 1 from me.

[BadgerBill]

Same here, don't discount the Outback. If speed is not your absolute, the 2.5 we had managed a respectable avg of 28mpg

BB

[GravelBen]

jonnylayze said:

smifffymoto said:

Why limit yourself,look at an Outback as well.We love ours.

not limiting myself - Forester looks like better value than the Outback from what I have seen - like for like. Am I wrong? (always a dangerous question to ask on PH!!)

The main difference is that the Outback is a size bigger (Forester is based on the Impreza chassis), which makes quite a difference to luggage space and rear legroom. Outback is also a smoother, more refined drive.