Forester XT heavy clutch - are they all like this?

Forester XT heavy clutch - are they all like this?

Author
Discussion

MajorMantra

Original Poster:

1,294 posts

112 months

Tuesday 2nd May 2017
quotequote all
Yesterday I had a very quick test drive in a car I've long had a hankering for, a Subaru Forester XT from 2003. I decided against on grounds of rusty rear arches, but I was surprised at how heavy the clutch was too. Are they all like this?

lemmingjames

7,456 posts

204 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
quotequote all
Mines fairly heavy as well (though i guess it depends on what youve come from, as ive gone from mine into a eco stbox and accidentally stamped the clutch pedal), its been test driven by numerous garages (not looking at faults in the clutch) and nobodies commented on it dying etc though im not sure how old it is and the car has 150k on the clock (50k by me).

It does have hill start feature encase your worried about that aspect?

V40Vinnie

863 posts

119 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
quotequote all
House Mate has an '04 SG Chassis Forester 2.0XT and the clutch is no heavier than the one in a Ford focus or Volvo v40.

vxr2010

2,565 posts

159 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
quotequote all
standard sg clutch is not what i call heavy , uprated can be about 30 per cent heavier

MajorMantra

Original Poster:

1,294 posts

112 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
quotequote all
Hmm, wonder if there was something up with it. It was perfectly driveable but heavy enough to make delicate clutch movements difficult. The only comparably clutch I've ever experienced was in my gf's loathsome X-plate Avensis, which required quads of steel for some reason.

vxr2010

2,565 posts

159 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
quotequote all
An uprated clutch is not as nice to drive and needs more revs to get it working properly with out any judder , i personally prefer standard ones

chandrew

979 posts

209 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
quotequote all
Ours (a 2003 XT owned from new) is reasonably heavy. I don't notice it when driving it all the time but occasionally if I come from a modern car it feels heavy. I haven't noticed any other problems with it though.

I don't believe that the clutch has ever been changed event after 14 years / 285,000km.

You're right avoiding a car with rust - it is what kills these cars. Ours has been remarkably reliable with only 2 rear bearings needing changing above service items / tyres and a battery change. The Subaru dealer who looks after it says it should go to about 400,000km + as long as rust doesn't get it first.

Hol

8,412 posts

200 months

Monday 22nd May 2017
quotequote all
I have owned an MY2000 TurboS and a 2006XTen.

Neither had a heavy (albeit original) clutch and I had no such comments from my wife or anyone else who borrowed/drove the cars.


I cant see why a heavy duty pressure plate would be fitted to a Forester under 350ibs torque, so its likely due to a clutch/slave cylinder failure or the fluid is past its prime.

MajorMantra

Original Poster:

1,294 posts

112 months

Monday 22nd May 2017
quotequote all
Cheers for the replies. My hunt came to an end when I... bought a BMW. getmecoat