Subaru Forester
Discussion
We replaced my wifes CRV in january with a Disco II and, in actual fact, I quite like it.
Mrs Drams has since discovered that it is too tall for the multi-storey carparks in Aberdeen and has also announced that, being only 5'1", she finds it very difficult lifting the baby seat in to the back.
So she has commandeered the R32 as her car and I'm left doing 70 miles a day (with a fair bit of lovely b-road) in a Disco
So, I'm already thinking about changing the disco for another 4x4 which is a bit lower but will still be capable in the snow and ice we get up here.
Have seen a 2005 Forester 2.5XT. Are they any good?
Mrs Drams has since discovered that it is too tall for the multi-storey carparks in Aberdeen and has also announced that, being only 5'1", she finds it very difficult lifting the baby seat in to the back.
So she has commandeered the R32 as her car and I'm left doing 70 miles a day (with a fair bit of lovely b-road) in a Disco
So, I'm already thinking about changing the disco for another 4x4 which is a bit lower but will still be capable in the snow and ice we get up here.
Have seen a 2005 Forester 2.5XT. Are they any good?
Insurance on my 3-litre Legacy is the cheapest I've had since my first car some 22 years ago. It's actually under £300.
Forester 2.5-turbo is a fabulous car. It was a toss-up between one of those and my Legacy. The Legacy won because I don't need the ground clearance and I've never owned anything other than 4-cyl engines before (the 3-litre is a flat-6).
The Forester can approach 30mpg but only if you're light-footed. "Normal" would low/mid-20s.
Forester 2.5-turbo is a fabulous car. It was a toss-up between one of those and my Legacy. The Legacy won because I don't need the ground clearance and I've never owned anything other than 4-cyl engines before (the 3-litre is a flat-6).
The Forester can approach 30mpg but only if you're light-footed. "Normal" would low/mid-20s.
Lefty Two Drams said:
I hadn't actually realised the 2.5xt was a turbo... Is that the same as the sti motor? 220bhp-ish?
That'd be about right. The 3-litre Leggy is quoted at 242bhp which was about 20 more than the Forester.However, you really have to rev NatAsp Subarus to get at that power. The turbos really suit an auto gearbox (if that's your thing - it is mine) because you get a nice mid-range "waft" of power. The Forester turbo might end up being the replacement for my (much loved) Legacy.
Dad has one that i have started using regularly
be careful as there was an engine power change around Feb/March 2005
Dads is a 2005 54 with the newer engine but older interior spec (sat nav/leather etc) where as some 2005 05 models come with the newer engine but different interior (sat nav/leather was optional etc)
have had the car from new, now on 100k, no real major issues.. Find a good indy specialist though as the 3 dealers around us have all done things wrong when servicing/working on the cars (one put in wrong plugs, one fitted a gearbox mounting backwards one "couldnt get the oil out"
average MPG is 28mpg over 100k. around 32-34 on motorway at 65/70mph, 22 when pushing on, around 26-28 when towing boat/caravan/trailer.
No real problems, make sure the correct tyres are fitted (recomend ones are Yoko geolander G900s).. the 040 version go on the legacys and are not so suited to the Forester.
Ours has been all over the country, on road and off road - has tackled some pretty hardcore terrain, pulled a defender out of a ditch, lugged all manor of crap around and surprised a lot of people off the lights/when over taking..
plenty comfy enough for a motorway run and for pretty much anything you can throw at it!
All in all it is a great car and lots of fun, no complaints at all here!
be careful as there was an engine power change around Feb/March 2005
Dads is a 2005 54 with the newer engine but older interior spec (sat nav/leather etc) where as some 2005 05 models come with the newer engine but different interior (sat nav/leather was optional etc)
have had the car from new, now on 100k, no real major issues.. Find a good indy specialist though as the 3 dealers around us have all done things wrong when servicing/working on the cars (one put in wrong plugs, one fitted a gearbox mounting backwards one "couldnt get the oil out"
average MPG is 28mpg over 100k. around 32-34 on motorway at 65/70mph, 22 when pushing on, around 26-28 when towing boat/caravan/trailer.
No real problems, make sure the correct tyres are fitted (recomend ones are Yoko geolander G900s).. the 040 version go on the legacys and are not so suited to the Forester.
Ours has been all over the country, on road and off road - has tackled some pretty hardcore terrain, pulled a defender out of a ditch, lugged all manor of crap around and surprised a lot of people off the lights/when over taking..
plenty comfy enough for a motorway run and for pretty much anything you can throw at it!
All in all it is a great car and lots of fun, no complaints at all here!
Fordo said:
forestor? has to be this model:
saw one on the road a while ago. completely mad and silly.
...but i like it
drove an STI a few years back when dad was thinking of changing his for one.. problem is when using it off road the body kit is alittle restrictive.. if your not planning on going off road then it is a fun alternative..! saw one on the road a while ago. completely mad and silly.
...but i like it
Edited by Fordo on Sunday 4th April 21:02
garycat said:
Virtually all subarus are bulletproof, and if you want a bit of fun the 2.5 can be remapped to ~270bhp.
Downsides are fuel costs and insurance.
Not thought about shooting mine - perhaps that might kill it, because everything else I have tried so far has failed Downsides are fuel costs and insurance.
Subaru estates = automotive cockroaches.
iggletiggle said:
Fordo said:
forestor? has to be this model:
saw one on the road a while ago. completely mad and silly.
...but i like it
drove an STI a few years back when dad was thinking of changing his for one.. problem is when using it off road the body kit is alittle restrictive.. if your not planning on going off road then it is a fun alternative..! saw one on the road a while ago. completely mad and silly.
...but i like it
Edited by Fordo on Sunday 4th April 21:02
martin
I'd echo everything everyone else has said here - I've had a 2004 Forester 2.0XT from new and they just DON'T go wrong! On the 17" Prodrive wheels and proper tyres, it also happens to be one of the most gigglesome drives you'll ever have - sure, the suspension's a little soft and even a touch roly-poly at times, but the innate balance is great AND you can really feel it, unlike in my old Impreza RB5, which somehow felt like it had too much grip (not sure how with what were still relatively skinny tyres, but maybe it's just down to me being a better and more experienced driver!)
The auto box is not the greatest - only a 4 speed GM unit - but again it's pretty tough.
The interiors are not exactly Audi style, but they're screwed together very well and will resist any onslaught that kids can throw at it.
Very impressive piece of kit, in an understated way. We'll finally be selling ours towards the end of the year, simply because my wife's started to get a little bored of it, wants something a little more glam and has noticed that I've changed cars 4 or 5 times in the period we've had her Subaru. Bet you she'll miss it when it's gone, though!
The auto box is not the greatest - only a 4 speed GM unit - but again it's pretty tough.
The interiors are not exactly Audi style, but they're screwed together very well and will resist any onslaught that kids can throw at it.
Very impressive piece of kit, in an understated way. We'll finally be selling ours towards the end of the year, simply because my wife's started to get a little bored of it, wants something a little more glam and has noticed that I've changed cars 4 or 5 times in the period we've had her Subaru. Bet you she'll miss it when it's gone, though!
that she doesn't get in the Disco).
Had a good look at a sti forester parked up in a toys r us car park on sat,and as a current wrx owner,i was and am very interested in one as a next car,same mechanicals but more practicle.... whats not to like?
And i think they look quite funky in a boxy kind of way..... but then i also like the look of the kia soul too .
And i think they look quite funky in a boxy kind of way..... but then i also like the look of the kia soul too .
anonymous said:
[redacted]
In (now) 100k dads 2.5XT has not had any of the above problems and has been unbelievably reliable! Only had clutch done at 70k ish, wheel bearings in the front were changed at 40k
Suspension is a little wallowy when taking corners at great speed but you dont *need* to lower it.. I have had some fairly hair raising runs in the car which have just made the whole experience 100 times more exciting..
Get a good history with the car and you should be ok - preferably Subaru/Subaru specialist though, not any old bod!
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