Subaru Forester / Which Compact SUV?

[paddyhasneeds]

Sorry to start another thread but putting the car titles in can somewhat restrict who looks.

As subject, considering a compact SUV (which I take to mean not quite a full fat 4x4 but with some capability and a bit of a raised ride).

Going off aesthetics the VW Tiguan appeals, so does the Forester, but I know nothing about Subaru other than that they seem a little marmite/cult-ish.

Does anyone have one? Looking at the current model so not fussed about the older STi or being able to chip it etc.

[paddyhasneeds]

Never had one so can't really comment on that, but tbh most mainstream stuff has no appeal whatsoever, I'm a bit funny like that.

[paddyhasneeds]

Well I've just been out for a look at the Forester and have also had a drive in one thanks to a very accommodating dealer.

Initial impressions are that I'm very impressed and like it more than I thought I would.

The dealer is in the base of the peaks so we went on some back roads that he thought would be clear by now but were still very heavy on compacted slush/semi-ice - interesting how it dealt with that whereas in my Boxster I wouldn't even have tried it (that may say more than me about the car).

The interior is functional, by no means is it a Porsche interior, but the fit and finish is good and it didn't squeak or rattle.

So, I have some thinking to do.

[paddyhasneeds]

blueg33 said:

it even felt right turning up a very wealthy friend's country estate for dinner last night. When I go there in the A6 I feel a bit poor

"A bit poor", love it

[paddyhasneeds]

OK so I've been out looking again today and have come back thinking either I'm just fickle, or there's a load of ste out there.

Range Rover/Discovery/Tourag/Cayenne/Merc ML - all too big (physical size and engine/mpg)
Freelander 2 - something I can't put my finger on that I don't like, I think it's the rear side profile.
VW Tiguan - overpriced
Audi Q5 - if I could transplant the interior to a Forester I'd be all over it like a tramp on chips.

So, what may I have overlooked that is new (respectfully, I don't care if I can get an 8 year old V12 Vogue for only £15k) and mid-sized and reliable?

I picked up a Mitsubishi Shogun catalogue today but the dealer didn't have one in - LWB is too big but they do a SWB.

[paddyhasneeds]

Smifffy said:

We have a forester.

It's superb. 2.5l turbo delivers excellent pace. It's capable, comfortable. Like most Eastern cars the interior won't compete with the best of European equivalents but you pays your money....

We went for the XTEN edition so it's fully loaded with the larger sunroof, leather interior, cruise, climate etc etc. Bought it just over 2 years ago, it had sat on a dealer forecourt with 150 miles on the clock for a year. Original price, £26k. Walked away at £13k on the road. Happy days.

It's not missed a beat - now on 52k miles.

That really hasn't helped - I wish someone would chip in with a bad word telling me how st they are

So far I've been to three dealers, well, two dealers, one ex-dealer they just haven't updated the Subaru website. All were small groups or family businesses and seemed like decent people, which may seem an odd thing to say but there was no hard-sell or looking over your shoulder eyeing up the family who have just walked in like you get at many places.

The ex-dealer was explaining that they absolutely can't fault the cars, they just didn't/don't tell enough to keep that side of the business viable and in their case they have Hyundai to the left, Subaru to the right, 20 people walk in, 19 turn right and Subaru just can't compete at that level.

[paddyhasneeds]

poing said:

I assumed from some of the other choices they were no looking for a proper off roader, more a soft roader with some style or perceived quality.

That pretty much hits the nail on the head. I have a Boxster right now, and whilst I know they're knocked off a production line in Finland in large quantities, it's still a Porsche, and if this makes me sound like a snob or just an ahole so be it, but I don't want to be looking at a badge that says Hyundai or Kia - I'm not suggesting a Subaru is better quality, just more quirky/niche/whatever you'd call it.

[paddyhasneeds]

If you think that's bad you should see the Tribeca.

[paddyhasneeds]

EDLT said:

paddyhasneeds said:

poing said:

I assumed from some of the other choices they were no looking for a proper off roader, more a soft roader with some style or perceived quality.

That pretty much hits the nail on the head. I have a Boxster right now, and whilst I know they're knocked off a production line in Finland in large quantities, it's still a Porsche, and if this makes me sound like a snob or just an ahole so be it, but I don't want to be looking at a badge that says Hyundai or Kia - I'm not suggesting a Subaru is better quality, just more quirky/niche/whatever you'd call it.

Mini Countryman then?

Ok, so they will be EVERYWHERE in the next couple of years, but apart from that (and the price, although Minis don't depreciate very quickly) it seems to tick every other box.

No, ghastly, just ghastly.

I sat in a Mini for the first time a few months ago, and I don't know where all this "Mini BMW" stuff comes from as I thought it felt rather cheap and nasty - afraid I don't get the whole Mini "thing".

[paddyhasneeds]

GazzaMogzy said:

My father used to have a 2004 2.5T Forester, I'll always remember being pleasantly surprised when I found out the brake stayed on if you stopped on a hill and took your foot off to pull off. Lovely car, I'd buy one if I had the money.

They still have them as I found out on the quick test drive - very slight incline/hill start and I felt something "stick" for a split second whilst pulling away.

[paddyhasneeds]

Does anyone know anything about their diesel engines?

I've never had a diesel before so don't really know how I'm supposed to gauge/measure one when driving.

Also still interested in the AWD capabilities. I'm not going to pretend that I'm looking at SUV's for the two weeks a year that we have bad weather, but owning a Boxster you do soon realise just how fked you are when there's a bit of snow/slush. I think I said earlier in the thread but on that quick drive of one around the peaks it certainly seemed that you could just plough on over ice/slush so long as you were sensible vs. "oh a hill. st!".

[paddyhasneeds]

Hmm well according to the papers Clarkson has one, though it had to be towed out of the snow by someone with a Jeep.