by "Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
Published 02/13/2017 at 11:39
by "Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
Published 02/13/2017 at 11:39
No Tags
STARS: 20
On February 13 th 1997, Subaru introduced to Japan what would be described as the first of a new breed of sport utility vehicle, the Subaru Forester. A hybrid between a car and a truck, the Forester was Subaru’s unique interpretation of what a Sport Utility Vehicle could be, and was brought into existence right as the Compact Sport Utility Vehicle segment was taking shape.
The Sport Utility craze entered full swing in the late 1980s and early 1990s, thanks to the mainstream popularity of the Jeep Cherokee and Ford Explorer and the “Active Lifestyle” image they portrayed. Everyone wanted a Sport Utility Vehicle, whether they needed it or not. It was during this time that some automakers discovered that there was a market for smaller Sport Utility Vehicles. Often referred to as “Cute-Utes”, these smaller Sport Utility Vehicles shared the rugged styling and some of the capabilities of a full-sized Sport Utility Vehicle – still plenty for the average consumer – while offering better fuel economy and a more car-like driving experience. The Toyota Corolla based RAV4 was introduced for 1994 as the first in its class, and sales grew rapidly during the first three years of production. Seeing the potential of this newly formed market segment, other manufacturers shortly followed with entries of their own. Subaru was no stranger to the Sport Utility market. The 1995 Legacy Outback “ Sport Utility Wagon ”, introduced during 1994, turned into an overnight sales success – something that Subaru desperately needed at the time. Subaru realized that the “Active Lifestyle” image was successful for attracting buyers, and knew that developing a new compact Sport Utility Vehicle was the next logical step.
The Forester was previewed by the Streega Concept, which premiered
at 31
st
Tokyo Auto Show. The
Streega was based on the first generation Impreza, although it was longer,
wider, and taller. It featured 4-wheel
independent suspension and unibody construction like the Impreza, which made it
very car-like. However, the Streega
featured rugged, Sport Utility- like styling, a large greenhouse, higher ground
clearance, and standard AWD. The
interior remained similar to the Impreza; however, the Streega featured a
higher seating position, and a larger and more useful cargo area, thanks to the
square styling of the car. Power was
provided by a 2.0L DOHC Turbocharged Flat 4 producing 250 horsepower sent
through a 4-speed automatic transmission, and featured a new advanced traction
control system called Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) for enhanced safety and
performance.
The production Forester followed the path laid out by the
Streega Concept fairly closely. Similar
to the concept, the Forester was based on the Impreza, sharing a significant
portion of the floor pan, the rear side rails, front frame member, front shock
towers, and basic suspension geometry. The additional ground clearance (30mm) was achieved by using longer
front and rear struts and unique front and rear cross-members. This is different than the Legacy Outback,
which used spacer blocks to achieve the same lift. The design of the body retained the boxy and
rugged theme; however, the overall exterior design was refined. The large greenhouse remained, though the
front clip was lengthened and the track was widened, necessitating more
muscular box flares. In keeping with the
rugged theme, lower trim levels used unpainted textured plastic front and rear
bumpers, as well as side cladding. Wider
headlights with separate corner markers and large, square fog lights aided in
making the Forester appear wide and stable, while 15” steel wheels with white
letter tires rounded out the full package. Upper trim levels featured 16” alloy wheels. The aforementioned bumpers and cladding were painted
in a contrasting color on upper trim levels. Two separate “Outdoor Packages” were available as dealer installed
options, and included side-steps, a rear differential skid plate, and a brush
guard to add the rugged finishing touches.
The design of the interior also followed the direction set forth by the Streega concept; that is, simple and utilitarian. The major feature of the Forester’s interior was the seating position. Higher than a typical car, but lower than a typical Sport Utility Vehicle, the seating position offered a balance between having a commanding view of the road and an easy time getting in and out of the vehicle. The position of the driver’s hips in the Forester is virtually the same as both sitting and standing, which eliminate the need to step up into the vehicle when entering or exiting the vehicle as in other Sport Utility Vehicles. A large green house with narrow pillars and a large liftgate window without a spare tire to block the view featured prominently in ensuring that outward visibility was excellent and that the cabin felt spacious and airy. The dashboard was shared with the later first generation Impreza, but the rest of the interior was unique to the Forester. The boxy styling of the rear of the Forester allowed for a very usable cargo area. The rear bench seats split 55/45 for extra storage possibilities and could recline through an arc of 55 degrees with 12 adjustment positions. The rear seatbacks could fold flat without having to remove the head rests or lifting the lower seat cushion, expanding cargo capacity further. To keep with the rugged outdoors theme, the Forester could also be equipped with a dash top mounted gauge pack that included a digital compass, an altimeter and a barometer.
Available engines in 1998 varied depending on the market where the Forester was sold. In the US, the Forester was equipped with the same 165 horsepower 2.5L flat four found in the 1998 Outback, the EJ25D, as the only engine available. This engine was backed by either a 5-speed manual transmission featuring Continuous AWD, or a 4-speed automatic transmission featuring Active AWD. Japanese market Foresters were only available with the 2.0L EJ20G turbocharged flat four producing 250 horsepower at first. A 2.0L EJ20J flat four producing 122 horsepower became optional later in the year. Both engines could be backed by either a 5-speed manual transmission featuring Continuous AWD, or a 4-speed automatic transmission featuring Active AWD. Certain turbocharged models could be equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission featuring Active AWD and VTD.
Safety was a significant consideration when designing the Forester, and was considered a selling point by Subaru when compared to other compact Sport Utility Vehicles – and Sport Utility Vehicles in general. The Forester was classified as a passenger vehicle – specifically, a station wagon. The suspension design, coupled with the low center of gravity inherent to the horizontally opposed engine, enabled the Forester to straddle the line between a truck and a car. As a result, the Forester did not require a risk of rollover warning label on the driver’s visor – a fact that Subaru proudly pointed out. Additionally, the Forester featured dual front airbags (in the US), door mounted side-impact beams, and ALR/ELR 3-point seat belts in the outboard seating positions. All of those, when combined with the reinforced unibody structure, aided the Forester in performing well in the standard battery of crash tests. An Anti-Lock Brake System was available on all but the base trim level, and rear disk brakes were standard on the top trim levels. The advanced traction control system exhibited on the Streega concept car did not make it into production.
The first generation Forester saw several changes during its production run; the biggest being the facelift for 2000 (2001 for the US), which featured a modified front and rear fascia and modified side cladding, updated tail lights, and new engines for both the US and Japanese markets – the EJ251 replaced the EJ25D in the US market, while the EJ205 replaced the EJ20G in the Japanese market.
While the Forester remained positioned as purely a utility vehicle in the US market, the Forester gained several performance versions in Japan starting in 2000. First was the S/TB-STI, which featured performance suspension, a unique body kit and unique wheels. This version, as well as the subsequent S/TB-STIII and S/TB-STIIILimited were still equipped with the same engine, engine tuning, and 4-speed automatic transmission that could be had in the standard Forester S/TB. The STIII Type M was the true performance Forester at the time; it featured everything that the earlier S/TB STI versions had, with the addition of a new tune for the EJ205 engine producing 276 horsepower backed by a 5-speed manual transmission, upgraded brakes, and Bilstein suspension. These were rare, however, as only 800 of the STIII Type M were produced.
The Forester received industry acclaim for how it delivered the styling, go-anywhere capability, comfort, and safety that consumers were demanding while showcasing Subaru’s unique engineering. Reviewers lauded the packaging and driving dynamics of the Forester, as well as its versatility and practicality. Turbocharged versions were even lauded for their performance. George Muller, the president and chief operating officer of Subaru of America, wrote that “The Forester was a new generation of utility vehicle that would set the new standards for utility vehicles of the future.” The Sport Utility Vehicle craze was here to stay, and Subaru was in it for the long haul. Citing the sales success of the Legacy Outback, Muller went on to claim that “Subaru had clearly demonstrated its role as a leader in this emerging segment and planned to continue to be at its forefront.” He wasn’t wrong; the Forester turned into a huge success for Subaru, both in the short term and in the long term, cementing Subaru’s identity as an “Active Lifestyle” brand.
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Thanks to the following for providing source material:
Subaru Press Kit: 1998 Media Information,
Cars101
,
autowp.ru
,
sakura.ne.jp
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
02/13/2017 at 11:48, STARS: 1
Still the best crossover.
"jasmits" (jasmits)
02/13/2017 at 11:52, STARS: 1
I’m not sure about first...
I do see your point though, well done.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
02/13/2017 at 11:54, STARS: 3
Respect the Foz
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
02/13/2017 at 11:57, STARS: 0
I drove a Forester once. It felt hollow, if that’s the right word.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
02/13/2017 at 12:04, STARS: 0
1983
"vicali" (vicali)
02/13/2017 at 13:10, STARS: 1
Nice write up. Our 08 is an Anniversary Edition, almost due for another!
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/13/2017 at 14:02, STARS: 0
It’s first in the same way that the Outback was the first “sport utility wagon”. Both the Tercel and the Honda Civic RealTime4WD Wagon can be considered predecessors to what became the compact SUV class, but they existed before the class was well defined (or even really existed).
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/13/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 0
I’ve never driven any of the earlier Foresters, but I get what you mean. My 2009 feels pretty solid, and the 2015 I’ve driven was even more so.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/13/2017 at 14:06, STARS: 0
No doubt about it!
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/13/2017 at 14:12, STARS: 1
I’ve got a 2009 that’s still going strong that I plan on hanging on to for a while, my mother has a 2015 that she absolutely loves, and there have been and still are several other Foresters in the family. We’ve all been quite happy with them!
"vicali" (vicali)
02/13/2017 at 14:18, STARS: 0
My wife has a super simple vehicle test; can she see out of all the windows/ more glass than metal.
The Forester won last round, but others on the list include the Outback, Volvos, and LandCruisers.
I think the next one might be a 3.6 Outback.
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
02/13/2017 at 14:34, STARS: 2
Like, you get in an old Volvo or something and it feels tight and weighty like the entire front end is one solid piece of metal. Then you get behind the wheel of the Forester and the steering is too light and the engine sounds like it’s at the end of a long tunnel from you and the suspension noise reverberates around the cabin and it just felt like I was driving an empty tin can.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/13/2017 at 14:39, STARS: 0
Mines a newer one (and non-turbo), however...respect the Foz...
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/13/2017 at 14:46, STARS: 0
Well, Subaru still seems to be passing that test with flying colors for the most part.
We have a 2012 Outback 3.6R in the family and I absolutely love it. I haven’t driven the current generation ones with the CVT though.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/13/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 0
I get what you mean, Subaru’s tend to be on the “tinnier” side, but they have been getting better with every redesign. Our ‘99 Camry had pretty much everything else that we’ve owned beat in that regard, and Subaru hasn’t quite managed to capture that quite yet. My friends E39 M5 was also very solid feeling, but that was in a league of its own...
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
02/13/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 1
I know very well what the E39 feels like
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/13/2017 at 16:13, STARS: 2
In 20 years the Forester has gained a whopping 5 hp in base trim, although it does now have an extra cog in the manual transmission. Amazingly, however, despite growing 6" in length, 3" in width and 3" in height, it has only put on 230 lbs (again in base trim), so it still feel pretty similar. In a world where all vehicles seem to be ballooning, the Forester has kept the plot. Interestingly, despite also growing on the outside the CR-V has kept the weight gain the same as the Subaru while a current base RAV4 is a staggering 930 lbs heavier than 20 years ago.
"RPM esq." (rpm3)
02/13/2017 at 18:30, STARS: 2
I think my kid’s first car is going to be a second-gen N/A base Forester. Not the most exciting thing in the world, but it’s hard for me to imagine a better first car: capable, safe, just a little bit different from most other cars on the road, reasonably reliable and inexpensive to fix. Oh, and slow. Slow is good.
"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/13/2017 at 20:41, STARS: 1
Looks at first picture
TRIES VERY HARD NOT TO MAKE A STEREOTYPICAL JOKE. VERY HARD. TRYING. HARD VERY.
GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
02/13/2017 at 21:27, STARS: 0
There have been two separate times my parents have looked into the Forester: 2000 and last year. The first time around, my parents apparently almost got one; instead, they got a 2001 RAV4 that my grandparents still have today. As for last year, we looked at a 2016 on the lot, but no salesperson came to help us. Also, the CR-V EX was cheaper than the 2.5i Premium (Forester equivalent) and it had everything she wanted. It even has AWD like a Subaru. While MSRP was similar, USAA gave much better discounts for the Honda than the Subaru.
"Sir Halffast" (Sir_Halffast)
02/13/2017 at 22:54, STARS: 1
Also have a 2015. Also love. No joke the best car I’ve had.
"Sir Halffast" (Sir_Halffast)
02/13/2017 at 22:56, STARS: 1
Respect. I don’t know what it is about them, they’re just good. You can find other cars that do individual tasks better than the Foz, but none of them does the full combination of things like the Forester. It’s like the iPhone of cars, except in this case, not derogatory.
"Sir Halffast" (Sir_Halffast)
02/13/2017 at 22:58, STARS: 0
Not anymore. You should try again. No longer tinny, and still nimble as all hell. It’s big, but I can maneuver more accurately and turn tighter than in my Fit.
"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
02/13/2017 at 22:59, STARS: 0
One I drove was a 2010...
"Sir Halffast" (Sir_Halffast)
02/13/2017 at 23:01, STARS: 0
They re-jiggered the engine a bit for the current generation. You should try again if you care. I know what you mean, having driven a friend’s 1997 Outback back in the day, but I don’t feel it now.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
02/13/2017 at 23:21, STARS: 0
it was a great jack of all trades car, but it was time for me to move on to something a little more utilitarian. I never loved it like I’ve loved some of my other cars, but im starting to miss it
"Rufant" (rufant2)
02/14/2017 at 04:19, STARS: 1
Good stuff, thanks.
As a result, the Forester did not require a risk of rollover warning label on the driver’s visor – a fact that Subaru proudly pointed out.
I remember Evo magazine (UK) testing an early turbo version and calling something like a WRX on stilts, with a picture of the thing drifting on a bitumen road.
...
And then I did a quick search for the photo which I didn’t find, but I did find this.
http://www.evo.co.uk/subaru/forester
"RT" (rt-p)
02/14/2017 at 07:09, STARS: 2
Nope, it’s this, which is even FWD.
1977.
"Jacicus-Impreza" (jacicus-impreza)
02/14/2017 at 10:36, STARS: 1
Awesome article! The only correction I have is that in the u.s. the ej25D was 1998 only, in 1999, they had ej253s wich were mass airflow controled. The. From 2000 forward they were ej251s.
"Sir Halffast" (Sir_Halffast)
02/14/2017 at 10:39, STARS: 0
That’s exactly what I mean. Other cars do utilitarian, or off road, or whatever better. But there’s just something about the whole package that just works.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/14/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 0
That’s right, I forgot about that. What I’m still trying to figure out is if the main architecture of the EJ253 from ‘99 is the same as the main architecture EJ253 from ‘05+ (with the exception of the addition of i-AVLS in ‘06). The more I dig into it, the more I’m unsure...
"DrScientist" (DrScientist)
02/14/2017 at 14:14, STARS: 0
nice.
i’m glad that these longer-format posts still make it on here.
"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
02/14/2017 at 15:58, STARS: 3
We still have our MY 2000 Forester. Mostly unmolested. Still with original clutch and head gasket in the 2.0 natural engine. Dies have a new radiator and new (now lifted) suspension. Accessorised with a Subaextreme bull bar and underbody protection plate because regional Australia...
It might be worth almost nothing in the current market but we still haven’t found anything worthwhile to replace it with...and that includes a new Forester. We could drop ten grand into it and bring it back up to spec or we could lose ten grand in depreciation in the first year on a new one...we can’t decide!
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/14/2017 at 17:18, STARS: 0
The Forester has resisted it more than most. I took this photo a while a go, and while it may have to do a bit with the angle it was taken, my SH doesn’t seem to be a whole lot bigger than the SF I parked next to. The SJ we have definitely is feels even bigger than my SH does, but not by much. I’d love to give an SF a spin though; I bet it would be a blast to drive.
I am curious though, is the base model original RAV4 you are citing the 2 door soft-top? If that’s the case, that isn’t the most fair comparison in the world...
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/14/2017 at 17:26, STARS: 0
It happens; we did the same thing with the Hyundai Elantra Touring twice. Once in 2009 when we decided on the ‘09 Forester, and again in 2012 when we decided on the ‘12 Outback. The Elantra Touring was a great wagon and would have been a great deal, but we ultimately decided that the Subarus were a better fit for us both times.
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
02/14/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 1
Lowest weight config, so probably the two door manual soft top with FWD, but even a 4 door with AWD and an auto was only 250 lbs. heavier, so we’re still talking about puffing up 700 pounds compared to a new AWD one. I’m thinking of writing a post about weight gain in different vehicle classes. Should be fun. My SJ feels taller than the SH’s I’ve been in but about the same other than that. I’ve ridden in may SH’s but never driven one.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/14/2017 at 17:28, STARS: 1
I was able to find at least part of an Evo article on the original. Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to have the picture you described (which sounds awesome, by the way!)
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/14/2017 at 17:36, STARS: 0
Subaru knows their target market, no doubt about it...
and , there’s another...
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/14/2017 at 17:44, STARS: 1
Car and Driver wrote an article several years ago coming to pretty much the same conclusion about the 2009 Forester (third generation). As someone that has a 2009 Forester as my first car, I have to agree with them.
The second generation would be just as good of a choice. Go with an ‘06+, as those are significantly less prone to head gasket issues.
Though
,
changing head gaskets with your kid could make for a decent education in working on your own car...
"RPM esq." (rpm3)
02/14/2017 at 17:51, STARS: 0
The other solution to the head gasket worry that I’ve heard, even on the earlier ones, is to buy the naturally aspirated engine rather than one of the turbos--do you know if that’s true?
"Rufant" (rufant2)
02/14/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 0
Yeah, they don’t seem to include the ‘action’ shots in the on line archive. I might be remembering it wrong, but there were very few Evo articles without a picture with a dab of oppo back in the day. I’ll have a look through what I have tonight and see what I can find.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/14/2017 at 17:58, STARS: 1
Yeah, the RAV4 has really gotten heavy. I’d definitely read a post about automotive weight gain. There should be lots of materials/examples, too.
I think most of the taller feeling in the SJ is how high they have the seats in it. That was the biggest thing we all noticed when my mom got her SJ. You get used to it after a while, but it becomes apparent again when getting in my SH (especially passenger’s perspective). The fact that the passenger seat in both her SJ and my SH are not height adjustable makes the effect more pronounced... after riding in the SJ feels like you’re sitting on the floor in the SH...
"vicali" (vicali)
02/14/2017 at 18:08, STARS: 2
Other way around, Turbos have better headgaskets, NA EJ25 does not..
"vicali" (vicali)
02/14/2017 at 18:13, STARS: 1
Not to mention an awesome community like www.subaruforester.org
Here is mine;
"RPM esq." (rpm3)
02/14/2017 at 18:19, STARS: 0
Interesting, thanks!
"vicali" (vicali)
02/14/2017 at 18:40, STARS: 1
Where are you located? Finding an SG (03-08) XT(turbo) in any kind of shape is getting more and more rare.. They didn’t sell very many, and enthusiasts have taken their toll as well.
Look for a clean NA, ask about the headgaskets (put away $2K to do them if they give you a blank stare), ask if it overheats or looses coolant (Headgaskets), look at the tires (same all around or walk), look at the back of the rear fender seams for rust, look at the rear door and around the fuel cap/door for rust. Drive it around and shift gears, do some slow figure8 in a parking lot and listen to the central diff.
also come visit;
and find all of your Subaru specs on;
"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/14/2017 at 19:51, STARS: 0
I forgot if this one was real or fake.
"RPM esq." (rpm3)
02/15/2017 at 01:12, STARS: 0
Super helpful, thank you. May have a lead on a steal of a low-mileage ‘04 NA (2.5x) within the family, but this will help analyze just how much of a steal it really is.
"Rufant" (rufant2)
02/15/2017 at 01:46, STARS: 1
I had a look back through the mags I had here, I thought it was from a ‘Driven’ piece, but it seems they ran a Forester as a long term test car (and REALLY) liked it). I have issue 16 which mentions the wrap up in issue 17.
Of course I don’t have 17... It is available if you are that interested.
I can’t guarantee there is a sweet sideways shot. The old memory might be playing tricks!
For free stuff, Trigger is always worth a browse. I don’t see any Foresters, probably a bit new for him, but a few classics in there.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=7869726%40N02&view_all=1&text=subaru
Cheers.
"Jacicus-Impreza" (jacicus-impreza)
02/15/2017 at 02:47, STARS: 1
I believe the early 253 has somewhat better coolant journals & a different intake manifold than the contemporary 251, but I’ve never torn down a 251 for comparison. The supposedly better cooling didn’t keep the p/o from rolling into the shop with a severely blown head gasket & rod knock at 165k...
"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
02/15/2017 at 10:58, STARS: 1
I’ve always lamented that the Forester and Outback have now become true crossover/SUVs rather than the fine line the original Forester (and, to some degree, the Legacy Outback) walked between car and SUV as you describe. But another way to think about it is that SUVs, in general, have become a LOT more car-like in the past 20 years. A traditional truck based body-on-frame SUV is pretty rare today. The Subarus grew up, but who imitated who, really?
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/15/2017 at 16:01, STARS: 1
vicali pretty much has it, but I would add to ask about the timing belt. The belt needs to be replaced every 105K miles or 105 months, and the engine is an interference engine. Also wise to ask if the the belt idlers and tensioner were done at the same time, as those tend to last 1.5 timing belt change intervals...
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/15/2017 at 16:05, STARS: 1
Thanks for taking a look. I’ll have to look at Trigger’s flickr page; all of that seems really interesting!
Also, I had to look up the Delfino from that Evo mag... what a weird car...
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/15/2017 at 16:15, STARS: 0
I’m ~75% sure it’s not; found the non-ad-copy photo, not that it means anything.
Subaru tends to be more subtle with their advertising that way, as can be seen in
this
SubaruForester.org post.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/15/2017 at 16:16, STARS: 0
That’s awesome! My ‘09 is still going strong; I plan on hanging onto it for a while yet.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/15/2017 at 16:21, STARS: 1
I’ve used SubaruForester.org a lot. I’m even registered over there, I just never post anything.
Your SG looks great! I’ve got pictures of my SH elsewhere in this post, as a reply to HammerheadFistpunch.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/15/2017 at 16:23, STARS: 0
I’ve heard both arguments that the old and new EJ253 engines are identical and the EJ251 is different, and that the new EJ253 is closely related to the EJ251 and not the old EJ253. Having never torn down any of these engines, I don’t know what the correct answer is...
"Rufant" (rufant2)
02/15/2017 at 16:27, STARS: 1
Based on a WRX if I recall correctly? Sort of like the poor mans Zagato Hyena in concept I suppose.
"vicali" (vicali)
02/15/2017 at 16:33, STARS: 1
Yeah, I registered back in 2008 when we started looking at Foresters.. The sf.org community has always been awesome.
We bought ours new, and it just turned 100K km. It’s my Wife’s daily, and our family wagon. I ran TSD rallies in it and it was awesome but I had too many close calls and couldn’t wreck it.. Now it does the odd gravel run until my son starts to turn green in the back seat, otherwise it just rolls along forever.
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/15/2017 at 17:05, STARS: 1
‘Tis the way things go, I guess...the mainstream automotive landscape has changed significantly over the last 20 years. Following the market trends has served Subaru well in the past (there are plenty of examples of what happens when Subaru doesn’t follow those trends), so I don’t blame them for doing so now. The market may be changing, but Subaru is still doing well to stand out and still be unique in it, even if it isn’t quite how it was before.
"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
02/15/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 1
As long as they keep making the WRX, I’m happy. :)
"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
02/15/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 0
I’ve got ~74K miles on mine. Never took it rallying, but I’ve had lots of fun with it all the same!
"jkm7680" (jkm7680)
02/15/2017 at 18:13, STARS: 1
Ahhhhh, it’s well done though lol