"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
02/13/2015 at 11:00 • Filed to: Forester, Subaru, Car Shopping
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"Captain of the Enterprise" (justanotherdayinparadise)
02/13/2015 at 11:00 • Filed to: Forester, Subaru, Car Shopping | 0
| 9 |
As some of you know I've been car shopping a bit and seem to have landed on a Subaru Forester.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
It fits most of my needs
I drive over 300 miles per week and over 2 hours per day so this brings some inherent requirements:
Basic Needs:
Comfort: check
Fuel Economy: EPA 19/25 21 combined so not great but better than I'm getting now
Reliability: Its a Subaru
In budget: around $4000
Bonuses for the Forester
Manual
AWD
Boxor engine (I think they are pretty cool)
Long Lasting
Practicality
I can autocross and rallycross it
Would be awesome in Michigan winters
Ride height for snow in winter
If I don't like the ride height I'm shocks and springs away from Impreza height
Negatives
Fuel Economy isn't fantastic
It's a foreign car which shouldn't be a big deal but I grew up and live in metro Detroit so buying big 3 in pretty ingrained.
Less power than my 4.6
Can't afford the turbo XT model
Any owners who can give advice or back up fuel economy ratings would be appreciated.
mcseanerson
> Captain of the Enterprise
02/13/2015 at 11:06 |
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Interference motor, keep an eye on the timing belt. Also these are not allowed in street class in autocross if I recall correctly.
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Captain of the Enterprise
> mcseanerson
02/13/2015 at 11:09 |
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even if I lower it?
WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
> Captain of the Enterprise
02/13/2015 at 11:10 |
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You can get similar performance from for a standard Impreza. Still AWD, better fuel economy, possibly more comfortable. Parts are readily available if you want to hop it up with WRX/STI parts.
Also, BECAUSE WAGON. Oh, look at Outback wagons too.
BrainForest
> Captain of the Enterprise
02/13/2015 at 11:16 |
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For this gen Forester, try to find the XS model. This will include better brakes and suspension, LSD, and the cold weather pkg.
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mcseanerson
> Captain of the Enterprise
02/13/2015 at 11:17 |
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That's not street class and that will kill your snow clearance.
BrtStlnd
> Captain of the Enterprise
02/13/2015 at 11:19 |
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One observation as a Forester owner: they run at a fairly high rpm at highway speeds... it's not quiet.
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> Captain of the Enterprise
02/13/2015 at 11:22 |
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I had a standard 2.5l 2002 Impreza, it was a really good car. Never had a head gasket issue. It did like to eat wheel bearings and axles. I thought the car was really well put together with high quality materials, all the plastic bits were still in good shape after 10 years of california sun. With a good detail it looked really good. I have also driven the Forester from the same era, very similar but higher seating position and much more ground clearance and cargo room. It's amazing how similar the two cars drive given how different they look (they are based on the same platform). Fuel economy on the imprezas is like 20/26 on a good day, Foresters is a bit less because of it's greater cross sectional area. Acceleration is okay and the engine has a really flat torque curve. You won't win any drag races unless the roads are solid ice.
BeaterGT
> Captain of the Enterprise
02/13/2015 at 11:27 |
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Definitely do a thorough test drive. Personally, I hate the hill assist system and the wind noise while on the highway.
vicali
> Captain of the Enterprise
02/13/2015 at 11:30 |
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Come look around http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/
also http://www.cars101.com/forester.html
You want an 03-05 SG5 or an 06-08 SG9; After the boxy SF models but before they turned into SH CUV models.
We have a 2008 Forester, http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/f115… it does daily family duty as well as TSD Rally duty. It's been an awesome wagon, never had a minute of trouble- even with the 'leaky' EJ25 headgasket issue out there.
More positives for you;
-If you get a 5spd you get 50/50 power distribution, 4eat auto is variable up to 50/50 but sits at 90F/10R most of the time.
-Parts switch between other Subarus is awesome, I've got an Sti catback that bolted on for $40, plus suspension bits from the wrx/sti lineup as well.
-Winter is a blast with awd and winter tires.
-If you can't fit something in the back of this true wagon then you probably don't need it.
Negatives;
-Headgaskets on the NA EJ25
-Mileage isn't great http://www.fuelly.com/car/subaru/for…
-AWD means if one tire gets wrecked you are buying a new set.