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New to Subaru

Hi

I'm from South Africa where Subarus are really scarce. Since my attention was drawn to Subaru I've read up a lot and decided that our next car will be a Forester - although I find them really ugly. (New model better though). The whole package of a safe, reliable car, that likes bad roads, appeals to me.

I have a few questions though:

  1. If boxer engines are that good, why are not more cars fitted with them?
  2. Are the Foresters prone to rattles? - this wont affect my buying decision.
  3. Manual or Auto?
4: Biggest question: We can get the previous model (2000-2001) with normal 2l engine for about R120 000 ($15 000) less than the new 2,5l. It seems to be a bargain, but are the 2l not underpowered (turbo excluded)?
  1. What about quality of previous model?

Any information, especially on the pros/cons as mentioned in 4 & 5, will be much appreciated. I need to make a decision between waiting about a year to be able to afford new Forester, or buy older one now.

( FYI: I've looked for a 2nd hand Forester, and all the cars (about 4) were available due to owners buying their second Forester in a row! Dealers here also do not worry about customer service (to find 2nd hand vehicles for prospective buyers) as it seems that there are buyers aplenty. )

Reply by news post or to snipped-for-privacy@spam.co.za . Replace spam with absamail.

May the Springboks beat England tomorrow. Please!

Regards

Andre

All other things being equal - fat people still uses more soap.

Reply to
André Conradie
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The Legacy and Outback are equally happy with bad New Zealand unsealed roads. I guess it just depends on *how* bad :-) The Forester certainyl has more clearance than the other two.

They cost more to manufacture.

Pure preference. What sort of driving do you do? If you're in traffic jams a lot, get auto. If you frequently go on roads that are *so* bad you have to go at walking pace then get an auto or a manula with a high/low range (I don't know if they sell those in SA ... they do in NZ but don't seem to in the USA).

My sister has a 2.0L manual Forester (which I've driven quite a bit). I have a 2.5L auto Legacy wagon. Neither has any trouble in the hills in NZ, but the 2.5 *is* a bit quicker even with the heavier car and auto transmission.

A friend has a 2.0L twin turbo manual Legacy wagon. That *does* feel quite underpowered below 2000 RPM, but by the time the turbo starts helping around 2000 - 2500 RPM it's a little stronger than my 2.5 (and totally incomparable after 3000...). I've tried doing 0 - 100 km/h in it and have trouble beating 10 seconds without feeling that I'm abusing the car. Apparently it'll do about 6 in the right hands. In my 2.5 auto you can just plant boot and be at 100 km/h just under nine seconds later -- every time, no fuss, no hassle. But after 100 km/h the turbo just leaps out to silly speeds. Not as quick as my 1100cc BMW bike (which does 0 - 100 in around 4 seconds), but pretty darn fast. My 2.5 Legacy gets lethargic once it changes into 3rd gear at around 110 km/h.

-- Bruce

Reply to
Bruce Hoult

Another aspect of this ansewr is that Subaru's parent company is Fuji Heavy Industries...and they cut their teeth making aircraft engines, so this design is one that's quite familiar to them.

-- Todd H.

2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, 2.5L H-4 Chicago, Illinois USA
Reply to
Todd H.

Every original VW bug and van had one. Seems like a lot to me.

Every light plane has one too, where power/weight and reliability matters.

My Legacy Outback is not. I would assume the same with a Forrester.

Manual, but it's your decision

I'll let someone else take this one. I have the 2.5 L and like it.

Reply to
Jim Stewart

And Porsches have boxers too (most their models at least)

Reply to
John

And at least one model of Ferrari. That's good company!

Reply to
Gilles Gour

I guess you should drive one to see if the power is adequate. The 2.2 is more reliable than the 2.5 and smoother off idle...at least some recent years. TG

Reply to
TG

The Forrester actually has .6 inch *less* clearance. Check out the specs.

Reply to
Alan Shein

Every year here in the UK, J D Power do a survey of 2 year old cars and their owners' opinions. Since around 1998 Subarus have scored highly. I can't remember which years these were, but one year the Impreza came top with the Legacy second. The following year, the positions were reversed. Last year, the Impreza was down around position 30 (out of 170) and the Legacy was about 12th. The Forester was in the top 5.

Quality and reliability don't seem to be huge problems in the UK.

Doug

Reply to
Douglas Barr

But much, much better takeoff and departure angles.

Reply to
Pete D

Hi

Thanks all for replies:

I have a perception that the Forester will be more at home on dirt roads than the Outback. This is solely from the more rugged looks of the Forester. Is this true. Are both cars equally well protected from stones,etc. I have sort of set my hart on a Forester, but may still be convinced towards the Outback, although I dont like the price difference.

Reply to
André Conradie

We preferred the highway ride of the Outback over the Forester. I don't think you'll go wrong with either.

Reply to
Jim Stewart

Drive them both and see. If you get the Forrester, get the XT. The OBW is more comfortable,handles better, and nicer. The XT is faster and _maybe_ holds a bit more stuff (debateable depending on the size and shape of what you need to carry.).

Reply to
Alan Shein

Have you driven each of them? I was going for the Forester too until I drove the Outback. The Outback is so much nicer, I think.

June

Reply to
Diva

I have an OBW but missed the real offroad ability so got a older Suzuki Sierra as well to get into the real offroad areas for fishing .

Reply to
Pete D

Can't speak for offroad ability, because I don't go offroad. The choice depends on you. The Forester is based on the Impreza platform, so it's a little shorter. There's not as much length in the tailgate as in the Outback (built on the Legacy platform).

However, if you're tall, the Forester gives you more headroom. This is particularly an issue if you're tall and you get a sunroof on the Outback.

Erik

Reply to
J. Erik Hemdal

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