newbie needs an opinion

oops, I meant Forester has more clearance, not Outback ...

Depending on model years:

You were correct. The Outback does have more clearance. The Forrester is an optical illusion. The Outback has higher ground clearance and holds more than the Forester. The Outbacks generally are nicer and more comfortable.

How much snow do you get?

Not all that much -- I live in the central Ohio area. I like the WRX too but don't know how it does in snow what with its lower clearance, wheelbase, etc.

Jim Stewart wrote in news:EdidnT snipped-for-privacy@omsoft.com:

Thanks, that's good to know! The WRX would be alot more fun than the Forester anyway!

The WRX would be fine. My wife takes hers up in the Sierras every weekend skiing and hasn't had any problems.

I lived near Lima for a year and drove an old Datsun B210 and only had a problem with traction, never depth of snow. I don't think you will have any problems at all with a WRX.

Jim Stewart wrote in news:EdidnT snipped-for-privacy@omsoft.com:

Anybody else have an opinion on WRX vs. Forester vs. Outback? For a commuter car with some infrequent use in snow. So far WRX sounds like a winner. I should also mention that I will occasionally have 1 or 2 small (currently!) children in the back seat but usually we cart them around in the minivan. Thanks!

DB

I have a WRX Wagon. At xmas in the area around Florence, KY, we had about 9 inches of snow. I handled it just fine, both because AWD is cool as hell, but also because I know better than to bite off more than I can chew.

That depends on the snow in your area. It snows a lot here but it never accumulates on the roads so snow pack or ice is all I have to deal with. In my situation I think the Legacy wagon is the best choice...handles and rides better than the outback or forester and the added length makes it more stable on ice compared to an impreza. TG

the limited slips in the WRX will blow away the outback or Forester in deeper stuff....snow has to really accumulate before clearance is an issue. TG

Just curious why you keep leaving the Legacy out of your list? TG

Unfortunately the are built in Indiana while Forester is built in Japan. The Forester is about 400lbs lighter than the Outback (depending on option/model etc.).

Many Foresters -do- have the rear wheel limited slip differential installed, as part of the All-Weather package. The 2005 Forester XS has it; the 2005 Forester X doesn't. My 2001 Forester S has it.

Don't know -- for some reason I just don't like it as much as the others.

outback has limited slip plus higher clearance and moresuspension. wrx wins in street racing but the outback wins in offroad/snow situations

comfortable.

option/model

I don't know that the car being built in Indiana is a problem. Mine has exibited no problems in over 30K miles. In any event, it really depends on what the individual is looking for. The Forester is less expensive, but the OBW is nicer and has a nicer ride. They sell a lot of both. My point was not to assume that the Forester has a higher ground clearance than the OBW, as it does not.