Car Experience Query....

[theodosia]

Anybody have a Subaru Forester or have a strong opinion on them? I've gone ahead and signed up with the auto buyer guy (whom I liked quite a bit), and one of the prospects we're going to see on Wednesday is a used '04 (IIRC) Forester, with most of the features that are on my wish list.

I've heard good things about Subarus, but I can't remember any exposure to a Forester in particular....

Comments

[dxmachina.livejournal.com]

I've never driven a Forester, but I have nothing but good things to say about Subarus in general. My only wish is that they made trucks, too.

[dmk.livejournal.com]

As I mentioned in a comment on a previous post, I really like my 1997 Outback. Check the various online price guides. Bill and I are a couple of weeks into a 30-day Car Fax package, and can look up VINs for you for no additional charge (highly recommended). E-mail me for more details.

[veejane.livejournal.com]

You know, you should ask cofax7. I don't remember whether that was what she ended up buying, but she investigated it thoroughly when she bought her new car, some 1.5 years ago.

She said hi, by the way.

Also, I concur with DX's assessment of Subarus generally -- we had a clunky old wagon when I was a teenager, and it was a good clunky old wagon, except for its electrical ssytem, which after 10 years of wear became a little "creative." The red Check Engine light was how that Subaru came to be called Roxanne. (Because he would put it on, unnecessarily, and we would say, "Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light!")

[noisedesign.livejournal.com]

Kristin drives a Forester and loves it. It is apparently her second one, and I think it might even be a 2004. I've never heard her say anything but good about it.

[pix-kristin.livejournal.com]

Drew is correct--I luvre my Subaru Forester, and yes, it's even a 2004. I leased a 2001 for three years and fell so totally in love that I bought a brand new one about a year and a half ago. Fantastic car.

[heuradys.livejournal.com]

I've heard better things about the v6 LL Bean edition than the v4 plain, but I haven't heard much either way. Faux!Bob wants me to buy one, though, so you have the opinion of a man who looks like Gordon Pinsent.

[janni.livejournal.com]

If my next car can't be a hybrid, a Forester is pretty high on my list.

[christymarx.livejournal.com]

I've been driving Subarus for about 18 years. They're excellent cars and I hear great things about the Forester.

[aviatrix18.livejournal.com]

I have always heard good things about Subarus. I think Larry Lennhoff owns a Subaru wagon or he did. Ernoe's folks have a Legacy - which is the sedan model of Subaru and they are very happy. Their neightbor just bought one too. I belong to consumer reports so if you want their used car report on a Subaru - let me know.

Kate

[readsalot.livejournal.com]

Well, I think it's the same model as the one that squished my car two years ago, but that's not necessarily a drawback--that one did properly inflate the airbag to protect its driver, and seemed fairly undamaged after the accident. I thought the Forester was way bigger than the Civic, but it looks like the only real difference is that it's a foot wider. That may make your curbside parking a bit more difficult. It also probably gets much worse mileage than you're used to: I just checked, and a 2004 Forester X AWD 4dr wagon with a manual transmission gets 21/27mpg (city/highway), whereas a 2004 Honda Civic EX with manual transmission gets 32/37 mpg.

[chikat.livejournal.com]

I drive a 2003 Forester (bought it new so I've been driving it for a little over 2 years). I absolutely love it. I like in a wintery place, too, and it handles like a dream in the snow. I find I get about 23-24 MPG on average (combo of highway and city driving, but that highway driving is in Chicago, so not exactly smooth, consistent driving).