Impressions of the Subaru Forester

[JulesMaximus]

I returned the Ford Expedition and they gave me a Subaru Forester so I thought I'd post up my initial impressions of the car.

This car is the perfect car… if you live in the mountains a mile off the main road down a never maintained dirt path. It is tall, it is easy to get in and out of and has excellent ground clearance, which is all good for the mountain man but if you live in the city and commute on freeways all the time you’ll find that the ride is fairly choppy and stiff. Also, this car has 37k miles on it and it has developed a fair amount of rattles which are very noticeable over our pothole ridden city streets.

It does have excellent outward visibility, because of all the glass, and you sit up fairly high in the cabin which gives you a commanding view of the road ahead but all that glass also makes it kind of noisy at freeway speeds. It is not a luxury car by any means. The seats are reasonably comfortable and the fabric seems fairly durable but there is cheap plastic everywhere including the steering wheel. Despite the hard plastic steering wheel, I actually like the way the steering feels. Probably one of the better features of this car quite frankly, it is very direct and provides a fair amount of feedback.

The engine is fairly peppy off the line but that CVT transmission just makes it feel like the engine is mated to a bowl of thick oatmeal and the oatmeal is mated to the wheels. The harder you press the accelerator the more noise the engine makes and the oatmeal translates that noise into forward momentum. Unlike the steering, there is nothing direct about the way it translates foot action into forward thrust. Still it moves reasonably well. It feels like a lightweight box with lots of glass, which is basically what it is.

Also, I’m again disgusted by the condition of yet another rental car. Enterprise clearly doesn’t take any pride in cleaning these things up for the next renter. Wash the exterior and vacuum it and leave all the sticky gooey secretions of the previous 100 drivers and passengers for the next renter to enjoy. I find myself cleaning the surfaces I have to touch before I drive anywhere.

Personally, unless you need off-road capability, I'd pass on this car and get something like the RAV4 or even the Subaru Outback.

Oh, and I'm averaging around 18mpg... which is about the same or less than I average in my 400hp Mercedes.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Driven like a rental car.

At 18mpg, sounds like you're continuing the tradition.

 

[BurnItDwn]

You got the turbo version as a rental? (XT)

 

[jlee]

Driven like a rental car.

At 18mpg, sounds like you're continuing the tradition.

Yeah...Jules, I think you're doing it wrong. An XT getting the crap kicked out of it, maybe...

http://www.fuelly.com/car/subaru/forester

 

[dullard]

Yes, that is how Foresters are. My wife wanted a cheap, 4WD, high clearance, lots of glass vehicle with no creature comforts. So the Forester was the only real option. It drives terribly with lots of noise; except for on snow/ice or when we visit the mountains (3 to 4 times per year). But if you wanted a vehicle on the freeway, I see no logical reason why you'd be in any SUV let alone a Forester.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yes, that is how Foresters are. My wife wanted a cheap, 4WD, high clearance, lots of glass vehicle with no creature comforts. So the Forester was the only real option. It drives terribly with lots of noise; except for on snow/ice or when we visit the mountains (3 to 4 times per year). But if you wanted a vehicle on the freeway, I see no logical reason why you'd be in any SUV let alone a Forester.

I originally rented a Ford Expedition because my sister was out visiting for a few days and we wanted a bigger vehicle to easily carry all of us around. I didn't ask for another SUV to replace it. This is just what they gave me. I couldn't possibly care less if it was a 4 door sedan or an SUV. I was paying more for the Expedition though so I wanted to return it and replace it with something my insurance would fully pay for.

Driven like a rental car.

At 18mpg, sounds like you're continuing the tradition.

I'm just driving it normally. I'm not kicking the shit out of it.

My commute is half city and half freeway which is typically stop and go. I was getting 16mpg in the Ford Expedition.

When I went to lunch it was reading a bit higher at 19mpg. I'll reset it for the trip home and monitor it over the next few days and see what it indicates.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Still love my '05 Forester XT. It's far from perfect, though. The gas mileage is crap and always has been - I get about 17.5 MPG around town. Ride is stiff and downright noisy on the highway, but it's sporty, and acceptable for the quintessential lesbian grocery hauler. I wouldn't want to take it off road on much more than a well maintained dirt road. Ground clearance isn't really that great. Nice for when there's more than 8" of snow, but nobody is going 4-wheeling in their stock Forester. The only minor issue I've ever had is a rough shifting automatic transmission, especially when cold.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I reset the fuel economy meter and it is now reading closer to 25mpg but after driving home in this car I have say I'm even less impressed by it. The ride is absolute shit, really choppy and stiff and the seats are hard as rocks.

I hate this car.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Subaru is known for having ridiculously cheap plasticky interiors that have mystery rattles everywhere.

If you need AWD for less than $25K buy a Subaru - for all others, there is a much better option!

 

[JulesMaximus]

I rode my motorcycle to work today. Honestly, I think it is more comfortable than the Forester is.

 

[gorcorps]

I will say, I have never been a Subaru fan, but when I lived in Montana, everyone had a Subaru for their durability. I don't think I can ever say I like the look of them, but they do last forever and can take a beating. Almost every vehicle in Montana had broken windshields and dents. If you have never been, about 1/4 of the roads in Montana are still dirt or gravel roads.

I don't get this though, because any honda or toyota should be just as reliable and IMO has better comfort and creature comforts as well. Maybe it's a price thing, but I just don't get the whole subaru thing with everything else that's out there.

 

[NutBucket]

You either get it or you don't I guess. Our Forester is our 4th Subaru. I'd say my biggest dislike are the seats. The bottom cushions are on the hard side and it doesn't help I lack natural padding.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[pauldun170]

In laws just picked up a 17 for about 30k.
Visibilty is about the only good thing going for it over the competition.
They are averaging about 20mpg.
I dont care about the hype about Subaru awd. Other cars get the same job done.

 

[NutBucket]

For $30k and 20mpg I'll assume they got the turbo. Otherwise they really have lead feet LOL.

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[NutBucket]

Yeah...Jules, I think you're doing it wrong. An XT getting the crap kicked out of it, maybe...

http://www.fuelly.com/car/subaru/forester

Using any data from fuelly or fueleconomy.gov is going to be skewed though since usually people that carefully record fuel economy are trying to drive somewhat economically.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Using any data from fuelly or fueleconomy.gov is going to be skewed though since usually people that carefully record fuel economy are trying to drive somewhat economically.

I was just reporting what the car indicated was the average fuel economy. Since resetting the thing it is now averaging around 24mpg.

This car sucks ass by the way. I spent 2 hours in it yesterday afternoon stuck in traffic and couldn't wait to get home and get the fuck out of it.

 

[pauldun170]

For $30k and 20mpg I'll assume they got the turbo. Otherwise they really have lead feet LOL.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

Nope.
Non turbo and I don't think they realize the gas pedal goes past the first 1/4 inch of travel. Usually takes them about 3 hrs to get 30mph from stop. They are definitely not the lead foot type.
They are coming from an Isuzu Axiom where they averaged 17.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Using any data from fuelly or fueleconomy.gov is going to be skewed though since usually people that carefully record fuel economy are trying to drive somewhat economically.

I don't

 

[crashtech]

Pretty sure Foresters are the worst Subaru that I regularly put my hands on. First obvious tip is the sound when you shut the door, it ought not sound like an out of tune timpani drum. They are tin cans, an embarrassment to an otherwise excellent car company.

 

[Kaido]

Do you know what year it was? We have a 2015 (non-XT) & love it. It's the only CVT I've ever liked driving. The EyeSight system works great. Very sparse & utilitarian though. I keep thinking about getting a second one to replace my Renegade, but it's a little snug for me.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's a 2016

 

[Herr Kutz]

noise wise, I don't find the latest iteration of the forester any worse than any of the other japanese competitiors

edit; at ~70mph

 

[herm0016]

I love and agree with your description of the subbi CVT. the steering in them is like driving an old pickup too. I get 17.5 in my 1/2 ton chevy and it rides and drives much better than an outback or a forrester.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The piece of crap is gone. I have my car back.