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Chockstone Forum - Gear Lust / Lost & Found

Rave About Your Rack Please do not post retail SPAM.

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Subaru Outback & Forester

pete_w

9-Feb-2008
8:42:09 PM

I currently have an 05 WRX (2.0L) on a company lease which is coming up for replacement around the middle of the year. I had a spin in the new WRX which was a major disappointment - no snap in the right foot (although apparently quicker it certainly doesn't feel like it), dull disconnected steering, soft suspension + body roll, and I still think it looks like a Daewoo. It did however give me a big smile when I jumped back in my car...

Going to give the XT a chance (if the WRX feels like a Forester you might as well get the ride height [and room?] as well), but some of the pictures of the new model make it look more like a Rav4 than a Forrester which is a bit concerning.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/2008subaruforestermy094.jpg

The Liberty GT would be the pick, but unfortunately I don't have that sort of money to spend. I have driven a 3L Spec B Liberty which is quite nice, but the gearbox has weird ratios, and it chews the juice more than my car...

Paul

9-Feb-2008
9:53:50 PM

On 9/02/2008 MrKyle wrote:

>- Expensive to maintain.

I agree, after hitting numerous forms of wildlife in my Subaru. They will cost much more to repair than other common makes. e.g. Subaru Impreza hed light $270, equivilent Toyota corola head light $95, and you cant buy much in the way of generic non subaru parts either . But they are beautiful to drive though and I would probably get another one.


vwills

10-Feb-2008
12:12:13 AM

I love my Forester. Have slept in the front seat, the back seat and with the seats folded down- have to sleep diagonally. Not surprisingly this last method is more comfortable but would not work with 2. Am about to buy another one

Warning ad***** about to appear:

Forester Limited (non turbo) for sale. 1997. 270,000km. Very reliable. (Except when clutch hose leaked on way to Buffalo at New Year- but was reputably replaced in Wodonga). One lady owner. (No sniggers please). In Newcastle. Good condition. Rego to end of October. $7000. Send me a PM or email.

dave

10-Feb-2008
1:15:53 PM

On 9/02/2008 pete_w wrote:
>I had a spin in the new WRX, ... and I still think it looks like a Daewoo.
>...Going to give the XT a chance, but some of the pictures
>of the new model make it look more like a Rav4 than a Forrester which is
>a bit concerning.

What is subaru doing? first the tribeca, then the wrx and now the forester...they are destroying all these models!

11-Feb-2008
10:06:24 AM

It doesn't look 'that' different to the current model. still boxy, but just a bit more rounded out... rear vision mirrors do look a little odd..

again, I will add my two cents worth. I think the forrester/outback is a really great victorian climbers car. Great for the grampians crap roads, and small enough to deal with parking the thing in inner city. Also great for taking up to the snow, and dealing with slippery wet roads in winter...

Mine has been super reliable- but selling due to going OS.. It will be a struggle not to get another one once I get back.


IdratherbeclimbingM9

11-Feb-2008
10:43:38 AM

>Does anyone know how wide they are inside
>- from door to door
>- from wheel to wheel (so the minimum width)?

I imagine any dealer of the product could supply a brochure, if the info is not already online.
You could always take a tape measure with you if you front up in person for a brochure!


nmonteith

11-Feb-2008
10:47:57 AM

On 11/02/2008 kd wrote:
>It doesn't look 'that' different to the current model. still boxy, but
>just a bit more rounded out... rear vision mirrors do look a little odd..

That extra rear vision mirror is only for the Japanese model.

Either drive.com.au or carsales.com.au will be able to tell you dimensions. You can even compare multiple models at carsales.com.au


dreamingof8a

11-Feb-2008
1:49:53 PM

online I've been only ableto find exterior dimensions. Will use the tape measure I guess


Rich

11-Feb-2008
4:25:22 PM

On 9/02/2008 Rat Man wrote:
>I've got a 99 GT (turbo) Forester and it is the best car I've ever had.

Hey Christian, didn't realise you had one of these.. I'm also in the market at the moment and am leaning towards the forester GT model.. I'm wondering what the fuel difference would be between this and the standard normally aspirated model on say an average trip to northern gramps.. anyone? Turbo does sound like a lot of fun when you want it!


nmonteith

11-Feb-2008
4:47:46 PM

On 11/02/2008 Rich wrote:
>Hey Christian, didn't realise you had one of these.. I'm also in the market
>at the moment and am leaning towards the forester GT model.. I'm wondering
>what the fuel difference would be between this and the standard normally
>aspirated model on say an average trip to northern gramps.. anyone? Turbo
>does sound like a lot of fun when you want it!

One of the downsides of the XT turbo model is that it doesn't have low-range. It also requires more expensive 95 octane fuel.

Fuel use for manual

XT
City - 15.4 l/100km
Highway - 8.6 l/100km

Normal
City - 10 l/100km
Highway - 7.2 l/100km

Anyone want to do the maths on this? Its a bit more than 300km or so to Arapiles. 600km round trip. Make sure you factor in the more expensive 95 octane fuel...


Rich

11-Feb-2008
5:05:16 PM

On 11/02/2008 nmonteith wrote:
>Anyone want to do the maths on this? Its a bit more than 300km or so to
>Arapiles. 600km round trip. Make sure you factor in the more expensive
>95 octane fuel...

sure you don't want to do the calcs neil? ;)

Based on those figures it will about $15 more expensive on a trip to Araps.

Not that bad I guess when you have a lot more power available should you decide to be silly. Apparently you can get it up to 100kmh 4 seconds quicker, ie 6 secs compared to 10secs (that's the new model anyway).


nmonteith

11-Feb-2008
5:06:18 PM

ok - i was bored and did the maths!

600km of highway only kilometres (you won't achieve this as you will be going in and out of Melbourne and have to drive up the long uphill section to Ballarat).

Forester XT Turbo
$75.00

Forester Non-Turbo
$58.00

A difference of $17

i think realistically it would be more like a $25 difference since a trip to Araps usually costs about $90 in our non-turbo forester.

11-Feb-2008
5:13:17 PM

Plus I am not entirely sure that I would want to buy a second hand turbo model...
well with my very rudimentary car knowledge anyway.

much more likely to have been effectively thrashed...

More fun though... potentially too much fun though..


nmonteith

11-Feb-2008
5:13:51 PM

Don't get me wrong - i'm all for MORE POWER! :-)


Rich

11-Feb-2008
5:18:21 PM

On 11/02/2008 nmonteith wrote:
>Don't get me wrong - i'm all for MORE POWER! :-)

I know!!! help me justify it!!! ;-)


nmonteith

11-Feb-2008
5:21:36 PM

A turbo forester would be cheaper than my car for fuel. Using the figures above mine clocked in at $84 for the 600 kilometre journey.

I think a Turbo forester would be good if bought new - but potentially bad second hand unless you really knew the history of the previous owner. I think the turbo wears out the whole engine sooner as well - so you won't be getting 300,000+ km with an XT.

Factor in insurance as well just to be sure...


Rat Man

12-Feb-2008
6:17:57 PM

Yes, the GT is more expensive in every way.

Fuel - I put 98 octane in - BP Ultimate is best. but 12c/L more than regular. But turbo's can be an efficient system if you're running constant boost like on a highway - gentle throttle control is the key for fuel efficiency.

Insurance - I never got a quote under $1,200 (rating 1, over 30, garaged on the property - absured considering that the market value on the car is $12K). Some companies wont even insure a turbo car for people under 30. - Makes me wonder about p-plating international students with their souped up skylines and WRX's. good luck with that..........

Servicing - (applies to all subaru's not GT specific) a little more expensive as the sparkplugs are an absolute bugger to get out. The heads point horizontally to both sides and don't have much clearance with the wall of the engine bay. - Get your mechanic to put the best (platinum or iridium) plugs in, and you can replace them less often. You can get generic parts for the majority of servicing consumables- A lot of subaru parts are rebadged from the japanese manufacturer. An example is the replacement timing belt kit (Belt, Pullies, Hydraulic Tensioner) for the 200,000 service from scoobydoo was twice the price of the replacement kit from the worlds largest manufacturer (Brand xxxx cant remember!) that supplies Ford, Holden, Suzuki, Toyota and... Subaru. Must be an expensive box ay?

Parts - As described above there are a few alternatives. But yes genuine parts are stupid expensive - must be trying to pay off that fancy showroom at the docklands.

Turbo - If the turbo has been running standard boost for it's life then it'll last as long as the car, problems arise when a $80 bleed valve is used to up the boost a few extra PSI which gives EXTRA POWER (insert evil genius laugh here).

The turbo version is the premium model across the Subaru range and some people buy the most expensive version regardless and get all the options. I've seen many a Toorak grandma putting about in a turbo subaru that've probably never given it more than half throttle in it's life. - Try and buy one of these!!!!

But cars are like relationships, there are good ones that'll last forever and bad ones that'll give you grief and empty your wallet and no real way to tell until you dive in.

Hope this helps, Love my GT
Christian

Check out the for sale forum on www.gtrydaz.com for second hand foresters but be warned that most cars on this site will have been thrashed but loved.


nmonteith

12-Feb-2008
6:34:55 PM

On 12/02/2008 Rat Man wrote:
>Some companies wont even insure a turbo car for people under
>30.

I'd say most won't touch anything with the word Subaru and Turbo in the title! That was my experience in getting insurance for an Impreza when I was under 30....


manacubus

13-Feb-2008
11:57:17 AM

I have never had an issue insuring my turbo Forester in my twenties. Under $600 always. Try AAMI.

And yes, while they do suck the fuel a bit, I would still buy one over a standard Forester. My calculations would be that it would cost you about $90 for 600km's if you're paying $1.30/L (yes, I'm in QLD).

Oh, another quick tip to be aware of is that the 100,000km service on the Forester is more painful than a prostate exam by Edward Scissorhands. The minimum you will pay is $1,200, and mine just cost $2,400. So if you're looking at one with 98,000km on the clock - be advised! (Note that other services are reasonable, a few hundred dollars).


nmonteith

13-Feb-2008
12:03:44 PM

...and you have proved that your GT can tow a tralier-load of gear and 4 people as well Lee!

There are 63 messages in this topic.