M
Mark W
I'm in the market for a Forester and am leaning heavily towards an LL
Bean. I don't care about the 6 CD Changer, Moonroof, etc. but leather
seats are important to me as well as the winter features such as the
windshield wiper defrosters. I know I may be able to look at a older
(03-04) XS with leather added but I don't want to get a car that's too
old. I have even considered a 05 or 06 Premium with leather added
aftermarket. The perfect car would be a LL Bean though and I'm just
undecided between a 05 and 06.
I know 05's can be hard to find at a good price. The deals I've seen
(there are few) are almost as expensive as a new car.
Two things concern me about the newer 06's.
First, I do like the new sleeker look of the 06's much more than the
05's. Yet I'm a practical person. Things like gas mileage, safety,
and practicalltiy are what I look at. Looks aren't everything to me
but what concerns me, if I'm reading right the 06's actually have
slightly less room in the back than the 05's. Is this true? As well,
it seems like cabin space is also less but not as much of a
difference. I even notice it seems from 02 to 03 there was a drop in
space.
Second, the spare tire. it seems they switched from a full size spare
to doughnut tire in the 06's. Yet from my reading, is this all
models? Some web sites lead me to below only the X did that, the
others still have full-size but it mentions the full size being
replaced by a smaller spare and storage area. I know I can buy a full
size and keep it in the back but even it doesn't have full size, could
I still buy a full size and fit it in the area that the small size is
currently in?
At one point I thought that the 06's had rear air bags but it seems I
must have read wrong. I know from what I'm reading there was a
increase in ground clearance which I like. As well, I don't know how
important this is but I know the 06's have more HP. I'm not into
speed but want something that's powerful and in Colorado where I live
something that can do mountain driving. As well, I know the car alarm
is standard now which I like.
I know there may be other differences I'm overlooking but the size and
spare tire are my two biggest concerns. I know there are a lot of
improvements and everything is pluses and minuses. There is no
perfect car. I think every year with new safety features such as more
airbags, etc. it's a challenge to sell an affordable car and sometimes
featurs have to be cut.
Bean. I don't care about the 6 CD Changer, Moonroof, etc. but leather
seats are important to me as well as the winter features such as the
windshield wiper defrosters. I know I may be able to look at a older
(03-04) XS with leather added but I don't want to get a car that's too
old. I have even considered a 05 or 06 Premium with leather added
aftermarket. The perfect car would be a LL Bean though and I'm just
undecided between a 05 and 06.
I know 05's can be hard to find at a good price. The deals I've seen
(there are few) are almost as expensive as a new car.
Two things concern me about the newer 06's.
First, I do like the new sleeker look of the 06's much more than the
05's. Yet I'm a practical person. Things like gas mileage, safety,
and practicalltiy are what I look at. Looks aren't everything to me
but what concerns me, if I'm reading right the 06's actually have
slightly less room in the back than the 05's. Is this true? As well,
it seems like cabin space is also less but not as much of a
difference. I even notice it seems from 02 to 03 there was a drop in
space.
Second, the spare tire. it seems they switched from a full size spare
to doughnut tire in the 06's. Yet from my reading, is this all
models? Some web sites lead me to below only the X did that, the
others still have full-size but it mentions the full size being
replaced by a smaller spare and storage area. I know I can buy a full
size and keep it in the back but even it doesn't have full size, could
I still buy a full size and fit it in the area that the small size is
currently in?
At one point I thought that the 06's had rear air bags but it seems I
must have read wrong. I know from what I'm reading there was a
increase in ground clearance which I like. As well, I don't know how
important this is but I know the 06's have more HP. I'm not into
speed but want something that's powerful and in Colorado where I live
something that can do mountain driving. As well, I know the car alarm
is standard now which I like.
I know there may be other differences I'm overlooking but the size and
spare tire are my two biggest concerns. I know there are a lot of
improvements and everything is pluses and minuses. There is no
perfect car. I think every year with new safety features such as more
airbags, etc. it's a challenge to sell an affordable car and sometimes
featurs have to be cut.