Forester complaints

[P T]

My '04 base model (2.5x?) now has almost 4000 miles on it. Here are the
things I do not like about it:

-Ride is not as smooth as former vehicle ('99 Nissan Altima.)
-Noisier than former vehicle.
-Mileage (low-mid 20s.)
-Heater is uneven (Minnesota.)
-Hood dents easily.
-Wipers control has numerous functions on single stalk.
-Back side of rear seats seems flimsy. [I have a 42 pound dog who wants
me to put the rear seats down, so the can wander back there.]

[NOTE: There are many things I like about the vehicle. I'm just
reporting this for informational purposes, for those who might want to
know some negative issues.]

 

[hippo]

My '04 base model (2.5x?) now has almost 4000 miles on it. Here are the
things I do not like about it:

-Ride is not as smooth as former vehicle ('99 Nissan Altima.)
-Noisier than former vehicle.
-Mileage (low-mid 20s.)
-Heater is uneven (Minnesota.)
-Hood dents easily.
-Wipers control has numerous functions on single stalk.
-Back side of rear seats seems flimsy. [I have a 42 pound dog who wants
me to put the rear seats down, so the can wander back there.]

[NOTE: There are many things I like about the vehicle. I'm just
reporting this for informational purposes, for those who might want to
know some negative issues.]

Hmmm ... for your first and last points - aren't you comparing a Legacy
size vehicle with one based on a smaller platform (Impreza) & weighing
significantly less?
Aluminium hood? If so may be more prone to denting than a steel one on any
car, not just a Subi. I agree that some trim in Imprezas/Forestersa can be
a bit light on. My dogs are 26kg & 14kg border collies (57lb & 31lb young
one). They are quite happy to coexist on the back seat of an OB Ltd for
200km trips. Mind you, given half a chance either of them will take over
an entire car ... Try the (rather stupidly named) rear seat companion
(listed for Legacy /OB - don't know about yours - but if not, it'll just
be a bit wide) and see how you go - works for us. Bit less pacing room but
easier to wash and groom than the whole rear area! Cheers

 

[Frank Logullo]

My '04 base model (2.5x?) now has almost 4000 miles on it. Here are the
things I do not like about it:

-Ride is not as smooth as former vehicle ('99 Nissan Altima.)
-Noisier than former vehicle.
-Mileage (low-mid 20s.)
-Heater is uneven (Minnesota.)
-Hood dents easily.
-Wipers control has numerous functions on single stalk.
-Back side of rear seats seems flimsy. [I have a 42 pound dog who wants
me to put the rear seats down, so the can wander back there.]

No nothing about the Altima but assume apples and oranges comparison.
AWD is probably why you bought Forester. Of your complaints, I agree on
wiper controls.
Dog is your problem
Frank

 

[H]

Re: Ride comfort and noise - I just changed the stock Geolandar 900 tires
for Goodyear Triple Treads, That made all the difference. I even got $40 per
tire trade in for the Geolandars. Why on earth Subaru put those tires on is
beyond me. I can think of no better way to improve overall ride, control and
performance, probably mileage too since I can inflate them more and still
feel comfort. Also, note that Geolandar has 320 treadwear, B traction, while
TripleTreads have 740 treadwear and A traction. More than twice the tread
life. Do It!

 

[powertrain]

My '04 base model (2.5x?) now has almost 4000 miles on it. Here are
the things I do not like about it:

-Ride is not as smooth as former vehicle ('99 Nissan Altima.)

You're comparing a SUV with a car. Of course the ride will be smoother in
an Altima than in a Forester.

-Noisier than former vehicle.

Tires probably. Also, did you get the noise insulation treatment?

-Mileage (low-mid 20s.)

AWD burns up more fuel.

-Heater is uneven (Minnesota.)

Works fine in my WRX.

-Hood dents easily.

Valid complaint, and not just the hood: don't lean too hard on the doors
either.

-Wipers control has numerous functions on single stalk.

Personally I like it. No need to fiddle around: it's all on the same
stick.

-Back side of rear seats seems flimsy. [I have a 42 pound dog who
wants me to put the rear seats down, so the can wander back there.]

Dog in a car: it stinks, it's messy...

Dude, train it or get a pick up truck...

[NOTE: There are many things I like about the vehicle. I'm just
reporting this for informational purposes, for those who might want to
know some negative issues.]

 

[Bonehenge]

You're comparing a SUV with a car. Of course the ride will be smoother in
an Altima than in a Forester.

SUV? I thought he was talking about a Forester?

Barry

 

[Jim Stewart]

My '04 base model (2.5x?) now has almost 4000 miles on it. Here are the
things I do not like about it:

-Ride is not as smooth as former vehicle ('99 Nissan Altima.)
-Noisier than former vehicle.

We test-drove the Forester and bought the Legacy
Outback because of the ride.

-Mileage (low-mid 20s.)

Everyone complains about Subaru milage. I guess
it can't be helped.

-Heater is uneven (Minnesota.)
-Hood dents easily.
Agreed.

-Wipers control has numerous functions on single stalk.
Agreed.

-Back side of rear seats seems flimsy. [I have a 42 pound dog who wants
me to put the rear seats down, so the can wander back there.]

Did you try flipping the seat bench forward so that the
seat back nests down into the floor?

[NOTE: There are many things I like about the vehicle. I'm just
reporting this for informational purposes, for those who might want to
know some negative issues.]

 

[Hallraker]

My '04 base model (2.5x?) now has almost 4000 miles on it. Here are the
things I do not like about it:

-Ride is not as smooth as former vehicle ('99 Nissan Altima.)
-Noisier than former vehicle.
-Mileage (low-mid 20s.)
-Heater is uneven (Minnesota.)
-Hood dents easily.
-Wipers control has numerous functions on single stalk.
-Back side of rear seats seems flimsy. [I have a 42 pound dog who wants
me to put the rear seats down, so the can wander back there.]

[NOTE: There are many things I like about the vehicle. I'm just
reporting this for informational purposes, for those who might want to
know some negative issues.]

Heater is uneven?

-Matt

 

[Rat]

My '04 base model (2.5x?) now has almost 4000 miles on it. Here are the
things I do not like about it:

-Ride is not as smooth as former vehicle ('99 Nissan Altima.)

Apples to oranges, but I feel the suspension does a pretty good job on
this vehicle. A stiffer rear sway bar will reduce lean in turns
significantly.

-Noisier than former vehicle.

I haven't noticed ours being very noisy (04 XT) - what kind of noise?

-Mileage (low-mid 20s.) AWD
-Heater is uneven (Minnesota.)

Agreed - the automatic climate control sucks. A step backwards from
previous subarus.

-Hood dents easily.

It's aluminum. Try not to slam it either.

-Wipers control has numerous functions on single stalk.

I believe this is a positive. All in one place, once you learn them it
is very easy to use.

-Back side of rear seats seems flimsy. [I have a 42 pound dog who wants
me to put the rear seats down, so the can wander back there.]

Haven't tested that yet but good to know.

 

[powertrain]

SUV? I thought he was talking about a Forester?

Yes, compact SUV. Ever heard of them? You know, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4
and such?

http://auto.consumerguide.com/auto/new/index.cfm/act/class/classid/9

 

[Bonehenge]

Yes, compact SUV. Ever heard of them? You know, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4
and such?

Sure. I just never think of them as SUVs. A think of my Jeep
Wrangler as a real compact SUV.

My buddy's Forester drives so much like a car, as do the others you
mentioned, that I forget about that class. Isn't the Forester mostly
Impreza parts? What makes a Forester, CRV, or RAV4 more sporty or
more utilitarian than an Outback?

Conversation of the century, from the sales manager when I'm buying my
'01 OBW:

Her: "And don't forget it insures like a car"
Me: "It _is_ a car"
Her: "Yes, that's true, think it's going to rain today?"

I know the '05 OBW was raised an inch and called a truck. Ah...
marketing <G>

Barry

 

[ZZ]

My '04 base model (2.5x?) now has almost 4000 miles on it. Here are the
things I do not like about it:

-Ride is not as smooth as former vehicle ('99 Nissan Altima.)
-Noisier than former vehicle.
-Mileage (low-mid 20s.)
-Heater is uneven (Minnesota.)
-Hood dents easily.
-Wipers control has numerous functions on single stalk.
-Back side of rear seats seems flimsy. [I have a 42 pound dog who wants
me to put the rear seats down, so the can wander back there.]

[NOTE: There are many things I like about the vehicle. I'm just
reporting this for informational purposes, for those who might want to
know some negative issues.]

My main complaint on a 2005 XT (USA) model is the fact that they put
the cruise controls on a stalk instead of the spokes of the wheel. The
cruise control stalk rotates with the wheel, unlike the wiper & light
stalks which remain fixed.
I keep bumping my leg into the thing when I get in and out unless I
remember to center the wheel. Constantly afraid the stalk will break
off and cost too many $$$$ to repair.

 

[powertrain]

Sure. I just never think of them as SUVs. A think of my Jeep
Wrangler as a real compact SUV.

My buddy's Forester drives so much like a car, as do the others you
mentioned, that I forget about that class. Isn't the Forester mostly
Impreza parts? What makes a Forester, CRV, or RAV4 more sporty or
more utilitarian than an Outback?

Boxy design, rides higher, arguably more storage. I suppose it depends on
your definition of "sporty". Mine would be something like going down a
twisty dirt road in a WRX faster than anyone and not wrap it around a
tree. Regardless of that, a CRV, RAV4 or Forester will always ride harder
than a four door sedan. An Altima isn't designed to drive well on bumpy
dirt roads, a Forester is.

Conversation of the century, from the sales manager when I'm buying my
'01 OBW:

Her: "And don't forget it insures like a car"
Me: "It _is_ a car"
Her: "Yes, that's true, think it's going to rain today?"

Actually it's snowing. Whoohoo!

 

[ZZ]

On Fri, 10 Dec 2004 04:26:41 -0600, (e-mail address removed) (P T) wrote:

Come to think of it there is one more thing that really annoys me
about my 05 Forester XT (USA):
The A/C, heater, defroster sounds like a F16 on takeoff. PLEASE
Subaru, some sound insulation/baffles in the air system.

 

[hippo]

Come to think of it there is one more thing that really annoys me
about my 05 Forester XT (USA):
The A/C, heater, defroster sounds like a F16 on takeoff. PLEASE
Subaru, some sound insulation/baffles in the air system.

Might be worth checking that nothing's fallen down into the fan blades or
the air plenum, or maybe for a shot fan bearing. Don't remember them
sounding quite that bad.
Cheers.