Forester vs. Outback Wagon

[Cory]

I've been looking for a used Subaru in these two models and am trying to
budget myself to $15,000. Is it possible to get a decent one in this price
range? I like them both, but there are some pros and cons that I'm
wrestling with. I like the big cargo space in the Outback, but the rear
seat foot room (under the front seats) is very tight. The Forester has lots
of rear seat foot room and I also like the bigger windows. If anyone else
was deciding between these two models, I'd be interested in what finally
swayed you one way or the other.

Another thing, I've been comparing specs between the two, but one thing I
haven't found is how loud they are at freeway speeds. I drove them both on
a windy day and it made it difficult to tell if there was much of a
difference between them. Is there a website with info like that?

Finally, is there a safe and practical way to raise the front seats in the
Outback an inch or two? Thanks for the help.

Cory

 

[D.K.]

I've been looking for a used Subaru in these two models and am trying to
budget myself to $15,000. Is it possible to get a decent one in this price
range? I like them both, but there are some pros and cons that I'm
wrestling with. I like the big cargo space in the Outback, but the rear
seat foot room (under the front seats) is very tight. The Forester has lots
of rear seat foot room and I also like the bigger windows. If anyone else
was deciding between these two models, I'd be interested in what finally
swayed you one way or the other.

I had the same dilemma a year ago and I ended up buying Forester
(new). Reasons:
- it felt "better" in test drive;
- I had reservations about quality of Indiana-assemled Outbacks;
- Forester was cheaper;
- seat position is more suitable for my weak back.

DK

 

[David]

I've been looking for a used Subaru in these two models and am trying to
budget myself to $15,000. Is it possible to get a decent one in this price
range? I like them both, but there are some pros and cons that I'm
wrestling with. I like the big cargo space in the Outback, but the rear
seat foot room (under the front seats) is very tight. The Forester has lots
of rear seat foot room and I also like the bigger windows. If anyone else
was deciding between these two models, I'd be interested in what finally
swayed you one way or the other.

I'm looking for a new-to-me practical car. Hopefully a little fun too. I've thought
about both of these, but haven't yet gone shopping.

Here's the comparison as I see it. A lot of this could be wrong.
Engines: OBWs have avaliable 6 cyl. I've gotten the impression that Sube 6s are better than
their 4s. I don't see any used ones with a 6 though, and I don't even know if they offered a
6 with a manual transmission.

Bikes: Forrester can fit bikes in the back, upright, front wheel off, I think without lowering
the seat. I think they might fit in an OBW, but with the seat lowered.

Roof: Forrester has available a large sliding moonroof. For OBW, I don't think
the roof above the driver slides (it includes the hump).

VDC available on OBW, not Forester.

LS rear diff standard on new Forresters. Not sure about finding it on used ones, or
on OBWs. Don't recall the VDCdetails, but it may be a better setup. Good luck finding a
used OBW though with VDC though.

Sleeping in the back: more room for it in an OBW.

Ground clearance: OBW.

Handling: OBW.

 

[Richard Chang]

LS rear diff standard on new Forresters. Not sure about finding it on used
ones, or on OBWs.

Limited-slip rear differentials are standard on the 2003+ Forester XS,
but not on the Forester X.

-R.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Limited slip differentials were standard on 2000 F XS.

 

[Shit happens in a Renault]

It depends on what country you're in. There are different specs for indivual
countries.

 

[Mike B.]

The Outback always give better gas. Not sure why but that was a big complaint
on the Forester drivers.
Like my outback. The Foresters at the time ('02) looked wimpy and little
comfort controls (heated seats and stuff).

 

[GTT]

Well, I can see why gas mileage would be a factor. But we chose the
Forester over the OB because of the more comfortable drive,
the roomier feel inside, and we really liked the handling the way the
Forester handled. Maybe just a biased personal feeling, but that was
our reason for buying Forester. But ours has heated seats, wiper
defrosters, outside mirror-defoggers, all that "essential" stuff.

Actually, we didn't really want or need that stuff in our climate, but
we insisted on a car that was ALL WHITE. The only way we could
get that in the Forester was in the Premium XS so that's what we
bought. But they did deal on the price!

Also, with less than 5,000 miles on it, we just got an average of 27.8
on a 4,200 mile trip through the cold northwest! I think that is about
as good as the Outback would do. (But, did I forget to mention that
we blew a darn Yokohama tire?)

 

[H. Whelply]

You're one of the first people I've seen posts from here who agree with me:
the Forester seems (and, I think is) roomier than the OB.

I did have to give up a few things I'd become accustomed to: lighted vanity
mirrors (joking on that one--never used them!), audio controls on the
steering wheel, and HomeLink (nice having those built-in buttons rather than
a garage door remote clipped to the visor). But, hey, now I have those
heated mirrors, seats, etc.--those things I won't use in this climate,
either! But, maybe opportunity will arise some day.

HW

Well, I can see why gas mileage would be a factor. But we chose the
Forester over the OB because of the more comfortable drive,
the roomier feel inside, and we really liked the handling the way the
Forester handled. Maybe just a biased personal feeling, but that was
our reason for buying Forester. But ours has heated seats, wiper
defrosters, outside mirror-defoggers, all that "essential" stuff.

Actually, we didn't really want or need that stuff in our climate, but
we insisted on a car that was ALL WHITE. The only way we could
get that in the Forester was in the Premium XS so that's what we
bought. But they did deal on the price!

Also, with less than 5,000 miles on it, we just got an average of 27.8
on a 4,200 mile trip through the cold northwest! I think that is about
as good as the Outback would do. (But, did I forget to mention that
we blew a darn Yokohama tire?)

The Outback always give better gas. Not sure why but that was a big complaint
on the Forester drivers.
Like my outback. The Foresters at the time ('02) looked wimpy and little
comfort controls (heated seats and stuff).

 

[GTT]

Hey, my opportunity has already arisen! The trip I mentioned was
to the cold north country, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, New
Mexico, during the past two weeks. I found more than one chance
to turn on the seat warmer! And I enjoyed it briefly, before it
really got HOT! SO off it went, but it did it's job! And, the
Forester was quite fun to drive and did a great job for it on the
trip! Snow, ice, cold weather and all!

You're one of the first people I've seen posts from here who agree with me:
the Forester seems (and, I think is) roomier than the OB.

I did have to give up a few things I'd become accustomed to: lighted vanity
mirrors (joking on that one--never used them!), audio controls on the
steering wheel, and HomeLink (nice having those built-in buttons rather than
a garage door remote clipped to the visor). But, hey, now I have those
heated mirrors, seats, etc.--those things I won't use in this climate,
either! But, maybe opportunity will arise some day.

HW

Well, I can see why gas mileage would be a factor. But we chose the
Forester over the OB because of the more comfortable drive,
the roomier feel inside, and we really liked the handling the way the
Forester handled. Maybe just a biased personal feeling, but that was
our reason for buying Forester. But ours has heated seats, wiper
defrosters, outside mirror-defoggers, all that "essential" stuff.

Actually, we didn't really want or need that stuff in our climate, but
we insisted on a car that was ALL WHITE. The only way we could
get that in the Forester was in the Premium XS so that's what we
bought. But they did deal on the price!

Also, with less than 5,000 miles on it, we just got an average of 27.8
on a 4,200 mile trip through the cold northwest! I think that is about
as good as the Outback would do. (But, did I forget to mention that
we blew a darn Yokohama tire?)

 

[David]

You're one of the first people I've seen posts from here who agree with me:
the Forester seems (and, I think is) roomier than the OB.

It's an old post, but I just looked this stuff up, so I'll post a reply. In the
Consumer Reports 2003 Auto Issue, the Forrester wins the interior dimension
comparison. Bigger in cargo area, and in the listed passanger dimensions,
except rear leg room, where OB wins by 1/2 inch.

It's also 500lbs lighter, and has a shorter wheelbase, and a two foot shorter
turning circle. Why didn't it feel more agile to me? Maybe I need to try doing
a little more spirited driving with one. And why doesn't it get as good gas
mileage (or so I gather from a.a.s.)? I'd have to guess the height &
aerodynamics work against it.