newbie needs an opinion

[Doppelbock]

I'm thinking about getting a new or late-model used Subaru for my next car.
Primarily it will be for ~20 mile commute to work. I want something that
does good in the snow. Any opinions on Forester versus Outback? The
Outback has higher clearance so should be perhaps a bit better in snow, but
enough to matter?

Thanks,
DB

 

[Doppelbock]

I'm thinking about getting a new or late-model used Subaru for my next car.
Primarily it will be for ~20 mile commute to work. I want something that
does good in the snow. Any opinions on Forester versus Outback? The
Outback has higher clearance so should be perhaps a bit better in snow, but
enough to matter?

Thanks,
DB

oops, I meant Forester has more clearance, not Outback ...

 

[Alan]

Depending on model years:

You were correct. The Outback does have more clearance. The Forrester is an
optical illusion. The Outback has higher ground clearance and holds more
than the Forester. The Outbacks generally are nicer and more comfortable.

 

[Ragnar]

I'm thinking about getting a new or late-model used Subaru for my next car.
Primarily it will be for ~20 mile commute to work. I want something that
does good in the snow. Any opinions on Forester versus Outback? The
Outback has higher clearance so should be perhaps a bit better in snow, but
enough to matter?

How much snow do you get?

 

[Doppelbock]

How much snow do you get?

Not all that much -- I live in the central Ohio area. I like the WRX too
but don't know how it does in snow what with its lower clearance, wheelbase,
etc.

 

[Doppelbock]

The WRX would be fine. My wife takes hers up
in the Sierras every weekend skiing and hasn't
had any problems.

I lived near Lima for a year and drove an old
Datsun B210 and only had a problem with traction,
never depth of snow. I don't think you will
have any problems at all with a WRX.

Thanks, that's good to know! The WRX would be alot more fun than the
Forester anyway!

 

[Jim Stewart]

Not all that much -- I live in the central Ohio area. I like the WRX too
but don't know how it does in snow what with its lower clearance, wheelbase,
etc.

The WRX would be fine. My wife takes hers up
in the Sierras every weekend skiing and hasn't
had any problems.

I lived near Lima for a year and drove an old
Datsun B210 and only had a problem with traction,
never depth of snow. I don't think you will
have any problems at all with a WRX.

 

[Doppelbock]

The WRX would be fine. My wife takes hers up
in the Sierras every weekend skiing and hasn't
had any problems.

I lived near Lima for a year and drove an old
Datsun B210 and only had a problem with traction,
never depth of snow. I don't think you will
have any problems at all with a WRX.

Anybody else have an opinion on WRX vs. Forester vs. Outback? For a
commuter car with some infrequent use in snow. So far WRX sounds like a
winner. I should also mention that I will occasionally have 1 or 2 small
(currently!) children in the back seat but usually we cart them around in
the minivan. Thanks!

DB

 

[Ragnar]

Not all that much -- I live in the central Ohio area. I like the WRX too
but don't know how it does in snow what with its lower clearance, wheelbase,
etc.

I have a WRX Wagon. At xmas in the area around Florence, KY, we had
about 9 inches of snow. I handled it just fine, both because AWD is
cool as hell, but also because I know better than to bite off more than
I can chew.

 

[TG]

That depends on the snow in your area. It snows a lot here but it never
accumulates on the roads so snow pack or ice is all I have to deal with. In
my situation I think the Legacy wagon is the best choice...handles and rides
better than the outback or forester and the added length makes it more
stable on ice compared to an impreza. TG

 

[TG]

the limited slips in the WRX will blow away the outback or Forester in
deeper stuff....snow has to really accumulate before clearance is an issue.
TG

 

[TG]

Just curious why you keep leaving the Legacy out of your list? TG

 

[H]

Depending on model years:

You were correct. The Outback does have more clearance. The Forrester is
an
optical illusion. The Outback has higher ground clearance and holds more
than the Forester. The Outbacks generally are nicer and more comfortable.

Unfortunately the are built in Indiana while Forester is built in Japan. The
Forester is about 400lbs lighter than the Outback (depending on option/model
etc.).

 

[Wayne Farmer]

the limited slips in the WRX will blow away the outback or Forester in
deeper stuff....snow has to really accumulate before clearance is an issue.
TG

Many Foresters -do- have the rear wheel limited slip differential installed,
as part of the All-Weather package. The 2005 Forester XS has it; the 2005
Forester X doesn't. My 2001 Forester S has it.

 

[doppelboc]

Just curious why you keep leaving the Legacy out of your list? TG

Don't know -- for some reason I just don't like it as much as the
others.

 

[jabario]

outback has limited slip plus higher clearance and moresuspension. wrx
wins in street racing but the outback wins in offroad/snow situations

 

[Alan]

comfortable.


Unfortunately the are built in Indiana while Forester is built in Japan. The
Forester is about 400lbs lighter than the Outback (depending on option/model
etc.).

I don't know that the car being built in Indiana is a problem. Mine has
exibited no problems in over 30K miles. In any event, it really depends on
what the individual is looking for. The Forester is less expensive, but the
OBW is nicer and has a nicer ride. They sell a lot of both. My point was not
to assume that the Forester has a higher ground clearance than the OBW, as
it does not.