Questions about going from old Explorer to new Forester

[leo]

Anyone here move from a 2nd generation Ford Explorer to a new Forester?
The wife is ready to retire her 'we ordered it from the factory' brand new 1999 Explorer. She is used to how a short wheelbase vehicle rides and she really likes how high she sits in it. I am concerned about her being happy with a 2.5l engine after she's driven more than 250k miles with her 5.0l engine.
Similarities: 4 doors, shortish wheelbase, automatic transmission.
Differences: Exp's 111" wheelbase vs 105", Exp's 215hp vs 180hp, Exp's 4,166 pound weight vs 3,664, AWD versus rear wheel drive, 26 years newer.
Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

 

[draganm]

here's my prediction, since it's your wife and i have a wife too, initially there will be a Magpie-moment where she loves it cuz it's new and shiny and smells like a new car " I love it honey!"

Eventually she might hate it , 180 Hp sounds like a lot but the turd is in the 173 foot pounds of torque with a CVT transmission, in vehicle that's gotten heavier and heavier with each new generation. It will be a dog, and the subaru flat 4 is noisy, where a ford 5L V8 is super quiet and smooth with flat torque curve starting at very low RPM's.

My kids both drive outback 2.5's and i love it because they are slow tanks, safe and good gas mileage, but they are dogs unless you flog them using the clutch (both cars 6 speed manal). With a CVT, no such option, just floor it and let it clunk and flop it's way thru the simulated shift points. I know Toyota actually made a hybrid CVT with a normal clutch style first gear that accelerates the car smoothly and firmly befor handing off to CVT. Not sure of Subaru has adopted this?

so probly depends on your wifes driving style. if she's a very calm and passive driver the Forrester might be just fine, even in the long run. The fact that she got 250k out of the Ford suggests she is not a lead foot. If she's like my wife, constatly jamming either the go or whoaaaaa pedal, the Forrester will be a short lived relationship