SUBARU FORESTER

[KEV200BHM]

I am new to this board and new to Subaru, am considering a 2004 Forester. Would
appreciate any comments.
Thanks

 

[H. Whelply]

I've had my '04 XT Premium, my first Subaru, for about 3,700 miles, and
nearly four months. Excellent car: well-designed interior (IMO), pleasant
exterior design (it is an SUV, after all), very solid construction,
well-engineered, very comfortable seats, and this model really goes. No
problems whatever. Downside: on this model, gas mileage isn't wonderful,
though you can do pretty well if you drive sensibly. I'm getting a pretty
consistent 17-18 MPG around town. That's on premium gas (91 octane). Next
week I'll give it a long-trip test (LA area to Sacramento and back).

HW

 

[David]

Downside: on this model, gas mileage isn't wonderful,
though you can do pretty well if you drive sensibly. I'm getting a pretty
consistent 17-18 MPG around town. That's on premium gas (91 octane).

The normally-aspirated one is better there. 29.5MPG/regular on my last tank
(03 XS Premium 5-speed), most of which was a trip from the Bay Area to Lake
Tahoe and back.

Obviously my wagon is slower than yours. But I'm really happy with the
acelleration. Pleasantly surprised by the handling too.

The rear-opening will barely take a 4x8 sheet of plywood (it measures just under
4" diagonally. Fortunately plywood flexes), so this isn't really a truck substitute,
but it is a really practical wagon.

 

[David]

The normally-aspirated one is better there. 29.5MPG/regular on my last tank
(03 XS Premium 5-speed), most of which was a trip from the Bay Area to Lake
Tahoe and back.

Oops, I left out the more comparable number: 25MPG/regular, mixed driving, on the
tank before that.

 

[Lord Drool Rockworm]

I just got my '04XT a few weeks ago. It's very nice - I don't think
that you could got wrong with it. Mine is equipped with everything
including leather seats, sun / moon roof, tinted windows and a manual
transmission. It is well styled (both inside and out), lot's of room,
even for us tall folks. I can even wear my bowler hat while driving.
It's FANTASTIC!

For the cargo carrying, I have a trailer hitch, and if I just have
things like plywood, I'd put it on the roof - so no worries there.

I think that you would be very pleased with it.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Edward Hayes]

My 2000 Forester non-turbo has been great for 62,000 miles. In town mileage
is ~22 mpg and long expressway trips of 500 miles at ~70-75 mph nets me
26-28 mpg. The car wears very well meaning it seems to get more comfortable
and liked the more I drive it. eddie

 

[Hiver]

I am new to this board and new to Subaru, am considering a 2004 Forester. Would
appreciate any comments.
Thanks

For almost 3 month's now, I have a XS 2004, it has 6500 KM. Of corse
it is still brand new and who would not love a new car but, there is
not a day when I drive the car that I am not still amazed. We have
been getting alot of snow, the car is great in every weather. I is so
fun at stop lite to be besides another AWD or 4X4 and show him what a
Subaru is capable of (mind you I put Hakka 2 on it wich make a huge
difference). There is even one time when there was another Forester
2004 beside me and did not want to let me by at the lite, I looked and
he still had is all weather tires, guess how mad he was when I waved
my hand 100 feet in front of him ). I love the way it reacts as a
rear weel drive when you give it some gaz. I love the way when it is
sliding it still gripps when you give more gaz. It is a car that make
me enjoy even more driving.

 

[Ken Lyons]

....am considering a 2004 Forester....appreciate any comments.

Last June we picked up a '99 Forester L with 27,000 miles on it. We love
this car. It's the bottom of the line, steel wheels and drum brakes in the
rear, but it's a great car. Wonderful head room, easy oil changes (compared
to the Miatas) and seems to be reliable as hell.

I'm very surprised at how capable it is in mild off-road situations. We
travel an old rocky and eroded CCC road near Shenandoah National Park in
Virginia once every 6 weeks or so and the Forester handles it with aplomb.

I wouldn't buy new because I just scratch it all up, but if I did I'd go for
the XT. [fx: drooling]

 

[Ken Lyons]

it is an SUV, after all)

Nah, it's just a jacked up Impreza with lots of head room.

 

[H. Whelply]

Well, OK, Ken, yes, you're right, of course. But my point was, it ain't no
beautiful car. But it's got a certain funky character I like.

HW

 

[Kimball]

I just got my '04XT a few weeks ago. It's very nice - I don't think
that you could got wrong with it. Mine is equipped with everything
including leather seats, sun / moon roof, tinted windows and a manual
transmission.

Many if us have been told (by salesmen, by Subaru US, by people here, etc.) that
the XT with manual trans. cannot be had with the sunroof.

So my question is how did you do that?
Is that a USA only restriction? (My sense is you're in one of the other
"colonies" )

 

[Lord Drool Rockworm]

Many if us have been told (by salesmen, by Subaru US, by people here, etc.) that
the XT with manual trans. cannot be had with the sunroof.

So my question is how did you do that?
Is that a USA only restriction? (My sense is you're in one of the other
"colonies" )

Heh heh. I live in Belmont, California.

I was told the same thing, but I don't take 'You can't have it that
way' as an answer. I kept on telling the salesman 'I don't want it
without that stuff' (for several hours really) and eventually they
came around and admitted that they would be willing to cut in a new
sunroof. It seems that they have a deal with a local limo shop who do
things like that for them. I eventually got the leather seats and sun
roof at virtually no extra charge. (Just about $300!!)

The one that they put in looks and functions great! There is even a
mode that when the key is off, the thing will close automatically.
This can be controlled so that it may be left open on hot days.

I understand that one can get it factory equipped as such in Canada.
I don't understand marketing nerds. How stupid they are - to allow
one thing here, but not elsewhere (or the other way around).

Cheers,
Michael