  |
|
||||||||
|
1 of 6
The Subaru Forester is not a car and it is not an SUV. Those who want it for SUV qualities will be disappointed, right? Those who want car-like qualities will be disappointed, right? Actually, according to MD the Subaru fills a nice niche. His Forester gives excellent mileage yet cuts through snow and ice like butter. MD likes nearly everything about his Forester. Handling, ride and power receive top marks. The only category which did not receive the "best" rating were interior wear, size and brakes. The Forester could be a little bit bigger. We were surprised that braking did not receive the top rating considering the stopping distance for the Forester is very short. However, we have heard the brake pedal can feel "spongy" which may detract from the driver's braking confidence. MD sums it up "[a] perfect vehicle for those who don't intend to go off-road. Mileage has been in the mid twenties." "AWD has been unstoppable in the snow and ice. Overall Rating:
|
Page 2 of 6
GA's Subaru is the S model, the mid-line model. He ordered his vehicle with lots of options, including cruise control, heated seats, brush guards and luggage racks. He has owned his Subaru for a little over one month but has more than broken it in putting over 4000 miles on his vehicle. He uses his Subaru to deliver newspapers in rural areas putting about 55 to 60 miles per day. GA sounds like the subject of a future Subaru commercial. Subaru would not be disappointed because so far he has been very pleased with his vehicle. Rural areas prove to be excellent proving grounds for an all wheel drive vehicle. GA's Subaru has not let him down. He notes that his vehicle "handles superb[ly] on any surface whether is mud, loose dirt or standing water. With the 2.5 "boxer" engine he finds the acceleration to be excellent. Overall, he is very pleased. His only criticism is of the Subaru's automatic transmission which he finds rather noticeable at times.Overall, he is very pleased with his car and highly recommends it. Overall Rating:
|
||||||||
| |
|
||||||||
|
3 of 6
The Forester is set apart from a standard station wagon by its all wheel drive system. There are other all wheel drive station wagons, such as the Audi and Volvo, but Subaru made an attempt with the Forester to increase ground clearance and approach SUV quality. NSW believes his Subaru can go wherever any other SUV can. Without a low gear, these statements confirm the Subaru's superior traction. However, given the difficult terrain NSW encounters he did add a Scorpion lift kit for a little extra ground clearance. NSW gave his Subaru strong marks in many other areas as well. He is pleased with his vehicle's cornering ability. The Subaru's ride is also exemplary. . In fact, there really were no poor scores which confirms the Subaru, although not perfect, performs in every category very well.
Overall Rating:
|
4 of 6
The Subaru Forester continues to compile strong, positive reviews. NC has 1999 Forester. He has put a little over 9,000 miles so he is more than acquainted with his vehicle. He is especially pleased with the Forester's handling and smooth ride. He was also surprised by the vehicle's strong acceleration. Almost across the board NC gave his Forester top scores. the only areas of concern are in the vehicle's transmission. He gave the transmission "neutral." He did not give the highest marks to the Forester for interior room which shows everyone probably wants a little more room in their SUV. NC is pleased with his Forester and recommends it to you. His vehicle has been trouble-free and dependable.
Overall Rating:
|
||||||||
| |
|
||||||||
|
5 of 6
NC is "very" pleased with his 1999 Forester. His vehicle has not been perfect, however. NC has two complaints. First, his 5-speed transmission occasionally binds making it difficult to shift smoothly. This problem is most noticeable in cold weather. Second, NC's Subaru has Bridgestone tires that he has found are quite noisy. With the negatives out of the way NC notes that his Subaru handles exceptionally well and the ride "continues to impress [him] every time [he] encounters a rough patch in the road." NC is also pleased with his Subaru's acceleration. His Subaru has posted some rather lofty mileage numbers. NC says he is averaging 27 mpg in the city and 35 mph on the highway. Mechanically there have been no problems. The only problems in 17,000 miles has been a faulty trim piece on the center console. The dealer fixed the piece.
Overall Rating:
|
6 of 6
CM of West Virginia said his Forester has lived up to his expectations. He raised his expectations by doing thorough research before buying his Forester. The reviews for the Forester have been excellent, generally, so it is good to see after 5,500 miles CM was not disappointed. CM notes that the "ABS brakes work like a charm, stopping fast in straight line on gravel or wet roads." He notes that the Forester "[c]raises comfortably and has plenty of power to zip around slower cars at highway speeds." CM is active, often carrying bikes and kayaks. He puts his equipment on the roof without any problem. However, he does note that the Forester has "good (not great) carrying capacity." He recently took his Forester to the Outer Banks without a hitch, but he does note that although Subaru has raised the clearance of the Forester, compared to a sedan, an off-reader should still be careful. CM notes that his Forester went "everywhere the big boys went." He notes that he has spent a lot of time in jeeps and Baja bugs, and he really likes the Forester's ride. His Forester has been dependable as no problems were mentioned. He has upgraded the stock lighting system and he installed steel skid plates. His mileage is admirable, as he is getting a combination of 27 mpg in city and highway driving. CM's parting comment tells all, "[t]o those of you who don't believe the Forester is an off-road vehicle, [have] I got news for you." Overall Rating:
|
||||||||