While the Forester has changed platforms for the 2009 MY, I rolled over 40k miles today on my way back home from the cottage and thought I'd write a long term review of sorts on it.
I bought it new in July of 2007 from Delta Imports, one of the Fox dealers in the Grand Rapids earlier. It's a "2.5X", meaning it's a base model except for one "popular option group", meaning a rear bumper protector, fog lights, and armrest if I remember correctly.
Standard:
-Symmetrical All Wheel Drive...the symmetrical part is in reference to equal length CV shafts. 50/50 full time split with open front/rear diffs. 4.11:1 gears.
-rear drums (only on the "2.5X")
-power locks, windows, mirrors, RKE, auto dimming rear view mirror, cruise control, air con, cabin air filter.
-8 cupholders
-172 hp 2.5L SOHC Boxer 4 cylinder
-5 speed manual
-active head restraints, side impact airbags
-4 speakers, CD player
-electronic brake force distribution
Options I have:
-trailer hitch, lighting
-the group i mentioned above, fog lamps, rear bumper protector, arm rest
I ended up with it because I wanted to purchase a NEW vehicle that was fairly efficient, with AWD/4WD and decent ground clearance for snow and off roading. OH and most importantly, a manual trans. The closest competition was the then-new Jeep Patriot but I was turned off by its interior...its all cheap, hard plastic (this particular model was a Sport w/ 4x4 and manual trans...no low range). It was terribly slow in comparison to the Forester that I had just test driven though HP is about the same between the two. While I could have picked up the Patriot for less money I figured the resale value of the Jeep would have been awful in comparison to the Subaru...it's dumb to buy a slightly used Subaru because of this; you can buy a brand new one instead of a similarly equipped used one with say 12k miles for like an extra G.
I've probably told that story a dozen times, so, onto the "review"
Comfort
Front seats are pretty good. Seat has a "lift/tilt" knob but I leave it all the way down. Easy to get in and out of it.
The rear seat could be better. My friends have spent hours straight back there and don't complain much but there isn't much leg room and its one of those where your knees are up high so there's no support on your hips. I've sat in a 2009 Forester and they've finally fixed this.
Suspension is on the firm/performance oriented side but still fairly compliant with bumps.
The manual climate control is great. Heat is hot, air con is cold.
Performance
Before this I never thought I could live with a 4 cylinder but the 2.5L boxer is great. Great low end torque for a 4 banger. Highway cruising RPMs at 70 mph are around 3k, a little fast to me but my friend's Miata does 4k, so who am I to complain? This engine also has cam phasing (i-AVLS) which seems to come on around 4k. It isn't dramatic (VTEC JUST KICKED IN YO
) but there is a difference you can notice and it pulls hard to redline/cutoff at 6400. The turbo-ed XT would have been sweet but power is more than adequate for most everyone.
Manual trans Forester is rated to tow 2400 lbs and it tows great. Doesn't complain when towing my jet skis. I can keep up with the speed limit and stay in overdrive most the time if I tow my 19' Bayliner...I DON'T do that often but I have and its pretty safe...always stable and brakes do not feel overloaded.
Brakes, despite the rear drums, are great. I don't regret not having rear discs.
Handling is great as well. It it helps the Forester is based on the Impreza, the world championship winning rallycar. A little bit of lean when cornering hard but MUCH better than like the Patriot (joke). Surprising for a tall wagon with 8-some inches of ground clearance.
Ergo
Clutch/shift action is good to me. I picked up the genuine Subaru/Momo shift knob which is quite a bit heavier than the stock one and actually makes things nicer though they weren't bad to start. Brake pedal feel is good too.
Controls are all in good places. I had to get used to the controls on the stalks (there's 3 of them) but nothing major.
Fit/finish
No real complaints on the interior/exterior. Everything is lined up pretty well. Paint shows some orange peel but Ive noticed that to be common with lots of new vehicles.
Wear
Not much at all. I've applied Scotchguard to the seats and carpet. No real wear on like the driver's seat, steering wheel, or controls. No oil consumption except when heavy towing over long periods (Bayliner) when the oil is getting close to being changed. Shifter still feels tight. The stock Yokohama Geolandars (all season) have been wearing evenly and still have decent tread though I'll replace them before winter, so maybe around 55-60k miles.
Maintenance
I've done all my own maintenance. Oil changes are prescribed every 3750 miles for extreme use, 7500 for easy use (conventional oil). I've used either Mobil 1 5w30 or Valvoline Synpower since the first change which I did at 1k miles (dealer/nor manual say there's need for a break in change). There's a plastic cover that covers the underneath of the engine with a swing-away cover for the engine plug and filter but I've left it off. You do not need to jack up the Forester or use ramps due to its ground clearance. Oil filter really needs a filter "socket" because its a bit recessed and close to the exhaust but it isn't bad. I've changed about every 4500-5k miles
I changed my cabin air filter around 20k, a little over if you go by what the manual says but oh well. About $40 from the dealer, Advance could not get one yet. I tried cleaning the old one with compressed air but it doesn't clean well at all. Need to remove the glovebox for this but not difficult nor time consuming.
The trans and rear differential (front diff is part of the manual trans) require gear oil. Manual suggests every 15k under severe use but doesn't give an interval for normal conditions...I do them every 20k and use Mobil 1. Trans has a drain plug along with the rear diff, pretty rare. Not a bad job to do.
I change my air filter every 20k with a cleaning w/ compressed air halfway between. Easy to access. $7 or so from Advance.
Spark plugs say to be changed every 30k. Pretty easy to access and doesn't take long. Little wear at 30k but I decided to replace them anyway since I had them.
Coolant every 30k. Manual says to use a bottle of Subaru coolant conditioner, which looks to me like Alumaseal or otherwise "leak stop in a bottle"
. Easy to drain the radiator and easy to remove the reservoir tank.
Timing belt is supposed to be good for 105k miles (Boxer is an interference motor), with "inspections" every 30k. I asked about this on a Forester message board and it's easy/quick to do with one part of the cover removed, and pushing the vehicle backwards with your knees with it in gear (ignition off
) and looking at it with a good flashlight.
Tire rotations are prescribed every 7500 miles, I do them a little later but I understand the need to keep the circumference even for the center diff. Consider that Subaru says that the circumference, NOT diameter, of all tires needs to be within 1/4'' of each other. Not much to say about the tire rotating job but regardless of the vehicle I find it an awful job...I'd rather swap out the motor/trans than have to rotate tires. I take it to the local Belle Tire and they do it for free.
Issues
On my way to Warren once the Boxer was slightly overheating a little. Temp gauge was reading high and I smelled coolant. I stopped at a gas station and found that the reservoir tank's top had come off and there was a little coolant that had sprayed out. Level was okay though. Being that it was still under warranty I called the closest dealer, Suburban Subaru, and they gladly took it in. It was around 5 pm and they were about to close but they arranged for a rental. They wanted to keep it overnight for a pressure test of which I agreed to. They didn't find anything at all wrong the next day though. It hasn't happened again, however. While the service manager said Subaru only pays for rentals during warranty if a problem actually is found he said he'd take care of the Enterprise bill (and did).
Otherwise, I haven't had any reasons to bring it in for warranty work. No complaints.
Fuel economy
With mixed driving, maybe with a little more freeway mixed in, I average 23-25 mpg. Freeway with our 70 mph limit I get around 28 mpg. I'm more than satisfied with it.
Dealer experience
My salesman treated with me with respect and was very knowledgeable...none of my questions left him stumped and he quickly could tell me any figure I asked. I bargained a little (I didn't pound) and he actually beat the price/deal I wanted. Great person to work with. They also had a lot of stock to pick from, whether it be color, trim, or transmission. Their building is pretty nice, TVs, courtesy computers, refreshments...then again its also an Audi/Porsche dealer
I hadn't been to Suburban before the overheating issue but they also treated me with respect and took in my Forester promptly. Very courteous. When I someday go to buy a new Subaru I'm stuck on which dealer to go to.
I've visited Williams, Lansing's Subaru dealer, and I would not be willing to buy a vehicle from them. I wrote about it when my Forester was rear-ended but on numerous occasions their parts department has been clueless. Delta is in the Grand Rapids area (Cascade) and Suburban is in Detroit (Troy) but I'm willing to travel versus dealing with Williams.
Complaints/regrets
None, really. The Premium Package would have been a worthy upgrade but I didn't want to have a payment larger than what I now have. The lugnuts don't have "flanges" I guess, so you have to make sure your socket or lug wrench isn't in contact with the wheel or you'll scratch it. Most tire stores won't pay this much attention. I don't think any Foresters come with any level of window tint which annoys me but I'll get one done sometime when I find a good job at a price I like.
That's about it. Its the best one vehicle for me. Overall, like a 9/10. I wish GM would make a vehicle like this.