Subaru Forester is based on the popular Impreza, but uses a full station wagon body. It’s a light-duty off-road 4WD, indeed driven well it has medium-duty capabilities when used in the right terrain. That’s because it has semi-rugged construction, and even has a dual-range transfer case in some variants.
Forester has a useful ground clearance of 200 mm. That's only about 10 mm down on the figure that’s usually accepted as satisfactory on a ‘real’ 4WD. The Subaru's overhangs front and rear are substantial – a legacy of the design being adapted from a car – and this is generally what will stop the car if you get over ambitious.
The suspension has longer travel and more rugged specs than that of the Impreza and semi-off-road tyres are used. At least these tyres were installed when the Forester left the new-car showroom, a subsequent owner may have opted for sportier tyres.
Handling is reasonable for an all-wheel-drive vehicle in this class. Forester is inclined to move its tail out if pushed too hard at corners so shouldn’t be driven as though it’s a car. Ride comfort is good and the long travel suspension copes well with rough dirt and corrugated roads.
This isn’t the most handsome of vehicles. Those who lean in the direction of functionality in their vehicles, will love it, though. Generous interior room is a real advantage of the squared-off styling. The front seats have plenty of legroom, width and headroom. The rear seat can take three people without too much of a hassle, though it’s better if they are kids, not adults.
Entry and exit to the back seat is easy, partly because of the taller than average styling but chiefly because you don’t have to climb up into the seats as you do in a more conventional 4WD.
There's a good luggage area and practicality is further improved by the Forester having a lot of storage areas scattered throughout the vehicle. These include a good-sized glovebox, a sunglasses holder above the rear vision mirror and multiple drink holders.
Subaru Forester first reached Australia in August 1997 and was joined by the Forester GT in September 1998. The latter is a fun little hotshot powered by a detuned WRX engine. Forester GT was renamed Forester XT in the second-generation as insurance companies don’t like the terms ‘GT’ or ‘turbo’ and were having palpitations at finding both in one vehicle’s name.
The Forester GT and XT are performance off-roaders, though certainly not to the same extent as the WRX with which they share some genes.
August 2003 saw the introduction of the second-generation Subaru Forester. It features a bit more style than the original series, particularly around the multi-faceted tail but, yet again, function takes preference over fashion.
Power for the standard Forester models comes from a 2.0-litre flat-four motor, upmarket variants received a 2.5-litre motor from 2002 and that larger capacity was continued into all the second-generation Foresters. The extra capacity goes into generating more torque rather than going for pure power.
Manual gearboxes are mated to a two-speed transfer case, but the automatic versions only have a single-range. Subaru considers the torque multiplication through the converter largely replaces the need for a low ratio on the auto.
Overall performance is reasonable in manual form with the smaller engine, though some may find the 2.0-litre automatic is marginal if it is asked to carry a heavy load and/or do a lot of work in hilly terrain.
Servicing and spare parts are generally reasonably priced though we have heard isolated complaints about high prices on some less common spares.
The Forester is fairly straightforward in its layout, though it does take its own direction in using a flat engine layout. A good amateur mechanic should have no trouble doing most jobs. It’s always wise to have a workshop manual at your elbow before beginning work. And we suggest you leave the safety-related items to experts.
Insurance is moderate in all standard Foresters but, as mentioned, can be expensive on the turbocharged GT and XT. Be sure to check on premium prices before getting too deeply into negotiations to buy the vehicle as young and/or inexperienced drivers may find the premiums are budget busters.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Check that the engine starts immediately and idles reasonably smoothly, though these aren't the most refined engines around and often have that typical flat-four ‘dak-dak’ beat when they get a lot of kilometres on the clock.
Be wary of a Forester GT or XT that has too much turbo whine or turbo lag that's excessive.
On a turbocharged model, check the clutch isn't slipping - this usually shows up on fast upwards gearchanges. Subaru deliberately make the clutch a sacrificial component so that it fails first in order to protect other transmission parts, so a slow clutch may be a sign of hard driving.
Have a good look under a Forester in case it has been used seriously in off-road conditions. The front and rear bumpers and their mountings are likely to be the first areas to suffer. Also check the door sills, the mechanical components and the lower parts of the underbody.
Look over the complete body for signs of crash repairs. The easiest to spot are generally poorly matching paint colours and slight ripples in the panels.
Subaru interiors are usually put together neatly and built to last. It’s still wise to look at the condition of the seats and carpets in case the car has been knocked about, particularly in off-road use. |
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