FORESTER Tips!!
#1
FORESTER Tips!!
We're going hunting for a car this weekend. We've been looking for a long time and have it narrowed down to a few cars at 3 different dealerships. Mostly 2010 Foresters but there are a couple 2008's. We have a couple favorites but if the dealership won't play we won't pay.
So any tips from you guys? Know what these are going for right now? I went to look at and probably buy a 2008 last week but they sold it out from under me.
$15,800.
Also.... Roo... I know you're active over on forester org so give me some input.
Right now we're looking at an X Premium. They charge too damn much for the sunroof/all weather package. It's like $2500. We're looking at doing a few things to it pretty early.. Rear sway bar and end links, window tint and clearbra. We'll probably wait a while and then do swift springs and some 18's and call it a day.
So any tips from you guys? Know what these are going for right now? I went to look at and probably buy a 2008 last week but they sold it out from under me.
$15,800.
Also.... Roo... I know you're active over on forester org so give me some input.
Right now we're looking at an X Premium. They charge too damn much for the sunroof/all weather package. It's like $2500. We're looking at doing a few things to it pretty early.. Rear sway bar and end links, window tint and clearbra. We'll probably wait a while and then do swift springs and some 18's and call it a day.
#2
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Dude, the 2009+ will get you the most room. After the redesign the interior space got a lot bigger. Easily fit the infant seat rear facing without impacting the front seat passengers. Plus we got over 60,000 miles out of the stock brakes and we are still on the stock tires with damn near 70,000 miles. As far as having to do maintanence, this has been great. hahaha
#3
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Car Info: '13 BRZ Limited / '02 WRX
When my mom was looking the 2011's ended up being cheaper than the year-old low mileage rentals due to financing. But if you're able to buy outright then used might still be cheaper.
#6
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Car Info: '12 TSX 6MT/'01 E39 wagon/'67 VW on E85/'93 M900
My buddy and his wife have an early '09 XT. It isn't much bigger than my car, but there is a bit more space for passengers. It drives pretty nice as-is, I'd be tempted to just leave it stock. You probably already know, but for XTs, the early '09s blew engines due to new bearings, my buddy's car got an engine replaced at 15K. N/As should not be affected by this.
Stan
Stan
#7
My buddy and his wife have an early '09 XT. It isn't much bigger than my car, but there is a bit more space for passengers. It drives pretty nice as-is, I'd be tempted to just leave it stock. You probably already know, but for XTs, the early '09s blew engines due to new bearings, my buddy's car got an engine replaced at 15K. N/As should not be affected by this.
Stan
Stan
#9
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Are you locked into the Forester? When we were shopping for a family car (a year ago) I strongly preferred the Outback 2.5 to the Forester just because the CVT makes the car feel so much stronger than the 4EAT.
EPA ratings back that up, with the heavier Outback with a CVT seeing 22 / 29 and the forester with the FB25 (a better engine design for efficiency) and 4EAT seeing 21 / 27.
Ultimately we went with a Volvo, but the OB 2.5 CVT was our 2nd choice. My wife and I both felt that not offering the CVT on the Forester killed any chance it had with us. However, we were not so concerned with the price difference between the two. I think they're about $4k different when new, that's not chump change. You get a lot for that money though. Space, refinement, power (the CVT frees up WHP for the same crank HP. It feels like it anyway.)
If you haven't driven a CVT, go test drive a 4EAT and CVT back to back, it's a big difference.
Ignore all this if you're buying a 5MT.
EPA ratings back that up, with the heavier Outback with a CVT seeing 22 / 29 and the forester with the FB25 (a better engine design for efficiency) and 4EAT seeing 21 / 27.
Ultimately we went with a Volvo, but the OB 2.5 CVT was our 2nd choice. My wife and I both felt that not offering the CVT on the Forester killed any chance it had with us. However, we were not so concerned with the price difference between the two. I think they're about $4k different when new, that's not chump change. You get a lot for that money though. Space, refinement, power (the CVT frees up WHP for the same crank HP. It feels like it anyway.)
If you haven't driven a CVT, go test drive a 4EAT and CVT back to back, it's a big difference.
Ignore all this if you're buying a 5MT.
Last edited by Concillian; 06-24-2011 at 12:56 PM.
#10
Are you locked into the Forester? When we were shopping for a family car (a year ago) I strongly preferred the Outback 2.5 to the Forester just because the CVT makes the car feel so much stronger than the 4EAT.
EPA ratings back that up, with the heavier Outback with a CVT seeing 22 / 29 and the forester with the FB25 (a better engine design for efficiency) and 4EAT seeing 21 / 27.
Ultimately we went with a Volvo, but the OB 2.5 CVT was our 2nd choice. My wife and I both felt that not offering the CVT on the Forester killed any chance it had with us. However, we were not so concerned with the price difference between the two. I think they're about $4k different when new, that's not chump change. You get a lot for that money though. Space, refinement, power (the CVT frees up WHP for the same crank HP. It feels like it anyway.)
If you haven't driven a CVT, go test drive a 4EAT and CVT back to back, it's a big difference.
Ignore all this if you're buying a 5MT.
EPA ratings back that up, with the heavier Outback with a CVT seeing 22 / 29 and the forester with the FB25 (a better engine design for efficiency) and 4EAT seeing 21 / 27.
Ultimately we went with a Volvo, but the OB 2.5 CVT was our 2nd choice. My wife and I both felt that not offering the CVT on the Forester killed any chance it had with us. However, we were not so concerned with the price difference between the two. I think they're about $4k different when new, that's not chump change. You get a lot for that money though. Space, refinement, power (the CVT frees up WHP for the same crank HP. It feels like it anyway.)
If you haven't driven a CVT, go test drive a 4EAT and CVT back to back, it's a big difference.
Ignore all this if you're buying a 5MT.
If we can get the Outback with the CVT for $22k I think we'd take it.
The wife looked much happier driving the forester though... more fun. It's closer to her VW Golf handling wise. Plus... I like the fact that I can have it lowered on 18's with a new rear sway bar for under $2k. LOL! The outback doesn't have **** for aftermarket. They haven't even figured out how to lower the damn things yet. Wife and I both said that we wished they had the LGT or just Legacy wagons period. I think it's stupid that they only have the giant 9inch monster truck version. If we could get one lowered on 18's we'd both be stoked. LOL>
The euro/*** versions of the outback are awesome!
#12
It's VERY sloppy feeling. Feels like a hybrid or something. But for 30mpg I'll deal with it. I've read of people getting over 30 on the highway. Crazy
#13
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i was just considering this same car. probably closer to the end of the year, and probably the turbo version. i was also looking at the new sti... time to trade my mine in.
keep me updated on this!
keep me updated on this!
#14
There are some decent deals for XT's right now. If you wait until August there will be ALL kinds of them. I'll keep you posted.
#15
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