Subaru Forester

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $24000.00 from California

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 Subaru Forester

Summary:
I saw where a reviewer complained about having problems driving on snow covered ice. I must say you need either chains or studs to do that. I was caught in a blizzard in Tahoe at a ski resort where they plowed the parking lot and placed a 2 foot snow berm against the bumper of the car. After 2 attempts in low gear, I punched through the snow bank. Yes I had problems on a hill with ice but I attributed that to no chains. I went through very large areas of water on the highway at 60mps and the car did tract right on.

Strengths:
AWD

Weaknesses:
Lack of power on the steep hills

Similar Products Used:
Lexus RX399

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2005 Forester 2.0 XT

Summary:
Great, great car. Big inside, small outside. Much more practical alternative to an SUV.

Strengths:
Smooth power with the turbo. Sports car handling. Higher safety ratings than most SUVs.

Weaknesses:
Change the tires. They're the weak link to great handling.

Overall Rating
 2 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.33 of 5, 12.00 votes

Price Paid:  $19500.00 from Galles & Davis Subar

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 Subaru Forester

Summary:
DO NOT DRIVE THIS CAR IN SNOW OR ICE!!!! I have twice wrecked my stupid car in winter weather. Today I was toodling through my subdivision at about 5 mph in the snow. I crested a hill and started a slow descent when much to my chagrin, the snow on the roads had been packed to ice and alas I began a slow motion slide. The angle of the slope was steep and I knew that the momentum would pick up quickly and I would end up barreling into a house or another vehicle before my car would stop the slide. Having my 3 yr old and 2 dogs in the backseat, I had no choice but to pull the e brake and throw the car into the ditch at the side of the road. It is stuck now, possibly totaled since the front and rear bumpers are both embedded in the ground. We were not hurt. This is the second time this stupid all wheel drive car has failed me when I really needed it to function like it is supposed to! As I sat in the ditch pondering my situation (3/4 of a mile from home with 2 dogs and a toddler in 28 degree weather) I watched a MINIVAN sucessfully traverse the very same icy road that had become my demise. WTF!?!?! A Subaru (supposedly the AWD vehicle to end all) got spanked by a stupid 2wd minivan. I am disgusted. I hated the size and lack of comfort in the car but this is just icing on the cake. Also my stereo has been possessed since I bought the thing brand new off the lot. The volume likes to go up and down on its own. Gas mileage is good 28 mpg on average. I have put 50k on the car in 2 years and no major breakdowns except for it failing to behave in slippery conditions. I'm done with the Forester though.

Strengths:
Good gas mileage.

Weaknesses:
Lack of traction control and anti-lock in winter weather. Pathetic AWD capability. Funky wiring issues. WAAAYYYY uncomfortable for road trips longer than 45 minutes. The back seat has 3 seat belts but will NOT fit 3 normal size people. Cannot fit 3 car seats in back - parents beware. Tan cloth interior impossible to keep clean with children and dogs. Engine lugs and bucks in 1st and 3rd gears.

Similar Products Used:
Always drove trucks before this piece of crap.

Price Paid:  $12000.00 from Farmington Ford, Far

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 Subaru Forester

Summary:
I purchased my Subaru Forester in the summer of 2003. I live in Maine and was looking for somehting safe and reliable since I need my car for my work. I was in love with the car when the dealership let me take the car home overnight for a test drive. It drove wonderfully!

I don't believe I had any major issues with the car in the first year that I had it. I had oil changes done as reccomended and took care of it. Also my bug deflector pannel thing that came with the car flew off one day while I was going 55 mph.

In the summer of 2005 though I started to have issues. The car would not go anywheres until I put it into reverse first and then into drive. Once in drive I had no issues. Also at this time my steering wheel seemed to lock up on me and I could only turn it in quater turns.

I brought it to a Subaru dealership 45 minutes away and they told me that my transmission was slipping and this is somthing that they have noted on this year and model of subaru veichles - so I would have to go the expensive route and get it compeltly rebuit and fixed. They sent me off to a reccomended repairman for the job. The guy they sent me too also fixed the Steering Knuckle which was the issue I had wih using my steering wheel. This cost me $2,097 and they guy gave me a break since I was young and he felt bad that I had this issue with the vehicle. This also took about 2 weeks to fix and it was hard with my job requring a vehcile in that time.

*extra note on this repair- we complained to the dealership which we got the vehcicle and they did nothing about it.

After a month or so of getting my car back- My clock and the center lights of my car failed to work and one day I was 2 hours away from my hometown when my car would rock back and forth and make rumbling sounds.When I finally got into a shop to have it looked at my rear wheelbearings had gone and I needed to get them replaced. I do not rememeber the exact price of getting this fixed but it was several hundred dollars. I also found out at this time that my struts needed replacement. My repair man told me that he was not sure why the clock and lights in the center did not work and it was probablly electrical. I have never had this looked into furthur because it doesn't bother me personally but I feel effects the overall value of the car.

Once this work was complete I moved to Northern Maine and car pooled frequently. My car had no major isses up there minus my tires got bald and I had to have new tires put on my car.

We moved back to Central Maine last October and it was my dreaded time to get my car inspected. My car had been making loud grumbling sounds but was still running okay. No place would obviously inspect it because somthing was wrong with the exhaust- I brought it to my repair guy and he was able to weld the exhaust leak for a couple hundred dollars and he also put in new breaks. I was relieved because that was the cheapest thing minus the tires that I had fixed on this car.

It is now Febuary and my car had to go back into the shop because it has some kind of coolant leak. I say somekind because my repair guy cannot find where its leaking. All I know is that when I put coolant in it is gone in a week or so and my engine is over heating - Plus I have no heat in the car when this happens and it makes for an uncomfortable ride in Maine. He feels it might be the headgaskets but is not sure yet- The headgaskets are a complex job and cost around 1200 dollars to fix. I recently re-wrote the Subaru company abut the new issues with my car. The first time I wrote them was around the time that my transmission went and at that time all they could offer me was $700.00 dollars off a new Subaru. I would hve been happier with a tee shirt.

It is now my mission to inform people of all the issues I have had with this car and not recommend this year and make of car to anyone. The woman before me had repairs done as well - She had work done to the oxygen sensor ( a recall), electrical work and several other things.

I bought the car for $12,000 and have put at least 3,000 into it in the last few years with the strong possiblity of puting another 1500 or so into it and I still owe money on it- its not worth the headache.

Strengths:
Handles well in poor Weather Conditions, Lots of cargo room

Weaknesses:
See Review plus flimsy plastic parts that do fall off (the bottom protector pannels under door)

Similar Products Used:
none as of yet

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $33000.00 from Dexter's Subaru

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 Forester

Summary:
This is a good vehicle. It handles beautifully and has a great turning radius. This is my first AWD and I can't believe the difference it makes as I live in the country. It's comfortable inside, but not glitzy.

Strengths:
Stability, nice drive, safety, roomy (people complain about the back seat not being roomy but I think it's fine). I'm no car expert but I love this car. It's actually fun to drive.

Weaknesses:
Lousy cup holder placement in the front seat and yes, it does buck at lower RPMs. So far my fuel consumption has sucked.

Similar Products Used:
I test drove a CRV, Jeep, and Highlander. I liked the feel of the Subaru best. Also the bang for the buck