The AUSubaru.com.au Forums

Hi, I'm looking at getting my first Subaru, however need help. I'm undecided to get an Impreza or a Forester.

I live in the burb's and work near the city.
I know the Forester is based on the Impreza but that dosn't help.
I think the 2.5L would have a little more grunt, but don't want turbo. P's
I've been looking at the 2001-2007 Impreza RS and RV, and the Forester from 1997 - 2008. preferably under $20,000.

we are a 3 people family (our bub is one).

I would like to be able to go camping ect. just dirt roads maybe a little beach sand; however living in the city would like a car car, not a 4WD/Truck...

so realy i think I'm asking is the forester much better offroad. Or Would a raised Impreza do the same?

Welcome Jason!

First off - I don't own, or have owned, one of these vehicles. I'll tell you this though from my opinion:

If you're after something for some light offroading, the foz would be the best option from the start - its raised, I think it has more cargo space, would be easier to raise higher with a set of kings/strut blocks than the impreza would be.

I've never driven a subi that feels like a truck (except mine at times) - I'm sure PS is standard these days and the foz will handle like a car. Best way to work out what you want would be to go for a test drive in both and see which one you and your partner feel safest in, then go from there.

All the best with the new family, hope to catch you around the forums

Cheers

Bennie

Hello Jason,

I can say that I am a very happy Forester driver (I have the turbo). The car handles great on road and around town. It's small enough to fit anywhere and large enough to fit all your things behind.

If you have to carry stuff around on a regular basis, I reckon the foz is a better option, it's got easier access to the boot and more space.

The down side of the Forester (at least for me) is that I find it very hard to find a confortable driving position for long drives. I end up having to stop every 2-3 hours and take a little walk. From 1 contact I had with an Impreza, they seem a bit more confortable...

The up-sides are space, looks, and the much improved offroad ability out of the box. You can find a few photos of my car doing a bit of offroading in the forum in its bog standard condition and I have to say it did it much easier than I thought it would be (other members might say I was cheating with my turbo and auto...)

Have a look at: http://www.ausubaru.com.au/showthread.php?t=14171 with dial-up warning...

Cheers!
Pedro.

Hi, I have an 06 Impreza and having now had it a few years I personally on occasion wonder if I should have stretched the budget a bit more at purchase time and gone for a Forester. Main issues I have is size limitations on the Impreza, the back seat is cramped which adults always grumble about if they are relegated to the back and it's probably not the easiest access for getting small ones into and out of booster seats etc. Not sure how much better the Forester is in this regard though as back seat room is also often criticised in the Forester. Luggage carrying space is also limited in my case as the car is a sedan. In my experience with driving Outbacks the 2.5L also gives a worthwhile increase in power over the 2.0L.

I wouldn't bother with lifting the Impreza for any light off road work, the front overhangs along way to start with and it's always going to be a problem even with lifting and you'd be better off putting the money towards a Forester rather than spending it lifting the Impreza. Also watch out for the gearbox on the Impreza as a lot are only single range manuals as opposed to the dual range on the Forester.

Wheels magazine reviews always praised the (pre current model) Foresters for their car like driving experience so I doubt you wouldhave to worry about feeling like you're driving a truck.

No problems in my case for seating comfort on long trips though, Adelaide to Melbourne runs are easy.

I'd definitely go for the Foz, I've got a WRX with Foz suspension so I'm at the limit of the height I can add to it (50mm legally) whereas you can go a further 50mm with the Foz, have a look at Pickles & Fowles, used car auctions or their buy it now listings, you'll save a fortune.
Keep an eye out for something like this.
http://www.pickles.com.au/cars/vehicle/ ... -502125451

If its mainly going to be used on road, and around the city. If all the offroading you're going to be doing is onto beaches or along 'groomed' dirt tracks to camping areas, I'd go the imprezza.
I think it should be good enough for what you need, for off the beaten track and it would obviously be more 'city' friendly then the Foz..

welcome.
i've driven impreza, Foz, Liberty, outback and l series before.
Impreza, small car, good car just for on road, not ideal for towing, off road use.
-foz more of a truck type high seats, raised. Manual transmission has dual range. Nice cars but Didn't like the seat position at all specially long trips.
Outback is based on Liberty frame but raised. More of car like, drives like a car, good car for towing and light off road. You can install extra lift on it.
Have you thought about going for a drive in outback yet? Worth a go and i recommend you to do so.
Cheers
AP

AlpineRaven wrote: Impreza, small car, good car just for on road, not ideal for towing, off road use.

Its not the car, its how its driven..



There is also a pic of a green WRX on here somewhere that went offroading with some 4wds. Someone in Tassie?

Hmmm, Bumpty is right, it will mainly be used for driving around the city apart from the odd camping trip, in witch we would only use the "tracks" to the camp ground, also possibly to Stradbroke Island... thinks like that, I don't and cant know what the Imprezers are like on sand apart from the one pic... have many people gone to the beach ect in them.

I guess what i'm looking for is a car (ie not a 4WD) that can do the beach and get to the camp ground... I think i'll just see what i can get for a good price... lol leave it to fate...

I just took delivery of a 09 Forester and got to say it is one on the nicest cars I have ever driven. I got the XT Turbo and cannot believe the torque and, more importantly, the versatility of the engine. One thin I do not like is the tyres. The Geolanders have very soft walls and sometimes can feel like the car is falling off the tyres.

Bumpty i believe this is what you was looking for

fory man all the way but id never buy another auto

as most people have said, the forester has the convenience or carrying cargo,
camping regularly myself, and working in a camping store,
the forester has been very useful in fitting a lot in,
the imprezza's are capable offroad, but unless you've had some experience off road, then you wont get much of a 2nd chance if you get stuck? and lifting it, would only bring it up to a foz, where as lifting a foz, gives you more clearance again, easily done with King springs,
handling on the streets is fine, easy to park, they are the same chassis effectively, so handling cornering parking will all be very easy, and subaru have very few blinds spots, so its really safe on the highway, and easy to check over your shoulder.
as to the first pic of the impreza, thats a pretty firm beach??? a lowered pulsar could drive on that sand?
as for the other pics, thats some good fun he's having!!
i have assorted pics of what my forester can do, on here in albums, and also on my facebook,

and bumpty looks like he is having a great time in that sand!

dimitri, its not polite to go offroadin next to lifted landcruisers and patrols,
its not fair on them if they spend all that money on a big car, more petrol, big lifts, muddies, lockers and you go as far as they do? think about the ego's?

hehe keep up the good work!