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Review of of Forester 2007 'X' model – 2,000kms down the road.

This review is not your Mike Duffy cut and paste of the sales brochure, but from a family, real world perspective (well mine, anyways)

Options OME: towbar / trans cooler / headlight + bonnet protectors / front mud flaps / weather shields / x bars / rear dust deflector / cargo barrier (Milford) / floor mats

45,xxx kms

Performance: the 2.5 is quiet and smooth. Enough poke around town + does the freeway to the hills laden no problem. Towing a trailer is no issue, though fuel consumption did increase more than i expected. One beach run: Goolwa to the Muarry Mouth...not particuallary challenging sand driving but did fine. The 4WD only tracks in Deep Creek CP were no issue, but then again i took my renualt 12 down them years ago (were in better condition then!) The auto (4spd, single range) is not particually clever, even a '96 VW golf employs a 'fuzzy logic' ECU. Kicks down way too easily in either normal or power mode. First auto car I have owned (aside from a HZ Holden years ago) Having said this, the auto was smoother than the manuals i tried – may not be used to autos and how they are

Brakes / suspension: reckon the rear is sagged V.slightly. Seems stiff enough around corners. Dirt roads are much more comfortable than my previous subes. (unfair comparrison) Nice ride. Had a lot of fun tripping the ABS. Good feel thru the pedal. Steering resonse is fine. Turning circle good. Easy to park / reverse parking is a breeze. Clearence was fine on the beach and pretty easy 4WD tracks

Interior: very comfortable for x2 adults and kids – relaxed driving position, basic layout easy to follow. Good headroom – we are both tall. No cigarette lighter – instead a 12V outlet which is good. Rear 12V outlet switches off with ignition – useless for fridges! cargo bay not huge. Miss the L tool storage well. Visability is excellent – oversized wing mirrors a good evolution. Easy to be sunburnt though – have now had the car tinted. CD/Stereo basic = cheesey. Window antenna poor reception in the country. Lots of cup holders? Cruise control works well. AC reasonable, not exactly icy cold, just ok. Seats easy to clean (usual kids stuff)

Exterior: some say they are ugly, I like it – don't care what others think. Is 'Forest Green'. XT mags with tyres were a $300 ebay BARGAIN – same wheels $2000 in the current accessories brochure. headlights are great. Dust deflector looks OK, not sure it actually does much, not held on by much either.

Planned upgrades: Subaru Xtreme front bar, fog lights, some decent ICE, exhaust, luggage pod, uhf, HD rear springs

Overall: very impressed – but i am biased being a Subaru fan. Does not feel as purposeful (4WD wise) as an MY or L, but again not fair to compare – 13 years sine the last L. The X-trail seems to be more 4WD orientated 'tougher' maybe? Unlike the L / MY – this has a 5 star safety rating which does provide some peace of mind. Very civilised vehicle.

Happily reccomend to anyone considering one.

Sven

Very good. I plan on buying a 03-07 Forester sometime in the near future, would probably go manual although.....

The auto (4spd, single range) is not particually clever, even a '96 VW golf employs a 'fuzzy logic' ECU. Kicks down way too easily in either normal or power mode

Id go auto if i could get an aftermarket TCU and set it up how i like

do you mind doing a compare of turning circle for the forestor? I know comparing to my OBW, the right hand turn was tight in the L wag, now I'm doing 3point turns always it seems!
The wheels on the L wag turns nearly 90deg (well 80maybe?), used that effect a few times for stopping under lock:p No way can you attempt that with the OBW I think, hence the ABS.....
When I get a chance I'll see about actually measuring the turn circle.

L-Series turning circle: 9.6m
Forester: 10.6m, 10.8 for XT
Outback. Liberty: 10.8m (11.4m for the B4)

What is " decent ICE"?

Pics of my Liberty at the Murray Mouth:

[ATTACH]685[/ATTACH][ATTACH]686[/ATTACH]

I noticed ice is what the pommies call car stereo's, In Car Entertainment. Either that or ask Ben Cousin's

SUBYDAZZ wrote: What is " decent ICE"?

That’s a question best left for Ben Cousins

haha, LOL.

nice pics - did you go all the way to the end?

I noticed a difference between my '03 and the loan '07 from the dealer while mine was being serviced. The '07 fly-by-wire and extra few kw was noticeable, it was a bit punchier off the mark and auto matched quite well.

The auto does get a memory and can be reset if behaving not as you expect, a good thrash though the gears in power mode reset mine, as before it was changing up too early and wouldn't kick down when on an incline - previous owner was too timid. Or the dealer can reset at service.

Compared to my previous MY and L, it light years ahead, as you would expect in a later generation vehicle. Good points compared to conversions it has an EJ, LSD and AWD. Still, there are mods I will do anyway like the center diff lockup solenoid mod and ABS cut out, lift and heavier springs, bullbar and sump guard. Forester seems to be a pretty good all rounder and I am happy