2009 Subaru Forester/First Impressions

[sgabu1]

Subaru Forester is a great car ! 

[davidhalifax]

I really like the new exterior styling.

[oldirtybastard213]

isnt this a facelift ...? if so the backseats should be the same

[seivad9]

I've been quoted more than £1,000 for a new clutch for my 52 plate forester (Subaru dealer). I don't think this includes labour. Can anyone advise as to whether this is excessive? thanks

[durs6]

@seivad9 should of got a auto......

[desimunda116]

if his kids are anything like he is, i don't think it was the old forester's fault for not having enough room

[Bandy500]

what does AWD mean please? sorry if its obvious.

[pisicairis]

AWD means all wheel drive.

AWD=4x4

[Bandy500]

thanks very much

[quantummechanic90]

All wheel drive is a type of 4 wheel drive, although it isn't the exact same thing. 4 wheel drive sends power to all four wheels while in 4wd mode, while AWD is always active, and sends power to wheels that are not spinning when one or more wheels lose traction, unlike 4wd which only sends power to other wheels when the operator engages 4wd.

[twoblink]

The guy below is wrong.

AWD = All Wheel Drive

4WD = FOUR WHEEL DRIVE

There is a big difference. In most cases, AWD is like Subaru, Audi's quattro etc..

4WD is more like your trucks, where there is a center,front,and rear differential that is generally anti-slip differential otherwise, power is distributed evenly. on AWD power is "moved around" to the wheel with most grip.

[michael9678727]

There no difference, It's purely a marketing thing AWD means 4WD your answer is exactly what the marketing people want to hear. when people say 4WD they think big heavy 4WD's like jeep etc but AWD sounds better for cars like subaru, audi etc.

[Ph33nxOne]

AWD is a system that is controlled by the vehicle and not the driver. The car controls what power goes to any given wheel at any given time.

4WD is a system selected by the driver for conditions. The driver can choose 2WD and 4WD and possibly high or low gear ratios for each.

This is the correct way to classify at least, sometime vehicle may be listed different, however this goes against industry standard.

[michael9678727]

I appreicate your comments, however what your saying AWD is constant 4WD, and 4WD is engaged by the driver. That was true for old 4WD's but now days eg the range rover or discover is constant 4WD the driver however can lock the center diff or engage Low range. Even subaru have this system where you can engage low range. I also have a write up on this topic from Subaru, they say there is no difference, it purely marketing.look at the old subaru's they had 4WD on the back, but were constant 4WD

[michael9678727]

Also the only real difference between the "two systems" is that in some constant 4WD vehicles you can select 2WD, but in AWD vehicles drivers don't have that choice.

[Flipster1325]

@michael9678727

4wd is a vehicle with a transfer case going from 2wd to 4wd

awd is a vehicle with no transfer case but with permanent awd

[michael9678727]

@Flipster1325

mate I've been driving 4wd's awd for over 20 years, it just marketing, What does 4wd mean? power to all wheel (with least resistance) AWD does exactly the same thing. new off road vehicles are constant 4wd, with only low range, does that make them AWD or 4WD. Like I said it's purely marketing. The marketing guru's come up with the term AWD to distinguish from the old big 4WD. at the end of the day they both do the same thing.

[1ohtaf1]

@michael9678727 It is not just "marketing". And they are not "the same thing" Both of them have power to all their wheels but they are in different classes. The forester is ment for light offroading and it is classifies as an AWD while a Landcruiser or a Patrol is ment for rugged off roading and they are classified as 4x4s or 4WDs.

[michael9678727]

@1ohtaf1 you sound just like what the marketing want to hear.

at the end of the day it's a four wheel drive.

[1ohtaf1]

@michael9678727 What do you mean? yeah they all have power in all wheels but they are not the same. Its not just "marketing", its a logical way of clearifying two completely different classes. Its like me saying my bike is same as a motorbike because they both have two wheels and the only difference between them is "marketing".

[1ohtaf1]

@michael9678727 You can call it a 4WD if you want but it is not, sure it has power to all wheels but 4WD is a different class. Its like me saying a pistol is the same as a rifle because both of them have rifleing. When dont take things to literally, when they first come out they are usally literal names like 4WD or a PC but as time passes they grow into classes and are not literal at all.

[GrahamCrackers94]

i like this car. but im stuck between this and the nissan rogue cus they both have the same horsepower, start at the same price, etc. the nissan is a little cuter too.

[maxibrada]

go for the forester

[Stereophile11]

the forester is much better. AWD, reliability interior quality.... s0 much better than the rogue. trust me just got a forester.

[JewTimes2]

Definitely go for the forester it's way better. The nissan has next to no cargo room, and it doesn't drive nearly as well. The forester has a low center of gravity, take it for a test drive you'll see it handles much better than the rogue. Plus subaru AWD makes it awesome

[drratrrd]

Get one you'll like it

[slikphoto]

In respect to Ford, I used to have a hand me down Ford Laser hatchback (philippines) we had it for about 10 yrs. probably around 200+km, sold it on 1994, still saw the car 6 years after that, still with the old engine I was told. My dad bought it on 1981 I believe, (prod. '80). Pretty tough and cheap car to maintain. The only thing that impressed me with that car is how I can't remember it breaking down when I was growing up, up until we sold it.

[Soob4ME]

I can't wait for the diesel.

[BklynJayL]

It will never be on the same level as the Ford TaurusX!

[OZilla612]

stfu u ford employee

taurus?! wtf dude

[BklynJayL]

Lol. I wish, I was! If so, I could get great deals on Ford vehicles. ;-) I can't believe, you like a SUBARU out of ALL auto manufactors! I'd rather go for a Mitsubishi! Atleast..., they make SUVs and, have V8s!

[BklynJayL]

Lol.. I'm no Ford employee! I just know the difference between whats REAL and, what's HYPE(which is Subaru)!

[irolliamvolvo]

That's right dear because the Taurus x is a piece of crap. Subaru unlike Ford builds cars that actually last.

[BklynJayL]

Subaru vehicles will never outlast Fords on the road. I never even saw a Subaru that's from the 80s still operating!

[irolliamvolvo]

Go to Boone NC there tons of them there.Wasn't it the Taurus that had all those fires due to crappy Ford work?

[Soob4ME]

You probably wouldn't even recognize one you dumbass. The pullapart here doesn't have a single Subaru with under 200,000 miles. There are no Fords with over 200,000. I actually think most of them died at about 150,000.

[BklynJayL]

There's no Fords with over 200,000km. on it??? You sound like an idiot! Most cars in America that have over that amount of mileage and, still running good ARE American cars! I know, I have yet to see a Subaru make it to that point! If you take a look at most Fords that's made before the yr. 1999 and, back..., you'll see they'll have at least 170km on them and, still running strong!

[Soob4ME]

That's MILES you fucking moron. And that's at the PULLAPART which is a JUNKYARD. Do I have to spell everything out for you? Figures a fucking idiot like you would like a Ford. Please take this comment very seriously and TRY to read and understand it.

[BklynJayL]

What you thought I meant, Dimwit? You must have a small d**k! B***h to your girl(if you have one)about it..., not me!!! Face it man..., Subaru is inferior to Ford...and, that's THAT!

[DKingTaco2188]

definitely a dumbass, a ford is right for you, fucking idiot. I bet you failed highschool...and I'm in highschool, and I know more about cars than you. Ford's break down alot, do you know what the saying was at my school? Ford stands for

Fix Or Repair Daily. Japanese cars are usually better than american cars, end of story, so yuo can shove your shitty ford loving attitude up you fuckin ass. That's that...something a retard would say if he can't find anything to support his opinion. Taht SUx??!!

[BklynJayL]

"Taht SUx??!!" Lol.. See..., that's what's wrong with the youth today. Lack of education and, listening to "old fools" that, have no clue to what their talking about! Name one Ford(old or, new)that, you know of that broke down, really?!

[hobofactory]

Not to cut in, but I knew of someone who drove a 95' Windstar ... it broke down in 2000. They fixed one thing, something else went bad, fixed that, and a more problems arose, it was a never ending cycle and they had to sell off van to some unfortunate soul. Surveys do show that Fords are generally less reliable than Honda, Toyota, or Subaru. Even thought the vast, vast majority of Fords aren't lemons, more them are than are Japanese cars.

[BklynJayL]

Lol.. Yeah, sure! Evendoe, I refuse to believe that story about, your asssociate's Ford...but, things like that happens to most vehicles(any manufactor)if, their not properly taken care of! All american cars(GM, Ford, Mopar)are DIEHARDS(especially, nowadays)!

[hobofactory]

You refuse to believe? Is it completely outside the realm of possibility that a Ford could ever break down? You really should try and spend a day in the real world.

[BklynJayL]

Lol.. It's not that. I'm just saying, Ford vehicles aren't as bad as, you think! For the last couple of yrs...., Ford's quality and, powertrains have been rated as, one of the best on the road! I haven't heard anything like that for Subaru. ;-)

[Snakebite420]

really? ford is great i admit. i have a 97 obs with 267k miles original engine, and still running great and very fast still. the transmission was replaced at 220k miles (auto) that was really the only thing i had to change out. the engine is said to last 300k miles, an i see that happening. it looks great still to boot. also a friend of mine has a subaru 360 still running fine at around 180k miles. it was made in the 70's. i see more subaru's outlasting mostly all cars on the road.

[BklynJayL]

Don't get me wrong. I think, Subaru makes very tough engines(some of the best in the world)but, I have yet to see a Subaru with near 180k-190k still operating(especially, from the 70's)Lol.. I see Fords, Dodges and, Chevys like that almost everyday! As far as, race inspired engines...I think, their one of the best tho..! ;-)

[6AstroMan9]

im not biased either way, i have a new forester and i have a dakota.

but just to be fair i have seen plenty of foresters and outbacks with near or more than 300k even

[BklynJayL]

That may be true...but, you'll never know the work the had to do to those cars to get it to that milestone!

[DKingTaco2188]

are you kidding me? Ford's from the 80's pollute so much,...and the reason you don't see old subi's is because they're japanese imports, they havn't been in north america that long. By the way, I see tons of old subaru wagons, I live in Canada and they're everywhere. Ford's are unreliable and annoying to maintain, subaru's are the most reliable veichles on the road, ask your local mechanic how many subaru's he's had to fix, then u'll understand

[BklynJayL]

That's what the Jap. press WANTS you to believe!

[irolliamvolvo]

I just baught a generation one 1998 Forester. It looks WAY Better! The new on Pretends to be a FORD FREESTYLE/ TAURUS X. I think he best looking forester was the 2001 s plus.

[BklynJayL]

I can second that! ;-)

[sarcophegus]

for all the people that have been crying for a year now about subaru's new designs.......shut up already we get the point, you dont like them, who the hell cares?! most people like the new designs including me.

unless you have something more intellectual to add about the engineering of it or the drive feel or any other shit not about the looks, spare us from your whining.

[cgrojas]

subaru forester rocks!!

[counsel007]

Making bigger cars as gas prices go up and up. Yes, that's smart.

Sounds like your fat kids could lose a few pounds.

[Tigeron1a]

thats rather judgemental on your part.

[cpfortmiller]

i have the new 2009 foreste, the l.l. bean edition, and it's a great car!

subaru's are the best vehicles and they recycle their extra car parts so they're doing their part in being green.

[snazzyrozzy]

We are getting a subaru forester soon!

[corrosivedevourer]

no one buys a subaru for good looks you dumbass complainers. its all about the inside not the outside.

[mss627]

The inside sucks too. Dicklicker.

[Tigeron1a]

By the account of your fav list, you obviously dont have very many brain cells...you dont know anything of what high quality is, you have no idea what kind of engineering goes into one of these...and on top of all that, you cant afford one, so you bash it...yeah you are a really bright bulb. (rolls eyes)

[cwegers]

well my forester is 8 years old now and I still love it, wouldn't mind one of these either.

[biltychones]

I think it looks fine. Real Subaru people shouldn't care what it looks like anyway. I figure most of you who are complaining about the looks are more into the big horsepower turbo engines to compensate for your small dicks. Subarus are all about being down to earth, economical and practical. We already have an 05 Outback wagon and I can't wait to add a new Forester to our family next year. It's still all Subaru underneath and that's really what counts.

[dt63944]

On my third Forester now (an 04 XT) and am really impressed with the 09. Subaru nailed this one; the exterior still has enough edge to it while cleaning up a lot of the "tack on" look that apparantly a lot of the teenagers here love, but isn't what a lot of buyers (eg, the ones who are supplying the dollars) are looking for anymore. Clear lines of sight, more rear legroom, improved stereo and AWD, as much fun to drive as my BMW, Subaru has a winner here!

[carathool]

From an Australian perspective, I agree.

I'm of an age where I can recall watching Armstrong step on the moon - indeed I can recall where I was when JFK was shot.

Subaru seem to be moving from the -er - quirky to more mainstream, not only with this model. The Liberty is probably a better car all round than its German equivalents in the range and this Forester has moved to a stylish challenger for the RAV4 V6.

I'm thinking of buying an XT. Either that or a Liberty GT ...... what a choice.

[Sean1086]

I like this one better...less of a station wagon look to it and more of a look of quality than many small SUVs.

[hoteizo]

gay car, hate the look. subaru's lost their spirit. look at their new models, getting worse and worse. they want to become toyota and honda, but they, if subaru become like them, subaru is no longer subaru. 08 Xt is much better, period.

[squishyidiot45]

ur a dick

[FozzyProductions]

I think my Foz GT just gained $10k... I thought he was standing next to an outlander for a second... how the hell did he produce kids?

[SeeSp0tRun]

"A new kind of ugly." Is how the original Subaru 360 was described... and that's the way it will be until the the company no longer makes a profit. Get over it, the AWD and the engine is the selling point.

[GazBoffin]

holy shit they gay things up, fuck me have subaru and fuji heavy industries lost their fucking minds, this, just like the new imprezza, has the typical, american, generic piece of shit look about it, fucking hell, the old one was brutally ugly, and the xt luxury version was very nice too, 'bigger', 'wider' and higher, the first two sound like the everchanging american physique, and the third is just the ticket to reduced handling ability, yes subaru, bigger cars to fit fatter men, great.

[SubaruBoy123]

ill like it!

[slieziert]

thank god i bought the 08

[axok23]

Yeah... This looks like an ordinary SUV.

[uvwjou]

fkn ugly car .. the last 2 versions look soo much better..

[coodywt]

looks like highlander and x3 from side and back

[anibalmiranda]

I´m glad I got the 2008 model... It sure has more character. The 2009 has the ordinary SUV look.

[tontonpacute]

The old design had more character it wasn't pretty but it grew on you plus it was really a no frills type of car.

The new one seems to have been designed through a focus group. It looks to soft, no character and has bulked up considerably.

It may appeal to more people in the mainstream now but I still prefer the 2008 version.

[athleticsfan28]

What is Subaru thinking????? SO FREAKIN' UGLY! I know, I know.... Bigger back seat. BUT, it looks like a Chrysler Minivan for cryin' out loud. Went from super sick 2008 "Sports" version (wish they were Sti's of course) to THIS!!!!! Poor form Subaru... So much for being unique

[mercedescl]

Since when you heard any Subaru is sold by style or refered as "beautiful"?

[pes1975]

great!!!!

[NikkenMagboy]

the old one looks better.

[12001200]

Yeah. This one looks like a generic SUV.

The old Forester with more backseat legroom would've been perfect.