I am considering getting one of these in the next few months, will be needing a bigger car than we have at the moment. The Impreza will be staying so this will be an additional Subaru

I know I could do a search, but prefered to ask as to get some personal input.

What models are there to get, engine and spec wise.

What are they like to live with on long journeys,

fuel economy etc.

Handling?

I have been told a lot of goodies from the classic bolt on nicley to these, ie suspension items.


Cheers

Cookie

 

Just to add, although I would love one funds will not stretch to a STI version

 

whats your budget likely to be ?

That will define if you are looking at SF ( 2.0 turbo ) MY97-00 , Early SG ( 2.0 turbo ) MY01-05 , Late SG ( 2.5 turbo ) MY06+

Long journeys are no problem, mine's been all over France, Holland and a bit of Germany

Lots of interchangeable bits , the impreza model you pick from depends on the MY.


Steve

 

budget will unfortunatly be quite low, so will be happy to get in an entry level one, my understanding is that they all have at least 2.0l turbo, or this is my requirement at loeast if not.

 

SF turbo's are all 2.0 , jdm gets you a bigger turbo (td04 same as std wrx) and generally a nicer interior (99-00 gets climate for instance), uk models had heated leather seats.

Will be wallowy if it's bone stock. Castoff classic STi arb will dial out a lot of the inherent understeer. You'll want to drop some 17's on and wrx 4pot front brakes as the std ones are debatable.

lots and lots of info on the european section of subaruforester.org.

pm me if they'll let you into surrey and want a go in one.


Steve

 

If you are looking for a larger car than an Impreza, the Forester doesn't add any more room other than headspace.
They use Impreza floorpans so no extra legroom or width and the boot area is smaller than a saloon or the smae as a wagon.

For a limited budget, I'd look at the SFs, particularly Jap imports for about £3-4k.
An STB will get you 6.5 sec 0-60 performance with 240 hp.
There both UK and JDM NA versions that tend to do 0-60 in the 9.5 sec region and will be cheaper to run if speed isn't needed.

In terms of parts, moddifying and running costs , they are essentially imprezas - just with a different body and higher suspension.

Nick

 

http://www.markpayne.net/images/suba...Forester04.jpg

Enough room for me...

 

Cookie,

Supercue of the ESC was selling his, could be worth a quick PM mate

 

i disagree with that


i looked at a classic wagon and TBH couldnt even fit the child set in the back with my seat adjusted, whereas in my SF Foz i have no issues, bairn cant even kick the back of my seat

 

What I do remember about my old SF STB was that the seat cushions were smaller than Impreza ones. This would give the illusion of more legroom but at the loss of leg support and why I swapped to impreza front seats.

Comparing my Spec D to my wifes' Forester SG, there is definately no extra legroom.

The Forester rear passenger area "appears" more roomy, but I think that is down to the height of the roof and the squarer door opening making access easier.

Unless Cookie is extra tall, like wearing a big hat in a car or wants to put something tall in the boot/hatch area then I can't really recommend that a Forester is going to help much with additional space over an Impreza.

all IMHO

nick

 

Its the extra height that was going to be a bonus, for example maybe lifting child seats in and out

She wants to feel higher and safer too so this seemed a good idea, and a good compramise to the Freelander she likes

 

Maybe it's just because I have the FSTI but it doesn't feel and higher up than an Impreza. I was expecting it to be more like other soft-4x4s but definitely more Impreza than Freelander.

Visualise the Forester this way:

Saloon Car: Impreza
Hatchback: Impreza Wagon
Estate: Forester.

Rich

 

definately higher. i started looking for the same reason as cookstar. bending down to squeeze a baby seat into the back of my bugeye was starting to irritate an old back injury. the height of the forester made it a little more comfortable - i tried one at days